The cabinet speculation list

Posted: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 9:36 AM by Carrie Dann

Chief of staff: Emanuel NAMED / Deputy: Pete Rouse
Press Secretary: Gibbs
Biden chief of staff: Ron Klain

POTENTIAL CABINET MEMBERS.
Agriculture: Tom Vilsack, Tom Buis (Natl Farmers Union), Charlie Stenholm, Jim Leach
Commerce: Penny Pritzker, Kathleen Sebelius, Jason Furman, John Thompson (Symantec)
Defense: Robert Gates, Richard Danzig, Chuck Hagel, Sam Nunn, Jack Reed, Colin Powell, John Hamre
Education: Joel Klein (NYC), Linda Darling-Hammond, Kathleen Sebelius, Colin Powell, Jim Hunt, Arne Duncan, Inez Tenenbaum.
Energy: Kathleen Sebelius, Philip Sharp, Ed Rendell, Arnold Schwarzenegger (has said no), Al Gore, Jeff Bingaman, Jennifer Granholm
HHS: Tom Daschle, Howard Dean, Eric Whitaker
Homeland Security (priority): Tim Roemer, Ray Kelly, James Lee Witt, Tom Kean Sr, Jane Harman, Janet Napolitano
HUD: Jim Clyburn, Valerie Jarrett, Shirley Franklin (Atlanta mayor)
Interior: Bill Richardson, Inslee, Kitzhaber, Tony Knowles, Ken Salazar
Justice (AG): Eric Holder, Janet Napolitano, Charles Ogletree, Deval Patrick, James Comey, Patrick Fitzgerald, Artur Davis, Tim Kaine, Jamie Gorelick (but was vice chair of Fannie), Ken Feinberg
Labor: Andy Stern (SEIU), Richard Gephardt, George Miller, David Bonior
State: John Kerry, Bill Richardson, Richard Lugar, Chuck Hagel, Richard Holbrooke, Chris Dodd, Hillary Clinton
Transportation: Ed Rendell, Jane Garvey, Mortimer Downey, Earl Blumenauer, Steve Heminger, James Oberstar
Treasury (priority): Larry Summers, Tim Geithner, Paul Volcker, Robert Rubin, Jon Corzine, Warren Buffett, Michael Bloomberg, Laura Tyson, Jamie Dimon, Jacob "Jack" Lew, Sheila Bair
Veterans Affairs: Max Cleland, Tammy Duckworth

Other positions:
CIA: Tony Lake, John Brennan
DNI: Tony Lake, John Brennan
FEMA: James Lee Witt
EPA: Howard Learner (Pres, Exec. Dir, Environmental Law and Policy Center), Ian Bowles (MA), RFK Jr, Sebelius, Kathleen McGinty (former secretary of Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection), Mary Nichols (chair of California's Air Resources Board)
FBI: Robert Mueller (term expires 2011)
Fed Chair: Ben Bernanke (at least for first year)
FDA: Steven Nissen (Cleveland Clinic), Joshua Sharfstein (Baltimore health commissioner), Janet Woodcock (Big Pharma’s choice), Susan Wood (GWU occupational and environmental health professor), Diana Zuckerman (president, National Research Center for Women & Families).
Joint Chiefs: Michael Mullen (term ends in late 2009, can expect to be appointed for second term, per tradition.)
Natl Economic Council: Jason Furman, Austan Goolsbee, Laura Tyson
NSA: Jim Steinberg
NSC: Dennis Ross, Greg Craig, Susan Rice, Tony Lake
OMB: John Spratt Jr, Gene Sperling, Furman
Peace Corps: Chris Shays
UN Amb.: Caroline Kennedy, Susan Rice
USTR: Cal Dooley (American Chemistry Council president), Daniel K. Tarullo (Georgetown University law professor), Lael Brainard (Brookings Institution vice president)

Other mentions for various White House staff posts: Patti Solis Doyle, David Wilhelm, John Rogers, Bill Daley, Cass Sunstein, Bob Bauer (WH counsel), Michael Froman, Federico Pena, Lawrence J. Korb, Carol Browner (Clinton’s EPA head)

The AP has some more names on the transition list.

