Apparently, watching the President fire the CEO of General Motors gave the old boy quite a thrill.
Obama's Muscle MomentHistory is filled with scribblers who applauded when the Big Man of the moment engaged in the naked exercise of power.
One can take the same facts that Broder cites and see disturbing, even dangerous actions.
1. No consultation with Congress. Apparently the Imperial Presidency is only a problem when the guy in the Oval Office has an R after his name.
2. A refusal to make the economic crisis the number 1 priority. Obama, instead, is intent on using this moment to enact his broader agenda for health care, global warming, and education.
A point not noted by Broder is that economic policy is being made in the West Wing while the Treasury is understaffed. This means less Congressional oversight and less transparency. Because the key players avoided confirmation hearings, we do not know what conflicts of interest they have, or what role they played in creating this mess. (The example of Larry Summers does not inspire confidence.)
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