How the White House Kept a Secret

[Playinghardball]

Source: MSN Slate
By John Dickerson

All Work and No Play
A president's day is more than whatever appears on his public schedule.

President Barack ObamaEver had something really important on your mind that you couldn't shake no matter what you were doing? You put the butter in the kitchen drawer instead of the fridge because you were replaying the meeting you had with your boss that morning or stay stopped after the light turned green because you're thinking about that presentation tomorrow. Imagine, then, what it would be like to be President Obama holding the operation to kill Osama Bin Laden in your head while trying to go about your day.

In the timeline of the Bin Laden operation, we see just how closely the secret life of a president bumps against his public life. Though this operation was a special case, it puts in high relief an oft-forgotten truth about the presidency: The president is occupied by a lot more than the public can see.

This would seem obvious, but it gets lost in the endless assessments of whether the president is "showing leadership" on any given topic. Much of that coverage assumes a president with more time than he actually has, buffeted only by the facts we know.

More at: http://www.slate.com/id/2292754/?GT1=38001

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. It's like juggling chainsaws...

that are on.

Without getting hurt.

He makes it look easy.

This glimpse into his inner life has increased my respect for him one thousand-fold.

Recommended.

[monmouth]

2. The BC issue, slamming trump and rehearsing those quips, all with

the knowledge you've signed a death warrant and big action will be coming down soon. Good job Mr. President.