My Wonk Is Better Than Your Wonk
At this point in the '08 presidential campaign, we are in the midst of the battle for and of policy advisors. In a campaign as open and competitive as this one, that battle is particularly fierce. And it has surprisingly little to do with ideas.
No doubt some of the wonks who are signing on with Barack Obama's campaign are taken with his freshness and want to see change. Equally so, some of those who gravitate to John McCain believe in the importance of the Iraq war and even the Bush administration's national security tack.
But the ideas, ultimately, belong to the candidates. The top advisors who have constant face time might influence over time. Mostly, though, they are there to give the campaigns legitimacy, to fill in the blanks of policy positions and budget recommendations far in the weeds, and in the hope that picking the right horse might boost their careers. As history shows, early advisors-- Madeleine Albright, Condi Rice, Steve Hadley-- can catapult from obscure deputy assistants to the top dogs of national security.
In many ways, nothing is particularly wrong with this reality. But some of the current trends in campaign advising are troubling.
I've expressed concern before about retired military officers signing on with presidential candidates. Some people will argue that generals and admirals have first amendment rights, too. Indeed, they do. But we should also realize that often the scramble on the part of high-profile former flag officers to sign on with candidates is driven by ambition--the desire to land key "civilian" appointments in the next government or to build their resumes in a way that might help future business. Meanwhile, though the campaigns often look to generals to give their campaigns an air of nonpartisanship, we should realize, too, that once military officers endorse a candidate (and hats off to the hundreds of generals and admirals who decline) they are no longer "above" politics.
A further concern is media commentators and political pundits who advise campaigns on the side. We see these "experts" quoted all the time; usually they won't be identified as being tied to a candidate. Earlier this year, the Los Angeles Times raised flags about political reporters with family ties to the campaign. But there is an even broader need for transparency and clear journalistic policy.
To that end, in the coming days I'll publish a list I've compiled of national security and foreign policy advisors to the top presidential candidates. And hopefully we can continue the conversation about the significance of the various allegiances.
By William M. Arkin |
September 20, 2007; 6:46 AM ET
Election 2008
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Posted by: Gayle Ayala | October 16, 2007 07:09 PM
Stop the bus! I want to get off!
Neither Democrat nor Republican, neither left nor right, neither new conservatives (who used to be liberal) nor their detractors (who are still liberal and like to call them neocons), neither black nor white, neither red or blue --- none present reasonable and mature options on most issues, other than by chance.
In spite of all the wrangling partisans represented in these blogging commentaries, we have not moved the country much one way or the other. Thus, I am stopping the bus for all those who want to get off, and we will let the rest stay on board as they bounce along over the countryside --- and over the cliff of their own making.
Those who are getting off the bus with me (there must be one or two) are invited to convert to "none of the above" and get back down to basics and even some common sense. That can be accomplished at no cost (other than intellectual sweat, of course) by going to:
I will even send you a free bumper sticker for your new bus, which will be headed in a new direction soon enough!
Posted by: Technidigm | October 3, 2007 02:18 PM
Eileen, are you attempting to suggest to us that you will not be bashing the next Democratic president, Hillary or whoever? The bashing is already happening and they aren't even elected yet. I don't believe you for a moment.
Posted by: | October 3, 2007 01:59 PM
Americans have been subject to a hostile takeover in Washington D.C. ... for the past 7 years.
Given the tactics of the current administration and some of its most ardent supporters, these federal corporate raiders have taken, and are still holding the country hostage. Not only has Iraq been occupied, America itself has been occupied!
The raidiers could care less about the will of the majority of America's citizenry, or what's best for America - if they did, they would immediately step aside. It is as if the rest of us, who do not share their opinions, live in a totalitarian state, where dissent or a difference of opinion will simply not be tolerated. Why isn't the president making an effort to unite the nation?
I spent the past few weeks listening almost exclusively to 'conserv-nut radio' -these guys are truly anti-American hate mongers. They are the ones, along with the president, who seemingly do not understand the principles that this nation was founded upon. They won't even countenance a difference of opinion, albeit they are being permitted to freely share their opinions.
