Obama Eyes Consumer Activists for Agency Posts

[DogPoundPup]

Source: Consumer Affairs News

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other government agencies
that affect consumers, are likely to look very different under President Obama than they do under President Bush.

With the priority on economic posts, no consumer agency heads have yet been announced, though that hasn't stopped Washington from engaging in its favorite pastime, speculating on who's up and who's down.

At EPA, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appears to have the inside track to head the agency. The Washington Post quotes sources familiar with the process as saying Kennedy is a strong candidate, through several other prominent environmentalists are also in the running.

snip~
If it turns out not to be Kennedy, the sources tell the Post that former Sierra Club president and environmental activist
Lisa Renstrom is under consideration, as is California Air Resources Board chair Mary Nichols. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen McGinty and Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles also reportedly have a shot at landing the post.

Read more: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/11/obama_consumer02.html

[GetTheRightVote]

1. It is interesting to see so many female names on the list though

Does Robert F. Kennedy Jr. want the post ?

:kick:

[Stellabella]

2. This is just so ,,, wonderful.

Actual environmentalists at the EPA??? Consumer advocates at the FDA?? Sheesh - no cronyism, nepotism, lawyers for corporations heading up consumer agencies - I feel like I'm in a dream after the last eight years.

[Aristus]

3. Appointing people to the agencies that will make the agencies operate the way they are

supposed to. Now, that's REAL change! What a novel idea! Competent people placed in charge of government programs...

[4lbs]

8. You mean actual people that know what the heck they are doing and are extremely knowledgable about

what they are supposed to do?

[lurky]

4. Regulators protecting the citizens? How novel!

The fact that I can get excited about this is a sad commentary on today's world. :(

Gobama! :):)

[lunatica]

32. Next he'll be appointing 'activist judges'

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[guruoo]

5. I can hear freeper and fundie heads exploding now

[Dem2theMax]

14. Nah. That's just bubble wrap.

All the F & F heads exploded on November 4th. :evilgrin:

[lunatica]

33. I recall my head exploded hundreds of times. You mean that was just bubble wrap?!

:nuke: <-- = me

[PSPS]

6. What an idea! Appoint someone who actually believes in what the agency is charged to do!

[bjobotts]

10. Yeah, rather than making it a reward for unqualified donmors or cronies

[bjobotts]

11. I want somebody who is angry...mad as hell, for Attorney General.

[Chan790]

12. Might I suggest CT's current AG?

Richard Blumenthal...the guy's a bulldog, he's fearless and will go after anybody.

He has a rep as an anti-corporate and anti-monopoly crusader, was a former US Attorney, a law clerk for Justice Blackmun. He was one of four state AGs to address and lobby Congress to oppose immunity for telecom companies cooperating with the Bush administration's terrorist surveillance programs.

http://www.ct.gov/AG/cwp/view.asp?a=2178&q=295440

[FreakinDJ]

25. At least some one who understands the Constitution

and can read

[AlphaCentauri]

16. Nader?

;)

[tclambert]

23. Too old

and too many hard feelings among Democrats for the 2000 election. How about Al Gore at EPA or Sec'y of the Interior?

[peacetalksforall]

7. A little prayer that whoever he chooses and whoever accepts will not

let us down with scandals, including being bought out by big money lobbyists or the corporations. The prayer is for genuine service to the people.

[Delphinus]

29. I second your prayer.

Genuine service to the people. Amen.

[bjobotts]

9. PLEASE PL;EASE BRING IN NAOMI KLEIN--ADVISER OF THE CENTURY

[Doctor Cynic]

21. Except she's not a US citizen afaik

[tclambert]

24. Interesting question. Do you have to be a US citizen to serve in the Cabinet

or head an agency? The Constitution does not say so. President and Vice President must be natural born citizens. Not spelled out for any other position.

[ksimons]

13. I'm curious about why...

... and wondering what on earth is antonio Villaraigosa doing at this Obama press conference?!!

Isn't he the Mayor that slept around on his wife with a reporter during his run for office of Mayor of Los Angeles?

What kind of awful signal does it send, putting that kind of buffoon on stage behind your new administration? It tells me that lying, cheating politicians are welcome in my administration? Get that buffoon off the stage and out of this administration before I puke.

[AlphaCentauri]

15. hu!, like Bill did it n/t

[liberalmuse]

17. Next thing you'll tell me is...

he plans to pick someone extremely knowledgeable in natural disasters, emergency evacuation procedures and rescue operations to head FEMA. Unpossible!

[Indenturedebtor]

18. I sure hope not. I want a drunken moron who thinks with his gut

Blah I still can't believe that ANYONE voted for Bush 2 and 3. :puke:

[NBachers]

19. You mean . . . the Environmental Protection Agency

will be an agency run by someone who . . . Protects the Environment???????

GASP!!!!

[nolabels]

20. One of the biggest problems for who ever it is will be EIGHT YEARS of catching up

One of tactics and corner stones of the * regime was ignoring science. Industries that supported this approach will be up the creek without a paddle when all those dirty little secrets get revealed

[tclambert]

26. Hey, Bush was for protecting the environment . . .

. . . in little strips along the sides of the highways, so drivers couldn't see the massive destruction behind it. And on his ranch with no cattle (the "Sans Cattle Ranch"), you always saw pictures of Bush standing guard with a chainsaw to protect all the nature there from harm.

[struggle4progress]

22. The right mix of activists, technicians, and political savvy near top of each agency is important

[gorbal]

27. They are called activists now

They are only activists until they are the ones in power...

[BunkerHill24]

28. May Prof, Ayers and Khalidi be continuation: HUGE!!! book deal

[Imperialism Inc.]

30. The appointments to labor and environment positions are shaping up to be

stellar. Keeping my fingers crossed.

[lunatica]

31. Isn't there someone who thinks this a terrible idea and that Obama just sold out?

Surely this isn't progressive enough for some here!

:sarcasm: