As President-elect Obama goes about the business of putting together his Administration, speculation about his top choices is finding its way onto media reports. What follows is a digest from this morning's newspapers:
Top Contenders For Treasury Post Cited The Wall Street Journal cites sources that say top contenders for the post of treasury Secretary "include Lawrence Summers, a Harvard University economist who served in the same position in the Clinton administration; New York Federal Reserve Bank President Timothy Geithner; former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker; and Robert Rubin, another former Clinton Treasury secretary and director and senior counselor of Citigroup Inc."
In addition, the Washington Post raises the possibility of the appointment going to "Laura D'Andrea Tyson, who chaired Clinton's Council of Economic Advisers," or "a less conventional pick, perhaps a Wall Street name such as Jamie Dimon, chief executive of J.P. Morgan Chase." Obama once "suggested he would like to see billionaire investor Warren Buffett take the job," but "Geithner and Summers appear the most likely picks."
Candidates To Head Defense Reporting on Obama's upcoming appointments, the New York Times notes speculation Obama could ask current Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates to stay "to demonstrate bipartisanship." Democrats also "see former Deputy Defense Secretary John J. Hamre and former Navy Secretary Richard J. Danzig as two candidates for the Pentagon." The Hill mentions Sen. Jack Reed and John Hamre.
Potentials Mentioned For Secretary Of State The New York Times says Obama "might want to tap a Republican for the State Department, perhaps including Senators Richard G. Lugar of Indiana or Chuck Hagel of Nebraska." Among Democrats, Sen. John F. Kerry "is a leading choice." McClatchy includes Democratic New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson in its list of candidates for the State post.
The AP, meanwhile, reports Kerry "was angling for secretary of state." David Ignatius writes in the Washington Post, "Among the big questions are whether to ask Bob Gates to stay on as defense secretary or, if not, whether to appoint a prominent Republican, such as Sen. Richard Lugar or Sen. Chuck Hagel, as secretary of state."
Department Of Homeland Security The Hill reports "possibilities for secretary of the Department of Homeland Security" include Tim Roemer, "a former Democratic congressman from Indiana and a member of the 9/11 Commission; Raymond Kelly, New York City police commissioner; and James Lee Witt, former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency."
The Hill also reports, "Worried about a terrorist attack during the presidential transition, Homeland Security officials are working with Congress to ensure that the Senate moves quickly to confirm a key Cabinet nominee."
Other National Security Appointments The New York Times reports, "For national security adviser, Mr. Obama might pick between James B. Steinberg, a former deputy national security adviser, and Gregory B. Craig, a former State Department official." Richard J. Danzig and Dennis Ross, "a longtime Middle East envoy, are also mentioned."
Department Of Justice The Hill reports, "For attorney general, Eric Holder, who was deputy attorney general in the Clinton administration, Rep. Artur Davis and Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano are being mentioned."
Health And Human Services The New York Times reports, "Democrats said they had heard that Howard Dean, the Democratic National Committee chairman, who is a doctor, might be a candidate for secretary of health and human services." The Washington Post, in its "In the Loop" column, cites "chatter" that former Sen. Tom Daschle may be tapped to head HHS. The Hill says Daschle "also has been mentioned as...a healthcare czar who would be responsible for shepherding a reform bill through Congress." Another piece in The Hill mentions Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as a possibility.
Possible Commerce Department Nominees The New York Times reports "Penny S. Pritzker, a Chicago business tycoon and Mr. Obama's national finance chairwoman, could be tapped for commerce secretary." The Hill reports that "also mentioned for Commerce is Jason Furman, an economic adviser on the campaign."
Education Department The Politico reports "retired Gen. Colin L. Powell" could be under consideration for "secretary of defense or education," according to "officials."
The Hill mentions "Arne Duncan, the CEO of Chicago Public Schools," who "appears to be a leading candidate, along with former North Carolina Gov. James Hunt."
Energy Department The Hill reports several lobbyists "said Philip Sharp, a former Democratic congressman from Indiana and current president of Resources for the Future, is under consideration. Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), the current chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, is also a possibility."