Hopefully, things will change once this terrible scourge has been removed and replaced with leadership that places the needs of the nation ahead of a select few -from either party!
I suspect that the country will fare much better once King George has been retired to Crawford Texas!
Posted by: The Rev | October 1, 2007 02:27 PM
I unfortunately find fault with both candidates and their hangers-on. See, there's this thing in Washington that
basically drops money while it walks,
kind of like a drunk tourist: It's called '
Congress'. And, when you consolidate
enough of your friends, buddies, brothers,
cousins, and in-laws, you can then kind of
manipulate Congress to deposit the maximum
amount of money possible, right into YOUR pocket!
Bush and company proved that you can
bum-rush Congress and hit them up for
neverending amounts of money. No good workable safeguards on the budget process, there. With that in mind, take a very close and critical look at the line of people after George's job...
Posted by: Bert | September 29, 2007 06:09 AM
My ten year old recently asked me why people talk badly about President Bush? I told him it is because they do not respect him...
Eileen
It would have been more responsible to explain to your ten year old that the president is a servant of the people, and that the people have a right to review and discuss his performance - he knew that when he sought the position and upon taking the oath of office.
You also could have explained that evaluating his performance is not the same as disrespecting him - particularly when some of his directives seem morally questionable.
You could have also explained to your child that some people simply share a difference of opinion, and that is what his dad is fighting for, freedom of speech et al.
You could also have explained to your child that the president and those who believe as he does are equally if not more critical of those who do not share their opinions.
Why poison an innocent kid?
Posted by: The Rev | September 28, 2007 12:58 PM
By the way Arkin.
What is "Wonk" anyway?
And in the U.S.A. baiting a person being that person a known criminal or not is called entrapment and is illegal. At least when done by the Government and or Law Enforcement.
Now as for tormenting the terrorists known as the Michigan Militia by outing them constantly and trying to rattle them into making a mistake and or confessing. Well I find nothing wrong with that and as that I am now a Private Citizen I have broke NO Laws either.
Plus it seems to be working.
As for my personal feelings. Well the Dixie Chicks have a really nice song called "Not Ready to Make Nice". And that purdy much covers that.
Also this has cost me personally in bullet wounds, illegal incarcerations framed up charges to which I was cleared of finally.
And they pushed my brother Clark Edward Thulin into having two (2) Heart Attacks and the last one killed him.
So yes I feel no mercy for those Nazi/Aryan Nation/Michigan Militia _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
Posted by: Civil Servant | September 27, 2007 07:35 PM
Judge Grant of Jackson Michigan who has been Publically named as Michigan Militia has announced publically today he will retire on December 31st 2007.
Judges Vandercook and Nelson who were outed for being Michigan Militia and for their violations of the RICO ACT for their being part owners of Lifeways and Community Connections in Jackson Michigan retired January 1st 2007.
Judge Fallahee Jr. who was outed for being Michigan Militia and taking bribes from drug dealers and anybody else with money (like all the Judges in Jackson County do) retired a few months ago.
If anyone thinks I have been lying about what I have said about the Michigan Militia being in control of Jackson Michigan then tell me this.
Why are so many of the people I have named and given evidence against for being Michigan Militia and being in charge of and running Jackson City/County Michigan running off to retire all of a sudden?
Mr. Thulin
Retired Court Officer
State of Michigan
P.O. Box 6279
Jackson, Michigan
49201-6279
Posted by: Civil Servant | September 27, 2007 07:13 PM
I have recently come across your column and am shocked. Why don't we talk about how to get food to people who are in need or lawyers for women who want to leave abusive husbands? No, lets bash the President and the military at every turn. My ten year old recently asked me why people talk badly about President Bush? I told him it is because they do not respect him, the office he holds, or anything anymore. You wait and see if Mrs. Clinton gets into office no one will be allowed to say a word against her. Isn't that interesting? This is what my husband and his soldiers have fought and some died for biased freedom of speech.
Posted by: Eileen | September 26, 2007 04:58 PM
check these out:
Former FBI Translator Sibel Edmonds Calls Current 9/11 Investigation Inadequate
by Jim Hogue
"If they were to do real investigations we would see several significant high level criminal prosecutions in this country. And that is something that they are not going to let out. And, believe me; they will do everything to cover this up."
