Defense Policy Nominee Pledges Work on Iraq, Afghanistan, National Security
Michele A. Flournoy told the Senate Armed Services Committee that if confirmed,
she will work with Obama to responsibly end the war in Iraq and shift more
focus to stabilizing Afghanistan. She also said she will work to reduce
the strain on the military and ensure military members have the resources
they need.
"This is a critical time for our country," she said. "The
stakes are high, the resources are tight and the need to make hard choices
is pressing."
Flournoy said she believes the United States needs to increase its troop
presence in Afghanistan, and that the increase should happen quickly. Creating
a new strategy in Afghanistan by working with NATO, the Afghan government
and international donors will be one of the top priorities for the new
administration, she said.
"I think our objective in Afghanistan has got to be to create a more
stable and secured environment that allows longer-term stabilization and
prevents Afghanistan from returning to being a safe haven for terrorism,"
she said.
Obama promotes economic stimulus at Ohio wind turbine plant
"The way I see it, the first job of my administration is to put people
back to work and get our economy working again," he said.
But even if his stimulus plan wins approval, Obama warned, "recovery
won't happen overnight. It's likely that, even with these measures, things
will get worse before they get better."
He quickly ticked through the basics of his plan, saying that it would
"save or create 3 to 4 million jobs in businesses large and small
across a wide range of industries — and 90 percent of these jobs will be
in the private sector."
"I want to be clear — we're not looking to create just any kind of
jobs here," Obama stated. "We're looking to create good jobs
that pay well and won't be shipped overseas. Jobs that don't just put people
to work in the short term, but position our economy to be on the cutting
edge in the long term."
The president-elect reiterated his promises to extend unemployment insurance,
expand access to health-care coverage, double the production of renewable
energy, and provide a $1,000 tax cut for most working families.
He also pledged to "put nearly 400,000 people to work by repairing
our infrastructure," as well as provide greater federal assistance
to help states "avoid harmful budget cuts in essential services like
police, fire, education and health care."
President-elect prepares diplomatic initiative for Gaza
President-elect Barack Obama says he will appoint a team immediately after
his inauguration Tuesday to address "on Day One" the crisis in Gaza
and brewing troubles across the Middle East.
"We've got a regional set of problems," Obama said in a wide-ranging
interview with USA TODAY, noting challenges in Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan
as well as between Israelis and Palestinians. "They're not going to
be solved in isolation. And we've got to be active in all these areas in
order for us to be successful in any of these areas."
Obama gets first major win with TARP
Not yet in the White House but working the phones as if he were, Barack
Obama won a crucial Senate vote Thursday clearing the release of $350 billion
more in bailout funds from the Treasury Department's controversial financial
rescue program.
For the incoming president, the 52-42 roll call represented a first major
test of strength, and Obama threw himself into the fight, reaching out
to senators on both sides of the aisle and making calls until he had won
all but one of the seven Democratic freshmen elected in November.
Thursday's victory came even as House Democrats unveiled their $825 billion
two-year economic recovery plan - the next big plank for the new president
and one he will speak to in industrial Ohio Friday.
President-elect Barack Obama will travel to Bedford Heights, Ohio, to meet
with workers and discuss an American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan.
Statement from Incoming White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on the
meeting between President-elect Obama and President Calderón
Letter was sent by Larry Summers detailing President-elect Obama’s commitment
to reforming the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
President-elect Barack Obama will meet with Mexico’s President Felipe Calderón
on Monday, January 12.
President-elect Barack Obama announced that he intends to nominate the
following individuals for key posts at the United States Department of
Defense (DoD): William J. Lynn III, Deputy Secretary of Defense; Robert
F. Hale, Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller); Michèle Flournoy, Under
Secretary of Defense (Policy); and Jeh Charles Johnson, General Counsel.
Obama: tight noose on bin Laden as good as capture
In an interview that aired tonight on CBS, President-elect Barack Obama,
even as he called al Qaeda the biggest threat to national security, took
a more measured approach.
"I think that we have to so weaken his infrastructure that, whether
he is technically alive or not, he is so pinned down that he cannot function,"
Obama said.
"My preference obviously would be to capture or kill him. But if we
have so tightened the noose that he's in a cave somewhere and can't even
communicate with his operatives then we will meet our goal of protecting
America . . . And I'm confident that we can keep them on the run and ensure
that they cannot train terrorists to attack our homeland."
In a recording released today on an Islamist website, bin Laden described
Obama as the heir to President Bush's failed policies and said he would
"inherit a long guerrilla war against a patient, stubborn adversary"
and warned that al Qaeda would open "more fronts."
related:
Biden tells Obama Afghanistan war will get worse
President-Elect Barack Obama ’s Weekly Radio Address
Obama names intelligence leadership team - Remarks
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama named Leon Panetta, a former White House
chief of staff, to head the CIA and retired Adm. Dennis Blair to oversee
all U.S. spy agencies as director of national intelligence.
Obama warns of long recession without quick action - Speech
President-elect Barack Obama said Thursday the deepening American recession
could stretch years into the future if Congress fails to act
Obama Announces New Government Efficiency Post
President-elect Barack Obama today announced the creation of a new position
to work in conjunction with the Office of Management and Budget to increase
the “efficiency, transparency and accountability” of federal agencies.
During a news conference at the Obama-Biden transition office in Washington,
Obama named Nancy Killefer, a former Treasury official in the Clinton administration,
to fill the new post of chief performance officer.
From Obama’s prepared remarks:
For nearly thirty years - as a leader at McKinsey & Company, and as
Assistant Secretary for Management, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief
Operating Officer at Treasury under President Clinton — Nancy has built
a career out of making major American corporations and public institutions
more efficient, effective and transparent.
Nancy is an expert in streamlining processes and wringing out inefficiencies
so that taxpayers and consumers get more for their money. And during her
time at Treasury, she helped bring the Department into the twenty-first
century, modernizing the IRS and preparing systems for Y2K.
But Nancy also understands that at the end of the day, government services
are delivered by people. That’s why she’s always worked tirelessly to empower
employees to take matters into their own hands: to rethink outmoded ways
of doing things, to embrace new systems and technologies, and to take initiative
in developing better practices.
When Nancy was offered her first position at Treasury, she responded, “If
you’re willing to embrace significant change, then you’re looking at the
right person. But if you just want to keep the trains running on time,
don’t ask me to do this job.”
When I heard that, I knew I’d chosen exactly the right person for the challenges
we face.
Obama-Kaine joint appearance
President-elect Barack Obama and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine are meeting with
reporters at the Democratic National Committee's offices in Washington.
Kaine is taking on the additional role of DNC chairman.
