Iraq has a "confused partner in the United States right now"

By GottaLaff

(Photo: The U.S. Army)

My talented pal Allen McDuffee has an interesting piece over at Truthout. Here are a few excerpts about something we don't hear much about because, you know, Tiger is "real" news, and information about the evolution of Iraq just gets in the way:

"If I had one word to describe Iraq, I would just use the word 'complicated.' If I had two words to describe Iraq, they would be 'very complicated,'" said Qubad Talabani, the representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq to the United States . [...]

These circumstances are further complicated, according to Talabani, because Iraq has a "confused partner in the United States right now. A partner that has from 2003 up until now been heavily engaged in every aspect of political and military development of the country and a partner that is going through its own transition right now." [...]

Talabani also pointed to a "'culture of insecurity' that has been bred throughout Iraq - because of its history, because of its present, because of its geographic location, because of its partners - that makes reaching political agreements on key outstanding issues" an extremely difficult enterprise and that insecurity is "at the heart of every political impasse right now."

It's not a long piece, so please go read the rest here.

So. Didja hear about Gilette distancing itself from Tiger..... ?

The red, white, and blue Green Zone

By GottaLaff

Via TPM:

Almost goes without saying (but it shouldn't) that the transfer is largely a formality and U.S. troops are still providing security in and around the Green Zone.

He's referring to this.

Some victory.

Bush is there for Obama in case of early crisis

By GottaLaff

Heckuva job, Georgie:

Bush Prepares Crisis Briefings to Aid Obama

The White House has created more than a dozen contingency plans to help President-elect Barack Obama in the event of an early international crisis.

So we're supposed to believe that that big Texan bag of federal ineptitude who was the cause of multiple crises (and the resolver of none) can be relied upon by Obama's crack team in case of an emergency? That would be like Jed Bartlet looking to Al Bundy for advice.

Au contraire. If there were to be another 9/11, Bush would thank his lucky stars to have Obama around. On the other hand, Bush could probably take care of himself. He's awfully good at ducking.

Let's clarify: What Did Obama Know?

By GottaLaff

In keeping with Paddy's post below, we have this:

President-elect Obama's transition office has yet to comment on the news of the arrest of Gov. Rod Blogojevich, but there is some suspicion that the Obama team at least knew of the investigation.

Transcripts of wiretap conversations suggest that the governor had conversations with Obama's transition team about Senate Candidate 1. Marc Ambinder makes a very strong case that this "is probably senior Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett."

In fact, just days after the presidental election, there were reports that Obama favored Jarrett for the Senate appointment. However, it's also clear from the complaint that the transition team refused to play ball with Blagojevich. The complaint states the governor said he knows that Obama wanted Senate Candidate 1 for the Senate seat but "they're not willing to give me anything except appreciation. Fuck them."

As Ben Smith notes, Jarrett's "abrupt withdrawal from consideration for the Senate seat suggests Obama's circle aware of the investigation" and wanted to distance themselves from any contacts with Blogojevich.

But the righties will call Obama a Muslim terrorist with ties to the bad guys. Countdown to the first Tee Vee Machine ad: 5... 4... 3...

Bush strips collective bargaining rights from federal employees

"No justifiable reason". Jeebus, this reminds me of someone buying a house and in the time before the turnover the previous owner goes thru and removes all the light fixtures, the switch plates, piping and anything else it can to make it harder for the new owner to move in. Bush is making this the most difficult transition every, nevermind the lip service to a "smooth" one. Via TP-

Yesterday, President Bush issued an executive order “that denies collective bargaining rights to about 8,600 federal employees who work in law enforcement, intelligence and other agencies responsible for national security.” 900 of the employees affected were already represented by collective bargaining units. Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, said that employees “had their collective bargaining rights stripped away for no justifiable reason.”

Fox: Obama Adviser Who Called Clinton a 'Monster' Returns

By GottaLaff

Fox may be trying to stir up a little trouble:

A former adviser to Barack Obama's presidential campaign who once called Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton a "monster" is now working on the transition team for the agency that Clinton may lead.

