#lit

By nominating Chuck Hagel to be his Defense secretary, President Obama is putting forward an aloof contrarian who doesn't suffer fools - a striving politician who considers himself above politics. ↗

— Ron Fournier

#aloof #chuck #considers #defense #fools

Christie led the way - with a bulldozer. The governor is blunt, brash, and self-consciously authentic, the antithesis to what turns off today's voters: flip-flopping politicians who speak in poll-tested platitudes. Yes, he's the anti-Romney. ↗

— Ron Fournier

#authentic #blunt #brash #christie #governor

It's a deft trick to turn American exceptionalism into an exceptional political tactic. ↗

— Ron Fournier

#exceptional #into #political #tactic #trick

Mandates are rarely won on election night. They are earned after Inauguration Day by leaders who spend their political capital wisely, taking advantage of events without overreaching. ↗

— Ron Fournier

#after #capital #day #earned #election

Most political journalists come to Washington because they're snappy writers, big thinkers, or news breakers. Me? My ticket to the big leagues had little to do with talent. It was mostly about the governor I was covering, Bill Clinton. ↗

— Ron Fournier

#because #big #big leagues #bill #bill clinton

Obama considers himself above deal-making and back-slapping, political necessities he often delegates to Vice President Joe Biden and other lesser sorts. ↗

— Ron Fournier

#considers #delegates #himself #joe #lesser

Obama is capable - as evidenced by his first-term success with health care reform. But mandate-building requires humility, a trait not easily associated with him. ↗

— Ron Fournier

#capable #care #easily #evidenced #health

Obama might do well to remember that his fast rise from the Illinois state Senate was due in large part to an uncanny ability to make friends and find mentors. ↗

— Ron Fournier

#due #fast #find #friends #his

The other thing is quality of life; if you have a place where you can go and have a picnic with your family, it doesn't matter if it's a recession or not, you can include that in your quality of life. ↗

— Jim Fowler

#go #include #life #matter #other

Part of the problem is voters know relatively little about Romney. And some of what they know about him complicates his task: Romney has a history of flip-flopping on issues, he's extraordinarily wealthy, and he can be tone-deaf about what moves voters. He just doesn't seem comfortable in his skin. ↗

— Ron Fournier

#comfortable #complicates #extraordinarily #him #his