There's a webcast of the session here.
Obama meets with Economic Advisers-Remarks
Obama stopped short of confirming that Panetta is his choice for the post.
Two Democratic officials with knowledge of the selection confirmed Obama's
choice of Panetta as CIA director Monday. They would not agree to be identified
because the choice has not been announced publicly.
Obama: Trillion-Dollar Deficits 'for Years to Come'
Slowing tax revenues and a historic bailout of the U.S. financial system
will send the budget deficit soaring toward $1 trillion this year, President-elect
Barack Obama said today, and the red ink stands to get substantially deeper
if Obama wins approval of a massive economic stimulus plan.
Even if the package of spending and tax cuts helps restore the nation's
immediate economic health, Obama said, the government is likely to be left
with "trillion-dollar deficits for years to come" unless policymakers
"make a change in the way that Washington does business."
"We're going to have to stop talking about budget reform. We're going
to have to totally embrace it. It's an absolute necessity," the president-elect
told reporters a day before the Congressional Budget Office is set to release
its outlook for the coming year.
"We're going to be investing an extraordinary amount of money to jump-start
our economy, save or create 3 million new jobs, mostly in the private sector,
and lay a solid foundation for future growth. But we're not going to be
able to expect the American people to support this critical effort unless
we take extraordinary steps to ensure that the investments are made wisely
and managed well," Obama said after an hour-long meeting with his
economic team.
Obama Appoints Fierce Bush Critic, Dean Of Harvard Law School To Justice
Dept.
President-elect Barack Obama announced his choice for senior posts, including
the number two spot, at the Justice Department on Monday. The appointments,
according to pundits, signal a break from the Bush administration's anti-terror
policies.
David Ogden, who heads the presidential transition team's agency review
of the Justice Department, was named deputy attorney general. He served
as assistant attorney general of the Justice Department's civil division
under the Clinton administration, and is currently a partner at Wilmer
Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr.
Elena Kagan, dean of Harvard Law School, has been tapped to be the first
woman solicitor general. She was a professor at the University of Chicago
Law School the same time Obama also taught constitutional law at the university.
The 48-year-old Kagan, who served in the White House as associate counsel
to the president and then as deputy director of the Domestic Policy Council
under the Clinton administration, will have as her main task as solicitor
general arguing for the government before the U.S. Supreme Court.
The President-elect also appointed Dawn Johnsen, a critic of the Bush administration's
interrogation policies, as assistant attorney general for the Office of
Legal Counsel, the very office that has come under controversy for issuing
what have been dubbed as "torture memos."
Johnsen, who is currently a professor at Indiana University School of Law-Bloomington,
recently published two articles entitled, "Faithfully Executing the Laws: Internal Legal Constraints on Executive
Power" and "What's a President to Do? Interpreting the Constitution in the Wake
of the Bush Administration's Abuses." She also served under the Clinton administration as acting head of the
office of legal counsel.
Tom Perrelli, who served as counsel to former Attorney General Janet Reno,
was chosen as associate attorney general. A managing partner of Jenner
& Block's Washington, D.C. office, Perrelli is a recognized as one
of the nation's leading media and entertainment lawyers. He graduated from
Harvard Law School, magna cum laude, in 1991, where he was managing editor
of the Harvard Law Review.
read:
Indiana University law professor Dawn Johnsen (an outspoken critic of President
George W. Bush over terrorist interrogations) was nominated to head the
Office of Legal Counsel, a once-anonymous corner of the department that
was thrust into the spotlight after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
It issued legal opinions that approved of harsh interrogation methods on
terror detainees and a classified surveillance program operated by the
National Security Agency without court oversight.
Ms. Johnsen, who served in the office during the Clinton administration,
has said she was "appalled" by memorandums that allowed what
critics call torture of terror detainees. In comments in 2007 at a legal
conference, she said: "The president of course is not above the law.
Clearly what we need to do is restore OLC's tradition of independence and
integrity."
Ms. Johnsen, as a professor outside the administration, worked with several
former Office of Legal Counsel lawyers to promulgate a series of principles
to overhaul the office. One of them was a strong preference in favor of
publishing legal opinions. In recent years, the Bush administration has
refused to release some of the office's opinions, calling them private
advice to the president.
"These individuals bring the integrity, depth of experience and tenacity
that the Department of Justice demands in these uncertain times,"
Obama said in a statement. "I have the fullest confidence that they
will ensure that the Department of Justice once again fulfills its highest
purpose: to uphold the Constitution and protect the American people. I
look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead."
read:
from MoJo, Dawn Johnsen as the 'Anti-Yoo':
John Yoo, who worked in the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) in the Bush administration's
Justice Department, became famous for his memos in defense of torture and
his theory that the Constitution grants the president almost unlimited
power during times of war. (The OLC is the part of the Justice Department
responsible for providing legal advice to the executive.) Dawn Johnsen,
the woman whom Barack Obama selected on Monday to run Yoo's old office*,
published an article in 2007 entitled "Faithfully Executing the Laws:
Internal Legal Constraints on Executive Power." That's quite the contrast.
In a 2008 paper, "What's a President to Do? Interpreting the Constitution
in the Wake of the Bush Administration's Abuses," (PDF) she writes
that the Bush administration's disregard for the law should be the exception,
not the rule, going forward: link
The lesson we should draw from the Bush administration is not that we should
dramatically alter our understanding of longstanding presidential authorities.
Rather, it is the urgent need for more effective safeguards and checks
from both within and without the executive branch to preclude any future
recurrence of the Bush administration’s appalling abuses.
If you delve further into Johnsen's work, the contrast with Yoo gets even
sharper; she directly criticizes his legal theories. In the 2007 paper,
she wrote: http://www.uclalawreview.org/articles/content/54/ext/pd...
Yoo remains almost alone in continuing to assert that the Torture Opinion
was “entirely accurate” and not outcome driven.
One way to test Yoo’s claim is to consider whether OLC would have written
the opinion in the same manner if the President had preferred to receive
an OLC opinion that concluded the federal anti-torture statute actually
did tie his hands. What if the question had come, for example, from an
administration that was truly committed to treating all detainees lawfully
and humanely but was under pressure from members of Congress who believed
the President was not tough enough—who insisted that having the legal authority
to cross the line into torture when questioning suspected al Qaeda leaders
was in the United States’ national security interests? It is inconceivable
that, in those counterfactual circumstances, OLC would have written the
opinion as it did, interpreting the meaning of “torture” so narrowly or
crafting the implausible defenses of necessity and self-defense. Even if
written by the same lawyers—lawyers committed to an aggressively expansive
theory of presidential authority—and even if it had reached the same ultimate
conclusion, the reasoning and the issues addressed undoubtedly would have
differed substantially.
