President-Elect Intelligencer 2009 January 9

Climate Change
Some have interpreted Obama’s picks for top environmental positions as a signal that he will be supporting climate change policies and tougher emissions standards (Zabarenko).

Feminism
Women’s groups, particularly the National Organization for Women, are complaining that Obama has not appointed enough women to cabinet-level positions (Yellin).

Nominations
Obama’s nominee for Secretary of Commerce, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, has withdrawn from consideration. Federal investigators are looking into state transportation contracts that were awarded to Richardson supporters (Pickler).

Apparently, Hillary Clinton is ineligible for appointment to Secretary of State because the position received a raise while she served in Congress (Judicial Watch announces). This does not seem to be putting the breaks on her appointment any more than her husband’s foreign connections through his charitable foundation. The group making this claim against Clinton also calls for an investigation of Obama’s connections to ACORN and Tony Rezko.

Other nominations include
Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration—Jane Lubchenco of Oregon State University
Assitant to the President for Science and Technology, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and Co-Chair of President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology—John Holdren, the Teresa and John Heinz Professor of Environmental Policy and Director of the Program on Science, Technology and Public Policy at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government
Co-Chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology—Harold Varmus was Director of the National Institutes of Health during the Clinton administration
Director of Central Intelligence—Leon Panetta, served as Chief of Staff to President Clinton and former congressman (McGrath; Miller & Parsons).

Sources
Judicial Watch announces list of Washington’s “10 Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians” for 2008. (2008 Dec. 31). MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28449789/, accessed 2009 Jan. 9.

McGrath, D. (2008 Dec. 22). Obama names science and technology team. EE Times. http://www.eetimes.com/news/design/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212501677, accessed 2009 Jan. 9.

Miller, G., & Parsons, C. (2009 Jan. 5). Obama taps Leon Panetta to run CIA. Chicago Tribune. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-010508-obama-panetta-cia-jan06,0,7789770.story, accessed 2009 Jan. 9.

Pickler, N. (2009 Jan. 5). Richardson drops secretary bid. Associate Press on AOL. http://news.aol.com/article/bill-richardson-drops-secretary-bid/292771?icid=200100397x1215670284x1201083147, accessed 2009 Jan 5.

Yellin, J. (2008 Dec. 22). Why some women’s groups are miffed at Obama. CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/22/women.cabinet/, accessed 2009 Jan. 9.

Zabarenko, D. (2008 Dec. 22). Obama team primed to push climate change agenda. Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed2/idUSN22505340, accessed 2008 Jan. 9.

President-Elect Intelligencer 2008 November 25

Foreign Affairs: China
As Obama take the reigns of America’s foreign policy, he’ll face a challenge of a China that is more equal to U.S. power than ever before. China’s economy is still relatively strong and they own more than a half-trillion dollars in U.S. government bonds (Bodeen).

Meeting with McCain
Obama met with formal rival Sen. John McCain. They promised to work together to solve the nation’s problems (MacAskill; Mason & Bohan).

Radical and Socialist Connections
Now that the election is over the previously quiet is making many public appearances, sometimes addressing his relationship to Obama and sometimes promoting the new edition of his book, Fugitive Days (Ayres says relationship; Hutton; Overby).

Staff; Scrutinizing Bill and Hillary Clinton
In preparing to name Sen. Hillary Clinton as nominee for Secretary of State, the Obama transition team carefully look into the background of her husband and former president Bill Clinton. Since leaving office, the 42nd president has developed complicated finances from books and other deals and many relationships, especially abroad, through the charitable foundation he runs (Mason & Bohan; Reid).

Other staff announcements include:
Deputy Director of Communications—Dan Pfeiffer, communications director for Obama’s transition team
Director of Communications—Ellen Moran, executive director of EMILY’S List, an organization of black female candidates who support abortion rights
Director, Domestic Policy Council—Melody Barnes, Executive Vice President for Policy at the Center for American Progress
Director, National Economic Council—Lawrence Summers formerly held posts in the Treasury Department
Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors—Christina Romer, an economic historian
Secretary of Treasury—Timothy Geithner from the New York Federal Reserve Bank
Press Secretary—Robert Gibbs, served as communication’s director on Obama’s senate staff (Obama announces economic team; Obama fills out White House communications team).

Unusual
J. Crew is enjoying a bounce and arranged its online advertising to take advantage of Michelle Obama’s appearance in their clothes (Clifford).

The Secret Service codenames for the new first family have been revealed:
President Barack Obama—Renegade,
First Lady Michelle Obama—Renaissance,
Malia—Radiance,
Sasha—Rosebud (Huppke).

