It's beginning to feel eerily like the Clinton administration

[Honeycombe8]

Wow....this is getting creepy. First the President's Chief of Staff is Clinton's guy. Then the Vice President's chief of staff is Clinton's Vice President's Chief of Staff. Then Obama sends to an international meeting to represent him Madelyn Albright, the Clinton's SOS (along with a former Repub Congressman). Now the SOS may become Hillary Clinton.

Out with Kerry, a key endorser from the Kennedy team. Out with Richardson, a key endorser who defected from the Clinton pack.

It's beginning to feel kinda creepy. I'm not saying these people aren't qualified. They obviously are. I'm not saying I don't support these people in their jobs. I do. But it's eery. I'm beginning to feel as if I voted for the Clinton administration. (Not that the Clinton administration is/was bad. Just the opposite. But I thought I voted for, you know....change: the Obama administration.)

[Imagine My Surprise]

1. Imagine my surprise N/T

[EstimatedProphet]

53. Do you often quote your screenname as a post?

:)

[babylonsister]

2. I haven't heard one word from the Obama admin as to who will

be in his cabinet. The talking heads are speculating; I'll not believe a thing til there's an official announcement.

[Honeycombe8]

9. Emmanual, Gore's chief of staff. & Albright are official representatives, per Obama. nt

[babylonsister]

15. What's Albright's job title? She's representing him at the G20 meeting.

That's all I've heard. Yes, Emanuel is one that was confirmed early, but everyone else is speculation AFAIK. And who was Gore's cos? Is that the guy who will be Biden's assistant?

[Honeycombe8]

17. Yes, she's representing his admin. No official position...she's too old. nt

The other from Clinton is Biden's chief of staff (he chose VP Gore's chief of staff).

[babylonsister]

27. OK, that's two. I see no reason to overreact, and if whoever is

eventually picked has the experience required (and I'm sure they will), I don't see the problem.
I'd rather someone with experience get a position than an unknown with no experience.
And FWIW, there has been a dearth of Dem admins recently, so there is not a pool of former admins to choose from.

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. Clinton hired many people who had prior service in the Carter Administration

Did the Clinton Administration turn out like the Carter Administration?

[Honeycombe8]

12. Did they hire both chiefs of staff from the Carter admin? And the same SOS? nt

[Freddie Stubbs]

19. Perhaps Clinton was not impressed with the jobs which Carter's CoS's

[Honeycombe8]

22. Well, I don't blame them for that! I was just responding to the poster who said it's done this way

Because it doesn't seem to be normally done this way...using the prior administration's staffers & cabinet member (prior from the same party, that is).

[Freddie Stubbs]

35. Clinton hired several people from the Carter Administration, but not the CoS's

[Honeycombe8]

16. I Googled that to find who in Clinton admin. came from Carter. I could find NONE.

In fact, I found a reference saying that Clinton "shunned" the Carter administration people.

Do you know who might have come from the Carter administration?

[Freddie Stubbs]

23. Secretary of State Warren Christopher

He was Deputy Secretary of State in the Carter Administration.

[Freddie Stubbs]

25. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright

She was the Congressional Liaison for the National Security Council.

[Freddie Stubbs]

29. Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman

She was the Director of the Labor Department's Women's Bureau under Carter.

[Freddie Stubbs]

38. States Secretary of Defense William Perry

He was Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering under Carter.

[Freddie Stubbs]

39. Office of Management and Budget Director Franklin Raines

He was assistant director of the White House Domestic Policy Staff under Carter.

[TwilightZone]

40. You didn't try very hard.

There were several high-profile members of the Carter admin involved in the Clinton admin.

The political world is a small one. There's a lot of recycling in every administration.

[Honeycombe8]

70. I didn't get any hits, & then ran across article saying Clintons "shunned" Carter admin. folks.

So I stopped at that point.

Guess I should've kept on. Still....there are 31 (and counting) Clinton admin. people so far hired for the staff or transation team. Even the pundits on TV are laughing about confusing the Clinton administration with the Obama administration. It seems to be unprecedented.

Again, Obama seems to have a gift at hiring the right people for the job, so I'm comfortable with his decisions of the top level people. It is the Clinton staffers who are probably hiring, and recommending, their fellow Clinton administration co-workers.

I get it...that they are experienced. I was just saying that it was kinda creepy. It is unprecendented. If Hillary is in the cabinet, and there is a conflict between her and Obama...who are the former Clinton staffers going to support, since they owe their allegiance to both? I'm sure it'll all work out. It's just weird is all.

[scheming daemons]

51. Wow.... you need a new google.

[ProSense]

4. Nonsense.

Susan Rice was in the Clinton administration, but she was also a top foreign policy advisor to Kerry.

People have expertise, and that doesn't go away because they worked for someone.

[onehandle]

5. It was Always going to. That's where the pool of talent is.

Any of the Democratic candidates would have had the same Clinton people, just shuffled around differently.

This is Clinton part 2, this time with more power to get things done.

Fine with me.

[firedupdem]

6. He's named maybe 2 people officially? The rest is speculation

and actually I wouldn't care as long as the people are smart and capable of turning this fucked up situation around.