Johnsen was essentially calling Yoo out and politely accusing him of not
telling the truth. Later in her analysis of Yoo's torture opinion, Johnsen
writes that it "only makes sense as an advocacy piece, tailored to
an administration that, as Yoo described it, 'wanted the maximum flexibility
for the president to win the war,' including the flexibility to act counter
to statutory constraints." That's a nice way of saying that Yoo tailored
his legal opinion to allow the president to break the law.
But it's not just Yoo whom Johnsen disagrees with. There's also some evidence
that she may not see eye to eye with her future boss on one policy matter
. . .
read more:
TRANSITION: RICHARDSON'S OUT
The Washington Post says that Richardson “becomes the first political casualty
in Obama's Cabinet, and his withdrawal marked the first visible crack in
what had been one of the smoothest presidential transitions in modern history.”
The New York Times adds, “People familiar with discussions between the
two men said that while the president-elect did not press Mr. Richardson
to step aside, neither did Mr. Obama try to talk him out of it.”
Obama released this statement: “It is with deep regret that I accept Gov.
Bill Richardson's decision to withdraw his name for nomination as the next
secretary of Commerce… It is a measure of his willingness to put the nation
first that he has removed himself as a candidate for the Cabinet in order
to avoid any delay in filling this important economic post at this critical
time. Although we must move quickly to fill the void left by Gov. Richardson's
decision, I look forward to his future service to our country and in my
administration.”
Richardson had this statement: “[A] pending investigation of a company
that has done business with New Mexico state government promises to extend
for several weeks or, perhaps, even months. Let me say unequivocally that
I and my Administration have acted properly in all matters and that this
investigation will bear out that fact. But I have concluded that the ongoing
investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation
process. Given the gravity of the economic situation the nation is facing,
I could not in good conscience ask the President-elect and his Administration
to delay for one day the important work that needs to be done.”
Obama on the Hill Today
President-elect Barack Obama will be holding a series of meetings with
lawmakers on Capitol Hill today. He'll be focusing on an ambitious economic
stimulus package he wants passed quickly.
Obama plans to get together with lawmakers from both parties.
Over the weekend, he said without prompt action the economy could slide
much further and the jobless rate could quickly hit double-digit levels.
He was hoping Congress would give him something to sign the day he's sworn
in. But Republicans are demanding time to look over details.
Malia and Sasha start school
Barack Obama’s daughters, Malia and Sasha, began their first day at Sidwell
Friends School Monday, arriving amid a gaggle of journalists camped out
to capture the moment.
Commerce pick Richardson pulls out
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson on Sunday announced that he was withdrawing
his nomination to be President-elect Barack Obama's commerce secretary
amid a grand jury investigation into how some of his political donors won
a lucrative state contract.
A federal grand jury is investigating how a California company that contributed
to Richardson's political activities won a New Mexico transportation contract
worth more than $1 million. Richardson said in a statement issued by the
Obama transition office that the investigation could take weeks or months
but expressed confidence it will show he and his administration acted properly.
Obama 'chokes up,' says goodbye to Chicago
An emotional Barack Obama said goodbye to his Chicago home and hello to
Washington and what awaits him as the 44th U.S. president.
The Obamas' home for the next 10 days will be the Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington,
before moving to Blair House on Jan. 15, the Chicago Sun-Times reported
Monday. The family flew to Washington during the weekend -- wife Michelle
and daughters Malia and Sasha left Saturday and Obama Sunday -- so the
first daughters could begin school Monday.
But leaving the Windy City was tough, Obama told reporters.
Transition team hosts health care meetings
President-elect Barack Obama's transition team is starting to collect political
intelligence it could use to sway lawmakers and special interest groups
in the upcoming health care reform debate.
With more than 8,500 health care meetings scheduled across the country,
the transition is collecting insights into the major concerns nagging Americans
and hints on how to successfully frame the debate and on the broad results
they expect.
Obama Picks Military Man, Blair, as Top Spymaster
President-elect Barack Obama has chosen retired Adm. Dennis C. Blair to
be his top spymaster, indicating his preference for a strong military manager
as director of national intelligence, according to people close to the
transition.
Obama Transition team announces White House Task Force on Working Families
Today, the Obama Transition team announced the President-elect’s intention
to form a ‘White House Task Force on Working Families,’ to be chaired by
Vice President-elect Joe Biden, effective January 20, 2009. The Task Force
will be a major initiative targeted at raising the living standards of
middle-class, working families in America. The task force will be
comprised of top-level administration policy makers, and in addition to
regular meetings, it will conduct outreach sessions with representatives
of labor, business, and the advocacy communities.
President-elect Obama announces key members of Science and Technology team
In this week’s Democratic Radio Address, President-elect Barack Obama announced
key members of his Science and Technology team, including: Dr. John Holdren,
Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the
White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Co-Chair of the President’s
Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST); Dr. Jane Lubchenco,
Nominee for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator;
Dr. Eric Lander, Co-Chair, President’s Council of Advisors on Science and
Technology (PCAST); and Dr. Harold Varmus, Co-Chair, President’s Council
of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST).
President-elect Obama announces choices for Transportation, Labor, SBA
and USTR posts
Today, President-elect Barack Obama announced that he intends to nominate
United States Congresswoman Hilda Solis as Secretary of Labor, former United
States Congressman Ray LaHood as Secretary of Transportation, former Dallas
Mayor Ron Kirk as United States Trade Representative, and Karen G. Mills
as Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
“Today’s actions are a necessary step to help avoid a collapse in our auto
industry that would have devastating consequences for our economy and our
workers. With the short-term assistance provided by this package,
the auto companies must bring all their stakeholders together—including
labor, dealers, creditors and suppliers—to make the hard choices necessary
to achieve long-term viability. The auto companies must not squander
this chance to reform bad management practices and begin the long-term
restructuring that is absolutely required to save this critical industry
and the millions of American jobs that depend on it,” said President-elect
Obama.
Obama’s Picks for SEC, CFTC and the Fed’s Board
The prepared remarks of President-elect Barack Obama in Chicago introducing new nominees for the SEC, CFC and Fed’s board.
Lisa Jackson in Line to be First Black EPA Chief
Lisa Jackson is in line to become the first African-American to lead the
Environmental Protection Agency.
President-elect Barack Obama intends to announce Jackson as EPA administrator
in the coming weeks, barring unforeseen circumstances that derail his plans,
according to Democratic officials close to the transition.