-Sibel Edmonds, former FBI translator
INTRODUCTION: Sibel Edmonds and Behrooz Sarshar, beginning in December of 2001, began filing reports to their superiors at the FBI. These reports could lead to the collapse of a corrupt power structure that has a stranglehold on the very institutions that are obligated to control it. We cannot excuse these institutions, for while they fiddle, they pass death sentences on their own troops, and on the people of Afghanistan and Iraq.
On April 30th, Sibel Edmonds was my guest for 50 minutes on WGDR radio. What follows is an edited transcript of the interview. The editing is for the sake of a more readable piece.
Sibel Edmonds is a former FBI translator. She blew the whistle on the cover-up of intelligence that names some of the culprits who orchestrated the 9/11 attacks. These culprits are protected by the Justice Department, the State Department, the FBI, the White House and the Senate Judiciary Committee. They are foreign nationals and Americans. Ms. Edmonds is under two gag orders that forbid her to testify in court or mention the names of the people or the countries involved.
THE INTERVIEW
JH: The people who have so far been interviewed on this program have all been authors and researchers, and here we have someone who, for the most part, has first-hand information. Ladies and Gentlemen, your guest is Sibel Edmonds, formerly of the FBI, a translator who joined the FBI shortly after 9/11.
Ms. Edmonds, what I'll do is invite you to tell us whatever you would like--your stint with the FBI--and what the brouhaha with Ashcroft and company is all about.
SE: I started working for the Bureau immediately after 9/11 and I was performing translations for several languages: Farsi, Turkish, and Azerbaijani. And I do have top-secret clearance. And after I started working for the Bureau, most of my translation duties included translations of documents and investigations that actually started way before 9/11. And certain documents were being sent that needed to be re-translated for various reasons, and of course certain documents had to be translated for the first time due to the backlog.
During my work there I came across some very significant issues that I started reporting in December of 2001 to the mid-level management within the FBI. They said to basically leave it alone, because if they were to get into those issues it would end up being a can of worms. And after I didn't see any response from this mid-level bureaucratic management I took it to higher levels all the way up to [assistant director] Dale Watson and Director Mueller. And, again, I was asked not to take this any further and just let it be. And if I didn't do that they would retaliate against me.
At that point, which would be around February 2002, they came and they confiscated my computer, because, they said, they were suspecting that I was communicating with certain Senate members and taking this issue outside the Bureau. And, at that point, I was not. They did not find anything in my computer after they confiscated it. And they asked me to take a polygraph as to the allegations and reports I'd made. I volunteered and I took the polygraph and passed it without a glitch. They have already confirmed this publicly.
In March 2002 I took this issue to the Senate Judiciary Committee and also I filed it with the Department of Justice Inspector General's office. And as per the Senate Judiciary Committee's request the IG started an expedited investigation on these serious issues; and they promised the Senate Judiciary Committee that their report for these investigations would be out by fall 2002 latest. And here we are in April 2004 and this report is not being made public, and they are citing "state privilege" and "national security" for not making this report public.
Three weeks after I went to the Senate Judiciary Committee the Bureau terminated my contract, and they cited "government's convenience." I started working with the Senate Judiciary Committee that was investigating this case, and I appeared before the Inspector General's office for their investigation several times, and I also requested documents regarding these reports under the Freedom of Information Act; and they blocked this by citing again the "state secret privilege" and "national security" refusing to make these documents public.
On October 18th 2002 Attorney General Ashcroft came out personally, in public, asserted this rare "state secret privilege" on everything that had to do with my case. And they cited "diplomatic relations" and certain "foreign relations" that would be "at stake" if I were to take this issue and make it public. And, since then, this has been acting as a gag on my case.
I testified before the [9/11] commission on February 11th 2004, and as I said, I have been waiting for this report that they [the Attorney General's office] have been blocking for a year and a half from becoming public. The information I requested under the Freedom of Information Act has been blocked for two years. And I have been campaigning for the past three months trying to get the Senate Judiciary Committee that has the oversight authority and responsibility to start its own public hearings. However, this request is again being blocked. Now they [AG] are citing this upcoming election as reason. And here I am.
