a simple question for simple times

as i commented over at rortybomb:

is it really possible that the whitehouse didn’t understand the severity of the situation from day one? or was it that they simply didn’t listen and didn’t _want_ to understand because it didn’t fit with preconceived notions and policy positions? that sort of thinking explains the failure to stake out better positions on so many issues at the outset. as has been stated over and over again, his vague rhetoric during the campaign may have sounded sorta liberal and activist, but the concrete policy ideas and administration personnel were anything but.