More Obama Appointments
November 23rd, 2008, 9:59 AM EST
As mentioned here previously, Robert Gibbs will be press secretary. Ellen Moran of Emily’s List will be director of communications. Emily’s List works to elect pro-choice women to pubic office. She previously worked for the AFL-CIO. Good signals if you believe in reproductive rights and labor unions. Her deputy will be Dan Pfeiffer who headed Obama’s transition team.
Larry Summers will be director of the National Economic Council, which means he’ll be the president’s senior economic advisor. As Treasury secretary under Clinton, Summers worked closely with Tim Geithner, who will have Summers’ old job. The rumor is that Summers will be the next chairman of the Federal Reserve when Ben Bernake steps down in 2010.
Expertise. Professionals. Get the best of the best. More good news for our country. Thanks, Alan.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:05 pm
No “potted plants” is the byword on the cabinet. President (elect) Obama wants vigorous discussion and opinion from his cabinet as directions are being drawn. The people chosen are superbly qualified to follow through with the actions in support of President Obama’s vision of governess.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Yay for more labor unions. Maybe they can put more corporations in the ground like they have done to the big 3 auto companies who are asking for hand outs.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Let me see if I have this right.
—Larry Summers will be an advisor to Obama.
—Larry Summers was the former President of Harvard.
—Obama went to Harvard.
—Obama’s Senior Thesis could not be located anywhere.
( makes you wonder what was in it )
I’m not saying thses things are related and I realize every President hires folks who have helped them out in the past.I would really like to find out more on this but there is little info out there.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I think the big three put themselves in ground quite nicely thank you very much.
Lets outsource the ceo and executive jobs to some bright young Indian Mba, who will work for $500, 000 a year, like the ceo of Costco does.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Bryan, are we reading too many conspiracy novels lately?
I’d suggest upgrading your reading from the National Enquirer to something substantive….like Superman comics.
Yes, he hires people who he has a proven history that he can rely on….
But, unlike Bush, he doesnt’ pick an incompetent Attorney General just because he’s a pal and a personal lawyer….Gonzolas.
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Robert–No need to be a smart ass.Just convince me there is no connection and stop pointing fingers at Bush.I stated that every President does it already—now lets talk about Obama.
Summers may not be his pal.I don’t know.All I asked for was more info but you come back with a smart ass comment.Typical Liberal response I must say.Anything that may put Obama in a bad light all liberals can say is “Well Bush did ——” Why is that?
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Bryan why should Robert convince you or give you the answers. Quit asking for handouts.
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Bush selected people in the tired old tradition of paying back political favors. Obama is picking people for expertise. Geithner for Treasury and Summers for National Economics Council are professionals, well respected by the economic world, and certainly prepared to help direct the recovery effort. Geithner has been on the “inside” working with Paulson (albeit in a limited capacity) and has first hand knowledge of the efforts so far. Neither person is an ardent partisan although both have been advising Obama.
BTW, it is quite normal practice not to allow access to thesis papers since publication is often a pathway to tenure. My thesis is still not open for public viewing and it was written in 1969. I don’t plan to run for anything, either.
November 23rd, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Liberals, like myself, are tired of being viewed as less than loyal for our dissent of Bush’s administration. Obama respected his adversaries, but was continually subject to character destructive efforts by the opposition. Well, we are no longer in the minority and we are not as keen on the idea of not defending ourselves anymore.
November 23rd, 2008 at 3:52 pm
The O-Team roster is filling out.
I like our chances this season. I smell a World Series in our future. It’s funny how a change in the manager can trigger a chain of events and finally alter a losing team’s prospects for the new year.
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Robert—Bush,Bush,Bush—is that the only answer you have? Can we not talk about Obama here since he is going to be our next President?
If you were running for President I would expect to see your records also—the price one pays for putting themself in the public limelight.I feel everything excpet their family is fair game–unless their family puts themselves into the mix as Michelle Obama did.
Trying to get a straight answer here in Liberaland is like trying to teach the retarded girl at the prom the “Electric Slide”–it just ain’t gonna happen.
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:30 pm
The electic slide would be a lousy prom dance, Bryan…
Sure…let’s learn from “that guy’s” errors and do better.
“I feel everything excpet their family is fair game–unless their family puts themselves into the mix as Michelle Obama did.” <== major reason republican campaign failed….they attacked the character after the effectiveness of the effort was outdated…rot does that.
Obama’s selections are showing his smarts and his practicality. He isn’t paying back political favors. He isn’t putting “tokens” up to please the press or interest groups. He isn’t making the same mistakes that other administrations have made in the past….oh, I’m sure he’ll make a clinker or two…but, who is perfect? His percentage of success is enhanced by his focus on talent and smarts.
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Bryan, the term retarded is out of date….we refer to people with those challenges as “Palin-like”……okay, that was a cheap shot…but, it was a moment of weakness…..like the two minutes I wasted listening to her Katie Couric interview.
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Okay…that was another cheap shot….sorry.
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Sorry–Retarded–should have said politically correct—hope I didn’t hurt anyone’s feeling–I mean that.
“Palin-like”–that anything like “We have been to 57 states so far”–sorry couldn’t resist.
November 24th, 2008 at 1:12 am
Love ya Bry…good one…we gotta keep it light!
Let’s hope Pres Elect Obama keeps his humor, too.
Announcements coming out today to confirm the suspected moves. Economic team looks strong, experienced, and savy. Thank God.
Wowzer…..stock market speculators seem to concur…or, are they just pleased that Bush is saving Citi? or maybe, a little of both….
November 24th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Someone should have proofread this article. It contains a rather ironic typo.
“Emily’s List works to elect pro-choice women to pubic office.”
November 24th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
The right wings are still in denial.When Rush, El Limbo, was asked” why does Obama have so many Clintonist in his cabinet”: his answer was: A COMMUNITY ORGANIZOR DOES NOT MEET A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT CAN BE IN ANY PRESIDENTIAL CABINET.His implication was the same as that of his immigration comment.
November 24th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Good! Gallup poll says 67% of the GOP favor Sarah Palin was their candidate in 2012. Guess they still haven’t seen the light. Oh well, they’ll lose again.
November 24th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Rush has got to leave that phone booth he lives in more often. And, somebody needs to hide those pills he keeps getting into….man, it would almost be better if he just drank….that pharmaceutical stuff can really mess ya up.
November 24th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Robert,
If you think obama isn’t paying back any favors you have your head in the clouds. Name any person in Washington who doesn’t pay back favors via appointments, etc. etc. etc. Just wait til he gives the big 3 a sweet deal because he and the unions were cozy.
I can see it now.
Too bad everyone isn’t questioning where all this bailout/welfare money is coming from since our economy obviously sucks at the moment.
November 24th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
While I find it interesting that the President-elect chooses to utilize the expertise of former Clinton aids, let us not forget that we have not heard any official public pronouncements from any of these folks (at least I haven’t heard of Rahm Emanuel doing a Luca Brazzi since he was named Chief of Staff, or is it consigliere?) At least Obama isn’t being like Jimmy Carter in 1977 when he did not choose anyone that had prior government experience into his inner circle so that works in his favor to me.
Speaking as a lifetime conservative, I do hope for two things. One that his administration is one that is going to be driven from the center for the benefit of one and all in this country and 2) his administration is a success. After having had vaccuous leaders for the last 16 years, it’s about time we get one that isn’t afraid to hit the problems head on instead of waffling and dancing.
November 25th, 2008 at 5:39 pm