I share your concerns; I think it is related to the migration toward the "company model" of national operation which makes the President more of a CEO than a political leader. I remember with 'orror when I first heard a bureacrat using the word "appropriate" to describe speech that was likely to be non-controversial -- if it was "inappropriate" you shouldn't say it. This was applied not only to normal etiquette like hate, swearing and sexual remarks but also ideas not likely to fit in well with the current train of group think being rippled down the organization.

A