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.

Possibilites for a progressive and green transition

President-elect Barack Obama has named former Clinton chief of staff, John Podesta, to run his transition team. Obama is wasting no time in selecting a cabinet to face the tremendous challenges lined up against his administration.

The selection of Podesta might indicate a desire to seek old Clinton operatives rather than bringing in outsiders. However, it is expected that Obama will appoint some non-Washington faces to stay consistent with his message of change. Obviously as Clinton was the only Democratic president to serve in nearly three decades, most experienced Washington insiders within the party would have served in his administration.

Although the push has been toward the "center right," here are some possible progressive and green choices that Obama could make in choosing his cabinet.


Secretary of Climate Change

Ok, such a position does not exist, but many are suggesting that Obama create an office to tackle the climate change crisis. Here are some possible picks:

Van Jones -- founding president of Green For All and a senior fellow with the Center for American Progress. He is also the author of The Green Collar Economy. Not much Washington experience here -- a true outsider -- and an African American. Many people of color will be looking to see whether the first African American president tows the line on diversity in the appointment process.

Gov. Bill Richardson -- He has done a great job in cleaning up his state of New Mexico. Promised to be the "energy president" before dropping out of the primary. Also, would help in developing a diversity profile as he is a Latino American.

Secretary of State

Al Gore -- probably not likely that he would accept this position but Gore's stock around the world has risen due to his work on global climate change. Of course, this would make him a good candidate for climate change czar as well.

Susan Rice -- one of Obama's foreign policy advisers, she is a former assistant secretary of state and a strong proponent of multilateral engagement. A woman and African American.

Sen. John Kerry -- an early and strong Obama supporter, Kerry is one of the betting favorites for this position. He would be a good choice. He has strong network of international connections.

Secretary of Energy

Jason Grumet -- head of the National Commission on Energy Policy and the Bipartisan Policy Center, and chief Obama adviser on energy and the environment.

Dan Reichert -- formerly assistant energy secretary under President Clinton, a lawyer for the Natural Resources Defense Council, and a sales executive at a renewable energy firm. Now he is director of climate change and energy initiatives at Google.org.

Ian Bowles -- secretary of energy and environmental affairs in Massachusetts under Gov. Deval Patrick.

More to come later.

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Napolitano part of Obama's transition team
KTVK 3TV Phoenix via Yahoo! News - Nov 05 4:28 PM


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Transition Time
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