Jackson, a Princeton University-educated chemical engineer, would take
the helm at the agency at a time of record-low morale and when it is still
grappling with how to respond to a 2007 Supreme Court decision that said
it could regulate the greenhouse gases blamed for global warming.
President-elect Obama announces choices for Interior and Agriculture posts
Today, President-elect Barack Obama announced that he intends to nominate
former Governor Tom Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture and Senator Ken
Salazar as Secretary of the Interior.
$700 billion of your money
In case you have some questions about how the Treasury Department is spending
the $700 billion of taxpayer dollars that Congress authorized, you're not
alone.
The Congressional Oversight Panel (COP) is tasked with answering just that
question.
Established by the same law that made the $700 billion fund available,
COP is chaired by Harvard Law School Professor Elizabeth Warren -- a bankruptcy
expert who has written extensively about the credit crisis for the blog Credit Slips.
Over at COP's homepage, COP.Senate.gov, she recorded a short video to tell you a little bit about the panel and the work they'll be doing.
The energy and environment team
"The future of our economy and national security is inextricably linked
to one challenge: energy," President-elect Barack Obama said at a
Chicago press conference today announcing the leaders who will guide his
administration's policy on energy and the environment.
The “green dream team”
President-elect Obama's picks for key members of his energy and environment
team have not just drawn praise -- they've set off a wave of optimism that
the time for serious action on climate change has arrived.
President-elect Obama announces Arne Duncan as Secretary of Education Remarks
"Whether it's fighting poverty, strengthening the economy or promoting
opportunity, education is the common thread," Secretary-designate
Duncan said in his remarks. "It is the civil rights issue of our generation
and it is the one sure path to a more equal, fair and just society. While
there are no simple answers, I know from experience that when you focus
on basics like reading and math, when you embrace innovative new approaches
to learning, and when you create a professional climate that attracts great
teachers, you can make a difference for children."
Weekly Address: President-elect Barack Obama announces Secretary of HUD
WASHINGTON -- In this week's Democratic Radio Address, President-elect
Barack Obama announced that he will nominate Shaun Donovan, currently New
York City Commissioner of Housing Preservation and Development, as Secretary
of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
President-elect Barack Obama releases statement on auto deal
"I am disappointed that the Senate could not reach agreement on a
short-term plan for the auto industry. I share the frustration of so many
about the decades of mismanagement in this industry that has helped deliver
the current crisis. Those bad practices cannot be rewarded or continued.
But I also know that millions of American jobs rely directly or indirectly
on a viable auto industry, and that the beginnings of reform are at hand.
The revival of our economy as a whole should not be a partisan issue. So
I commend those in Congress as well as the Administration who tried valiantly
to forge a compromise. My hope is that the Administration and the Congress
will still find a way to give the industry the temporary assistance it
needs while demanding the long-term restructuring that is absolutely required."
President-elect Obama nominates Senator Daschle as Secretary of HHS
President-elect Barack Obama officially nominated former Senator Tom Daschle
as Secretary of Health and Human Services and named him the Director of
a new White House Office on Health Care Reform. Dr. Jeanne Lambrew, who
authored a book about health care reform with Daschle, will serve as Deputy
Director of the White House Office of Health Reform.
Statement of President-elect Obama on Human Rights Day
President-elect Obama called for the United States to stand up for human
rights, “by example at home and by effort abroad,” to commemorate Human
Rights Day.
Obama Picks Team to Guide Energy, Environment Agendas
President-elect Barack Obama has picked a Nobel laureate, a former Environmental
Protection Agency administrator, and officials from New Jersey and Los
Angeles to run his energy and environmental initiatives, putting heft into
roles likely to dominate domestic policy in his first years in office.
Steven Chu, 60 years old, director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
and a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, will be nominated as secretary of
energy, Democratic officials said Wednesday. Carol Browner, 52, who headed
the EPA under President Bill Clinton, will coordinate energy policy from
the White House in a new "energy czar" role.
Lisa Jackson, 46, a former environmental-policy official in New Jersey,
will be EPA administrator, and Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Nancy Sutley is
to be named chairwoman of the president's Council on Environmental Quality.
Obama Meet the Press Interview
Dec. 6, 2008
Obama Radio Address
Dec. 6, 2008
General Eric Shinseki nominated as United States Secretary of Veterans
Affairs
President-elect Barack Obama today announced General Eric Shinseki, the
first Asian American four-star general, as his selection to be United States
Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Remarks
Bill Richardson Announced as Obama Pick for Commerce Secretary
President-elect Obama: Remarks
Bill Richardson is a leader who shares my values — and he measures progress
the same way I do. Are we creating good jobs, instead of losing them? Are
incomes growing, instead of shrinking? I know that Bill will be an unyielding
advocate for American business and American jobs, at home and around the
world. And I look forward to working with him in the years ahead.
Obama team takes windfall profit tax off table
President-elect Barack Obama's team confirmed Tuesday that a windfall-tax
proposal has been dropped after the American Small Business League noted
it had been dropped in "an unceremonious and abrupt manner" from
the transition team's Web site. The American Petroleum Institute had fought
the tax proposal, arguing that one passed in 1980 preceded reduced domestic
output.
Obama Gives Political Ambassadors Their Pink Slips
The incoming Obama administration has notified all politically-appointed
ambassadors that they must vacate their posts as of Jan. 20, the day President-elect
Barack Obama takes the oath of office, a State Department official said.
The clean slate will open up prime opportunities for the president-elect
to reward political supporters with posts in London, Paris, Tokyo and the
like. The notice to diplomatic posts was issued this week.
President-elect Barack Obama reaches out to the nation's governors Remarks
Before meeting with the governors, who gathered in Philadelphia for a conference
of the National Governors Association, Obama cautioned that the nation
faces hard choices in the months ahead, and he pledged to listen to the
state executives regardless of party affiliation.
Departing from his prepared remarks in an opening statement, Obama offered
Republican governors "the same commitment to partnership" that
he extends to Democratic colleagues and vowed to cast aside ideological
considerations.
"There is a time for campaigning, and there is a time for governing,"
Obama told the group after an introduction by Vice President-elect Joseph
R. Biden Jr. "And one of the messages that Joe and I want to continually
send is that we are not going to be hampered by ideology in trying to get
this country back on track."
Obama Unveils His National Security Team Remarks
WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama called for “a new dawn of American
leadership” on Monday as he formally introduced his national security team,
led by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton as his nominee for secretary of state.
He introduced his team one by one, starting with Senator Clinton, his former
bitter rival for the Democratic presidential nomination; then Defense Secretary
Robert M. Gates, who will stay on, at least for a time, in the new administration;
Gen. James L. Jones, the former NATO commander, to be national security
adviser; Gov. Janet Napolitano of Arizona to be secretary of homeland security:
Susan E. Rice to be ambassador to the United Nations, and Eric H. Holder
Jr. to be attorney general.
