Obama picks conservationist Salazar as Interior secretary

President-elect Barack Obama will choose Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) as his secretary of the Interior, Democratic sources said Monday.

Salazar is the first Democratic senator from the state of Colorado and he supported Obama vigorously during the campaign. He has also been a strong defender of the environment throughout his career.

He opposed new oil drilling in Colorado, however he was not the first choice of all environmental groups with many rallying instead for Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.). Some environmentalists view Salazar as more of a "centrist."

However other environmental groups expressed satisfaction with the Salazar pick.

“Ken Salazar’s solid record as a supporter of renewable energy suggests he is well prepared for one of the fundamental challenges facing the Department of Interior: the need for solid stewardship of federal lands while allowing those lands to be part of the climate solution by hosting massive new renewable energy developments,” said Seth Kaplan, a vice president of the Conservation Law Foundation, in an e-mail message published by the New York Times.


Seattle Post Intelligencer
Obama picks Salazar as Interior secretary
Los Angeles Times, CA - 8 hours ago
Two senior Democrats said Monday that Obama would name Salazar, a Latino, to the post, rounding out an energy and environmental policy team announced at a ...
CO-Senate: Salazar Departure Creates GOP Opportunity Washington Post
Ken Salazar—Barack Obama's interior secretary nominee Chicago Tribune
A Conservationist for the Interior Dept. New York Times

Bad times leave Obama unscathed

While most Washington politicians from both major parties appear abhorred in public opinion polls, President-elect Barack Obama is as popular as ever.

The public is not linking Obama with the faltering economy and nearly 8 in 10 people surveyed are satisfied with his performance in the transition period.

Although most of those interviewed were doubtful that Obama could fulfill most of his campaign promises, they thought the president-elect was intelligent and had a positive attitude of him. Obama seems to stand out as someone people trust to look out for their general interests.

People also had a favorable view of Obama's Cabinet and staff picks. They especially and liked his choice of Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, and believe that he is making a good effort toward bipartisanship in keeping on Robert M. Gates as secretary of defense.

Michelle Obama also enjoyed high favorable ratings as the incoming First Lady with 54 percent having a positive view of her. About 69 percent thought that Obama was a positive role model for women.





AFP
FOX News Poll: Most Americans Positive About Obama's Cabinet
FOXNews - Dec 11, 2008
A recent FOX News poll finds that many Americans are pleased with President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet picks. Most Americans rate President-elect Barack ...
Obama Gets Strong Support in Poll Wall Street Journal
Obama transition going well, most in AP poll say The Associated Press
Obama enjoys strong public support as president-elect Los Angeles Times
WSJ/NBC News Poll: Michelle Obama on the Rise Wall Street Journal Blogs

Barack Obama to nominate Eric Shinseki for Veterans Affairs

Democratic sources said Saturday that President-elect Barack Obama will nominate retired Gen. Eric Shinseki as secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Shinseki gained attention when he testified that many more troops were needed to pacify Iraq. His statements drew anger from administration officials and Shinseki retired a few months later.

Obama is expected to formally annouce the nomination of the highly-decorated Vietnam War veteran on Sunday -- Pearl Harbor Day. Shinseki is a Japanese-American from Hawai'i and is Obama's first Asian or Pacific Islander selected for a Cabinet position.

This Feb. 25, 2003 file photo shows Gen. Eric K. Shinseki, then Chief of Staff of the United States Army, attends the Senate Armed Services committee hearing regarding the Defense Authorization Request for 2004 on Capitol Hill in Washington. U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has selected retired Gen. Eric K. Shinseki to be VA secretary according to Democratic officials, Saturday Dec. 6, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)








Then U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Eric Shinseki reviews the guard of honour in New Delhi February 3, 2003. President-elect Barack Obama has selected Shinseki to be the next secretary of veterans affairs, Democratic sources said. REUTERS/B Mathur

ABC News

Obama takes Shinseki for Cabinet, sources say
CNN - 1 hour ago
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President-elect Barack Obama will nominate retired Gen. Eric Shinseki to be secretary of Veterans Affairs, two Democratic sources said Saturday.
Obama picks general to lead veterans affairs Reuters
Dem officials: Shinseki to be named VA secretary The Associated Press

Obama to nominate Richardson for Commerce

President-elect Barack Obama will announce Gov. Bill Richardson as his nominee for secretary of commerce, according to Democratic sources.

