? would those working for President Obama describe his White House in the following way in the latest TIME?
Senior aides began trading memos months ago about the missteps of the first two years. The list was long: Short-term tactics often obscured strategic goals. Too many people had overlapping responsibilities. Obama, surrounded by a surplus of true believers, lacked fresh perspectives. The economic team was riven by personality conflicts and hampered by a national economic adviser, Larry Summers, who behaved more like his own advocate than an honest broker. Other advice, whether it was from Cabinet Secretaries or the business community, was stifled before it could be heard.
In fairness to the president, staff turnover after an election cycle is nothing new. But it says something about the president?s skills that he needs a Bill Daley, ??an adult? capable of getting the respect of the Washington trifecta: the press, the business community and Congress.?
After just two years, it’s interesting that such an awe-inspiring figure seems to have lost his luster.
