Geithner named Treasury Secretary

Posted: Monday, November 24, 2008 12:01 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Tim Geithner was officially named Treasury Secretary by President-elect Obama's transition team. Several other members of the Obama White House economic team were also named. Included in that list is Larry Summers, the controversial former Harvard president but also a highly respected economic mind, as director of his National Economic Council.

Also, Christina Romer will serve as director of the Council of Economic Advisors. On other domestic policy, Melody Barnes was named director of Obama's Domestic Policy Council. Heather Higginbottom will be her deputy.

Video: Saying he intends to move "swiftly and boldly," President-elect Barack Obama officially announces his nominees for treasury secretary, Council of Economic Advisors Chair and National Economic Council Director.

“Vice President-elect Biden and I have assembled an economic team with the vision and expertise to stabilize our economy, create jobs, and get America back on track," Obama said in a statement moments before his second news conference since winning the presidential election Nov. 4th. " Even as we face great economic challenges, we know that great opportunity is at hand -- if we act swiftly and boldly. That’s the mission our economic team will take on."

Bios, per the transition team, after the jump as is our cabinet speculation list:

Timothy F. Geithner, Secretary of the Treasury
Timothy Geithner currently serves as president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, where he has played a key role in formulating the nation’s monetary policy. He joined the Department of the Treasury in 1988 and has served three presidents. From 1999 to 2001, he served as Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs. Following that post he served as director of the Policy Development and Review Department at the International Monetary Fund until 2003. Geithner is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

Lawrence H. Summers, Director of the National Economic Council
Lawrence Summers is currently the Charles W. Eliot University Professor at Harvard University. Summers served as 71st Secretary of the Treasury from 1999 to 2001 and as president of Harvard from 2001 to 2006. Before being appointed Secretary, Summers served as Deputy and Under Secretary of the Treasury and as the World Bank’s top economist. Summers has taught economics at Harvard and MIT, and is a recipient of the John Bates Clark Medal, awarded to the American economist under 40 judged to have made the most significant contribution to economics. Summers played a key advisory role during the 2008 presidential campaign.

Christina D. Romer, Director of the Council of Economic Advisors
Christina Romer is the Class of 1957 Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley, where she has taught and researched since 1988. Prior to joining the faculty at Berkeley, Romer was an assistant professor of economics and public affairs at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Romer is co-director of the Program in Monetary Economics at the National Bureau of Economic Research and has been a visiting scholar at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

Melody C. Barnes, Director of the Domestic Policy Council
Melody Barnes is co-director of the Agency Review Working Group for the Obama-Biden Transition Team, and served as the Senior Domestic Policy Advisor to Obama for America. Barnes previously served as Executive Vice President for Policy at the Center for American Progress and as chief counsel to Senator Edward M. Kennedy on the Senate Judiciary Committee from December 1995 until March 2003.

Heather A. Higginbottom, Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council
Heather Higginbottom served as Policy Director for Obama for America, overseeing all aspects of policy development. From 1999 to 2007, Higginbottom served as Senator John Kerry’s Legislative Director. She also served as the Deputy National Policy Director for the Kerry-Edwards Presidential Campaign for the primary and general elections. After the 2004 election, Higginbottom founded and served as Executive Director of the American Security Project, a national security think tank. She started her career as an advocate at the national non-profit organization Communities in Schools.

OUR OBAMA CABINET SPECULATION LIST:
-- Chief of staff: Rahm Emanuel NAMED (Deputy chiefs of staff: Jim Messina NAMED, Mona Sutphen NAMED)
-- Senior advisers: Valerie Jarrett NAMED, Peter Rouse NAMED, David Axelrod NAMED
-- Political Director: Patrick Gaspard NAMED
-- Assistant to the president for legislative affairs: Phil Schiliro NAMED
-- White House counsel: Greg Craig NAMED
-- Press secretary: Robert Gibbs NAMED
-- Communications Director: Ellen Moran NAMED (Deputy: Dan Pfeiffer NAMED)
-- Biden chief of staff: Ron Klain NAMED
-- Staff secretary: Lisa Brown NAMED
-- Cabinet secretary: Chris Lu NAMED
-- Michelle Obama’s Chief of Staff: Jackie Norris NAMED / Deputy: Melissa Winter NAMED
-- Special Asst to the President/White House Social Secretary: Desirée Rogers NAMED