War in Iraq
Some are preparing to put pressure on Obama to keep his promise to withdraw troops from Iraq (Clary; Thrush & Grim).

Sources
Ayers says relationship with Obama “exaggerated.” (2008 Nov. 20). Associated Press in Chicago Tribune. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-il-williamayers-monm,0,1689248.story, accessed 2008 Nov. 25.

Clary, M. (2008 Nov. 23). South Floridians intend to hold Barack Obama to Iraq pullout pledge. South Florida Sun-Sentinel. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbobamawar1123sbnov23,0,5706554.story, accessed 2008 Nov. 25.

Clifford, S. (2008 Nov. 16). J. Crew benefits as Mrs. Obama wears the brand. New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/17/business/media/17crew.html?_r=1, accessed 2008 Nov. 19.

Bodeen, C. (2008 Nov. 22). Economy, not rights, rule the new China-U.S. world. Associated Press. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j2ZxyVtR_dPyd75yfIAMpV4QNXOgD94K3EE00, accessed 2008 Nov. 25.

Huppke, R. (2008 Nov. 10). “Renegade” joins “Twinkle,” “Rawhide,” “Lancer” on list of Secret Service code names. Chicago Tribune. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-secret-service-code-names-obama,0,2687400.story, accessed 2008 Nov. 19.

Hutton, M. (2008 Nov. 21). Ayers speaks at Monmouth College. Galesburg Register-Mail. http://www.galesburg.com/news/x1720662768/William-Ayers-speaks-at-Monmouth-College, accessed 2008 Nov. 25.

MacAskill, E. (2008 Nov. 17). Obama and McCain meet for the first time since the election. Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/17/barack-obama-john-mccain-meeting, accessed 2008 Nov. 25.

Mason, J., & Bohan, C. (2008 Nov. 17). Obama, McCain pledge to work together. Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE4AG5MW20081117, accessed 2008 Nov. 25.

Obama announces economic team. (2008 Nov. 24). New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/24/us/politics/24text-obama.html?pagewanted=3&_r=1, accessed 2008 Nov. 25.

Obama fills out White House communications team. (2008 Nov. 22). Associate Press in Globe & Mail. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081122.wobama1122/BNStory/Front, accessed 2008 Nov. 25.

Overby, P. (2008 Nov. 18). As election spotlight dims, Ayers the author speaks out. Morning Edition. NPR. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97124808, accessed 2008 Nov. 25.

Reid, T. (2008 Nov. 18). Barack Obama’s vetters study Bill Clinton’s foreign ties. Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article5175364.ece, accessed 2008 Nov. 25.

Thrush, G., & Grim, R. (2008 Nov. 21). Left cuts Obama slack for now. Politico on CBS News. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/21/politics/politico/main4624733.shtml, accessed 2008 Nov. 25.

Blogspeak 2008 September 11

Back to School
Obama Takes His Daughters Back to School (Political Radar, ABC, 2008 Sept. 8)

McCain Up in Polls
New Poll Shows McCain Up; Palin To Give First Interview (Ververs, V., Horserace, CBS News, 2008 Sept. 8)

Obama’s Faith
Oops! Barack Obama says 'my Muslim faith' in interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos (Nickerson, M., Chicago Sun-Times, 2008 Sept. 8)

Palin and Feminism
Feminists Flip Out Over Palin (Newmark, B., Fox Forum, 2008 Sept. 8)

Palin’s Reception Among Republican Leaders
Rice Offers Less-Than-Hearty Palin Endorsement (Political Radar, ABC, 2008 Sept. 8)

President Bill Clinton
Barack Obama and Bill Clinton To Do Lunch Thursday (Chozik, A., Washington Wire, Wall Street Journal, 2008 Sept. 8)

Stupid Posts
Obama Military Service Claim Defies Credibility (“MCCAIN”, Right Pundits, 2008 Sept. 7)
OI Comments: Obama’s mention of signing up for Selective Service as a teenager is hardly a claim of military service. Every male American born since 1959 has been required to register upon reaching a certain age. Obama may have been stretching to find a way to connect to or communicate respect for military service, but he was hardly claiming to have served.

Incidentally, previous military service is not required to be a supporter of the military or commander-in-chief. Reagan broke the Soviets with a combination of military strength and economic pressure, but never served in the military. John Adams was not a military man, but he valued a strong military and his efforts in the Continental Congress helped keep George Washington’s little army going.

In contrast, great military officers don’t necessarily make great presidents. U.S. Grant was the great general of the civil war, but he was largely a flop as a political leader and businessman. Jimmy Carter was a successful Naval officer and in recent years made a name for himself as an author and peacemaker; his presidency might be seen as the low point in his career.