USDA The Hill reports, "Several names have surfaced to run the Agriculture Department. Tom Buis, a former aide to Daschle and now the president of the National Farmers Union, is one of them." Former Rep. Charles Stenholm (D-Texas), former Rep. Jim Leach (R-Iowa) and ex-Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) "are also mentioned."
HUD The New York Times reports "Representative James E. Clyburn of South Carolina may be considered for secretary of housing and urban development." The Hill mentions "Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and [Valerie] Jarrett, who is from Chicago."
EPA The Politico reports "Obama is strongly considering Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Environmental Protection Agency, a Cabinet post, Democratic officials told Politico." The Hill reports "Kathleen McGinty, former chairwoman of the Council on Environmental Quality, is a leading candidate."
Interior The Hill reports Gov. Bill Richardson "is mentioned as a possibility to take over the Interior Department," as is Rep. Jay Inslee.
Labor The Hill reports, "At the Labor Department, Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.), the former House majority leader and longtime labor advocate, seems to be a natural fit."
Transportation The Hill reports, "For Transportation secretary, Obama may tap Steve Heminger, who is the executive director on the San Francisco Bay Area's Metropolitan Transportation Commission."
Veterans Affairs The Hill reports, "At Veterans Affairs, former Sen. Max Cleland (D-Ga.) is apparently under consideration, along with Iraq war veteran and former House Democratic candidate Tammy Duckworth, another Illinois native."
UN Ambassadorship The Politico reports Caroline Kennedy is being considered as "US ambassador to the United Nations, although some Obama officials doubt she would take the post." The New York Times names Susan E. Rice, "a former assistant secretary of state and early Obama adviser."
Coverage of President-elect Barack Obama's steps to build his administration was largely positive last night and this morning. In its "In the Loop" column, for example, the Washington Post reports "it's too early to predict whether the Obama transition can best the extraordinary effort of the Bush II team eight years ago as it grappled with a sharply truncated, 37-day transition," but "the announcement yesterday of the effort's leaders -- barely half a day after Obama's victory speech -- indicates the Obamanians are on top of their game."
Most reports and analyses tend to emphasize the celerity with which Obama team has approached the selection of key appointees, and the fact that many of the names under consideration worked in the Clinton Administration. The first position likely to be filled, media reports indicate, is that of White House chief of staff, which has been offered to Rep. Rahm Emanuel. As the Wall Street Journal reports, the hiring a chief of staff will "be followed by critical economic appointments, especially that of Treasury secretary." The Los Angeles Times runs a similar story.
The Chicago Tribune reports that following Obama's offer, Emanuel "wrestled with the choice" which would mean "a return to the White House for the alumnus of the Clinton administration but also a departure from Congress where he has risen quickly to the top ranks."
Like the Tribune, the AP says "a rejection" by Emanuel "would amount to an unlikely public snub of the new president-elect within hours of an electoral college landslide." The New York Times, meanwhile, reports on its front page that "many Democrats said they expected" Emanuel to "accept" Obama's offer. The Financial Times goes further, reporting the "pugnacious" Emanuel has already "agreed to serve as White House chief of staff." Likewise, Fox News Special Report reported, "A Democratic source tells Fox Emanuel accepted the job this afternoon," even as "an aide to the Congressman says no decision has been made."
However, the New York Times reports that after "a nearly flawless 21-month campaign, Democrats are second-guessing one of" Obama's "first and most important postelection decisions: Why is he asking...Emanuel 'Rahmbo,' one of the capital's most in-your-face partisan actors -- to be his chief of staff?" Some Democrats "say former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, who is as laid-back as Mr. Emanuel is brusque, would be a better fit." The Washington Times also says Emanuel's selection "belied Mr. Obama's promise to bring a 'new kind of politics' to Washington because of Mr. Emanuel's reputation as a fierce partisan with strong ties to the Clinton White House, where he worked as an aide and ran damage control for the Monica Lewinsky affair and campaign-finance scandals."
