The Obama Administration Team

[donheff]

May as well start a thread to discuss Obama's initial picks for his administration. Numero uno is Rahm Emanuel - just announced as Chief of Staff. A good choice in my opinion (yeah, partisan, I know). Ari Gold's brother :-)

[OAG]

You are right the election is over. Now it is time to get down to business. Does this spell the end of affirmative action; or is it time to resurrect reparations? Lets get the list of all potential cabinet members. Someone make some noise over at the Supreme Court - seems it looked like three may have been waiting for a Democratic administration to come to power so they could retire - time to announce. Then who gets the nod for the positions. The American people need to know - come on CNN, CNBC, FOX, et. el., lets get out there and "do your job".

[Ultimate Cheapskate]

My money is on Paul Volcker for Treasury and Richard Danzig for Defense (Gates might stay on for a little continuity period, but then Danzig is the man). I've had the pleasure of meeting both gentlemen a number of time, and feel good about those choices.

[clifp]

Volcker is 81, I think he did a decent job his first time around Fed Chairman, but Treasury Sec is going to be a job that demands lots of long hours of the next year. There is a big difference in energy level between a 70 something and 80 something.

If like to see Obama nominate Rubin, he was the best guy in Clinton's administration IMO.

[donheff]

Originally Posted by clifp

Volcker is 81, I think he did a decent job his first time around Fed Chairman, but Treasury Sec is going to be a job that demands lots of long hours of the next year. There is a big difference in energy level between a 70 something and 80 something.

If like to see Obama nominate Rubin, he was the best guy in Clinton's administration IMO.

+1. Tap Volcker for advice but not for work.

[samclem]

Originally Posted by OAG

Someone make some noise over at the Supreme Court - seems it looked like three may have been waiting for a Democratic administration to come to power so they could retire - time to announce. Then who gets the nod for the positions.

Yep,the confirmation "hearings" will be a hoot. The biggest challenge any SOCUS nominees will face in the newly elected senate will be finding their way through all the thrown rose petals to their place at the table. Compared to what Bork, Thomas, Alito, and Roberts endured, it will be a quite a love-fest.

[dex]

Originally Posted by donheff

May as well start a thread to discuss Obama's initial picks for his administration. Numero uno is Rahm Emanuel - just announced as Chief of Staff. A good choice in my opinion (yeah, partisan, I know). Ari Gold's brother :-)

He should be fun at a dinner party:
The Brothers Emanuel - New York Times

Revenge was heavy in the air as the group discussed the enemies - Democrats, Republicans, members of the press - who wronged them during the 1992 campaign. Clifford Jackson, the ex-friend of the President and peddler of the Clinton draft-dodging stories, was high on the list. So was William Donald Schaefer, then the Governor of Maryland and a Democrat who endorsed George Bush. Nathan Landow, the fund-raiser who backed the candidacy of Paul Tsongas, made it, too. Suddenly Emanuel grabbed his steak knife and, as those who were there remeber it, shouted out the name of another enemy, lifted the knife, then brought it down with full force into the table.
''Dead!'' he screamed.
The group immediately joined in the cathartic release: ''Nat Landow! Dead! Cliff Jackson! Dead! Bill Schaefer! Dead!''

[youbet]

Originally Posted by dex

He should be fun at a dinner party:
The Brothers Emanuel - New York Times

Revenge was heavy in the air as the group discussed the enemies - Democrats, Republicans, members of the press - who wronged them during the 1992 campaign. Clifford Jackson, the ex-friend of the President and peddler of the Clinton draft-dodging stories, was high on the list. So was William Donald Schaefer, then the Governor of Maryland and a Democrat who endorsed George Bush. Nathan Landow, the fund-raiser who backed the candidacy of Paul Tsongas, made it, too. Suddenly Emanuel grabbed his steak knife and, as those who were there remeber it, shouted out the name of another enemy, lifted the knife, then brought it down with full force into the table.
''Dead!'' he screamed.
The group immediately joined in the cathartic release: ''Nat Landow! Dead! Cliff Jackson! Dead! Bill Schaefer! Dead!''

This seems to tie in with the comment you made recently in another thread:

Think of Obama as the Richard Nixon of the Democratic Party. There will be enemy lists, Chicago Machine tactics, and dirty tricks

I agree. Obama will have those that did not support him figuratively tortured, yet will present the image of the even-handed philosopher king reaching out to make peace with all. His choice of Rahm Emanuel is consistent with this......

