president elect

Secretary of Homeland Security Napolitano?

That’s the reports going around this morning:

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) has been chosen to serve as secretary of the vast and troubled Department of Homeland Security for President-elect Obama, Democratic officials said. Napolitano is a border governor who will now be responsible for immigration policy and border security, which are part of Homeland Security’s myriad functions.

Napolitano brings law-and-order experience from her stint as the Grand Canyon State’s first female attorney general. One of the nation’s most prominent female elected officials, she made frequent appearances on behalf of Barack Obama during the campaign. She was re-elected to a second four-year term in 2006.

Napolitano is a centrist, but also a very reasonable one. There is some moaning going on in the Blogosphere that if Napolitano does accept the job we will be losing a governors seat and possible the best candidate against John McCain in 2010. I say oh well. If she is the best person for the job in the eyes of Obama, then we should support her. I’m sure we can find someone else to run against McCain and the Republican that would replace Napolitano as governor would have to run again in 2010 also. That’s a lifetime in politics and we can always see something else happen that turns the tides in our favor.

Mayor Apologizes For Kids’ Chanting ‘Assassinate Obama’

Rocky-Smith-Four-Year-Old-Racist-UK I posted about the story of a bus full of school kids chanting “assassinate Obama” in Idaho when it first happened a couple of weeks ago. It has gained some national attention, and now the mayor of the local town has apologized for what happened. That’s a nice gesture, but then I read further in the article what the superintendent of the school had to say:

Still, Superintendent Geoffrey Thomas blamed the media for spreading news of the chants.

"In our district there was an isolated instance of children making regrettable and unacceptable remarks in regards to harming President-elect Obama," Thomas wrote in a letter to parents Monday. "Word of this behavior leaked out to a hyperactive media and bloggers which in turn distorted way out of proportion the comments that were made, painting the entire community with the same negative brush."

Here we go with typical Republican strawmen. It’s the medias fault for all this! Oh yeah – and those damn bloggers! They shouldn’t talk about the schools I run raising a bunch of little hate mongers. If this town really wants to show they are sorry about what happened, a perfect gesture would be the firing of this idiot running their schools. I think the Republicans should get behind such a movement also. This is considered the “reddest part of America”. Does the GOP want to be associated with such hatred and racism?

The Politics Of ‘Gotcha’

Vendettas and ‘gotcha’ is the politics of old. It’s synonymous with the old attack ads, and something the American people have started rejected, rather strongly. Barack Obama campaigned on change. In two weeks since becoming our President elect, Obama has:

Embraced his one time rival Hillary Clinton, offering her a top position in his administration

Welcomed his recent rival, John McCain, to sit down and discuss how to move forward and put country first.

Dismissed any calls of Joe Lieberman being punished for campaigning against him.

The last issue is the biggie, causing so much outrage throughout the blogosphere right now. Obama said he was going to give us change, and he has. I wish some in the blogosphere would learn to accept that, instead of acting like the person who just murdered a family member was acquitted.

And if they have trouble listening to me, then listen to what Bob Cesca has to say on it – hitting on another point:

With Begich's victory, the Democratic caucus has grown to 58. With Franken and Martin, we could hit 60. Filibuster proof -- at least on paper. But imagine if the Democrats had voted to ejector-seat Lieberman from his chairmanship, and he had stormed off to the Republicans, as he had threatened.

The Begich win would've been nullified in terms of the caucus head-count. One step back to 57. Even if Martin and Franken both win, we would've been stuck at 59.

Tweety Puts His Foot In His Mouth Again

Chris Matthews just can’t help himself when it comes to some good old Hillary bashing:

An avowed Clinton lover who was sitting next to Matthews reports: "He was in business class wearing a red baseball hat that said Penn on the back, and the fat [bleep] fell asleep on the train and snored with his mouth open."

During the ride to DC, Matthews awoke from his nap. A fellow passenger asked him, "What's the news tomorrow?" - to which Matthews loudly started talking about President-elect Barack Obama possibly picking Hillary as his secretary of state.

"I don't understand it," Matthews bellowed. "Why would he pick her? I thought we were done with the Clintons. She'll just use it to build her power base. It's Machiavellian. And then we'll have Bill Clinton, too. I thought Obama didn't want drama. He's already got [chief of staff Rahm] Emanuel and [transition team leader John] Podesta. He'll have even more drama with her.</p>
"She's just a soap opera. If he doesn't pick her, everyone will say she's been dissed again, we'll have to live through that again."

