Obama's picks for cabinet posts

[atlrvr]

There has been much announced and speculated over the last couple of days.

Clinton for Sec. of State

Gates staying on as Defense Sec.

Geither for Sec. of Treasury

Holder for Attorney General

Daschale for Sec. of Health and Human Services

Napolitano for Sec. Homeland Security

the best news in my opinion is Bill Richardson being quitely rumored for Sec. of Commerce. His pro-green, pro-transit agenda is exactly what we need, and is one of the best negotiators out there.

[monsoon]

I don't have many thoughts on the individuals at the moment. I think in general this won't be a "yes boss" cabinet full of political cronies. Our economy has been destroyed, there has been a huge transfer of wealth to a small segment of the USA, we are stuck in two endless wars, and the rest of the world now pitys us. Obama, could pick almost anyone that would do a better job than the disaster of Bush, his corporate puppetmasters, and the incompetent idiots that he had in positions of power.

Obama is now holding daily news conferences on plans to try to hold us steady and to keep the markets from crashing further and to give the people some idea there is a bit of rationality in the leadership. I can't remember a president elect being so engaged before his term starts. Meanwhile, despite not only having caused the above and is aware of it, Bush's only act today was to pardon two turkeys. Cheney, who has only been seen once in the last 1/2 year is probably spending his days destroying evidence.

Thankfully this nightmare is almost over.

[vdogg]

I don't have many thoughts on the individuals at the moment. I think in general this won't be a "yes boss" cabinet full of political cronies.

[krazeeboi]

Hillary has officially been introduced as Sec'y of State, Susan Rice will be UN Ambassador, Sec'y Gates will be staying on for Defense. So far, all good choices IMO. I hope he can get Bill Richardson in there somehow. I like that guy.

[vdogg]

Hillary has officially been introduced as Sec'y of State, Susan Rice will be UN Ambassador, Sec'y Gates will be staying on for Defense. So far, all good choices IMO. I hope he can get Bill Richardson in there somehow. I like that guy.

[ohioaninSC]

Bill Richardson is rumored for Sec. of Commerce according to various media reports.

[dpbaker]

I fail to see the "Change"....

[Neo]

I fail to see the "Change"....

I assume you believe that Obama's tactics are the same as Bush's tactics then? What is it that you fail to see? What would you rather see?

[dpbaker]

I assume you believe that Obama's tactics are the same as Bush's tactics then? What is it that you fail to see? What would you rather see?

[Gusterfell]

One of the things that concerns me the most is the SCOTUS and the total loss of checks and balances. I'd certainly like to see the Court remain as it is - 4 liberals, 4 conservatives, and one coin tosser. Decisions you will like, decisions I will like - won't always go our way. Obama WILL skew it to the left if given the chance, and I don't like that all - an unbalanced court in either direction is a very dangerous thing.

[kayman]

Well, in all reality - some of Obama's tactics WILL be the same as Bush's. He won't have a choice or the luxury of "Change" as he promised, at least not right away. As far as his picks?? More Washington politics with some old Klintonites as well as good, old Chicago infused corruption! Actions of the new administration will speak louder than words and I am willing to give the Obama Adminitration the benefit of the doubt, but the ideologies and previous records of so many of his appointees and Obama himself have me remaining pessimistic. I simply don't trust them. That doesn't mean they won't earn it or do a good job, but I'll keep my expectations low - the disappointment will have a lesser impact that way. Only time will tell.

One of the things that concerns me the most is the SCOTUS and the total loss of checks and balances. I'd certainly like to see the Court remain as it is - 4 liberals, 4 conservatives, and one coin tosser. Decisions you will like, decisions I will like - won't always go our way. Obama WILL skew it to the left if given the chance, and I don't like that all - an unbalanced court in either direction is a very dangerous thing.

What I'd really rather see? How about 2 or 3 more viable parties in U.S. politics to weaken both the Democrats and Republicans. Both parties are lost, corrupt, incompetent, and look where we are now. An incompetent Bush Administration with the least popular Congress in history (thank you Republicans and Democrats alike!). I was exceptionally disappointed in what the two parties offered in the form of candidates. McCain? Set up to fail. What a weak candidate that should have never been. Obama? I think he was too blindly accepted and not really examined by far too many. Feel good candidates, watch out.....

[atlrvr]

Hmmm...can someone please explain the rumor of Obama picking Ray LaHood for Secretary of Transportation?

LaHood is a long serving REPUBLICAN congressman from Illinois, who has very little experience in transportation matters. I don't see how LaHood would be a good steward of the Green infrastructure agenda....maybe (hopefully) I'm wrong.

[Justadude]

Interesting to follow the reactions of both the right and the left to Obama's choice of Rick Warren to give the inaugural invocation. Personally I find Warren flaky and unappealing, and my reflex was to react negatively -- but having had some time to reflect on the matter, I realize that this is basically a challenge to walk the talk about "change"'.

The Warren selection is going to force folks on the left to come to terms with the idea of embracing their former enemies and working together toward a better nation. Some are already organizing protests around the event -- around the inauguration of the President they worked to elect! -- which I find to be a sort of litmus test for their true "post partisan" feelings.

[Gusterfell]

^We've been down this road before. In '93, Billy Graham gave Bill Clinton's inaugural invocation, an effort by Clinton to reach out to the religious right. In return they spent the next eight years doing anything they could to bring him down.

I get what you're saying about the left, but aren't Obama's supporters' attitude toward their political rivals sort of irrelevant? Their guy is in power, and Obama's agenda is what it is, whether or not his supporters complain about "reaching across the aisle." If we are to have a "post-partisan" government, it seems to me that the onus falls on the president's rivals to be willing to work with him. The recent opposition practice (from both right and left) of stymieing the president at every turn has done more to divide the nation than anything Clinton, Bush, or Obama could do, and only the opposition can change that practice.

[Justadude]

If we are to have a "post-partisan" government, it seems to me that the onus falls on the president's rivals to be willing to work with him.

[vdogg]

Hmmm...can someone please explain the rumor of Obama picking Ray LaHood for Secretary of Transportation?

LaHood is a long serving REPUBLICAN congressman from Illinois, who has very little experience in transportation matters. I don't see how LaHood would be a good steward of the Green infrastructure agenda....maybe (hopefully) I'm wrong.

[Gusterfell]

I certainly haven't felt that way for the past 8 years. The first gesture always has to be made by those in power. I suspect that Obama is "priming the pump" by choosing Warren for a symbolic role -- if he's serious about changing the partisanship in Washington, he's going to have to make much more significant appointments of his political rivals into positions of real power.

[Lowerdeck]

Bill Richardson has withdrawn himself as the nominee for Commerce Secretary, since he's involved in a scandal involving pay-to-play contracts as Gov. of NM.

Bummer. I thought he would have been good for the role. I wonder who'll be picked for replacement.

[sean]

has obama selected another commerce secretary?

[Lowerdeck]

^^^ I'm pretty sure there's nothing yet.