Showing posts with label staff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label staff. Show all posts

2009/01/05

Vice President-Elect Intelligencer 2008 January 5

Economy & Staff
Biden has selected economist and author Jared Bernstein to serve in the newly created position of Chief Economist and Economic Policy Director to the Vice President.

Foreign Affairs
It’s anticipated that Sen. John Kerry will take the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations committed that is being vacated by Biden (Cirmaldi).

Sources
Crimaldi, L. (2008 Nov. 20). John Kerry to replace Joe Biden on board. Boston Herald. http://news.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/2008_11_20_John_Kerry_to_replace_Joe_Biden_on_board/srvc=home&position=recent, accessed 2008 Dec. 3.

2008/12/18

President-Elect Intelligencer 2008 December 18

Economic Stimulus
Earlier this month, at a meeting of the National Governors Association, governors solicited Obama’s support for over $136 billion in projects. The governors’ proposal includes a lot of infrastructure improvements, which they say they can get started quickly and will create jobs (Obama pledges to work with governors on economy). The announcement of Obama’s support for the program sparked a rally in the price of some commodities (Shenk).

Foreign Affairs: Bolivia, Cuba
The advent of new administration is spurring many to push for a new approach to Cuba. Many are seeking to normalize relations with America’s Caribbean neighbor and see a potential for change under Obama (Chang, Richter).

Bolivian’s are also hoping Obama and their own new chief executive may be able to strike a friendlier pose. Bolivia is a source of coca (from which we get cocaine), a traditional crop of native Bolivians that has been a source of tension with the U.S. (Keane).

Nominations
Ambassador to the United Nations—Susan Rice
“Climate Czar”—Carol Browner, former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator
Council of Environmental Quality Head—Nancy Sutley, deputy mayor of Los Angeles
EPA Administrator—Lisa Jackson, chief of staff for New Jersey Governor John Corzine
Secretary of Defence—Robert Gates, currently serving in this role
Secretary of Energy—Steven Chu, head of Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory
Secretary of Health and Human Services—Tom Daschle, former Senate majority leader (Beale; Muskal; Obama names environmental team; Obama names national security team; Raffaele).

War in Afghanistan
Obama is continuing his plan to refocus military efforts on Afghanistan, and reducing the American presence in Iraq, by adding 10,000 troops in the nation where the counterinsurgency effort has carried on for seven years. This addition is not expected to be as effective as the surge Iraq because Afghanistan has a less developed infrastructure, more rugged landscape, and insurgents receive support for groups in neighboring Pakistan (Gordon).

Sources
Beale, J. (2008 Dec. 7). US health reform gains momentum. BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7768608.stm, accessed 2008 Dec. 18.

Chang, J. (2008 Dec. 14). Shift in Cuba policy anticipated under Obama. Miami Herald. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/AP/story/812398.html, accessed 2008 Dec. 18.

Gordon, M. (2008 Dec. 1). Afghan strategy poses stiff challenge for Obama. New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/02/world/asia/02strategy.html?_r=1&ref=us, accessed 2008 Dec. 18.

Keane, D. (2008 Dec. 15). Bolivians hope Obama, an outsider, heals US rift. Associated Press. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hK5_rh7E38XaUgK-_mwkeYCxyIrQD952M6LG0, accessed 2008 Dec. 18.

Muskal, M. (2008 Dec. 15). Obama announces choices for key environmental and energy posts. Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-obama16-2008dec16,0,2027165.story, accessed 2008 Dec. 18.

Obama names environmental team. (2008 Dec. 16). E-Mainstream. http://www.awwa.org/publications/MainStreamArticle.cfm?itemnumber=43696, accessed 2008 Dec. 18.

Obama names national security team including Clinton, Gates (2008 Dec. 2). Dallas Morning News. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/DN-cabinet_02nat.ART.State.Edition2.298e736.html, accessed 2008 Dec. 18.

Obama pledges to work with governors on economy. (2008 Dec. 2). CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/02/transition.wrap/, accessed 2008 Dec. 18.

Raffaele, R. (2008 Dec. 8). Obama taps Susan Rice for UN ambassador position. Voice of America. http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-12-08-voa20.cfm, accessed 2008 Dec. 18.

Richter, P. (2008 Dec. 13). Obama presidency could change the rules on Cuba. Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-fg-uscuba13-2008dec13,0,5895951.story, accessed 2008 Dec. 18.