JH: And it is the Attorney General who is blocking your testimony.
SE: Senator Leahy, on April 8, 2004, sent a very strong letter to Attorney General Ashcroft, citing my case stating that he, Senator Leahy, has been asking questions, and has a lot of issues that have not been addressed, and asking AG Ashcroft to come and provide answers. And AG Ashcroft for the past two years has refused. So he [Leahy] is calling for a public hearing. However, Senator Hatch, who is the Republican Chairman of the Senate, has been a road block. And Senator Grassley [a Republican member of the Senate Judiciary Committee] went on the record with New York Observer's Gail Sheehy and said that Senator Hatch is blocking this investigation from taking place and for this public hearing to be held by the Senate Judiciary Committee....
and it goes on....
Posted by: hello, Siebel Edmonds... | September 22, 2007 02:00 AM
.....well!
I suspect that Maliki is following the example of #43, playing to his audience of hopeful supporters.
And, I suspect that he is receiving a similar reaction that #43 is getting from the American people...better known as skepticism!
It kind of reminds you of the good cop, bad cop ploy. The question remaining however, is who is copping who?
Posted by: The Rev | September 21, 2007 04:46 PM
I wonder why Maliki would be openly hostile when George W. Bush,
who set him up to lead IRAQ through CIA INTERVENTION...as in "fixed elections"
Is _NOW_ trying to set him up as the reason for IRAQs failure to meet markers, which he just moved....
would/could Maliki be hostile about being blamed for things not working out?
did Maliki ask 18 cabinet members to leave?
did Maliki invite in Saudi SUNNIs to shoot up Bagdhad, like BushCO and CRONYs did?
is Maliki trying to call a civil war, amidst and imperialist occupation...
as a "war," in order to steal another countries oil?
or is he risking death by telling the truth about his sponsors?????
Posted by: well............ | September 21, 2007 01:43 PM
Blackwater back on the streets of Baghdad by Bryan Pearson
Fri Sep 21, 8:40 AM ET
BAGHDAD (AFP) - Despite opposition from Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, US security company Blackwater was back on the streets of Baghdad on Friday, four days after being grounded over a fatal shooting incident.
ADVERTISEMENT
Maliki, meanwhile, was in the firing line over a damning report by the US embassy made public Friday detailing corruption plaguing his government, which said the attitude of his office to tackling the problem was "openly hostile."
Blackwater guards, whom a furious Maliki wanted replaced after they opened fire in Baghdad killing 10 people, were on Friday protecting US personnel on limited missions, US spokeswoman Mirembe Nantongo told AFP.
"We have resumed limited movement today. It is very limited and all missions need to be pre-approved," she said.
"The decision was taken by us in consultation with the Iraqi government. All convoys will be protected by PSDs (private security details). Yes, it is Blackwater."
The US embassy ordered all staff confined to the highly protected Green Zone in Baghdad on Tuesday following Sunday's shooting into a crowded square by Blackwater guards escorting a US civilian convoy through the capital.
Iraqis say civilians were killed, while Blackwater insists the convoy it was guarding came under attack by insurgents.
Maliki demanded that Blackwater be replaced for the security duties. The firm provides guards for US officials and civilian employees in the war-torn country.
The issue is expected to be on the agenda when Maliki holds talks in New York next week at the United Nations General Assembly.
Posted by: hello, is Maliki going to be assassinated for telling the truth? ask theDick.. | September 21, 2007 01:29 PM
Are you going to do a list of journalists with family ties too?
Posted by: Susan In Iowa | September 21, 2007 12:34 PM
Conserva-nuts...!
There is nothing wrong with being conservative, and frankly, aside from the highly-charged and disparaging political language that a jaundiced group of Americans often employs when referring to other Americans (who do not see things the way that they do), most Americans are what I will refer to as 'the real conservatives'.
The real conservatives believe in the principles that this nation was founded upon. And they are the ones who seek to uphold the law and the principles that this nation was founded upon, domestically and abroadd - something that the founders (like today's conserva-nuts) often failed to do.
