Thread: President-elect promised change, picking insiders

cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-changes!



President-elect promised change, picking insiders - Yahoo! News


President-elect promised change, picking insiders



WASHINGTON – President-elect Barack Obama promised the voters change but has started his Cabinet selection process by naming several Washington insiders to top posts.


Obama is enlisting former Senate leader Tom Daschle as his health secretary. Hillary Rodham Clinton, a well-known Washington personality, seemed more likely than ever to be his secretary of state. Clinton is deciding whether to take that post as America's top diplomat, her associates said Wednesday
Obama is ready to announce that his attorney general will be Eric Holder, the Justice Department's No. 2 when Clinton's husband was president. Rahm Emanuel, Obama's chief of staff, is another veteran of the Clinton White House.


Daschle's selection to head the Health and Human Services Department — confirmed Wednesday but not yet announced — isn't at the same level of Cabinet prestige as the top spots at the State and Justice departments. But the health post could be more important in an Obama administration than in some others, making Daschle a key player in helping steer the president-elect's promised health care reforms.


Daschle could push Obama for quick action on health care reform next year, if he follows his own advice.


Daschle said efforts during the Clinton administration, led by Hillary Clinton, took too long and went into too much detail, giving every interest group an opportunity to find something they didn't like about the plan.
"The next president should act immediately to capitalize on the goodwill that greets any incoming administration. If that means attaching a health-care plan to the federal budget, so be it," Daschle wrote in a book he released this year, "Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis." "This issue is too important to be stalled by Senate protocol."


The former South Dakota senator's return to the government will be a vindication of sorts. He was the Senate Democratic leader when he was defeated in 2004 by Republican John Thune, who convinced voters back home that Daschle was more concerned with Washington than with them.


In fact, Daschle stayed in the capital city after his defeat, becoming a public policy adviser and member of the legislative and public policy group at the law and lobbying firm Alston & Bird. Daschle isn't registered as a lobbyist. He advises clients on issues including health care, financial services, taxes and trade, according to the firm's Web site.


Health care interests, including CVS Caremark, the National Association for Home Care and Hospice, Abbott Laboratories and HealthSouth, are among the firm's lobbying clients.


Daschle's appointment was not formally announced, but Democratic officials said the job was his barring an unforeseen problem as Obama's team reviews his background. One area of review will include the lobbying connections of his wife, Linda Hall Daschle, who has worked mostly on behalf of airline-related companies over the years. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the matter publicly.


Republicans sniped at what they saw as an unwelcome trend. Alex Conant, spokesman for the Republican National Committee, said, "Barack Obama is filling his administration with longtime Washington insiders."

Originally Posted by chitown

Republicans sniped at what they saw as an unwelcome trend. Alex Conant, spokesman for the Republican National Committee, said, "Barack Obama is filling his administration with longtime Washington insiders."

And if he hadn't they would certainly be blaming him for picking people without experience..........

I think Obama picking insiders is good. They know how Washington works, they'll make less mistakes because they have experience, and they can battle the partisan attacks, more easily.

I don't believe in "outsiders" going to Washington, because "outsiders" have a horrible track record.

Originally Posted by chitown

"Barack Obama is filling his administration with longtime Washington insiders."

Imagine that...

Originally Posted by Milkman

I think Obama picking insiders is good. They know how Washington works, they'll make less mistakes because they have experience, and they can battle the partisan attacks, more easily.

I don't believe in "outsiders" going to Washington, because "outsiders" have a horrible track record.

Why not - Mr. Smith made a difference!

^
Yer wrong...again. Example here

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

This will be a fun four years, with that "house negro" in the WH. Jet Gorgon is online now Add to Jet Gorgon's Reputation Report Post Reply With Quote Quote the Selection

You really are a racist . . . very tasteless but not unexpected.

Anyway, I don't see how using ex-Clinton staff and insiders is anathema to change . . . Obama has his policies and will use the right people (we hope) to do the job.

He gives directions and those chosen to work for him will do what they do to follow those directives.

The only thing that has change is the rhetoric. Obama decides nothing.

^^ I fail to see what your post is trying to convey, Jet. Why use the terminology, especially given your past comments about his race?

^ Anything to substantiate that, Jesus?

^ You have missed the point all the way along, hatter. I laughed at you when you threw a hissyfit that I said race would be an issue in the campaign. Anytime I mention race you throw a fit (aww, bet you've always taken care of all the abos in your neighbourhood, huh?). Race is an issue in the US. The fact that Al Q is calling him a "house negro" is a dig. Figure it out.

From above posts. Calling Obama a "house negro" is not only incorrect, but biased. If he was white would a similar label be put on him. Obama is intelligent and consults with people. The term above implies others are telling him what to do and directing him. No evidence of this, that I've seen. Obama seems very pragmatic. And he seems more in the Center than Left, as you have to be in the Center to get things done in Washington, IMO.

