Prometheus 6

They live by the old rules of Washington politics and, simply stated, they are in it for themselves.

To be sure, as dedicated partisans, they want their new president to succeed. But unlike untried recruits and enlistees eager to go the distance for their leader, Washington insiders will go to the ground at the first sign of a threat to their own eminence.

Which means any sign of an attempt to heed this advice will inspire the entire horde to go into self defense mode. Fun times ensue.

You don't get to Senator, much less President, without your crew being chock full of insiders. Still, there's some pretty basic stuff here that are really good reality checks. Yeah, plural.

A Heretic's Advice To Obama
By Colbert I. King
Saturday, June 21, 2008; A17

Today, I shall commit an act of heresy so offensive to cherished Washington beliefs that revocation of my citizenship in the nation's capital is quite likely to follow.

Nonetheless, I press on.

My offense? I contend, contrary to accepted Washington doctrine, that should Barack Obama be elected president, he ought not to allow his administration to fall into the clutches of Washington insiders.

(The distant sound you hear is that of long knives being sharpened.)

This advice is offered for Obama's own good.

More than 30 years of observation has led me to conclude that Washington insiders are to new administrations what steroids are to baseball. They are easily available, can produce a profound sense of strength and are hard to withdraw from once trouble hits home.