Richardson is one of the highest profile Latino elected officials in the country. During the campaign, Obama energetically courted the Latino vote and won that segment handily during the general election. Richardson endorsed Obama over Hillary Clinton during the primary season.

Richardson has excellent credentials but his nomination will attract some controversy from Chinese Americans, who objected to his handling of the Wen Ho Lee spy case when Richardson was secretary of energy during the Clinton administration. Some Chinese Americans are protesting the nomination demanding a formal apology from Richardson.

Malaysia Star

Obama to nominate Richardson for Cabinet
CNN International - 1 hour ago
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President-elect Barack Obama will announce New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson as his pick for secretary of commerce on Wednesday, a Democratic source told CNN.
Obama to name Richardson for Commerce on Wednesday The Associated Press
Chinese-American activists oppose any Bill Richardson cabinet ... San Jose Mercury News

Obama picks Cabinet at record speed

President-elect Barack Obama is choosing his Cabinet at record speed putting together a "team of rivals" from all sides of the political spectrum.

David Sirota argues that the real rivalry here is not between the Cabinet members but between Obama's campaign promises and his future policy decisions. He rightly notes that Obama must be given the chance to deliver on his promise that all policy emanates from him and not from his Cabinet and staff.

Having competing voices is generally a good thing as long friction does not interfere with results. Few presidents have entered office with the kinds of tests Obama is facing. Possibly only Franklin Delano Roosevelt inherited a more battered economy, and the country is mired in two wars that are part of a larger "war on terrorism." The broader geopolitical situation is heating up with the possibility of a new strategic arms race also around the corner.

Here are the new members of the national security team:

Hillary Clinton, will serve as Secretary of State, arguably the highest profile position next to the president.

Secretary Robert Gates, the current Secretary of Defense, will continue to serve and presumably will have no problem implementing a 16-month pullout from Iraq, if that policy is indeed implemented.

Eric Holder, former Deputy Attorney General and a former United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, will serve as Attorney General. He will be the first African American to serve in that post.

Janet Napolitano, Governor and former U.S. Attorney for Arizona, will serve as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. The first woman to serve in this position that was just created during the Bush administration.

Dr. Susan E. Rice, a Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the Obama for America campaign, a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, will serve as Ambassador to the United Nations.

General Jim Jones, USMC (Ret), former Allied Commander, Europe, and Commander of the United States European Command, will serve as National Security Advisor.

Washington Post

Obama Dazzles Dems and GOP with Cabinet Picks
FOXNews - 1 hour ago
President-elect Barack Obama has named half of his Cabinet members at record speed and earned positive reviews from both sides of the political aisle.

Obama to nominate Geithner on Monday

President-elect Barack Obama is expected to nominate Timothy F. Geithner as his Treasury Secretary on Monday. Larry Summers will likely also be appointed as head of the president's National Economic Council.
These choices probably do not indicate a move toward serious regulation in the fiinancial industry, which may explain why the swing traders drove the stock exchange upward on news of the Geithner pick. For example, he opposes the Treasury plan to regulate the Federal Reserve Bank, and also opposes mandated capital requirements for hedge funds.

He has even characterized the current regulatory system has "an enormously complex web of rules that create perverse incentives and leave huge opportunities for arbitrage and evasion, and creates the risk of large gaps in our knowledge and authority.”

However, in congressional testimony last summer, Geithner did stress the need for "substantial reforms” of the system claiming that the Fed needs "broader" authority to handle the crisis.

Canada.com
Will Geithner at Treasury Keep Fighting For the Fed?
Wall Street Journal Blogs, NY - Nov 21, 2008
With Mr. Geithner as President-elect Barack Obama’s pick to be Treasury secretary, the Treasury plan for Fed regulation is effectively dead. ...

A Treasury Contender Schooled in Crisis As Head of New York Fed ... Washington Post
Wall Street lauds likely Treasury pick Minneapolis Star Tribune

Tom Daschle to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services

Former Senate majority leader Tom Daschle has accepted an offer by President-elect Barack Obama to run Health and Human Services.

Daschle was one of Obama's earliest supporters and many of Obama's campaign and senate staff had come from the former South Dakota senator own former staff or from his recommendations.

CTV.ca

Tom Daschle accepts Obama offer to lead Health and Human Services
Los Angeles Times - 1 hour ago
Ron Edmonds / AP Daschle, a former Senate majority leader, would head the agency that will handle the incoming administration's efforts to expand health insurance coverage, a Democratic source says.

