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Hope, change, unity - a government of intelligent, experienced people with the expertise that is needed to be the most effective and efficient at solving our problems and improving the living conditions including: the economy, security, education, health and human services, as well as making the best decisions for our role in the world and future generations.
The Clinton Administration was the most socio-economically successful administration we've ever had. They created 22.5 million jobs.
Go help a lot of poor people survive.
And then tell me which was more helpful, "pragmatism" or "ideology." Ideology is not bread - it is the idea of bread.
(And that's a metaphor - for those who will take it too literally.)
Ideas themselves don't feed hungry people. Pragmatism does. When it's a matter of survival or fixing problems, it's a matter of what works most efficiently and effectively.
It's very nice to be able to afford to sit back and contemplate ideological issues, with a full belly, and warm shelter you can call your own.
But in no way does ideology by itself trump pragmatism - when pragmatism is for the greater good. Ideology often just slows it down. (Or makes it impossible to achieve success or resolve.)
The bottomline is: Barack Obama, at this point, with his comprehensive intelligence and experience, truly knows a lot more about what it takes to govern successfully, and who will be the most helpful to him, than any of critics.
