Thoughts & Commentary on the Obama Administration

[Lemur]

Or, as you so graciously sidestepped with catlike agility, maybe it's Obama's plans for the census, as Xiahou has said... oh I don't know, 3 times now?

I have catlike agility? Cool. That's kinda like a superpower, right?

Okay, somebody explain or link to an explanation about this whole census thing. What's the big whup?

[LittleGrizzly]

I have catlike agility? Cool. That's kinda like a superpower, right?

That depends... do you think normal cats have something kinda like a superpower...

[Lemur]

Oh, get real, you with your speciesist talking points. Everybody knows that when you give a human being animal powers everything gets extra-fancy. Werewolves, for instance, aren't just doggie humans; they're super-powerful monsters. So if Don is going to declare that I have cat-like powers, I think it's perfectly logical to expect my were-cat abilities to be heightened beyond those of the ordinary housecat.

Meanwhile, I think Xiahou should go correct Senator Gregg, since the man clearly doesn't know his own mind. "[D]uring a news conference with reporters, Gregg said 'The Census was only a slight catalyzing issue. It was not a major issue.' "

-edit-

Reading further in that piece, it doesn't seem that any of the previous directors of the Census have a problem with whatever plans are afoot. And apparently the Bush Administration did a lot of coordinating for the 2000 Census. Is this a real issue, or is this Fairness Doctrine Mark 2?

But Kenneth Prewitt, who served as Census director from 1998 to 2001, said he worked with White House staff during the 2000 Census on budgeting, advertising and outreach efforts. In an e-mail, Prewitt said he never met with anyone "more senior than a deputy chief of staff, except once when I met with the entire cabinet on how each member could assist in the large outreach effort then underway."

Other former Census directors agreed that coordination with the White House on budgeting and outreach was appropriate while data collection and analysis should be kept separate.

As for potential political interference, “It’s virtually impossible to do something wrong without someone finding out about it,” said Vincent P. Barabba, who ran the 1980 Census. “It’s about as transparent an agency that exists.”

Barbara Everitt Bryant, who served as director during the 1990 Census, said: "I would have liked a little of the bully pulpit help, because one of the big things is just to get everyone to answer the questionnaire. The president would have a lot more clout on that than anything we could have done at the Census bureau."

[Xiahou]

Okay, somebody explain or link to an explanation about this whole census thing. What's the big whup?

Here is some background:

"The real issue is who directs the Census, the pros or the pols," says Mr. Chapman. "You would think an administration that's thumping its chest about respecting science would show a little respect for scientists in the statistical field." He worries that a Census director reporting to a hyperpartisan such as White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel increases the chances of a presidential order that would override the consensus of statisticians.

The Obama administration is downplaying how closely the White House will oversee the Census Bureau. But Press Secretary Robert Gibbs insists there is "historical precedent" for the Census director to be "working closely with the White House."

It would be nice to know what Sen. Gregg thinks about all this, but he's refusing comment. And that, says Mr. Chapman, the former Census director, is damaging his credibility. "He will look neutered with oversight of the most important function of his department over the next two years shipped over to the West Wing," he says. "If I were him, I wouldn't take the job unless I had that changed."

As to Gregg's stated reasons- he lists the census as a reason, I suspect he's trying to downplay how much of one it was. The census is one of the biggest responsibilities of Commerce isn't it? I can't imagine he was happy when he found out that it was being taken out of his Dept.

[Lemur]

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Some of the other threads are wandering a bit. Time to give issues relating to the formation and actions of Obama's administration a home of their own. SF

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Yeah, I saw in Google News that the WSJ piece you quote was the most mainstream source putting this out there. Lots of hits in the Fox News Forum and NewsMax and other rightwingish places. I guess this is the outrage of the week. Helloooooo Fairness Doctrine: The Sequel. Just when you thought Rupert Murdoch's various media organs were done talking about flag pins ....

The first census to be conducted under the auspices of a Democratic President in thirty years comes along, and the rightwing media goes ape. I am Lemur's total lack of surprise. And because some hispanic groups have been agitating for statistical sampling, this means that the Dems are going to gerrymander the entire nation or something, right?

And even though Gregg says the census was not a primary motivation, it really was. Gotcha.

Look, Gregg lobbied for the cabinet post. He wasn't offered it out of the blue. And by all accounts, the Obama Admin was working with him and trying to make things right. Gregg was fully aware of the stimulus bill (for those of you who skipped Macroeconomics 101, "stimulus"="spending"), and he was fully aware of the census brouhaha. Something happened.

I find this at least as suspicious as the dude with the security cameras who just happened to have a loaded weapon ready when four men armed with assault rifles came to "rob" his home.

-edit-

Looking at the issue again: Bruce Chapman, the only named source in the WSJ piece you quote, is firmly linked with the religious right. Specifically, he founded an institute that pushes Intelligent Design. He also never conducted a census, since he was appointed by Saint Reagan a year after the 1980 census.

The person who actually conducted the 1980 census says: “It’s virtually impossible to do something wrong without someone finding out about it,” said Vincent P. Barabba, who ran the 1980 Census. “It’s about as transparent an agency that exists.”

Secondly, what's with the flip-out about White House involvement in the census, anyway? Guess what? The Commerce Department is run by ... (drum roll) ... a political appointee! Who answers only to .... (drum roll) ... the President of the United States! So if you were okay with a census being conducted by the Reagan Administration, and then by the Bush Administration, and then by the Bush Administration ... hmmm ... what's changed?

[Xiahou]

I think, Lemur, i was more about appearances. Obama wants to be bipartisan so he appoints Gregg, he then promptly strips Gregg of one of his primary responsibilities because he apparently doesn't trust a Republican to do it. It's Obama that politicized it in doing so. Had he wanted to be apolitical or post-partisan or whatever the buzz word is, he would've left it alone.

If there was no need to worry about funny business, why did they change it?

[Seamus Fermanagh]

I do love these Lemur v Xiahou arguments -- sources, well-expressed points of view, just enough "edge" to give it liveliness. Good STUFF!