[baldguy]

7. At least wait until he's ACTUALLY IN OFFICE before you decide he's a failure.

[Honeycombe8]

14. Not fair. I made it clear I fully support him. Hmmm....no questions allowed? Hmmmm. nt

[baldguy]

64. There's nothing to question! He hasn't DONE anything yet!

:banghead:

[peoli]

8. You're right. I guess we should expect Monica any moment.

[Uben]

10. After eight years, this IS change!

Just eight years later, you still have a majority of the major players in the dem party still serving, so that might be why it seems familiar. You pick the best from the pool.

[dkf]

11. Clinton's Vice President?

For some reason, I don't associate Gore with Clinton anymore. They are soooo different.

I would be very surprised if Hillary was SOS because her idea of foreign policy sounded opposite of Obama's during the campaign. OTOH I guess being in the service of a President means you subjugate all your ideas and strategy to theirs anyway.

[Honeycombe8]

21. The reason I did in this instance is that it's Gore's Chief of Staff while he was VP, who was chosen

It wasn't his assistant while he was a senator or at some other time. It was Clinton's VP's Chief of Staff. The reason he was selected, of course, is because he's done the job before...assistant to a VP in the W.H. Makes sense. I'm just noting that it's unusual for an admin. to pick several staffers & cabinet members from a prior one.

[dkf]

32. I'm guessing Obama wants veterans to get things done ASAP.

Then have his own people train under them. By the end of his term he will have his own Obama people trained all over the place.

[Jennicut]

34. Klain has also worked for Wes Clark, John Kerry and Evan Bayh

He was involved in the recount with Gore in FL as well. He is a good guy and helped Kerry prepare for his great performance against Shrub in the first debate in 2004.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Klain

I think Biden chose wisely.
I don't care where the people come from as long as they do a good job and are qualified. I think it will be a mix of old and new anyways.

[AllentownJake]

47. He also worked for Biden.

Which is probably why Biden picked him more than anything.

[AllentownJake]

45. He was also a close Biden advisor during Biden's Presidential run

which is probably why he got the job more than his work with Al Gore.

[Jennicut]

49. Well, he was a great pick then.

[cali]

13. Wow. you mean Clinton owns Rahm Emanuel? Fascinating.

That Obama is tapping former Clinton appointees hardly means Clinton Administration redux.

[Eryemil]

18. If we're gonna have Clinton 2.0 at least it it can't possibly get any worse than DOMA and DADT

Right.....................................?

[Honeycombe8]

24. DUGE. nt

[Eryemil]

30. Can you translate that?

[Honeycombe8]

68. You go first. nt

[Dappleganger]

20. As long as they are well qualified and get shit done, I don't care.

There is a huge mountain of issues to climb, so whatever works is fine by me.

[Arkansas Granny]

26. If Obama picks some of the same people that were connected to the

Clinton administration, I will assume it is because he feels they are the smartest and best suited for the positions. I trusted him enough to vote for him, I'll trust him to choose his administration.

[SeaLyons]

28. Obama knows what he's doing....

he's picking the strongest to be around him. Very smart move.

[mtnsnake]

31. What you fail to understand is that president-elects like to tap some former people

who worked for other Democratic presidents. Unfortunately, there has been only one Democratic president in the last few decades, Bill Clinton, so Obama's choices are pretty limited when it comes to people with past experience working for past presidents.

So, it's only natural that Obama would feel comfortable working with SOME former Clinton people because they have the experience. As for your comment about worrying about Obama's choice of Hillary for SOS, how about waiting until it happens before you assume that she is just one more person from the Clinton admin to get a job with Obama.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[Two Americas]

58. thank you grovelbot

Nice to see at least one sensible post on this thread. I wish I could recommend your post. Maybe you should make this its own thread?

[Sensitivity]

36. "The Political Illusion" -- Ellul: The bureaucrats and "advisers" shape the outcomes

Can't see Clinton team leading transition and not expect Clintonian results

[bigwillq]

37. It does have a Clinton feel.

Obama reminds me a lot of Pres. Clinton.

[Nye Bevan]

41. The Clinton administration, but with more discipline and minus the scandals

Works for me.

[bdamomma]

42. these are his choices.

and I don't see anything wrong surrounding yourself with professionals, it has been along time since we've had professionals and qualified people in these positions.

also wouldn't it be great if Obama senatorial replacement is Tammy Duckworth, that would be great.

[AllentownJake]

43. I'll post this for the 4th time

If you were competent, educated, qualified, active in democratic politics, hadn't made an enemy of the Clintons, wanted to live near D.C. and over 22 during the 90s you were probably in the Clinton Administration. Having people who have been there made mistakes and have learned from the mistakes they have made is not a bad thing. Also these people weren't in stasis the past 8 years. I'm sure their work and personal experiences have changed them since the last democratic administration.

BTW Hillary is a good pick. She's tough but also highly intelligent and a world respected commodity.

[Sensitivity]

44. Just saw re-run of 3am AD -- it is CREAPY

[Skwmom]

50. And it fits right into the meme that Obama is not up to the job and needs "qualified"

people like Clinton to save the day.

