Barack Quote by Lawrence O'Donnell
![“In this case, the government will essentially be run by the people who are running it now. The top level [Barack] Obama appointees will leave by inauguration day.” quote by Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1ae/lawrence-o-donnell-1701_barack_in-this-case-the-government-will-essenti_78004.jpg)
“In this case, the government will essentially be run by the people who are running it now. The top level [Barack] Obama appointees will leave by inauguration day.”
About This Quote
The quote warns that a change in leadership will not alter the underlying power structures, as existing officials will retain control despite a new administration.
In simple terms: Power persists beyond electoral change.
Key Takeaway
Incumbent influence endures.
Themes
political power
institutional continuity
elite control
bureaucracy
governance
political cynicism
Mood
skeptical
cynical
critical
Type
political commentary
analysis
prediction
When to use this quote
- post-election transition
- cabinet reshuffle
- policy continuity debates
- media analysis of new administration
Key Concepts
political elite
administrative inertia
appointment cycles
policy implementation
Practical Applications
- strategic planning for NGOs
- risk assessment for investors
Questions to Reflect On
- How can citizens ensure genuine change after elections?
- What mechanisms can limit entrenched bureaucratic power?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that new leaders can enact reforms by appointing new staff and redefining priorities, challenging the notion of immutable bureaucracy.
![“[Donald Trump's inauguration] will be the first one that I miss since I've been in Congress. You cannot be at home with something that you feel that is wrong, is not right.” quote by John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0ea/john-lewis-1310_congress_donald-trump-s-inauguration-will-be-the_81588.jpg)
![“I don't think anybody knows it was Russia that broke into the DNC. She [Hillary Clinton] is saying Russia, Russia, Russia. Maybe it was. I mean, it could be Russia. But it could also be China. It could also be lots of other people.” quote by Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c72/lawrence-o-donnell-1701_broke_i-don-t-think-anybody-knows-it-was-russi_115025.jpg)
![“I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect [Donald Trump], or then-president [Barack Obama]. But it's - I'm very clear. I voted for the change that put the Army Field Manual in place as a member of Congress. I understand that law very, very quickly and am also deeply aware…” quote by James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/761/james-mattis-9515_army_i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-th_3990.jpg)
![“The president [Barack Obama] asked for a commitment of, I think, 100,000 jobs for veterans and military spouses over the next couple of years. And we announced during the tour last week that we have gotten more than 60,000 jobs, and we're well on our way to just crashing that goal out of the…” quote by Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/83d/michelle-obama-518_barack_the-president-barack-obama-asked-for-a-c_15651.jpg)
![“I think the president's [Barack Obama] position has been very clear on Syria. He wants more aggressive, he's put the Special Ops on the ground, in fact one of the Republican criticisms is he's got thousands of Americans there. We just don't call them troops on the ground, we don't admit to it. But…” quote by Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f9c/juan-williams-7909_aggressive_i-think-the-president-s-barack-obama-pos_17086.jpg)
![“It cannot be an American fight. And I think what the president [Barack Obama] has consistently said - which I agree with - is that we will support those who take the fight to ISIS. That is why we have troops in Iraq that are helping to train and build back up the Iraqi military, why we have…” quote by Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f1e/hillary-clinton-51_agree_it-cannot-be-an-american-fight-and-i-thi_19737.jpg)
![“It wasn't [Barack] Obama per se; it was the feeling on the ground; it was seeing an old black woman in a wheelchair being wheeled by her son waving a big American flag, and then seeing a guy with his baby in his arms saying, "I didn't want her to miss tonight! I wanted to be able to tell her!" And…” quote by Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/806/bill-ayers-1848_able_it-wasn-t-barack-obama-per-se-it-was-the_20409.jpg)