At the beginning of this year, old Chris ended up having to do an on air apology to Hillary for bashing her. Maybe it’s time for an intervention.

(h/t HuffPo)

Jim Martin Gets An Assist From The Big Dog

Bill Clinton was the last Democrat to win Georgia, so it’s fitting that he heads on down there and campaigns for Jim Martin. Well that’s exactly what he is going to do:

Former President Bill Clinton will headline a rally for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jim Martin on Wednesday, the candidate’s campaign announced Saturday. Clinton is the first big name Democrat to stump for Martin in his Dec. 2 runoff battle with Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss.

There has been a lot of talk that Obama should go down there and campaign. I haven’t been on that side of the argument. I think Obama has a rather full plate right now. I’m sure if he could find the time to do it, then he would, but there is also a huge security risk now that he is President-elect Obama. I also think Bill will give Martin every bit as much of a boost as Obama in Georgia.

Obama Pledges A Bi-partisan Cabinet

Tonight 60 Minutes gives us the Obama interview, which contains this:

In a wide-ranging interview that will air Sunday night on the CBS program, “60 Minutes,” President-elect Barack Obama said he would choose at least one Republican for a position in his cabinet but declined to hint at who he had in mind.

“Will there be Republicans?” asked Steve Kroft, the “60 Minutes” interviewer. “Yes,” Mr. Obama replied. But when pressed, the president-elect would not name the G.O.P leaders he is considering nor did he tip his cards about which cabinet office he saw as a good fit for a member of the opposing party.

I have heard so much chatter from the right about how Obama isn’t being bi-partisan, especially after he picked Rahm as his chief of staff. It looks like Obama is out to prove them wrong again.

Meet Your New White House Chief Counsel

A familiar face from the Clinton years:

Gregory B. Craig, a well-known Washington lawyer who quarterbacked President Bill Clinton’s impeachment defense, has been chosen White House counsel by President-elect Barack Obama, according to Democratic officials.

Craig is intimately familiar with the president-elect’s record because he played the role of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in debate preparations.

The officials said Obama has settled on Craig but were not sure when the appointment would be announced.

Harriett Miers he is not – thank God!

Racist America

The AP has taken a big look into the ‘hundreds’ of racial threats and crimes that have occurred since Obama became our President-elect:

Obama Picks His Senior Advisor

MLK-jarett

And it is Valerie Jarrett:

ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: President-elect Barack Obama has named Valerie Jarrett Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Relations and Public Liaison, according to an Obama advisor.

One of Obama's closest confidantes, Jarrett has been friends with Obama and his wife, Michelle, since the President-elect decided to run for the Senate. Dubbed often as "the other half of Obama's brain," Jarrett was chairman and chief executive of real-estate firm Habitat Co. She also worked for Harold Washington, Chicago's first black mayor, and served as an advisor to Obama during his run for the White House.

Jarrett was a very popular face on the networks when talking about the Obama campaign. I believe she will be a great addition to the Obama administration

Oh Lieberman

I have been staying pretty clear of all the Lieberman stuff going on. Would I like to see him stripped of his chairmanship? Yes I would. Will I be upset if he isn't? No.

There has been a lot going on in the left blogosphere over Lieberman. A lot of bigger blogs are adamant about Lieberman suffering the big punishment. Some have even questioned Obama's show of support for Lieberman. My take is simple - let them all work it out.

I can understand Obama's position fully. What if President-elect Obama came out and said "Strip him and kick him out of the caucus"? Besides making Obama look vindictive, it could lead to big problems if the Senate didn't punish him. Imagine a President Obama trying to get things ran through the Homeland Security Committee with Lieberman on there after that? It would be close to impossible.

We just need to sit back and see what the caucus decides to do. If they keep him fine. Then we can work our asses off that much harder to get him replaced in 2012. If they kick him out that's fine by me also. Let him head over to the right side of the aisle.

Over all I think it's much noise about something very minor and someone so insignificant. This country has far bigger problems and our energies can be spent better else where.