President-elect’s Thanksgiving address
In a preview of his weekly address, President-elect Barack Obama urges
Americans to acknowledge the blessings we all share over this Thanksgiving
holiday.
While our nation is faced with tough economic times, President-elect Obama
recognizes the value of service in rebuilding struggling communities across
the country.
This Thanksgiving, President-elect Obama has asked the nation to celebrate
this distinctly American tradition while looking forward to the future
we share with hope and promise.
Watch the President-elect's Address
President-elect Obama spoke with Sec. Rice and Ambassador Sen about the
situation in Mumbai
President-elect Obama called Secretary of State Rice to get an update and
status report on the situation in Mumbai. President-elect Obama then
called Indian Ambassador Sen and conveyed that his thoughts and prayers
are with those affected by this tragic situation. He said that there is
just one president at a time. He also told him that he is monitoring the
situation and has been in communication with Secretary Rice.
Statement on the terrorist attacks in Mumbai
"President-elect Obama strongly condemns today's terrorist attacks
in Mumbai, and his thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families,
and the people of India. These coordinated attacks on innocent civilians
demonstrate the grave and urgent threat of terrorism. The United States
must continue to strengthen our partnerships with India and nations around
the world to root out and destroy terrorist networks. We stand with the
people of India, whose democracy will prove far more resilient than the
hateful ideology that led to these attacks," said Brooke Anderson,
Chief National Security Spokesperson.
President-elect Barack Obama and the soon-to-be first family handed out
food to the needy at a South Side church in Chicago, Illinois,
on the day before Thanksgiving.
Obama, his wife Michelle and their two daughters, Malia and Sasha, shook
hands and gave holiday wishes as they handed wrapped chickens to people
who had been lined up for hours at the food bank at St. Columbanus Parish,
331 E. 71st St.
The president-elect, dressed casually in a leather jacket, black scarf
and khaki pants, was in a jovial mood, calling out "happy thanksgiving"
and telling people "you can call me Barack."
His wife and daughters wore stocking hats, winter coats and gloves as the
family worked the food bank in the outdoor church courtyard with representatives
of the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
Obama added that it was important for his daughters to participate "because
I want them to learn the importance of how fortunate they are, and to make
sure they're giving back."
Michelle Obama echoed the importance, saying she wanted her daughters to
gain "an understanding of what giving and Thanksgiving is all about."
President-elect Barack Obama’s statement on the terrorist attacks in Mumbai
"President-elect Obama strongly condemns today's terrorist attacks
in Mumbai, and his thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families,
and the people of India. These coordinated attacks on innocent civilians
demonstrate the grave and urgent threat of terrorism. The United States
must continue to strengthen our partnerships with India and nations around
the world to root out and destroy terrorist networks. We stand with the
people of India, whose democracy will prove far more resilient than the
hateful ideology that led to these attacks," said Brooke Anderson,
Chief National Security Spokesperson.
Barack Obama establishes President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board Remarks
Chicago—Today, President-elect Barack Obama announced the establishment
of the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board. The Board will be
established initially for a two-year term, after which the President will
make a determination on whether to continue its existence based on its
continued necessity.
President-elect Barack Obama announces Office of Management and Budget
Director and Deputy Director
President-elect Barack Obama announced additional members of his economic
team today, nominating Peter Orszag as Office of Management and Budget
Director and Rob Nabors as Office of Management and Budget Deputy Director.
President-Elect Barack Obama and Vice President-Elect Joe Biden Announce
Key Members of Economic Team - Remarks
Geithner to serve as Secretary of the Treasury, Summers to head up National
Economic Council
President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden officially
announced key members of their economic team today, naming Timothy Geithner
as Secretary of the Treasury and Lawrence Summers as Director of the National
Economic Council. Obama and Biden also named Christina Romer Chair of the
Council of Economic advisors, and named Melody Barnes and Heather Higginbottom
to serve as Director and Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council.
“Vice President-elect Biden and I have assembled an economic team with
the vision and expertise to stabilize our economy, create jobs, and get
America back on track. Even as we face great economic challenges, we know
that great opportunity is at hand – if we act swiftly and boldly. That’s
the mission our economic team will take on,” said President-elect Obama.
The economic team members announced today are listed below:
Timothy F. Geithner, Secretary of the Treasury
Lawrence H. Summers, Director of the National Economic Council
Christina D. Romer, Director of the Council of Economic Advisors
Melody C. Barnes, Director of the Domestic Policy Council
Heather A. Higginbottom, Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council
Obama fills out White House communications team
President-elect Barack Obama on Saturday tapped as his White House press
secretary the communications director who helped Michigan Democrat Debbie
Stabenow win her first Senate campaign.
Robert Gibbs, whose appointment was announced by the Obama transition team,
helped craft strategy and messages for Stabenow in 2000 when she unseated
freshman Republican Sen. Spencer Abraham.
After working for Stabenow's campaign, Gibbs worked for Obama's Senate
campaign in 2004 and then became Obama's communications director in the
Senate.
Also named to the White House communications team were Ellen Moran, the
executive director of EMILY's List, who will be the White House director
of communications; and Dan Pfeiffer, the communications director for the
presidential transition team, who will be the deputy director of communications.
Obama Puts Longtime Aides At White House
Obama named four new members of his West Wing staff Wednesday. That include
a senior adviser job for his chief campaign strategist, David Axelrod.
He also announced Greg Craig as White House counsel. Craig was President
Bill Clinton's lawyer during his impeachment.
Chris Lu will be Cabinet secretary, the White House liaison to the Cabinet
and government agencies. And Lisa Brown, a lawyer who served as former
Vice President Al Gore's counsel, will be staff secretary.
Obama’s Radio Address
Transcript of President-elect Barack Obama’s radio address for Saturday,
Nov. 22
Geithner Said to Be Chosen for Treasury Secretary
President-elect Barack Obama will name Timothy F. Geithner to be his Treasury
Secretary, according to a knowledgeable Democrat, elevating a Treasury
veteran who as president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York has all
year been at the center of the worsening economic crisis.
Stocks jumped 300 points as news leaked Friday of the appointment, which
Mr. Obama is expected to announce by Monday, along with the rest of his
top economic advisers. The market’s rise followed days of steep declines
and worsening economic news that spurred the Obama transition offices in
Washington and Chicago to expedite announcements about the incoming economic
team in hopes of rebuilding confidence in the markets and among the public.
