Obama is our elected President and I want him to succeed so that the country can be successful but how many more retreads can he put in his cabinet? I am keenly aware that there are a limited number of people who are qualified for these positions and that a guy w/o a tremendous amount of experience would want some of those people but….wow.
November 19, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Andy,
Part of the problem Obama is facing is the lack of Dems who have served in the White House. Given that Clinton is the only Dem to have been elected President in the last 32 years, he really does not have a choice but to pick these folks. What word did he use? Change!
November 19, 2008 at 10:22 pm
No argument from me, just some observations.
Change starts at the top. It’s true that he’s picking retreads (aka people with significant experience). It’s the direction he points them in that will represent change. Reagan certainly represented change and he too enisted folks with tons of experience from earlier (Republican) administrations.
The current transition is already, even in its early stage, far more organized than any prior transition (and I’ve been involved with several). Notwithstanding a similarity of players, the current transition has nothing in common with the Cinton transition, which was highy disorganized.
From a political effectiveness standpoint, let’s connect some dots. For example, Tom Daschle (whether you like him or not), knows the senate like the back of his hand. Why would he be interested in the HHS cabinet position and why would Obama want him there? Because HHS has health care jurisdiction and one of Obama’s biggest drives will be on health care.
In any event, the only way to avoid “retreads” is to use folks who have never served, which may have a nice ring to it but tends not to work out well (think the Carter administration, which had one too many well-intentioned neophytes).
Another term for retreads is “seasoned players.” It’s then up to the coach (or the President in this instance) to make sure they follow his new play book.
Finally, thank you, Andy, for providing an excellent forum for the good foks in our fair City of Manassas to have these interesting chats.
November 20, 2008 at 10:43 am
Can you IMAGINE the Senate confirmation hearings if BOTH Bill and Hillary Clinton are selected to be cabinet officials? Reports this morning hint that both are under serious consideration for top spots. If either survived the reported rigorous Obama vetting process, I would seriously have to question how rigorous that process REALLY is and how much “change” we REALLY have coming…
Like him or not, Obama will be my President too, and I hope he does great things for our nation. But I think it would be political suicide to put EITHER in the cabinet.
November 20, 2008 at 10:51 am
David,
I’m not aware of any credible information suggesting that Bill and Hillary are both being considered for spots requiring Senate confirmation, just Hillary. What reports are suggesting otherwise?
November 20, 2008 at 9:47 pm
I’ve not seen anything of that sort. Bill is evidently happy to do whatever is required to get Hill into State.