Sources close to Sen. Hillary Clinton say that she is also considering whether to take the job of secretary of state. Obama reportedly has made it known to Clinton that he wants her to accept the job.

Eric Holder set for Attorney General post

News agencies are reporting that President-elect Barack Obama has informed Eric H. Holder Jr. that he will likely be selected as Attorney General, although the final decision has not been made yet.

When confirmed, Holder will become the first African American to hold this Cabinet position. He was appointed the first African American deputy attorney general during the Clinton administration.

Reports also indicate that Obama will choose Peter R. Orszag as director of the Congressional Budget Office, and Jacob Lew, Clinton's budge director, as director of the National Economic Council.

So far, it looks like Obama will bring back many of Clinton's old team for their experience in Washington in handling key positions. Many of Obama's Chicago and Senate associates are taking adviser staff positions up to this point.

BBC News

Holder Seen as Pick for Justice Post as Obama Begins to Settle on Team
New York Times - 59 minutes ago
By ERIC LICHTBLAU and JOHN M. BRODER WASHINGTON - President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team has signaled to Eric H. Holder Jr.

Barack Obama wants to pick Eric Holder Jr. as attorney generalChicago Tribune

Barack Obama resigns senate seat, appoints more staff

President-elect Barack Obama officially resigned his seat in the U.S. Senate representing Illinois on Sunday. Obama was the second African American senator from that state.

llinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, will appoint Obama's successor. Some rumor that he may choose Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.

Obama also announced more staff appointments including longtime friend and supporter Valerie Jarret as a White House senior adviser. Pete Rouse, Obama's senate chief of staff, will also come aboard as a senior adviser.

It looks almost certain that Sen. Hillary Clinton will be the new Secretary of State. As the situation stands with all the media hoopla it would be awkward if either Obama failed to offer her the position or if she refused.

Palin preparing for 2012?

With all the media appearances of Gov. Sarah Palin, it looks rather obvious that she is getting ready for a possible run for president in 2012.

Really when you think about it, there are not many other good Republican contenders out there. Most people cannot name a prominent Republican who has name recognition and would make a feasible candidate.

Palin obviously needs a lot of polishing especially when it comes to national television interviews.

Voice of AmericaSchiliro Added to Team
Washington Post, United States - 9 hours ago
and the House Oversight Committee, and a policy director for Obama adviser and former senator Thomas A. Daschle (DS.D.). Jarrett's job was described by ...
Obama names campaign insider as senior White House adviser CBC.ca
Clinton Said to Be Frontrunner for Secretary of State (Update1) Bloomberg
Obama urges aid for homeowners and automakers Chicago Tribune

Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State?

Looks like Sen. Hillary Clinton will be strongly considered for the position of secretary of state based on unusual leaks from the Obama transition team, and a meeting between Clinton and President-elect Barack Obama.

Should Clinton accept it might indicate that she is keeping open the possibility of running for president again in 2016 when she will be 67 years old. In comparison, Sen. John McCain would have been 72 if had won the election.

By becoming secretary of state, Clinton could rack up some executive branch experience and would be better positioned to compete for an Obama endorsement and for his social networking support.

Obama, Clinton meet to talk about her future
CNN International - 47 minutes ago
(CNN) -- President-elect Barack Obama met with his former rival Sen. Hillary Clinton to see if she would be interested in a role in his administration, two sources told CNN Friday.

Hillary Clinton mum on political future Reuters

More on Transition (5)

Attorney General

Gov. Deval Patrick -- of Massachusetts and former assistant U.S. attorney for civil rights.

Gov. Janet Napolitano -- governor of Arizona.

Rep. Artur Davis, D-Ala. -- member of House Judiciary Committee.

Jerry Brown -- current Attorney General and former governor of the State of California.

Labor Secretary

Maria Elena Durazo -- executive secretary–treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO and national co-chair of Obama campaign.

Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., chairman of House Education and Labor Committee.

John Chiang -- current California state controller and former Board of Equalization member. Stood up for state worker salaries against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Transportation Secretary

Rep. Doris Matsui, D-CA -- member of House Transportation Committee.

Jane Garvey -- former head of Federal Aviation Administration.

Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn. -- chairman of House Transportation Committee.

Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore. -- member of the House Transportation Committee.

Comment: Obama must act with all 'deliberate haste'

President-elect Barack Obama knows that time is of the essence.