Mr. Geithner, 47, for weeks has been the subject of speculation for the
administration’s top economic post, a job that has gained out-sized stature
as the economy has weakened and the Treasury secretary has been put in
charge of a $700 billion financial bailout program. His chief rival was
his former boss at Treasury, Lawrence H. Summers, President Bill Clinton’s
final Treasury secretary.
Mr. Summers is likely to be named as an economics adviser as well, two
sources familiar with the Obama transition said, with the expectation that
eventually he will be named to the Federal Reserve Board, perhaps as successor
to Chairman Ben Bernanke.
Obama: 'Elections aren't over'
The outcome in the US Senate is still in doubt more than two weeks after
the election -- and with it the possible fate of Pres.-elect Barack Obama's
agenda.
Democrats hold 58 seats in the Senate that takes office in January (counting
independents Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Bernie Sanders of Vermont,
who usually vote with them), and they're within reach of 60 -- and a possible
filibuster-proof majority -- with races in Georgia and Minnesota still
up in the air.
"The elections aren't over," Obama, himself, says in a radio
ad starting to air today across Georgia on behalf of Democrat Jim Martin,
who faces Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss in a Dec. 2 runoff.
"I want to urge you to turn out one more time and help elect Jim Martin
to the United States Senate," continues Obama, who has also dispatched
hundreds of his staffers and canvassers. "Jim Martin's a man of his
word, and I know he'll do everything he can in the Senate to help me change
Washington."
Obama Ponders Prepackaged Bankruptcy for Automakers
President-Elect Barack Obama‘s transition team is exploring a swift, prepackaged
bankruptcy for automakers as a possible solution to the industry’s financial
crisis, according to a person familiar with the matter .
Obama’s team has already contacted at least one bankruptcy- law firm to
say that Daniel Tarullo, a professor at Georgetown University’s law school
who heads Obama’s economic policy working group, would call to discuss
the workings of a so-called prepack, according to this person. “It creates
the environment to deal with GM’s problems but limits government financial
commitment,” said bankruptcy lawyer Mark Bane of Ropes & Gray in New
York.
In a prepackaged bankruptcy, an automaker would go into court with financing
in hand after reaching agreement with lenders, workers and suppliers on
what each would give up and on the business plan to be followed. The process
might take six to 12 months, compared with two to five years if the automakers
followed an ordinary Chapter 11 proceeding and worked out agreements under
a judge’s supervision, Bane said.
Automakers would have to depend on government financing to restructure
in bankruptcy court and probably couldn’t attract private loans until they
were ready to emerge from the process, Bane said.
Obama Taps Daschle for HHS
Former Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) has been offered the
job of Health and Human Services secretary by President-elect Barack Obama
and has accepted the job, according to a Democratic source close to Daschle.
Emanuel Challenges Chief Execs on Health Care
President-elect Barack Obama's incoming White House chief of staff challenged
chief executives and other business leaders Tuesday night to join the new
administration in a push for universal health care, saying incremental
increases in coverage won't be acceptable.
"When it gets rough out there, a lot of business leaders get out of
the car and say, 'We're OK with minor reform.' I'm challenging you today,
we're going to have to do big, serious things," Rahm Emanuel said,
speaking to The Wall Street Journal's CEO Council, a conference convened
to elicit corporate opinion on the challenges facing the new president.
Mr. Emanuel promised that a major economic stimulus would be "the
first order of business" for Mr. Obama when he takes office Jan. 20.
The focus of spending will be on infrastructure, specifically "green
infrastructure," which he said would include mass transit, upgraded
electricity transmission lines, "smart" electrical meters that
allow consumers to save money by using electricity at off-peak hours, and
universal broadband Internet access, which he said would encourage telecommuting.
He stressed that the new administration would "throw long and deep,"
taking advantage of the economic crisis to push wholesale changes in health
care, taxes, financial re-regulation and energy. "The American people
in two successive elections have voted for change, and change cannot be
allowed to die on the doorsteps of Washington," Mr. Emanuel said.
Obama vows climate change action
In a video address to a global warming summit, Mr Obama also reiterated
his plans to start a "cap and trade" system that limits carbon
dioxide (CO2) emissions from big industries.
"We will establish strong annual targets that set us on a course to
reduce emissions to their 1990 levels by 2020 and reduce them by an additional
80 per cent by 2050," he said.
"My presidency will mark a new chapter in America's leadership on
climate change that will strengthen our security and create millions of
new jobs in the process."
"Once I take office, you can be sure that the United States will once
again engage vigorously in these negotiations and help lead the world toward
a new era of global cooperation on climate change," Mr Obama said.
Sources: Holder is Obama's choice for attorney general
Former Clinton Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder is President-elect Barack
Obama's choice for the position of attorney general, according to two prominent
Democrats involved in transition matters.
Holder, who is still being vetted, has indicated he will accept the job
if it is offered, the sources said.
If confirmed, Holder will be the first African-American to lead the Justice
Department.
Holder, 57, co-chaired Obama's vice presidential selection process.
A graduate of Columbia University and former federal prosecutor, Holder is a partner at the Washington law firm of Covington & Burling.
Text of President-elect Barack Obama's letter published in Illinois newspapers,
when he officially resigned from the Senate
Barack Obama, Michelle Obama on '60 Minutes': Video | Transcript
Transcript: President-Elect Obama’s Weekly Radio Address
11-15-08
Watch: Obama's radio address, now an online video
Greg Craig Selected as White House Counsel
President-elect Barack Obama has chosen Washington lawyer Gregory B. Craig, who served as President Bill Clinton's lead attorney during the 1998
impeachment proceedings, to be his White House counsel, according to an
individual involved with the transition.
Craig has been a longtime adviser to former president Clinton and Sen.
Hillary Rodham Clinton, but became a close adviser to Obama during the
campaign, reportedly serving as the stand-in for Sen. John McCain during
debate preparations.
Craig was a foreign policy adviser to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and Secretary
of State Madeleine Albright. He has defended high-profile clients, including
John Hinckley Jr., who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan,
and Kennedy nephew William Kennedy Smith, who was accused of rape.
But it was his defense of Clinton on the floor of the U.S. Senate during
the impeachment trial that vaulted the 63-year-old lawyer to prominence.
Obama Picks Rep. Henry Waxman's Longtime House Investigator to Head WH
Legislative Affairs Office
Phil Schiliro will be Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs,
the Obama-Biden presidential transition office announced today.
Schiliro has been working as the transition team's director of congressional
relations and was previously a senior advisor to Obama's presidential campaign,
where he also worked on congressional relations.
In Schiliro, Obama gets an experienced aide whose Washington career --
and connections -- stretch back decades. Before joining the Obama team,
Schiliro was chief of staff to Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and the House
Oversight Committee.
