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Originally posted by Kwicko:
A few thoughts on the current political landscape...

It should be noted that Obama will be meeting Monday with John McCain as well. Speculation is that he'll be offering his rival a cabinet position (I'd guess SecDef when Gates retires in about a year (according to rumor), or a Veterans Affairs position - at any rate, it just about HAS to be a Cabinet-level position to be interesting enough to lure McCain away from the Senate).

As much as the left and right vilify each other's "extreme" positions on the issues, the truth is that the left and the right in this country really aren't very far apart on most things. Some say Obama's victory is a "mandate", pointing out his more-than-two-to-one Electoral College victory - but in fact, the popular vote is still damned close to 50/50. And to govern a country where almost half the people think you're wrong at any given time, you have to either (a) piss off about half the people most of the time, as Bush has done very well, or (b) find a way to work down the middle on the majority of issues. As such, bringing a "team of rivals" into the Cabinet makes a good deal of sense.

And, as they say, keep your friends close, and your enemies closer... Which is why there's a push by Obama to keep Lieberman around and try to make him somewhat happy (without giving away the store, that is).

I'd actually like to see McCain in a position to work WITH the White House. I'd like to see Condi Rice stay, too - she's a Russia expert, and we may damned well need one again, sooner rather than later. She's a smart woman, and she has much to offer - but what would her position be?

Colin Powell's name has been mentioned as a possibility for Secretary of Education (!), which I find intriguing, to say the least. It's crazy, but it might just be crazy enough to work. Maybe we NEED a general to whip our education system into shape; nothing else we've tried seems to really be working.

Who else would you like to see working in a bipartisan Administration? How else can we actually make our government work FOR us, rather than against us?

Any thoughts?

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So far all of Barry's picks (and possible picks) have been white Washington insiders, where's the "CHANGE" dude?

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Originally posted by Kwicko:

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So far all of Barry's picks (and possible picks) have been white Washington insiders, where's the "CHANGE" dude?

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As far as "Barry" is concerned, it's a lose/lose proposition when it comes to people like you. Hire someone experienced, and it's "where's the change?"; hire an "outsider" and it's "they're not experienced!".

"Change" is probably going to come slowly if at all, and you have to have effective people in place to implement it. And just think, if he only pushes for "change" five or ten percent of the time, he'll be labeled a "maverick".

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Originally posted by AnthonyT:
"He could chose some people from industry or academia, instead he's bringing back Clinton's old gang"

Hello,

I believe 'Clinton's old gang' would include some people with diplomas from academia who have experience in industry. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm not sure what you expected to occur, Whozit. Did you expect Obama to appoint a Distinguished Professor of Education to his staff? Perhaps one from the University of Illinois?

I can certainly see him doing worse than appointing Mrs. Clinton as Secretary of State, given that she is probably familiar with most foreign leaders and may have spoken to them on numerous occasions at various diplomatic functions.

Are there any specific areas of concern in his appointments?

For my own part, the one thing I've heard that troubles me is the potential disqualifier on his staff's employment questionaire: Do you own a gun?

--Anthony

"Liberty must not be purchased at the cost of Humanity." --Captain Robert Henner

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Originally posted by AnthonyT:
Hello,

I expect change (if it comes) to come in the form of policies. I expect him to make the use of the most experienced people available to make that change. This means, of course, that dudes who have been around for a while will be in charge of dismantling their own machine.

I don't know if change will actually occur. If it does occur, I don't know if the change will be positive. It's too soon to know. But I'm not prepared to start belittling or criticizing the President Elect before he ever sits down to implement a policy.

--Anthony


"Liberty must not be purchased at the cost of Humanity." --Captain Robert Henner

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Originally posted by MalBadInLatin:
If I read any words from any Rupert Murdoch publication my eyes and fingertips burst into flame.

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Is Obama recreating the Clinton era?

...All in all, 31 of the 47 transition or staff posts that Mr Obama has filled so far have gone to people with ties to the Clinton administration, Politico has reported.

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I expect change (if it comes) to come in the form of policies. I expect him to make the use of the most experienced people available to make that change. This means, of course, that dudes who have been around for a while will be in charge of dismantling their own machine.

I don't know if change will actually occur. If it does occur, I don't know if the change will be positive. It's too soon to know. But I'm not prepared to start belittling or criticizing the President Elect before he ever sits down to implement a policy.

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..All in all, 31 of the 47 transition or staff posts that Mr Obama has filled so far have gone to people with ties to the Clinton administration, Politico has reported.

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Originally posted by SimonWho:
Yeah, that pesky Clinton administration with its stupid budget surplus and strong economic recovery from the recession.

Can't see how that sort of experience would be useful.

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Originally posted by whozit:
You can also thank the Republican House & Senate, they kept Billy in check. Now we're going to spend mega bucks to keep the banks and union companys from going under, UAW gave alot to Barry and the Dems.

I'm going to microwave a bagel and have sex with it - Peter Griffin

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