Obama’s Friends Form Strategy to Stay Close

NY TIMES ^ | 12-13-08 | Jodi Kantor

[STARWISE]

Last Sunday night, President-elect Barack Obama’s three closest friends — Valerie Jarrett, Martin Nesbitt and Dr. Eric Whitaker — sat down in the study of Mr. Nesbitt’s house in Chicago for one of their increasingly frequent heart-to-hearts.

*snip*

In the presidential campaign, the Obamas had a “no new friends” rule, surrounding themselves with a coterie of familiar faces.

Even if the Obamas lift that rule in Washington, newcomers are unlikely to replicate the intensity of this group’s ties, formed over more than a decade by births and deaths, Scrabble games, barbecues and vacations, but also by shared beliefs about race, success and responsibility.

[Canedawg]

Where are all the caucasian, asian, and latino friends?

[M. Espinola]

Corruption Inc.

[PhilDragoo]

Gramps and Uncle Frank--now there's a cell that knew how to dummy up.

Old school. Stick to the basics.

Rahm Emmanuel: How can you ask me about corruption when I'm being such a great father--have you at last no decency.

We won't see any evidence of the hookah-smoking Hussein.

And. He. Only knows what he reads in the papers.

No formal discussion. We were never alone.

Now I've got to get back to work for the American people.

[hoosiermama]

Have you seen “the Twelve Ways of Frizmas?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2148297/posts

[the invisib1e hand]

Here's a simplified example: The leader has perhaps four cells, each containing five Senior vice presidents plus himself. Each Sr vice president has three to four cells where he directs lieutenants. The lieutants have their own cell's and so on. The security and plausible deniability are achieved by members having minimal or no knowledge of events or identities outside the cells for which they are members.

Sounds like freaking Amway.