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Comments

Lots of names......

the Pajama Pundit (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 9:41 AM)

Oh pleeese make John Kerry Sec of State. Pleeese!! The entertainment value alone of this anti-war nut job would be worth the price of admission(which is a raise in all of our taxes).

John Kerry For State Committee (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 9:45 AM)

Wow, what a list to choose from, my head just spins from reading the names. Every one is qualified,intelligent and would help to take our country in the right direction. I would hate to be in Obama's shoes to pick only one from the above names. I would like them all to be in this administration. Good luck Mr. President with your choices.

justthinkinoutloud (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 9:47 AM)

Putting environmentalist wackos in charge of the EPA? Not a building will be built, not a road constructed with any one of these idiots in charge. It will save us all that infrastructure money though, so I guess we can use that cash to bailout the auto makers. Of course, the autos won't have an roads to run on then, so maybe we should just use the money to lobby for gay rights.

Obama - Doing Nothing For the Country (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 9:48 AM)

It is odd to me that Senator Claire McCaskill is not on any of these short lists. With an incoming Democratic Governor,...I don't think we'd lose the Senate seat,...

It seems like a step back for her to take the DNC chair being vacated by Howard Dean. Claire was an excellent spokeperson and advocate for Missourians AND Obama throughout the campaign. Something seems odd.

PS. We have STILL not announced how the state voted on POTUS. very curious goings on,...

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 9:49 AM)

Barack Obama will include several from the republican party, those who are moderate and understand the need to play nicely with us Democrats.

Some great names on the list and it will be a pleasure watching him make his final picks. I know he will do a great job of finding the best people for the job, unlike the current fool who gave the dumbest people jobs just because they would be loyal to him rather than the people. Heckuva a job Brownie!

Yes We Did!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 9:52 AM)

And Lieberman for the new post Secretary of Stab you in the back.

pat huntington ny (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:01 AM)

Hillary for s.state yes it is very good. that will be very nice

aj (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:01 AM)

Why hasn't Christine Todd Whitman's name been brought up more often for an appointment?

Sam in NJ. (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:03 AM)

Mr Obama alway's claimed that a McCain presidency would be just another Bush term.. As I read the news each day it seems that Mr Obama's Predicency will just be another Clinton term. where 's the change??? so far all he has done was appoint the Clinton cabinet all over again. It seems all we got out of this election was the same old Bull Sh_ t.

Pat Fitzgerald, Bradenton, Florida (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:06 AM)

Is Amy Klobuchar being considered for ANYTHING?

Kevin Lester (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:11 AM)

An Open Letter To Our President Elect

Dear President Elect Obama:

As a veteran who has health issues as a result of my service in Vietnam, I am all too aware of the difficulties facing veterans who attempt to obtain answers to even the simplest of health and benefit related questions. As a veteran service officer my own experiences help provide those missing answers to others.

If your choice for the Department of Veteran Affairs Secretary had their own experiences as a veteran service officer, perhaps at the 'county' level where one personally deals with veterans, these personal experiences could help them better understand the many issues they will be facing, in a way most of the recent past secretaries have not understood.

As to one thing your choice should avoid, any direct or indirect 'personal' involvement with QTC Management, Inc., something most of the recent past secretaries have not avoided.

Sincerely,
Walter C. Schmidt, VSO CPA

Walt Schmidt, Massapequa Park, NY (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:12 AM)

Obama should elevate EPA to a cabinet position, a move that is LONG overdue.

Jason, Columbus, OH (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:14 AM)

I would love to see Jamie Dimon for Treasury. He is bright as a whip and knows how to run banks, as is evidenced by his ability to lead JP Chase through the tough waters of the housing and credit crises unscathed.

Ryan, Charleston, WV (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:16 AM)

This article makes no sense to me - too many big words and acronyms. Can someone dumb it down a couple of notches and explain it to me?

Positively FM <><><> ...... <><><> ...... (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:17 AM)

We'll never see Joe Biden after the inauguration. He'll do an AL Gore and be invisable for Obama's presidency. You can't screw up if they won't let you talk.

