All the President's Men
07 November 2008 à 17h26
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After being elected in a landslide, Barack Obama now faces a new task : setting up the new administration that will govern the United States for the four coming years.
The transition process is already on. « Change has come», said Obama. Change should indeed come quickly, since the new president doesn’t want to repeat the mistake Bill Clinton made in 1992. The former Head of State didn’t pick anyone until six weeks after his election. Too late to be credible.
So Obama is going to be quicker. He could start naming his cabinet in the first days after of the election. The White House Chief of Staff should be the first to be appointed. Rahm Emanuel, a Representative from Chicago, and a longtime friend of Obama's could be appointed to that position, according to the Washington Post.
He served as a White House adviser during the Clinton era, and therefore represents some of the experience Obama promised to bring to his administration. For instance, Robert Gates, the current Defence Secretary, could keep his position, at least for some time. He has worked at the CIA for 27 years and was a member of Bush’s cabinet.
In these times of crisis, the choice of the Treasury secretary is a crucial one. New York Federal Reserve president Timothy Geithner, former Treasury secretary Lawrence Summers and former chairman of the Federal Reserve Paul Volcker are possible choices.
The 44th president wishes to reach across partisan lines. Some Republican members will join the new administration. Among them, Colin Powell, who will play a role as a special counsellor. The former Secretary of State officially endorsed Obama during the campaign.
Obama might well gather some Democratic governors, former Clinton staff, and also politicians from Chicago around him. Unlucky 2004 candidate John Kerry will probably also be part of the adventure.
As for Hillary Clinton, she might disappoint her supporters. She said she had « zero » interest in trading her Senate seat for a "high-profile job in an Obama Administration".
The transition process is already on. « Change has come», said Obama. Change should indeed come quickly, since the new president doesn’t want to repeat the mistake Bill Clinton made in 1992. The former Head of State didn’t pick anyone until six weeks after his election. Too late to be credible.
A quick change
He served as a White House adviser during the Clinton era, and therefore represents some of the experience Obama promised to bring to his administration. For instance, Robert Gates, the current Defence Secretary, could keep his position, at least for some time. He has worked at the CIA for 27 years and was a member of Bush’s cabinet.
In these times of crisis, the choice of the Treasury secretary is a crucial one. New York Federal Reserve president Timothy Geithner, former Treasury secretary Lawrence Summers and former chairman of the Federal Reserve Paul Volcker are possible choices.
Across partisan lines
The 44th president wishes to reach across partisan lines. Some Republican members will join the new administration. Among them, Colin Powell, who will play a role as a special counsellor. The former Secretary of State officially endorsed Obama during the campaign.
Obama might well gather some Democratic governors, former Clinton staff, and also politicians from Chicago around him. Unlucky 2004 candidate John Kerry will probably also be part of the adventure.
As for Hillary Clinton, she might disappoint her supporters. She said she had « zero » interest in trading her Senate seat for a "high-profile job in an Obama Administration".