Shenk, M. (2008 Dec. 8). Oil, copper rise for first time in seven days on Obama stimulus. Bloomberg. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=axxZdToCmBQU&refer=australia, accessed 2008 Dec. 19.

2008/12/11

President-Elect Intelligencer 2008 December 11

Appointments-Announced
Chief of Staff—Rahm Emanuel, former congressman from Chicago area
Deputy Budget Director—Rob Nabors
Secretary of State—Hillary Clinton, senator from New York and former first lady
Social Secretary—Desiree Rogers (West).

Appointments-Anticipated
Attorney General—Eric Holder
National Security Advisor—James Jones
Secretary of Commerce—Bill Richardson, governor of New Mexico
Secretary of Homeland Security—Janet Napolitano, governor of Arizona
Secretary of Veterans Affairs—Anthony Brown, lieutenant governor of Maryland (West).

Foreign Affairs: Cuba
Speculation continues that an Obama administration will seek to improve relations with Cuba (Williams).

Sources
West, P. (2008 Nov. 30). Obama’s picks mirror his multicultural background. Baltimore Sun. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-te.west30nov30,0,6641011.story, accessed 2008 Dec. 9.

Williams, M. (2008 Nov. 3). Obama to ease Cuba policy? Austin American-Statesman. http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/world/11/30/1130obamacuba.html, accessed 2008 Dec. 9.

2008/11/25

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.

2008/11/18

Vice-President-Elect Intelligencer 2008 November 18

Biden and Cheney Meet
Vice-President-elect Joe Biden has met with Vice-President Dick Cheney in preparation for the change in administration (Cheney set to meet).

“First Passenger” May Signal Good News for Rail System
Much was made during the campaign of Biden’s use of Amtrak to commute from Delaware to D.C. Amtrak gets 41 percent of its funding from the federal government and is already on track to see this jump to 48 percent. During a campaign speech in Milwaukee, Biden called for a first class passenger rail system. His son, Hunter, sits on the Amtrak board of directors (Hughes & Keane).

Staff
Ron Klain is expected to serve as Biden’s chief of staff. He has had an extensive career in government and the Democratic Party (Connolly).

Sources
Cheney set to meet with his successor Joe Biden. (2008 Nov. 13). Associate Press. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gifxAq1aLq5fkE0CH8uSfjxUmgQwD94E0J000, accessed 2008 Nov. 18.

Connolly, C. (2008 Nov. 13). Ron Klain tapped as Joe Biden’s chief of staff. Washington Post. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/11/13/ron_klain_tapped_as_joe_bidens.html, accessed 2008 Nov. 18.

Hughes, J., & Keane, A. (2008 Nov. 13). Amtrak rider Joe Biden promises “first class” railroad. Bloomberg. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=assL3T6BC1pk&refer=us, accessed 2008 Nov. 18.

2008/07/24

McCain Intelligencer 2008 July 24

Fundraising
Obama’s fundraising efforts are seriously outpacing McCain’s. Recent reports reveal that some of McCain’s major supporters are from financial services, gambling and energy. McCain intends to accept federal funding of his general election campaign; he must spend his funds from the primaries before his official nomination at the Republican convention (Morain, Salant).

Poll
McCain lagged in a recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, even though people considered Obama to be a riskier choice for president. McCain faired worse when third party candidates Bob Barr and Ralph Nader were included (Murray).

Staff
Phil Gramm stepped down as co-chair of the McCain campaign. His resignation was prompted by his statements regarding the economy in which he said that the U.S. was in a “mental recession” and a “nation of whiners.” McCain refuted the remarks (Rohter, Cooper).

Resources
Cooper, M. (2008 July 11). McCain advisor refers to “nation of whiners.” New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/11/us/politics/11campaign.html?fta=y, accessed 2008 July 21.

Morain, D. (2008 July 21). McCain in a race to raise and spend money by Labor Day. Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-money21-2008jul21,0,1399269.story, accessed 2008 July 21.

Murray, M. (2008 July 23). NBC/WSJ poll: Obama keeps lead over McCain. MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25816799/, accessed 2008 July 24.

Rohter, L. (2008 July 19). McCain co-chairman, under fire, steps aside. New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/19/us/politics/19mccain.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&ref=us&adxnnlx=1216673967-zW3zVG876NOQMCpJagpn9g, accessed 2008 July 21.

Salant, J. (2008 July 21). Obama raised more than McCain, didn’t outspend him (update 3). Bloomberg. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aQwcbLtdxwH0&refer=home, accessed 2008 July 24.