Obama chooses more White House positions
The Obama Transition Office Sunday morning announced that Peter Rouse,
currently Obama's chief of staff in his Senate office, will serve as a
senior advisor to the President. Before joining Obama in December 2004,
Rouse was chief of staff for 19 years to former Senate Democratic Leader
Tom Daschle of South Dakota. Prior to that he was chief of staff to then-Rep.
Dick Durbin of Illinois.
The Obama transition team also announced that Mona Sutphen will serve as
a deputy chief of staff. Sutphen is a member of the transition team staff
and has been managing director of Stonebridge International LLC, an international
strategic consulting firm based in Washington. From 1991 to 2000 she was
a U.S. foreign service officer, and among other assignments she served
in the White House at the National Security Council from 1998 to 2000,
under President Bill Clinton.
Jim Messina was also named a deputy chief of staff. Messina's currently
the director of personnel for the President-elect's transition team. He
saved as a national chief of staff for Obama's presidential campaign. Prior
to that Messina served as a chief of staff for Sens. Max Baucus of Montana,
Byron Dorgan of North Dakota and for Rep. Carolyn McCarthy of New York.
President-elect Obama, in a statement released by the transition team,
said "these individuals are important additions to a team with the
experience and ability to help our nation overcome pressing challenges
at home and around the world.
Want a top job in the Obama administration?
A seven-page questionnaire being sent by the office of President-elect
Barack Obama to those seeking cabinet and other high-ranking posts may
be the most extensive — some say invasive — application ever.
The questionnaire includes 63 requests for personal and professional records,
some covering applicants’ spouses and grown children as well, that are
forcing job-seekers to rummage from basements to attics, in shoe boxes,
diaries and computer archives to document both their achievements and missteps.
Obama to pioneer Web outreach as president
NEW YORK—Transition officials call it Obama 2.0 -- an ambitious effort to transform
the president-elect's vast Web operation and database of supporters into
a modern new tool to accomplish his goals in the White House. If it works,
the new president could have an unprecedented ability to appeal for help
from millions of Americans who already favor his ideas, bypassing the news
media to pressure Congress.
During his 21-month campaign, Obama built a list of 3.1 million contributors
and over 10 million supporters who helped power his victories over Democratic
rival Hillary Rodham Clinton and Republican John McCain. In addition to
helping raise a staggering $660 million, the campaign's Web effort reinforced
his message and themes, responded to political attacks and created volunteer
social networks that served as the basis for his field operation.
Obama's team is determining how best to convert his army of online activists
into a viral lobbying and communications machine. Staffers are reluctant
to discuss specifics, but Obama clearly is poised to become the first truly
"wired" president of the digital age.
For legal and privacy reasons, Obama's campaign list must be kept separate
from White House operations. Aides are figuring out if that list should
be run through the Democratic National Committee or as a freestanding political
entity that will eventually become his 2012 re-election committee.
But transition officials have already begun a new digital outreach effort,
based on the campaign model, aimed at supporters and others interested
in being connected to the activities of the Obama White House.
The transition operation has a new Web site, http://www.change.gov, designed for anyone who wants to post a message of congratulations, offer
suggestions for the new administration or apply for a government job. People
are invited to submit their names and e-mail addresses, with the goal of
creating a new list for the president-elect to tap when he wants to communicate
directly about a program he's promoting or seek help urging members of
Congress to support legislation he's proposed.
Obama draws up teams to study government agencies
WASHINGTON (AFP) — US president-elect Barack Obama is sending out an army
of top evaluators into government agencies to study the sprawling US bureaucracy
as he shapes the country's direction over the next four years.
Obama's 450-strong transition team will scour more than 100 departments
and agencies for data to underpin new policies once his presidency gets
underway on January 20. And aides said the teams could be in place as early
as Friday.
As the world also awaits news from Obama on his cabinet picks, transition
spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said Wednesday the transition staff was still
shaping the teams which will move into all government agencies.
"We're working hard to put the agency review teams together and expect
they'll be announced this week and inside the agencies by the end of the
week," she said in a statement.
Obama appoints 17-member advisory team
"US President-elect Barack Obama has appointed a team of high-level
advisers including billionaire investor Warren Buffett and Google Chief
Executive Eric Schmidt to guide his thoughts on the economy ahead of taking
office on January 20," the Telegraph report stated.
The team, to be called the Transition Economic Advisory Board (TEAB), has
17 members including former Fed Chairman Paul Volcker, whose name has also
been connected with the Treasury job, Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO,
Berkshire Hathaway, and former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, who would
also be at the meeting at the Chicago Hilton on Friday, the daily said.
At present, Robert Rubin is Chairman and Director of the Executive Committee
of global financial major Citigroup. Besides, corporate America is also well represented
in the team, with Time Warner Chairman Dick Parsons and Xerox Chairman
Anne Mulcahy and Schmidt, who was a loyal supporter of Obama during his
election campaign, it added.
Other members of the board comprise Laura Tyson, one of Obama's key economic
aides, former House of Representatives member David Bonior, two former
SEC Commissioners Roel Campos and William Donaldson, and Chairman of the
Midwest JP Morgan Chase William Daley, the Telegraph report said.
Obama Marks Veterans Day
President-elect Barack Obama issued a statement honoring America's veterans
today, the 90th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended
World War I. His statement follows:
As we mark Veterans Day, all Americans are united in honoring the extraordinary
service and selfless sacrifice of our nation's veterans. Our veterans are
part of an unbroken line of heroes who have defended the American people
and stood up for American values -- from the beaches of Normandy to the
battles in East Asia; from the deserts of Kuwait to the skies above Kosovo;
from the cities of Iraq to the mountains of Afghanistan. Since 9/11, a
new generation of American heroes has borne a heavy load in facing down
the threats of the 21st century, and their families have been asked to
bear the painful absence of a loved one. These Americans are the best and
bravest among us, and they are all in our thoughts and prayers.
On this Veterans Day, let us rededicate ourselves to keep a sacred trust
with all who have worn the uniform of the United States of America: that
America will serve you as well as you have served your country. As your
next Commander-in-Chief, I promise to work every single day to keep that
sacred trust with all who have served. May God bless our veterans, and
may God bless the United States of America.
Yes We Can: Barack Obama's History-Making Presidential Campaign in Photographs
Yes We Can is the story of Barack Obama’s historic journey from junior Senator from
Illinois to President of the United States as documented by Scout Tufankjian,
the only photographer to cover his entire nearly two-year campaign, and
is the only photography book showcasing images of Obama’s unforgettable
victory celebration in Grant Park, Chicago on election night, 2008.