State Department officials said Friday that Samantha Power is among foreign policy experts the president-elect's office selected to help the incoming administration prepare for Clinton's anticipated nomination as secretary of state.

Samantha Power is one of 14. Now let's read the last 8 words of the Fox report:

During the Democratic primary campaign, Power called Clinton "a monster" in an interview. She then resigned, calling her remarks inexcusable and contradictory to her admiration for Clinton.

Next to Traitor Joe Lieberman's blatant betrayal, this episode was pretty tame.

Obama transition creates India briefing team

By GottaLaff

For the first time in a very long time, I feel like I can trust the people (who will soon be) in charge:

The Obama transition team has just set up a special team to interact with the State Department’s Operations Center as well as the office of the Director of National Intelligence, according to an Obama aide. That information is then being filtered to President-elect Obama, who is getting regular updates at his residence here in Chicago. He is scheduled to be home all day Thursday celebrating Thanksgiving with family and friends.

An Obama spokesman told reporters the president-elect had spoken by phone with both Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen.

Hitting the ground running is an understatement.

Deepak Chopra just now on Larry King Live:

This is an opportunity for Obama, he can "be creative", work with others. "War on terrorism" is a meaningless phrase. Obama can do better (paraphrased).

In other words, Bush was a disaster. We now have a rational president whose foreign policy goes beyond air strikes and reckless threats.

Obama Press Conference 11/26/08

Mexican Nobel Laureate to lead Obama transition effort on climate

By GottaLaff

Obama has shown good taste, with judgment to match so far. Here comes another example:

A Mexican scientist who won the Nobel Prize for chemistry in 1995 will lead President-Elect Barack Obama's transition team's climate effort, according to a Latin American paper.

[Mario] Molina will lead the transition's team science and ecology effort, his assistant said. [...]

Molina was a science and ecology adviser to Mexican President Felipe Calderon and teaches at the University of California-San Diego and the Scripps Oceanographic Institute.

"Since 2005, he has headed the Mario Molina Center for Strategic Studies on Energy and the Environment located in the Mexican capital," the Latin American Tribune added. He currently lives in Mexico City.

Bienvenido. Transition away.

Obama Polls Well For Transition So Far

Um, g-d knows I like the guy, but there hasn't been that much transitioning yet.

President-elect Obama's honeymoon is underway: 67% in a new ABC News poll approve of his work on the transition so far.

"Approval of Obama's handling of the transition is slightly better than Bill Clinton's 62% in mid-November 1992. Clinton improved from there, to 72% in mid-December and 81% just before his inauguration in mid-January 1993."

"George W. Bush's grade late in his transition also was high, albeit not as high as Clinton's -- 72% in mid-January 2001."

Tim Geithner for Treasury Secretary

Todd and Mitchell were just discussing this on MSNBC.

Barring last minute changes, the nominee for Treasury Secretary will be NY Fed President Tim Geithner -- a career Treasury official under both Bob Rubin and Larry Summers -- who actually had worked at the Treasury in three administrations under five Secretaries -- going back to 1988.

Geithner has been a key player in the current economic crisis -- helping Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and his team manage the wall street bailout.

Former Treasury Secretary Summers -- also considered for the post -- might still play a major future role in the Obam administration, according to sources. Summers came under fire from women's groups because of controversial comments he made about gender issues while President of Harvard, but sources say the decision to choose Geithner had more to do with Obama's interest in "change" and getting someone new on the team.

Obama names six Indians to transition team

Just some of that underreported "change" everyone seems to be bitching about.

As President-elect Barack Obama appoints a new team of cabinet members and fills other key federal work posts, he's named six American Indians to his transition team, half of them assigned to assist in Interior Department policy, budget and personnel changes.

"We're lucky to have such stellar representatives with people with whom Indian Country has really good relationships," said Jacqueline Johnson-Pata, executive director of the National Congress of American Indians, a nonprofit organization that represents more than 250 tribes.