Top Fundraisers Part Of Transition Team? The Los Angeles Times notes a "Clinton alumnus, former chief of staff John Podesta, is heading the transition team, joined by Valerie Jarrett, a campaign adviser, and Pete Rouse, an Obama Senate aide." The Wall Street Journal reports the transition team also includes former Clinton Commerce Secretary William Daley, former State Department African specialist Susan Rice, Harvard Law friends such as Michael Froman, "a former Treasury chief of staff, and Julius Genachowski, a former chief counsel of the Federal Communications Commission. Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano is also onboard." The New York Times, meanwhile, runs profiles of Podesta, Rouse and Jarrett.
The Washington Times reports Obama "has tapped some of the same big-time fundraisers who helped him collect more than a half-billion dollars for his presidential campaign to a new panel that will form the face of his administration," including former Gore aide Donald Gips and Citigroup executive Michael Froman.
The Wall Street Journal reports, "From halls of power in London to his relatives' ramshackle village in Kenya, people in many parts of the world on Wednesday looked at Barack Obama not just as the newly elected president of the United States, but as the new global leader." The CBS Evening News said "it almost seemed he'd been elected president of the world, if the celebrations were any indication." NBC Nightly News reported, "It is not an overstatement to say this is the result the world wanted."
The Washington Post, in a story titled "US Again Hailed As 'Country Of Dreams,'" reports from London that "through tears and whoops of joy, in celebrations that spilled onto the streets, people around the globe called...Obama's election Tuesday a victory for the world and a renewal of America's ability to inspire." The Washington Post also notes the exhilaration in Kenya, where "the news of Obama's triumph" arrived "as the sun rose Wednesday." The Post adds that "within minutes, a wave of euphoria -- and some serious reflection -- washed across this East African nation, where weeks of violence after a presidential election in late 2007 left many people deeply pessimistic about democracy." The New York Times, under the headline "Election Unleashes A Flood Of Hope Around The World," Los Angeles Times, USA Today and Washington Times run similar stories.
Being American Now "Cool" Under the headline "Suddenly, It May Be Cool To Be An American Again," William Kole writes for the AP from Vienna, Austria, about the reaction to Obamas election: "For longtime US expatriates like me...it feels like an extraordinary turnabout."
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The media today generally isn't seeing the Democratic victories this week as representing a fundamental change in the political structure of the US. McClatchy reports in a widely distributed story that Sen. Barack Obama "didn't get all the way there Tuesday" and his win "fell short of the kind of realignment that would've immediately altered the political landscape and forged an enduring majority that could dominate the national agenda for years." On MSNBC's Hardball, NBC News political director Chuck Todd said, "Everything went" Obama's "way and the Democrats way, and he still only won by six points nationally. The ceiling for a Democrat is still a little bit lower" in a good year than it is for Republicans in a good year for them.
Looking at House race, The Hill says a "19-seat gain is supposed to be remarkable in a gerrymandered Congress, but on Tuesday, it wasn't." Expectations for House Democrats "were so high that the sub-30 seat gain was a blip on the screen instead of a big splash." Pundits and analysts "had put the potential gain much higher."
In a contrary view, the Wall Street Journal reports, "Tuesday's substantial victory by Barack Obama, together with Democratic gains in the Senate and House, appear to have accomplished a fundamental political realignment." The WSJournal adds, "If the future President Obama makes progress on solving the huge economic and social problems facing this country, and on securing the country from future terrorist attacks, he may well be viewed as the Democrat who created a long-term new political majority not seen since FDR."
Democrats Appeal Rises Among Suburban Voters The Washington Post reports on its front page that the Democrats have ascended "in the suburbs and among the moderate, college-educated voters who dominate them" signaling a shift away from what Karl Rove, a top strategist, proclaimed after President Bush's reelection in 2004, to be "the arrival of a permanent Republican majority." Similarly, USA Today says that Obama "made inroads in the nation's fast-growing suburbs, where the foreclosure crisis has been especially severe. Republicans carried most of those areas, but by a smaller margin than in 2004."
Obama Makes Inroads In South The New York Times reports that Obama made "inroads" in the South which was "important symbolically and historically." The Times adds, "Political analysts attributed his victories in the South to an effective ground operation and an increase in non-Southerners and younger, educated workers." The Times adds that political analysts "also credited a high black turnout" and "dissatisfaction with President Bush, which pushed many independent voters into the Obama column."