[chinaco]

Obama has a tough challenge. I suspect he will get little sympathy from the population/voters.

If he is perceived as biased... he will be tossed the next election. If he cannot make significant improvements in the economy... he will be tossed. If he does not address the energy problems and fuel prices begin to rise again... he will be tossed out.

All of that with GWB's massive debt hanging over our country.

Personally, I hope Obama can fix it. As a middle class American... I have everything to lose and nothing to gain (if he cannot fix it).

I think that we all have that common goal. We are in a bad situation right now. To heck with emotional politics. We really need some economic solutions.

[dex]

Originally Posted by chinaco

Obama has a tough challenge. I suspect he will get little sympathy from the population/voters.
If he is perceived as biased... he will be tossed the next election. If he cannot make significant improvements in the economy... he will be tossed. If he does not address the energy problems and fuel prices begin to rise again... he will be tossed out.

Three things would need to change for this to happen
1. media bias changes and Obama is held accountable for the situation
2. the polarization of the parties changes so that those that supported him can hold him accountable
3 Obama and his supporters do not blame the repubs minority (see how it was done in the first bail out bill - they weren't even needed to pass it) and pass administrations

I do not think these things will come to pass. With the scenario you present I think it will be acceptable the the media and people. It is like previous presidents that said one thing and did another e.g. Clinton - I feel your pain - eviscerated welfare - it would not have been acceptalbe by a repub.

He will be a 2 term president unless he does something similar to Nixon and even then nothing will happen unless the media holds him accountable.

[ERD50]

Originally Posted by chinaco

Obama has a tough challenge.

.... If he does not address the energy problems and fuel prices begin to rise again... he will be tossed out.

Well that *is* a tough challenge! The most important "answer" to the energy problem *is* higher fuel prices!

If he can't get that communicated and understood by the masses, we are in for "more of the same", shell-game style "energy policy".

I give him credit - he tried by rejecting the idea of a "Gas Tax Holiday". I cheered him on that. What was the reaction from the general population though - I don't know if we have numbers on that? I'm guessing the average Obama supporter wants LOWER gas prices?

-ERD50

[youbet]

Originally Posted by chinaco

If he is perceived as biased... he will be tossed

No. The folks that put him in office, for the most part, expect him to be biased towards their agenda.

the next election. If he cannot make significant improvements in the economy... he will be tossed.

No. He, his team and his followers are alreadty lining up the excuses. If the econonmy does not improve, it will be because those dang conservatives in the private sector and the minority GOP in Congress are deliberately undermining things just to make him look bad.

If he does not address the energy problems and fuel prices begin to rise again... he will be tossed out.

Some truth there. Many of his supporters expect to pay much less at the pump with him in office. Not surprising since one of his campaign promises was lower prices at the pump.

Personally, I hope Obama can fix it. As a middle class American... I have everything to lose and nothing to gain (if he cannot fix it).

Agree with you there. I'm pulling for him 100%. I think most folks that question him and his motives are hoping to be wrong and are pulling for him, unlike the Dems who gleefully cheered at each drop in the DOW hoping a sour economy would help their candidate win.

[donheff]

Originally Posted by ERD50

I give him credit - he tried by rejecting the idea of a "Gas Tax Holiday". I cheered him on that. What was the reaction from the general population though - I don't know if we have numbers on that? I'm guessing the average Obama supporter wants LOWER gas prices?

-ERD50

Yeah, they do. Same with the average McCain supporter.

I think we should have taxed gas starting in the 70s as a national security issue. With the barrel down in the $60s now I think we should institute a floating tax to keep the price high enough to drive change - maybe a $3 -$3.50/gal floor. Maybe it won't be needed with demand increasing in China. But, if prices drop way down and stay down for a while we will go right back to our gas guzzling ways.

[FinanceDude]

Originally Posted by youbet

I think most folks that question him and his motives are hoping to be wrong and are pulling for him, unlike the Dems who gleefully cheered at each drop in the DOW hoping a sour economy would help their candidate win.

Maybe they all listened to Suze Orman and are in zero coupons like her, so the don't care what the market does........