[droidamus2]

46. Who else

Since the only other 'experienced' people would have to come from the Reagan, Bush I or Bush II administrations he doesn't have a lot of choices. In those cases where he can I am sure he will appoint new people. Where the positions are of such importance that it is imperative to have somebody that knows what they are doing he will pull from the Clinton people. What I would hope he would do is put in place so that in a couple of years or during his second term he could move so new younger people into position to carry on into the future. Voters are tired of fighting the old battles and using experienced people that are willing to move forward in order to make a planned transition would be a good idea. President Obama and the progressives are going to want to get a lot done in his first term and he needs people in place to facilitate getting those things done.

[Fran Kubelik]

48. So?

[EstimatedProphet]

52. No! Not them dam Klintoons agin!

Suits me fine, if he does become Clintonian. Clinton was a good president. The reason he didn't get as far as he could was because the Repub assholes worked day and night to ruin everything about him. Imagine how successful Clinton would have been had he had a Dem Congress just coming into power.

[Lilith Velkor]

67. Uh, he did.

However, they didn't back him up after the Republicans started with their eight year tantrum. so here we are.

[Alter Ego]

54. For God's sake.

You could throw a handful of pebbles down the Capitol steps and hit a dozen former Clinton staffers. As the most influential Democratic Prez in the last 30 years, I got news for ya--his guys are gonna be EVERYWHERE.

[Thrill]

55. Clinton was the last Democratic President. Do you really think you're going to put an admin together

without at least some of his people in it? You have to have some people who have been in the WH and Washington. Thats the mistake Clinton made. Hiring too many novice.

[kid a]

56. Oh Really? Can't wait to see your post in July 2009.

[rucky]

57. Call me when he talks to Dick Morris. n/t

[LynneSin]

59. I thought Obama was going to get rid of the Dept of Toe-sucking slimeballs

:rofl:

[Arugula Latte]

61. In Dick Morris's defense, he is a lying sack of shit.

-- Jon Stewart

[Hippo_Tron]

71. Damnit beat me to it

Every time I hear "Dick Morris" I think of that quote.

[crispini]

60. Who cares? We got OBAMA -- he's in charge.

Have no doubt this guy knows all about CHANGE and he will be The Man.

[rvablue]

62. "Creepy" and "eerie", I'm wondering if this is your first foray into politics

I can understand if you used words like "disappointing" and "unexpected", but creepy and eerie are taking it a little too far, don't you think?

BTW, while Clinton did have some folks from the Carter administration he actually ended up doing what YOU and a lot of others want out of Obama -- he brought in a lot of new, outside the Beltway, fresh faces.

And guess, what? The Republicans were dragging him through the mud within weeks of his inauguration.

Obama is surrounding himself with pros who are going to make sure he is working on his agenda and not trying to play defense against some right wing booby trap.....

Podesta, Emmanuel, and yes, maybe Clinton are the just the first string of former Clinton staff you are going to see in Obama's administration. And no, you didn't vote for Clinton, you voted for Obama. So stop being creeped out and eerie-fied by the decisions he is making. You wanted him. YOu got him.

[NewJeffCT]

63. Unless you raid the House/Senate, how many non-Clintonites are qualified?

In the last 28 years, Bill Clinton's White House is the only place a Democrat could have gained federal executive experience.

And, if you go down to statehouses - you risk losing Democratic governors and lieutenant governors.

[Cosmic Charlie]

65. don't worry. Hillary is not SOS.

[TankLV]

66. And that would be a GOOD thing, right?!

after all, PEACE, HOPE AND PROSPERITY was nothing to sneeze at...

We could and HAVE done a lot worse!!!

I trust Obama - so far he's batting a THOUSAND...

[Whisp]

69. that doesn't really bother me. Obama has a gift to choose the right people

so I'm not fretting ovr this at all.

but Hillary for SoS, jsut because she's the goddess of peace and the most brilliant loved politcian in the known and unknown universes, that I would raise an eyebrow or two over - but in the end, Obama is the big brains of the outfit, not anyone here, and I would be okay with it if he thinks so.

[Lex]

72. They are DEMOCRATS with experience.

They don't "belong" to Clinton forevermore. Sheesh.

[Cleita]

73. That's not a bad thing as long as they

acknowledge the mistakes made during the Clinton administration by not repeating them and please do repeat the policies that did work and go beyond them.

[Hippo_Tron]

74. Just because they served under Clinton doesn't mean they agreed with Clinton's policies

Nearly every Democrat who has experience in the executive branch and isn't over 70 years old worked in the Clinton Administration.

When the President of the United States asks you to serve in his/her administration it's very hard to say no. But when you serve the President, you implement his/her agenda not your own agenda. This is especially true when you serve on the sub-cabinet level and don't have the ear of the President. Obama is looking at mostly Clinton sub-cabinet level people to fill his top ranks meaning that while they served under Clinton, they didn't have a whole lot of influence over Clinton.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

75. Right

[FrenchieCat]

76. So much bullshit,

so little time; 10 days to be precise...and already it has started! :eyes:

I'm talking about this post, not the yet to be announced Obama administration.