John Podesta called President Obama a “sharp, calm, decision maker,” who “wants input from everybody.” During a Politico conference earlier this year, Podesta said Obama comes to meetings prepared, includes everybody in a give and take, and then ends the meeting with a decision on how to move forward.

Podesta said David Gergen described Obama’s style best: “Aloha Zen.” And the campaign’s famous “no drama” motto is still playing out in the administration. Said Podesta, “He really hates people knifing each other … He doesn’t like any carping on the outside … In his team, and his approach to Republicans on Capitol Hill, he’s a guy that doesn’t hold grudges and I think that’s good for the country.”

John Podesta says health care reform, and action on energy and environmental protections, are all possible during President Obama’s first year in office. During a discussion moderated by Mike Allen of Politco, Podesta said that despite past hang ups in the Senate — and a “bump” in the road when Tom Daschle’s name was withdrawn as the nominee for HHS Secretary — the “forces are aligned” for action this year under President Obama’s leadership on key domestic policy issues.

John Podesta says Obama’s commitment to his core issues — middle class tax relief, health care reform, public education, and energy and the environment — are evident in the recovery package. Speaking at a Georgetown University/Politico conference, Podesta said the President has been clear that efforts to support economic recovery were opportunities to work on “those things that he talked about on the campaign trail.”