Obama picks Eric Holder for Attorney General

MSNBC is also confirming. First AA AG?

President-elect Obama has decided to tap Eric Holder as his attorney general, putting the veteran Washington lawyer in place to become the first African-American to head the Justice Department, according to two legal sources close to the presidential transition.

Holder, who served as deputy attorney general during the Clinton administration, still has to undergo a formal “vetting” review by the Obama transition team before the selection is final and is publicly announced, said one of the sources, who asked not to be identified talking about the transition process. But in the discussions over the past few days, Obama offered Holder the job and he accepted, the source said. The announcement is not likely until after Obama announces his choices to lead the Treasury and State departments.

Holder, 57, has been on Obama’s “short list” for attorney general from the outset. A partner at the D.C. law firm of Covington & Burling, Holder served as co-chief (along with Caroline Kennedy) of Obama’s vice-presidential selection process. He also actively campaigned for Obama throughout the year and grew personally close to the president-elect. Holder has not returned a call seeking comment; a spokeswoman for the Obama transition team told Newsweek in an e-mail early Tuesday afternoon that no decision has been made.

Obama still fundraising .... for the transition

I had never really thought about where the "transistion" money came from, guess I just thought the "government" paid for it. Interesting.

(CNN) — After raising a staggering amount of money for the general election, President-elect Barack Obama must now rake in more cash for his transition and inauguration.

There is about $9.74 million of taxpayer funds available to pay for the transition, but experts say that's not enough.

To make up the difference, past presidents have turned to private money and corporate cash.

Obama's transition team, however, is taking pains to keep lobbyists out of his transition and forgo corporate cash.

John Podesta, the co-chair of Obama's transition team, has vowed to make this "the most open and transparent transition in history," but Obama has not explicitly outlined his intentions for the inauguration.

(snip)

The group says companies sometimes contribute cash to the inauguration in order to buy influence.

President Bush raised a record $42.8 million for his second inauguration, and according to Public Citizen, more than 90 percent of donations to that ceremony were from executives or corporations**.

** and we all know how well that turned out.

VIDEO: Obama's (snark-infested) transition team

By GottaLaff

Via The Landline:


Barack's transition team tries to find a single Bush policy to keep.

No Drama Obama: "If You Leak, You're Gone."

By GottaLaff

All this blather about the leaky Obama team is not as dramatic as the pundits are making it out to be. Yes, there have been some leaks, but:

Every transition staffer and adviser has signed a non-disclosure agreement, and staff members are regularly warned by their superiors not to talk to the press.

My guess is that the sheer size of the universe that Obama's now dealing with - huge agency teams, reams of outside advisers being asked for their opinions - renders silence virtually impossible.

It's important to remember where the "No Drama Obama" meme started: it has less to do with information getting out about decisions than about information getting out about internal deliberations or arguments.

It's kind of amazing, if you think about it, that Obama, according to reports, is a step away from picking his chief political rival to be Secretary of State, and not one hint of serious anxiety about the choice has gotten out.

Seriously - think about the legions of former staffers Daschle and Kerry staffers who work for Obama; they're not talking to the press about their disappointment. If the decision's been made, then the drama's done. No looking backwards.

All things considered, it seems that the Drama-Free Zone is still intact.

The Obama Transition: Five Queasy Pieces

By GottaLaff

Via Ambinder:

[F]ive things to watch:

1. Which comes first? Climate change legislation or health care? Obama has certainly thought about this, and his advisers don't really agree. [...] The impetus to do health care early is coming from some of the party's most prominent voices, like the SEIU's Andrew Stern, as well as from a lot of the corporate types that Obama consorts with. On the other hand, Obama has said that we're in a post-consumer spending economy and that the future economic growth will be predicated on establishing energy independence and new sources of energy. [...]