For Obamas, a Tour of the White House and the Issues Ahead
WASHINGTON — Michelle Obama kissed Laura Bush lightly on the cheek. President-elect
Barack Obama gave President Bush an athletic pat on the shoulder. With
those simple gestures, carried out Monday afternoon on the South Portico
of the White House, a time-honored ritual of American democracy — the peaceful
transfer of power — officially began.
For the nation, it was an obvious first as an African-American came to
tour the White House as president-elect. But for Mr. Obama, the visit marked
a series of personal firsts:
His first trip back to the nation’s capital since his victory over Senator
John McCain last week. His first limousine ride in Washington; on the campaign
trail, Mr. Obama typically rode in a sport utility vehicle. His first time
inside the Oval Office; although Mr. Obama had been to the White House
before, he had never set foot inside the storied office that symbolizes
American power around the world.
The visit was choreographed to provide images of a smooth transition and
a warm and friendly welcome for the new first family, and the two couples
obliged. But there was as much substance as style; the session came in
the thick of a financial crisis that has Washington swirling with talk
of a second stimulus package, an expanded bailout for the insurance giant
A.I.G. and help for struggling automakers.
For an hour and five minutes, Mr. Bush and Mr. Obama sat in the Oval Office
with no aides or note-takers, and discussed the economic crisis and the
security challenges facing the nation. Mr. Obama pressed Mr. Bush to offer
aid to automakers; Mr. Bush raised the free trade pact with Colombia, stalled
in the Democratic-led Congress, people familiar with the session said.
Aides: Obama suggested more help for auto industry
President-elect Obama suggested to President Bush that the administration
immediately provide extra help to struggling U.S. automakers, aides to
the Democrat say, in their first face-to-face meeting since Election Day.
Obama's aides said the president-elect brought up the issue with Bush during
their two-hour White House talks on Monday, expressing his view that action
is needed now, not just to help the U.S. companies but also the broader
economy, because of their enormous reach. Bush repeated his position, recently
stated by staff, that he is open to helping the automakers.
Also, amid discussions over whether a new economic stimulus measure is
needed, Bush stressed that his main priority for any post-election action
out of Congress is approval of a long-stalled free trade agreement with
Colombia, said people familiar with the conversation between the two men.
The sources declined to be named publicly because of the private nature
of the talks.
Reflecting the delicate dance of a meeting between outgoing and incoming
presidents - one still in charge and one about to be - neither man made
direct requests of nor deal-making commitments to the other, even while
each made sure the other knew what they want.
The Illinois senator's spokesman, Robert Gibbs, said only that the discussion
involved "the broad health of the industry" and was not just
limited to any one of the three largest car makers.
Barack Obama putting family first
Times Online November 10, 2008 - FOR a man tasked with changing the world
and the way we see it, Barack Obama is making an effort to maintain a semblance
of normality in his family life in the week after his historic election
victory.
Although he is due to make his first visit to the White House as President-elect
later today to meet George W Bush Mr Obama still found time this morning
to make the school-run with daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, seven, at their
school in Chicago.
Pictured in the dark blue joggers and cap in which he has made his security-flanked
trips to the gym this week, Mr Obama was seen helping his girls out of
the car, before giving them a kiss and sending them on their way to school.
Whether they can concentrate on their classes with the questions over the
future First Puppy on the lips of the whole world and his dog (literally),
remains to be seen.
In between choosing his administration and planning to avert economic armageddon,
Mr Obama found time to spend three hours at dinner with wife Michelle in
their favourite restaurant in Chicago on Saturday night, as a couple who
have made no secret of their tenderness and closeness throughout the election
campaign . . .
Obama launches Web site to reach public
(CNN) -- Barack Obama had a formidable online presence during his quest for the
White House, and he is once again turning to the Internet to communicate
with the American public as president-elect.
President-elect Barack Obama has launched a Web site to chronicle his transition.
The site is still a little thin on content, but there's a blog, a newsroom
and a countdown to the January 20 inauguration.
Visitors can fill out a form to share their stories about what the election
meant to them, or they can give their vision of an Obama presidency. They
can even apply for a job.
Obama Hires Progressive Liaison For Transition Team
November 10, 2008 - Veteran Democratic official Mike Lux has been tapped
by Barack Obama to serve as an adviser and progressive liaison during the
transition period, the Huffington Post has learned.
Lux, who worked on the Clinton administration transition efforts in 1992,
confirmed the hiring but, citing a need for clearance, declined to offer
further information.
The staffing move provides the Obama team with an important outlet to the
progressive community -- a constituency from which the president-elect
currently enjoys great support but one that has a wide range of priorities
and will be holding Obama most firmly to his campaign promises once he
takes office.
After working in the Clinton White House on issues ranging from health
care and the budget to school lunch policy, he founded Progressive Strategies
LLC and began writing for the site OpenLeft.com in July 2007. He also helped
co-found a number of progressive institutions including: Americans United
for Change, Center for Progressive Leadership, Grassroots Democrats, Progressive
Majority, Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, and Women's Voices/Women Vote.
He writes for the Huffington Post.
Obama Weighs Quick Undoing of Bush Policy
CHICAGO — President-elect Barack Obama is poised to move swiftly to reverse
actions that President Bush took using executive authority, and his transition
team is reviewing limits on stem cell research and the expansion of oil
and gas drilling, among other issues, members of the team said Sunday.
As Mr. Obama prepared to make his first post-election visit to the White
House on Monday, his advisers were compiling a list of policies that could
be reversed by the executive powers of the new president. The assessment
is under way, aides said, but a full list of policies to be overturned
will not be announced by Mr. Obama until he confers with new members of
his cabinet.
“There’s a lot that the president can do using his executive authority
without waiting for Congressional action, and I think we’ll see the president
do that,” John D. Podesta, a top transition leader, said Sunday. “He feels
like he has a real mandate for change. We need to get off the course that
the Bush administration has set . . . read more:
CHICAGO, Nov 10 - Barack Obama has become the first American president
to appoint a First Granny.
Michelle Obama’s mother has reluctantly agreed to move from Chicago to
Washington to take care of her granddaughters as they adjust to their new
home at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Marian Robinson, 71, was an indispensable part of the Obama campaign as
babysitter for Malia, 1-, and seven-year-old Sasha.
The move could signal the first time in living memory that three generations
of a family have moved into the White House.
But the fiercely independent Mrs. Robinson has suggested she could take
a flat nearby because she doesn’t want to ‘intrude.’
|
Within 24 hours of last week's historic vote, his transition team rolled
out change.gov, a Web site that promises to be "your source for the
latest news, events and announcements so that you can follow the setting
up of the Obama administration."
