Obama picking Washington insiders for cabinet despite promising change

Thursday 20th November, 04:46 PM JST

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SushiSake3 at 11:29 PM JST - 20th November

Powderfinger - "we were supposed to be impressed with how he defeated the Clinton Machine."

As opposed to your guy, who didn't.

Considering this was Obama's first run for president, the fact he bet the Clinton Machine and the GOP slime machine on his first outing is incredibly impressive, but I think you just need someone to hate. :-)

He is 'reaching across the aisle', something the GOP seems to know nothing about.

Change - I like it. :-)
goodDonkey at 11:36 PM JST - 20th November

Sarge said:

This article must be infuriating for all the Obama supporters.

Not at all Sarge; no anger here. I accept that a free, fair and balanced media will not always present the news to please me. I don't need to whimper about how they are unfair. I know what Obama needs to do and I hoped for the cabinet he is now forming. How could I be angry anyway, my president was elected with a mandate. He kicked butt. And we just won the Alaskan senate seat. Infuriated, hardly Sarge, I am still enjoying the moment.
powderfinger at 11:40 PM JST - 20th November

"He is 'reaching across the aisle', something the GOP seems to know nothing about."

First part of that statement is correct. You know next to nothing of US politics, and it's reflected in the second half of your statement.

I like Rahm Israel Emmanuel.

And Larry Summers.

I'm hoping Obama brings Holbrooke on board.

I noticed they will let Lieberman be.

It is driving his wingnut Daily Kos fan base crazy.

But I think you already knew that...
Taka313 at 11:42 PM JST - 20th November

Triumvere,

You are welcome.

While I think Sen. Clinton would be a very capable Sec. of State and a huge step up from our current one, I truly believe the best person for the job is Gov. Bill Richardson.

I read the other day (can't remember where) that President-elect Obama is also trying to bring Gen. (ret.) Tony Zinni onboard as a member of his staff.

I don't care what capacity it is, I really hope that turns out to be true. Gen. Zinni was my guy for president but said he wouldn't run. I have the upmost respect for him and think that he would really benefit the Obama Presidency, no matter what position he fills.

Taka
Madverts at 11:42 PM JST - 20th November

sarge, no, you flip-flopped. But then again, you were a die-hard bush supporter so who cares...

I'll reserve judgment like the other people with brains on this thread, until he's taken office and has had time to act.

As to the detrimental comments on this thead....well, heh, they just sound like the gratins of the most bitter and sore losers the planet has ever seen...

"Sarah" Who?
SushiSake3 at 11:43 PM JST - 20th November

powderfinger - "You know next to nothing of US politics."

That may or may not be accurate, but at least I know how to pick a winner, unlike yourself, who I actually once thought was American. :-)

And, I am in agreement with Good Donkey - no anger at all.

I'm stoked! Life IS good!
SushiSake3 at 11:46 PM JST - 20th November

Actually it seems like the GOP supporters are the ones who are angry and gnashing their teeth.

Their party is down to 42 seats with two still at risk. Some Senate Republicans are in a deep funk. Some are in denial. Some want a return to conservative principles. Some want to cut deals. Some want more filibusters.

Others want to jump out a window — but they’re afraid they’d screw that up, too.

“We probably wouldn’t die,” a Republican Senate aide joked Wednesday. “We’d just lie there, hurt and suffering, which is not too much different from where we are now.”

[www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15812.html]
USAkuma at 12:17 AM JST - 21st November

Triumvere - Good Post. It seems that no matter who Obama selects, nor what he does, he won't please the far right. But that's the nature of the game. As P.T. Barnum put it, you can please all of the people some of the time, or some of the people all of the time, but you can never please everyone all the time.

Thus, there's no reason to be surprised that those who voted for McCain are not going to be happy with anything he does. It's a proud part of the constitution's Bill of Rights that allows for freedom of speech. It's only during Bush's time that anyone who disagreed with Mein Fuher Bush's actions was labeled a "liberal" supporter of terrorists and marxism.

I am all for the council of Rivals. They should be able to keep each other honest. And it's the **first **big step towards mending fences and reaching across aisles.
Nessie at 12:30 AM JST - 21st November

It seems that no matter who Obama selects, nor what he does, he won't please the far right. But that's the nature of the game. As P.T. Barnum put it, you can please all of the people some of the time, or some of the people…

Or as the neocons say, you can torture all of the people some of the time, or some of the people all of the time...
EurajReturns at 01:46 AM JST - 21st November

Pretty funny article. I bet if everyone Obama picked were unfamiliar faces, these cats would be whining about him giving uncapable, inexperienced people too much power. As long as his choices don't ride on the policies of the last administration, change is nigh.
RomeoRamenII at 05:07 AM JST - 21st November

If obama were really serious about making good on his campaign promise to make "fundamental changes in Washington", he would have filled the HHS position with medical doctor who actually knows something about health and human services. Instead, obama gives the job to a person whom he owes a political favor to.

During the primaries, obama hammered hillary as being an insider. He claimed he was an outsider, and that it would take an outsider to effect "change" in D.C. Now, he is loading up his administration with insiders and cronies.

Yet another great example of obama's idea of "change". Heh, nothing like filling his administration's posts with retreads from the past.
Sarge at 07:13 AM JST - 21st November

Madverts - "sarge, no, you flip-flopped"

I did not.

"the detrimental comments on this thread"

Heh, any criticism of Obama is "detrimental" to liberals.
Sarge at 08:07 AM JST - 23rd November

Taka313: "While I think Sen Clinton would be a very capable Sec of State and a huge step up from our current one..."

You've got to be kidding. On what basis do you say this?
Devyatkova at 12:01 AM JST - 26th November

a clever, handsome new president in USA
soldave at 10:04 AM JST - 26th November

Sarge - probably that someone with an ounce of sense has picked her. And it's like Obama's first term: to be hailed as a success he's not really got to to much considering his predecessor.