2. China. No one's watching China. We're borrowing more and more; the budget deficit might approach a trillion dollars this year. [...] [W]hat if China decided what the U.S. was no longer creditworthy? What if they expect more from the U.S?

3. Obama and technology. [...] What Obama's government-wide chief technology officer will be empowered to do and who'll get the position are probably the subject of more speculation and outside-the-Belway interest than any cabinet position save for Treasury. Will there be an attempt at standardization? A White House blog with more content than just press releases? A White House blog with comments enabled? A petition forum? How will the administration manage the trade-off between transparency and efficiency?

4. What Obama's going to do with his list of names, emails and numbers. Who administers it. What the DNC becomes. This is the subject of intense discussions among very senior people. Steve Hildebrand, one of the architects of the campaign's field strategy, favors an independent entity.

5. Obama versus the Congress. We all want to know: what will their first confrontation be about? Ethics? The CR? Strings attached to an auto industry bailout? A nominee? Earmarks?

Ponder away.

Obama's cabinet: The Chart

By GottaLaff

This is not exactly a reliable way to predict who could be in President Obama's cabinet, but it is fun:

[L]obbyists are the taking the speculative game to a whole other level -- after all, for them, such decisions are a matter of business significance.

And so it is that the six-page transition score card above -- readable in full here -- is circulating among D.C. lobby shops [...]

The memo should be treated at this point as highly speculative, though it is some of the most up-to-date speculation around.

Here's a screen shot of the first of the 6 pages. Click on image to enlarge:

Rand Beers Heading Obama’s Homeland Security Transition

By GottaLaff

More transition news:

Good news for people who don’t like their airliners hijacked or their chemical plants blown up. Rand Beers, longtime counterterrorism aide to presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, is heading Barack Obama’s transition team for the beleaguered Dept. of Homeland Security.

Mark Hosenball at Newsweek reports:

Obama’s transition team for Homeland Security will only meet for the first time later this week, according to a Democrat close to the Obama campaign who would speak about the decision-making only on condition of anonymity. The person reportedly heading the team is Rand Beers…

[...] My understanding is he’s got about 15 people on that team, although he himself isn’t directly in charge of personnel.

And all to the good. Few people know more about homeland security than Beers, who, as Hosenball notes, was part of former counterterrorism czar Richard Clarke’s brain trust that spent the mid to late 1990s obsessed with Al Qaeda. He resigned from the Bush administration in protest of the invasion of Iraq, became Sen. John Kerry’s national security adviser for the 2004 campaign, and then founded the National Security Network, a liberal group that mentors Democrats on security issues.

BushCo: Homeland Insecurity. It's a relief to believe that an administration has our best interests at heart.

Obama Transition Team Staffs Up Internet Outreach Crew

By GottaLaff

Via TPM:

Now this is a good sign: The Obama transition team has just signed up two leading Web types for the transition's Internet outreach team, a welcome indication that the Obama team is moving to transfer its astonishing online successes during the campaign over to the world of governing.

A transition source tells us that that Macon Phillips, a key Obama campaign Web official, has been tapped to head new media for the transition, and Jesse Lee, a leading Web operative who handled Rahm Emanuel's DCCC internet outreach operation during the 2006 take-back of Congress, has been hired to do online communications. Obama's transition team confirms the hires.

Phillips helped run Obama's general election new media shop, which raised huge sums of money and used social networking tools to organize in all sorts of innovative ways.

Lee, meanwhile, is highly regarded by liberal bloggers. He wrote the first-ever blog for the House Speaker, and in the closing days of the campaign he did online rapid response for the DNC, helping the Obama camp frame its message outreach to the blogosphere.

Here's what John Aravosis at AMERICABlog says about him (hint: he likey):

Jesse is wonderful. Joe and I know him from when he was working for the DCCC (the group in charge of electing Democrats to the House), and more recently we worked with him while he served at the DNC and then the Obama campaign. Can't say enough good things about Jesse. He knows the Netroots, knows politics, knows how to fight back.

I feel all kinds of secure about this.