Today's 'conserva-nuts' are fascist ideologues who have found a resting place exclusively within the Republican party, albeit most Republicans are beginning to shy away from them as well. They believe in and espouse an evil discourse, often using the similar methods that myopic, demagogic, intolerant and out-of-control fundamentalist religous group have often been known to use.
One of their most infamous luminaries as I recall was a man named David Duke; it is no coincidence that the David Dukes of the world were and are still being drawn to their form of - ideology. An ideology whose true underpinning is hate!
Conserva-nuts are fanatical lunatics, and they are the ones that the rest of conservative America (most of us) should be concerned about in the present, as well as in the future.
I hope and trust that future leaders will be influenced by those wonks who believe in America, instead of those who cater to a hate-based ideology that is based on preserving the ideals of a narrow, jaundiced and self-serving group-centered pragamtism!
Wonk wonk...and 'don't taze me bro!!!
Posted by: The Rev | September 21, 2007 11:57 AM
Conserva-nuts...!
There is nothing wrong with being conservative, and frankly, aside from the highly-charged disparaging political language that a jaundiced group of Americans often employs when referring to other Americans who do not see things the way that they do, most Americans are what I will refer to as 'the real conservatives'.
The real conservatives believe in the principles that this nation was founded upon. And they are the ones who seek to uphold the law and the principles that this nation was founded upon, domestically and aborad - something that the founders (like today's conserva-nuts) often fail to do.
Today's 'conserva-nuts' are fascist ideologues who have found a resting place exclusively within the Republican Party, albeit most Republicans are beginning to shy away from them as well. They believe in and epouse evil discourse, often using similar methods that a myopic, demagogic, intolerant and out-of-control fundamentalist religous group has often been known to do.
One of their most infamous luminaries as I recall was a man named David Duke; it is no coincidence that the David Dukes of the world were and are still being drawn to their form of - ideology. An ideology whose true underpinning is hate!
Conserva-nuts are fanatical lunatics, and they are the ones that the rest of conservative America (most of us) should be concerned about in the present, and in the future.
I hope and trust that future leaders will be influenced by those wonks who believe in America, instead of some who cater to a hate-based ideology that is based on preserving the ideals of a narrow, jaundiced and self-serving group-centered pragamtism!
Wonk wonk...and 'don't taze me bro!!!
Posted by: The Rev | September 21, 2007 11:52 AM
For real unvarnished news about current world events, read:
"The Sword and the Shield" by Vasily Mitrokhin
Posted by: Che | September 21, 2007 02:26 AM
I like Brzezinski on the Middle East, But, in theory, the President should have some general knowledge of foreign policy, and be able to recognize any bias in their advice. In dealing with specific issues the State Department's and the CIA expert's, on certain countries and issues of interest in those countries. However, I would lean toward the State Department professionals. There is a lot of open source information, and you can get enough political intelligence for making policy. Listen, look, and ask questions!
Posted by: P. J. Casey | September 20, 2007 11:51 AM
Come now. This thing against ex generals and ex admirals giving advices to politicians and presidential candidates is silly. How else would the politicians get advice on matters they are not experts on? It is one thing to require active officers to keep their politics to themselves. It's another thing to try to muzzle them after they retire.
One, who would you rather the politicians listen to, the generals with war fighting experience or the the beltway warriors who have never seen battles and know wars only from movies, all glory and no gore? Hasn't Iraq shown the folly of these expert "generals" who fight wars from nowhere but inside their think tanks?
Two, would you rather have ex generals speak out publicly or would you rather have them fermenting coups behind close doors as in so many other countries?
So let the ex generals speak. I for one would like to hear Abizaid's and others' unvarnished opinions about Iraq and Afghanistan. Surely no objective observer in his right mind would say Iraq, or even Afghanistan, has been conducted flawlessly.
So speak up generals while speaking up can still do some good in influencing current events. It's your right and it's also your duty.
Posted by: Dao | September 20, 2007 11:45 AM
Check out TechPresident's wiki of candidate staffers: http://techpresident.com/staffwiki/
It's an interesting attempt to make those behind the scenes transparent.
Posted by: Erik Leaver | September 20, 2007 11:38 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.

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