Some 16 years ago, Bill Clinton also swept into office with a stunning victory including wins in many southern states where Democrats had not won in a long time. Clinton's party enjoyed full control of Congress also with numbers very similar to Obama's current advantage.

However, within just two years, the Democrats had lost control of Congress for the first time in 40 years. Republicans have dominated the legislature for most of the period since that time until the 2006 elections.

Obama is already reviewing George W. Bush's executive orders and is expected to reverse many of them. Unlike Clinton, Obama is wasting no time in making key appointments.

While Clinton faced an economic recession upon entering office, most analysts will agree that his problems pale in comparison to those Obama must tackle.

BBC News
Editorial: Undoing Bush's executive orders
San Jose Mercury News, USA - 15 hours ago
Among the best is Obama's opportunity to overturn some of Bush's worst executive orders. Where to begin: Stem cell research ban? Gone. ...
Obama team: No decisions on reversing Bush orders Reuters
Obama Plans to Overturn Bush Executive Orders Environment News Service
Obama Team Reviewing Bush Orders `Across-the-Board' (Update1) Bloomberg

More on Transition (4)

Treasury Secretary

Sheila Bair -- chair of the FDIC, she has been a proponent of greater regulation. She has supported direct assistance to distressed homeowners and is a believer of recovery from the bottom up.

Meredith Whitney -- managing director of Oppenheimer & Co., she correctly predicted much of the current financial mess that faces the country and world.

Commerce Secretary

Federico Pena -- former Secretary of Transportation and Secretary of Energy during Clinton administration. An early supporter of Obama and one of his Latino co-chairs.

Penny Pritzker -- business executive, Obama fundraiser.

Health and Human Services Secretary

Dr. Howard Dean -- a medical doctor and current head of the Democratic Party. Dean reportedly is interested in the position.

Sen. Hillary Clinton -- a bit unlikely, but she would not be a bad choice.

Sen. Daniel Akaka -- defender of Medicaid access, Akaka might benefit from coming from Obama's homestate of Hawai'i.

More on Transition (3)

The first confirmed appointment by President-elect Barack Obama is Rep. Rahm Emanuel from Obama's hometown of Chicago.

Obama called Emanuel the best person he knows at getting things done. The Illinois congressman is known both for his steady stream of expletives and results. He offers the urgency in an urgent situation in contrast to Obama's usual easy-going style.

Emanuel's flashy, fiery get-it-done approach may be meant to balance Obama's more cerebral tendencies.

Some Republicans have complained that Emanuel is too partisan and confrontational, but others note that he has been effective at working across party lines.

Here are some more progressive suggestions for cabinet positions:

Secretary of Defense

Gen. Wesley Clark -- this might require some burying of the hatchet, but Clark has the obvious combination of military and political experience.

Sen. James Webb -- he opposes the Iraq War and introduced a bill that would prevent military spending for any confrotation in Iran. A Vietnam veteran and former Secretary of the Navy, he resigned the latter post in protest to cuts in the military budget. However, there is no indication that he opposes Obama's proposed cuts in military spending.

National Security Adviser

James Steinberg -- deputy national security adviser during Clinton administration.

Dr. Susan Rice -- also recommended for Secretary of State.

Dr. Samantha Powers -- good pick but maybe unlikely due to her outburst against the Clinton campaign during the primary.

More on transition

Secretary of Education

Colin Powell -- There is speculation that Barack will appoint at least one Republican to his cabinet. The former secretary of state is one logical choice. In 1997, he founded America's Promise, an alliance of national organizations dedicated to teaching today’s youth, and in 2008 was spokesperson for National Mentoring Month.

Alma Vivian Powell -- wife of Colin Powell and Co-Chair of America's Promise. Both her father and uncle were high school principals. She has authored two children's books, America's Promise and My Little Red Wagon.

HUD Secretary

Rep. James Clyburn -- a South Carolina representative has been a champion of low income housing.

Mayor Shirley Franklin -- has worked hard for affordable housing, housing for homeless veterans, etc. in Atlanta, where she is mayor.

Secretary of the Interior

Gov. Ed Rendell -- he's done a good job cleaning things up in his home state of Pennsylvania.

Jamie Rappaport Clark -- Bill Clinton's former Fish and Wildlife Service director managed Endangered Species Act protections and expanded the National Wildlife Refuge System. She would make a great choice.

Jay Inslee -- a congressional rep. from Seattle, he authored the book Apollo's Fire: Igniting America's Clean Energy Economy.