Spinout (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:27 AM)

This is an impressive list of very highly qualified individuals, and the process of selecting the right people must be completed thoroughly. The process must be accurate, and done in a timely fashion. The so-called "lame duck" President is still progressing with his agenda. That is fact!

Rock,Janesville,Wisconsin (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:31 AM)

FDA isn't the strongest agency in the pack (in fact, it's pretty ineffectual, based on results), and appointing big Phama's choice would mean that you might as well not bother keeping the agency (the fox guarding the henhouse, and all that).

The new Attny General will have a LOT of work to do to get the DOJ back to where it needs to be. It's suffered greatly on Bush's watch, especially due to Karl Rove's politicization of it, and Gonzo's incompetence.

Indie Woman in Denver (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:44 AM)

Hey Obama - Doing Nothing For the Country::

Tipical (sore losser) .. After 8 years of the WORSE EVER PRESIDENCY, I look forward to the transition period being over, knowing full well these "citizens" will return to their daily routines, just as a hamster returns to its wheel. Back to drinking beer and killing things, back to instilling the fear of "God" into their children, back to the daily humdrum of fear and hate…see you all in 4 years ignorant Republicans, red neck hillbillies. In the mean time grab a book and read some American history….. But again that involve reading

Guilvert (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:49 AM)

Personally, and seriously, I think Dr. William Cosby would make a wonderful Sec. of Education. It is a subject he is well versed in and speaks to routinely.

Pat, Humble, Texas (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:51 AM)

Hey!!! Pat Fitzgerald, Bradenton, Florida...

You are correct!!!! that what Obama claimed.. but againg I take the Clinton year any day than the 8 years of the WORSE EVER PRESIDENCY, I look forward to the transition period being over, knowing full well these "citizens" will return to their daily routines, just as a hamster returns to its wheel. Back to drinking beer and killing things, back to instilling the fear of "God" into their children, back to the daily humdrum of fear and hate…see you all in 4 years ignorant Republicans, red neck hillbillies. In the mean time grab a book and read some American history….. But again that involve reading.

Guilvert (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:51 AM)

Walt Schmidt:

I don't think President-elect Obama reads this blog. You might have a better chance sending him your idea directly. Go to Change.gov and give it to him there.

Democrat (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:56 AM)

Oh pleeese make John Kerry Sec of State. Pleeese!! The entertainment value alone of this anti-war nut job would be worth the price of admission(which is a raise in all of our taxes).
John Kerry For State Committee (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 9:45 AM)
**********************************************

John Kerry is a strong choice for Sec State. That "anti war nut job" not only served his country honorably and has been a strong advocate for veterans, he is well respected around the world. Having a war mongering Administration for the last 8 years has actually undermined our credibility as a world leader. But hey, you're still just bitter your candidate lost. The majority of Americans must fall under your hated "anti-war" category. We want to bring our troops home. Anyone who is "pro war" should not be Sec State or President. Negotiation and peaceful resolution should ALWAYS be the first choice.

Trish (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 11:15 AM)

Thank you, Trish!!!

Mrs J - Illinois (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 11:33 AM)

Being from Iowa I'd love to see Vilsack as Ag Sec but I'm not entirely sure he can handle the job. I'd also like to see McCain have a role in the cabinet, either has Homeland Security or Defense but I can't see McCain accepting a cabinet post any more than I can see Obama offering him one.

http://www.vastvariety.net

Vast (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 11:50 AM)

Let Richardson be Sec of State and leave Kerry in the Senate. There is no reason to remove any more senators from the Senate. If Gates is willing to stay at the DOD, keep him unless he is unwilling to work with Obama. Having Tom Kean Sr as Sec of Homeland Security would be a great idea since he was on the 9/11 comission. He speaks his mind, and it brings a Republican into the cabinet. Gore as Energy Sec would be intesting; could he speed up the development of "alternative fuels" and other ways to reduce the use of ALL oil and other carbon fuels.

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Wednesday, November 12, 2008 12:16 PM)

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