Obama's picks

[babylonsister]

http://www.americablog.com/2008/11/obamas-picks.html

Obama's picks
John Aravosis (DC) · 11/29/2008 11:01:00 AM ET


From Ben Smith at Poltico:

Barack Obama’s picks for cabinet and other senior posts are many things: centrists, veterans, rivals. Most of all, though, they’re big: Big names, big intellects, and big egos.

The president-elect’s national security and economic policy teams, inside the White House and out, will be led by power politics veterans, all but one of them older than the president-elect, and all accustomed to being the most important voice in the room.

While official announcements and Senate confirmations await, it appears that on national security decisions, Obama will have a team of heavyweights: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Vice President Joe Biden, retired four-star Marine general Jim Jones as his National Security Adviser, and four-star General David Petraeus as chief of U.S. Central Command.

His economic team is of similar stature: new Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will find his rival for the job, Larry Summers, in the White House, while former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker will also be in the mix as head of a new economic recovery advisory board.

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel seems unlikely to be shy about his views in either arena.

What's most important about that list is just how damn qualified everyone is. Not a political hack or pushover among them. (Well, other than Petraeus, who still leaves me wondering if he's anything more than a yes-man for whichever politician he's currently trying to curry favor with.) Our government is back in the hands of the adults. Of people who prefer to actually put country first, rather than simply bragging about it but never actually following through.

[panader0]

1. Sister, wasn't it you who called his team

"an embassassment of riches"? So true, and there are so many more still to join the team. I have no doubt that Obama will be able to maintain control of his team.

[babylonsister]

3. It was David Brooks who said Obama was stockpiling brains.

:)

[musicblind]

2. This is going to be such an AMAZING political team

the next four years will be wonderful!

*sighs relief*

:)

[FrenchieCat]

4. Oh My.....

I don't see a horse trainer in the group! What will we ever do? Have a competent government? :shrug:

[Inuca]

5. About Petraeus

I remember hearing a reportage about him on public radio long before he was named to the top position in Iraq. I hardly remember any details except that the name stuck in mind at that time as somebody quite out of the ordinary, and not only in military matters. I too was underwhelmed by his public persona once he got the limelight stuck on him, but who knows? maybe there is more than meets the eye there and maybe those who actually know him are aware of this.