In another pragmatic move IMO, Gates is likely to stay on as SecDef.

Originally Posted by Milkman

From above posts. Calling Obama a "house negro" is not only incorrect, but biased. If he was white would a similar label be put on him. Obama is intelligent and consults with people. The term above implies others are telling him what to do and directing him. No evidence of this, that I've seen. Obama seems very pragmatic. And he seems more in the Center than Left, as you have to be in the Center to get things done in Washington, IMO.

WTF? MM, didn't you read where that label came from? I put the link in my GD post. It's what Al Q Zawahiri called BO in his speech for crikes sake. It ain't a term coined by ME or even the KKK. I am giving up on you libbies for sure now. You don't even read the links or all the news, do you (hey, that negro line I even copied from the NYT for you folks) and you just post messiah crap. Yep, you'll get what you asked for. I used to admire your views, MM.

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

Originally Posted by Milkman

From above posts. Calling Obama a "house negro" is not only incorrect, but biased. If he was white would a similar label be put on him. Obama is intelligent and consults with people. The term above implies others are telling him what to do and directing him. No evidence of this, that I've seen. Obama seems very pragmatic. And he seems more in the Center than Left, as you have to be in the Center to get things done in Washington, IMO.

WTF? MM, didn't you read where that label came from? I put the link in my GD post. It's what Al Q Zawahiri called BO in his speech for crikes sake.

That's my point.

It ain't a term coined by ME or even the KKK.

I didn't say it was.

I am giving up on you libbies for sure now.

I don't consider myself a "libbie." It's an outdated term that died out at least 18+ years ago.

I used to admire your views, MM.

My views haven't changed. They are the same as they've always been.

Why do people keep referring to Obama as a black or a negro? He is as much white as he is black (one white parent, one black).

How many % white do you have to be before you are referred to as such?

Originally Posted by Whiteshiva

Why do people keep referring to Obama as a black or a negro? He is as much white as he is black (one white parent, one black).

How many % white do you have to be before you are referred to as such?

Doesn't matter. It's the colour of the skin that's the defining measure to those that such things matter to. Always has been, always will be.

The reason the repub's are whinging about Obama picking experienced Washington intsiders is because it leaves them nothing else to whinge about, and they've got to whinge about something- indeed, thats what they're paid for. Obamas appointments thus far reak of pragmatism, oh dear . Tom Daschle seems a bloody good choice for Health actually. Not so sure about Hillary for secretary of state.

So AQ wishes to continue the Holy Jihad against the great Satan. Well knock me down with a feather.

Originally Posted by Whiteshiva

Why do people keep referring to Obama as a black or a negro? He is as much white as he is black (one white parent, one black).

How many % white do you have to be before you are referred to as such?

WS, I went through this debate with a guy a few days before the election and he was going on and on using the "N" word and such. I asked him the same question and he said 0%.

He had also expressed that if Obama won, he was moving to Canada. So I called him on Skype the day after the election and asked if he had inquired about a moving truck yet. No answer on that one.

Originally Posted by Whiteshiva

Why do people keep referring to Obama as a black or a negro?

Because that's what he promotes. The only time he talks about his white family is for sympathy votes about his mom and the big bad insurance companies who would not cover her for cancer treatment and a few nice things about his white Grandma (the one who called blacks bad names, according to his book) and then his trip to Hawaii to see her. Thought it strange the whole fam didn't go to visit her last summer on their vakay -- they all went to HW but only BO went to see her, as I saw on the various networks. Did he go to her funeral? That kinda got shuffled over in the press. He's not what he appears to be, IMO, but you libbies keep on dreaming.

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

You have missed the point all the way along

No, you missed the point, as is seen in further posts

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

you threw a hissyfit

Please provide a link for said 'hissy fits'

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

bet you've always taken care of all the abos in your neighbourhood

Nope, I mentioned that there are none in my neighbourhood, nor do I know any, which I also mentioned. The term 'Abo' is also considered derogatory and racist . . . no surprise that you use it.

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

Figure it out.

I have . . . your turn

Originally Posted by Milkman

That's my point.

And she doesn't get it. Better end it here as jet can't just quietly acknowledge errors and will screech on and on while dispensing reds . . . (Oh, thanks for the red, Jet)


I think the term 'black' sticks to someone until they 'look' white . . . I'm sure many here know 'blacks' that are as far removed from being 'black' as most of us here. It is an easy label to stick on someone, especially if it is meant as a derogatory term.

If you sincerely care what he does write to him and the other congressmen. People are just to lazy to get active. I know I am.

a lot of sour grapes on this thread.

^
Buyers remorse setting in soon...heh