President Tech

This is what happens when you elect a President who understands the world of technology and how most people now get their news and information:

Today, President-elect Obama will record the weekly Democratic address not just on radio but also on video -- a first. The address, typically four minutes long, will be turned into a YouTube video and posted on Obama's transition site, Change.gov, once the radio address is made public on Saturday morning.

The address will be taped at the transition office in Chicago today.

"This is just one of many ways that he will communicate directly with the American people and make the White House and the political process more transparent," spokeswoman Jen Psaki told us last night.

We are experiencing a revolution in Washington and it will help put the people back in our government. That's a win-win situation no matter how you cut it.

More Religious Leaders Snub The Law

Here's another one for the IRS to investigate:

A South Carolina Roman Catholic priest has told his parishioners that they should refrain from receiving Holy Communion if they voted for Barack Obama because the Democratic president-elect supports abortion, and supporting him "constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil."

The Rev. Jay Scott Newman said in a letter distributed Sunday to parishioners at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greenville that they are putting their souls at risk if they take Holy Communion before doing penance for their vote.

"Our nation has chosen for its chief executive the most radical pro-abortion politician ever to serve in the United States Senate or to run for president," Newman wrote, referring to Obama by his full name, including his middle name of Hussein.

If these people who claim to be working for God want to continue to ignore the laws of this land, then it is time for them to start paying taxes. It's that simple. You don't play by our rules, we won't either - including the ones you like.

Universal Health Care Coming?

It looks like some members of Senate aren't wasting any time to get one of Obama's key campaign promises out there:

Two of the Senate's most influential leaders are working separately behind the scenes on legislation that would dramatically alter the way Americans get health care, hoping their early efforts -- including the release today of a position paper -- will push President-elect Barack Obama to move rapidly on the issue and spare the incoming administration some of the missteps that killed Bill Clinton's health reform initiative in 1994.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) is unveiling a 104-page blueprint today that serves as the opening move in a fierce competition in the Senate to frame the debate. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), who is battling a life-threatening brain cancer, has directed aides over the past several months to convene negotiating sessions with a diverse group of stakeholders, including physicians, patient advocates, small-business owners and insurers. He intends to have legislation drafted by Inauguration Day.

A healthy America is key to a good economy. When workers are sick they can't perform. When insurance premiums keep skyrocketing, employers profits start shrinking and salaries go down. This is something very basic that Republicans can't seem to grasp. Paul Krugman is even calling this "very big news".

Undoing The Damage

This is what happens when you have a President coming into office that understands the Constitution and doesn't treat it like a piece of toilet paper:

Transition advisers to President-elect Barack Obama have compiled a list of about 200 Bush administration actions and executive orders that could be swiftly undone to reverse White House policies on climate change, stem cell research, reproductive rights and other issues, according to congressional Democrats, campaign aides and experts working with the transition team.

A team of four dozen advisers, working for months in virtual solitude, set out to identify regulatory and policy changes Obama could implement soon after his inauguration. The team is now consulting with liberal advocacy groups, Capitol Hill staffers and potential agency chiefs to prioritize those they regard as the most onerous or ideologically offensive, said a top transition official who was not permitted to speak on the record about the inner workings of the transition.

In some instances, Obama would be quickly delivering on promises he made during his two-year campaign, while in others he would be embracing Clinton-era policies upended by President Bush during his eight years in office.

Besides the problems of war and economy, Obama has the huge challenge of undoing all the damage Bush has done. It's good to see they are already focusing on that. With a Democratically controlled government, hopefully we can see new mechanisms put into place the protect us from having to go through anything like the last eight years ever again.

Protecting Food? What A Novel Idea!

This is change, we need. Actually it isn't as much change as it is undoing the damage of the Bush years:

The Food and Drug Administration, bedeviled by a salmonella outbreak and tainted medicine from China, is likely to monitor imports and fresh produce more closely under an Obama administration.

With President Bush no longer a roadblock, health officials also can expect new powers to control tobacco, from cigarettes to the recently introduced smokeless products called snus.

President-elect Obama, a former smoker struggling to avoid relapse, is a sponsor of legislation giving the FDA authority to control, but not ban, tobacco and nicotine.

I guess to Bush, keeping Americans safe by protecting our food supply was nothing but big government. If we end up going four years without a major food recall, will people thank Obama for protecting them?