The media is also beginning to examine what went wrong for Sen. John McCain. A USA Today article attributes McCain's defeat to the "bad environment" the GOP faced in light of the financial crisis "and President Bush's unpopularity," but adds that McCain "also created some of his own problems in his loss to Democrat Barack Obama. Among them: McCain's late-September decision to 'suspend' his campaign in light of the economic crisis did not seem to impress voters. Republicans also are debating the wisdom of McCain's other key decision, the selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate."
The Washington Post reports that starting in July, McCain "largely abandoned the well-known brand he had built over a decade: a moderate, steady, experienced maverick whose great political skill was in convincing independent voters that he was not just another Republican." The Post notes that McCain turned to more aggressive tactics and rhetoric, "embraced conservative policies and eventually bet his White House hopes on a tax-cutting philosophy that he had once ridiculed from the Senate floor." The Post continues to suggest that McCain lost credibility from this rightward shift, making voters less likely to trust him to forge bipartisan remedies to the nation's challenges. ABC World News reported last night, "If Barack Obama was driving the Cadillac of campaigns, John McCain was driving one that seemed in constant need of a tune-up and by the end simply ran out of gas." Like the Post, ABC says McCain abandoned his brand name and "a different candidate turned up for the general election."
The Financial Times, however, concludes that "History is likely to conclude that John McCain lost the 2008 presidential race not on polling day, but seven weeks earlier, on the morning that Wall Street was thrown into panic by the collapse of Lehman Brothers. While the markets were nose-diving," McCain "was telling a rally in Florida that 'the fundamentals of the economy are sound.'"
The New York Times reports on uncertain outcomes of the Senate races in Minnesota, Oregon, and Alaska, where "Republican incumbents cling to the barest of leads," while Georgia's Senate race is likely headed toward a runoff. The Washington Post also reports on the undecided races, which "left the central dynamic of the Senate over the next two years hanging in the balance. The outcomes, which will become clear over the next week to a month, will determine the extent of Democrats' command of the chamber -- how much they will need to accommodate Republican views across the spectrum of legislation."
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The Politico reports that in addition to the four Senate races that remain too close to call, "House races in Washington's 8th District, Maryland's 1st District, Virginia's 5th District, California's 4th District and Ohio's 15th District" among others "also remain too close to call and could all be headed toward recounts.
The Hill reports Rep. Artur Davis, a "prominent surrogate for President-elect Barack Obama is praising Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) as a strong candidate amid stepped-up lobbying for the Senate seat Obama is vacating." Under Illinois law, "the choice for Obama's successor is up to Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich. But Blagojevich would almost surely listen to Obama if he made it known who he thinks should take his seat." Other potential candidates for the seat include Tammy Duckworth, head of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs; Emil Jones Jr., the Illinois state Senate leader "and a mentor to Obama"; Rep. Danny Davis (D), and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D). The Washington Post adds several other names to the list: Chicago businesswoman Valeria Jarrett and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan.
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Jay Leno: "Congratulations to Barack Obama on becoming the 44th President of the United States. ... You know, it's amazing. Barack Obama won in Florida and still became President. That never happens."
Jay Leno: "Of course, there was a huge celebration over at Barack Obama headquarters, otherwise known as MSNBC."
Jay Leno: "Do you realize this is our first black president since the first season of '24'?"
Jay Leno: "People were worried about the 'Bradley effect," but "apparently," that "was not nearly as strong as the 'Bush effect.'"
David Letterman: "Attention passengers, the Straight Talk Express is no longer in service."
David Letterman: "People all over the world...are celebrating" Barack Obama's victory. In fact, Sarah Palin "watched the Russians celebrating from her house."
Conan O'Brien: "All the major networks declared Barack Obama the winner at 11:00 last night," except "for MSNBC, which declared Obama the winner six months ago."
Conan O'Brien: "Hundreds of thousands of people turned out for" Obama's victory rally in Chicago. But there was an "awkward moment when Obama put on a hat that said 'proud to be Muslim' and screamed, 'Suckas!'"
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