Rachel Maddow Show: Paul Rieckhoff on Shinseki Appointment

Because I love me some Rieckoff

VIDEO: Obama announces General Eric Shinseki as Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Shinseki accepts

By GottaLaff

As soon as I find the Q and A that followed this, I'll post it:

Obama announces former Army Chief of Staff Eric Shinseki as Secretary of Veterans Affairs; takes questions

By GottaLaff

Jonathan Alter, on MSNBC now, calls this an "inspired choice", because as former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, General Eric Shinseki was in charge of, among other things, logistics, and is therefore well-prepared to step into his new position as Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

I'm taking my patented, world-renowned, award-winning quick-notes on the event.

Obama:
[He's lauding the military] We have a sacred trust to repay the favor they've done us. The war doesn't end when they come home. [discussing PTSD] They should get the best care we have to offer, which I will provide.

We must ensure that they can find jobs, receive health care... We need to build a 21st century V.A. Cut red tape, eliminate shortfalls, provide benefits that our vets have earned. There's nobody more distinguished... more qualified than Eric Shinseki. Nobody will every question his support, his fighting for the troops... He served in Viet Nam [lists accomplishments]. He has always stood on principle, stood by our troops.

A decorated soldier, served in every level of the Army. He'll finally modernize our V.A. to meet the challenges of our time. [Acknowledges Pearl Harbor Day, today]

We will never hesitate to defend our security, only send our troops to battle when we must.

Eric Shinseki:
Will treat our men and women in uniform with the care they deserve and have earned. ... There are vets who are worried about health care, paying bills, finding jobs when they leave the service. ... Some wounds are seen, some unseen, by Iraq/Afghanistan war vets. Caring for them, their wounds, is OUR responsibility, not theirs. ... We will always honor their sacrifices.

Q: TARP funds only, is that a good decision by Dems? And Wagoner stepping down?
O: I've said repeatedly, allowing the auto industry to collapse is unacceptable. Nor should we shovel more money into the problem without restructuring. So, Congress did the right thing by rejecting plea for funds without a plan. The auto workers gave a plan, but more needs to be done. Congress is right to ask for a conditions-based assistance package... insisting that the assistance leads to difficult choices, by everyone involved. Where the money comes from is what Congress will be working on. I'll insist that part of the restructuring plan includes non-TARP stuff, retooling... We have to make sure they understand they can't do things the same way. Management: If this mg'ment team doesn't' get the urgency, and won't make tough choices, then they should go. But, if they are willing and commit to the changes, that's a different situation.

Q by Politico: The economy is getting worse. Is Bush Administration doing enough?
O: We haven't seen all the scope, the hardship of families. So, these aren't abstract numbers. People are suffering. We have to act swiftly and boldly. The admin. understands, wants to do the right thing... but we haven't seen the aggressive steps in the housing marked to stem foreclosures that I'd like to see. My team is addressing that, have talked to the admin. It will be done by me, if not by the admin. [If they won't do it, I will] I am confident that if we take the right steps, we'll get the economy on track, but we'll emerge more competitive and more prosperous. My stimulus package is designed to deal with the longterm, and shortterm. How much will it cost? There's a bipartisan consensus that our biggest challenge is putting people back to work, stabilize the economy. We have a potential one trillion dollar deficit. We need a bold plan. The governors, for the most part, agreed to work on key projects that have been sitting there. Not just infrastructure, but energy, schools, broadband, medical info technologies... all have longterm payoffs for taxpayers, and businesses. Also, important: Recovery plan will change the way we do business... not just write a bunch of checks, but have clear critieria. Not just politics/lobby based, but see what will make a big difference, longterm. So, sufficient scope, no duplications of old ways, plus path for longterm growth... we can provide relief and emerge stronger.

Q: Chicago factory sit-in by workers: pressure on banks to keep $ flowing there? Also, gun sales up since you were elected.
O: On guns: I believe in common sense safety laws, and the second amendment. Lawful gun owners have nothing to fear, I've always said that. Chicago: Workers are asking for benefits they've earned, and they're absolutely right. What's happening to them reflects what's happening to economy. We must maintain a strong financial system, and make sure the programs we design aren't just good for banks, but help Main St. These workers, if they've earned these benefits, the companies need to follow through on commitments. Next, any plan should help businesses meet payroll so we don't see this happen again, make sure credit is flowing to businesses and families.

Reminder: Obama to speak at 2 pm Eastern

By GottaLaff

President-elect Obama will announce his choice for Secretary of Veterans Affairs, General Eric Shinseki, at 11 a.m. Pacific/2 p.m. Eastern, on the Big Tee Vee Machine for all to see.

BREAKING: General Eric K. Shinseki to be Veterans Secretary

By GottaLaff

CNN just broke that General Eric Shinseki will be announced by President-elect Obama tomorrow, as his next Secretary of Veterans Affairs .

He's the very same four-star general who got canned because he correctly called out BushCo when he said, "'something in the order of several hundred thousand soldiers' would probably be required for post-war Iraq."

UPDATE: When I said "canned" above, I should mention that I didn't mean that literally:

Shinseki retired in the summer of 2003, shortly after the fall of Baghdad. Neither Rumsfeld nor Wolfowitz attended his farewell ceremony.

He "retired". Meantime, look who left with him:

Notably Shinseki led the Army at the same time that Obama's nominee as national security adviser, then-Marine commandant Gen. James L. Jones. Both questioned Wolfowitz's presumptions, before the war in Iraq commenced, about how the fighting would go, and they argued that Pentagon planning was being too optimistic and should prepare thoroughly for worst-case scenarios.

The politics around the planned nomination are intriguing. Shinseki has maintained a near-total silence since leaving the Pentagon. However, earlier this year, a letter he wrote to Rumsfeld in June 2003 leaked. In it, Shinseki criticized Rumsfeld for not letting the Joint Chiefs of Staff "express their best military judgment as often as they should." He also said that the way Rumsfeld and other top civilian officials ran meetings was "unhelpful."

I can't imagine what he's talking about. Rummy helped him, alright... right out the door.

Obama to name secretary of veterans affairs Sunday

Gotta posted about the press conference Obama is doing on Sunday, but here's an added tidbit-

(CNN) – A source in the Obama transition reveals President-elect Barack Obama will announce his choice for Secretary of Veterans Affairs Sunday at a news conference scheduled on Pearl Harbor Day and intended to highlight the service of veterans and current service members.

Someone needs to find out where Tammy Duckworth and Max Cleland are going to be on Sunday.