POTENTIAL CABINET MEMBERS:
Agriculture: Tom Vilsack, Tom Buis (Natl Farmers Union), Charlie Stenholm, Jim Leach, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, Marshall Matz, John Boyd Jr. (pres, Natl Black Farmers Assn)
Commerce: Bill Richardson CONFIRMED BY NBC NEWS, Penny Pritzker (reportedly turned down the position), Kathleen Sebelius, John Thompson (Symantec), Ron Kirk (former Dallas mayor), Scott Harris (Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis fndr)
Defense: Robert Gates, Richard Danzig, Chuck Hagel, Sam Nunn, Jack Reed, Colin Powell, John Hamre, Tim Roemer, Thomas Pickering, Anthony Zinni, Max Cleland, Michele Flounoy, Gen. James Jones
Education: Joel Klein (NYC), Linda Darling-Hammond, Kathleen Sebelius, Colin Powell, Jim Hunt, Arne Duncan, Inez Tenenbaum, Michael Bennett, George Miller, Gaston Caperton (fmr WV gov), Bambi Cardenas (pres, U TX-Pan Am, Susan Castillo (OR supt), Michael Cohen (pres, Achieve), Christopher Edley (dean, UC-Berkeley), Michael Johnston (dir, Mapleton Expeditionary Schl of the Arts), VA Gov. Tim Kaine, Michelle Rhee (DC), Sharon Robinson (pres, Assn of Colls for Tchr Ed), Andrew Rotherman/Jonahtan Schnur (fmr Clinton advisers), Diane Shust (dir, NEA govt rels), Paul Vallas (supt, New Orleans Recovery Schl Dist), Bob Wise (fmr WV gov), Ray Mabus (fmr MS gov)
Energy: Dow Chemical CEO Andrew Liveris, Kathleen Sebelius, Philip Sharp, Ed Rendell, Arnold Schwarzenegger (has said no), Al Gore, Jeff Bingaman, Jennifer Granholm, Steve Westly, Frederico Pena, Dan Reicher, Jason Grumet, Ray Mabus (fmr MS gov)
HHS: Tom Daschle CONFIRMED BY NBC NEWS, Howard Dean (reportedly ruled out), Eric Whitaker, John Kitzhaber, Kathleen Sebelius
Homeland Security: Janet Napolitano LIKELY, PER NBC NEWS, Ray Kelly (NY), William Bratton (L.A.), Tim Roemer, James Lee Witt, Tom Kean Sr, Jane Harman, Artur Davis, Richard Clarke, Manny Diaz, Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, Lee Hamilton (though he said he’s too old), Jamie Gorelick
HUD: Manny Diaz (Miami mayor), Shirley Franklin (Atlanta mayor), Saul Ramirez, Jim Clyburn (reportedly not interested)
Interior: Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Bill Richardson, Jay Inslee, John Kitzhaber, Tony Knowles, Ken Salazar, Jamie Rappoport Clark, Brian Schweitzer
Justice (AG): Eric Holder CONFIRMED BY NBC NEWS, Janet Napolitano, Charles Ogletree, Deval Patrick, James Comey, Patrick Fitzgerald, Artur Davis, Tim Kaine, Jamie Gorelick (but was vice chair of Fannie), Ken Feinberg, Cass Sunstein, Kathleen Sullivan (Stanford Law prof, possible Solicitor General. Also possible SGs: Beth Brinkmann-DC Atty; Preeta Bansal-Skadden, Arps; Elena Kagan-Harvard law dean; Pamela Karlan-Stanford; Teresa Wynn Roseborough-MetLife litigation counsel)
Labor: Kathleen Sebelius, Andy Stern (SEIU) (said not interested), Richard Gephardt, George Miller, David Bonior (said he’s not interested, suggested: American Rights at Work Executive Director Mary Beth Maxwell), Xavier Becerra, Linda Chavez-Thompson, Antonio Villaraigosa
State: Hillary Clinton CONFIRMED BY NBC NEWS, Jim Steinberg (deputy) CONFIRMED BY NBC NEWS, John Kerry, Bill Richardson, Richard Lugar, Chuck Hagel, Richard Holbrooke, Chris Dodd, Thomas Pickering, Al Gore, Colin Kahl (CNAS fellow), Tom Daschle
Transportation: Ed Rendell, Jane Garvey, Mortimer Downey, Earl Blumenauer, Steve Heminger, James Oberstar, Peter DeFazio, Federico Pena, Jeanette Sadik-Khan, Tim Kaine, John Hickenlooper (Denver mayor), Ron Sims (King County (WA) Executive), Doug Foy (Fmr pres, Convservation Law Fndtn), Parris Glendening (Fmr Gov MD)
Treasury: Tim Geithner CONFIRMED BY NBC NEWS, Paul Volcker, Robert Rubin, Jon Corzine, Warren Buffett, Michael Bloomberg, Laura Tyson, Jamie Dimon (JP MorganChase), Jacob "Jack" Lew, Sheila Bair, Indira Nooyi, John Thain (Merrill Lynch)
Veterans Affairs: Max Cleland, Tammy Duckworth, Chet Edwards, Arnold Fisher (fmr Fisher House Fndtn chair), James Peake, William Bratton, Anthony G. Brown (MD Lt Gov)

OTHER POSITIONS:
National Economic Council Director: Larry Summers NAMED
Council of Economic Advisers: Christina Romer (chair), NAMED, Dan Tarullo, Jacob "Jack" Lew, Jason Furman, Austan Goolsbee, Laura Tyson
Natl Sec Adviser: Gen. James L. Jones (Deputy: Tom Donilon) CONFIRMED BY NBC NEWS, Jim Steinberg, Rand Beers, Susan Rice, Greg Craig
NSC: Dennis Ross, Greg Craig, Susan Rice, Tony Lake
OMB: Peter Orszag CONFIRMED BY NBC NEWS, John Spratt Jr, Gene Sperling, Jason Furman
White House Domestic Policy Council Director: Melody Barnes NAMED (Domestic Policy Council Deputy Director: Heather A. Higginbottom NAMED)
CIA: Tony Lake, John Brennan, Chuck Hagel, Michael Hayden, Jami Miscik (fmr CIA dep dir for Intel)
DNI: Tony Lake, John Brennan, Tim Roemer, Rand Beers, Jane Harman, John Abizaid, Evan Bayh
FEMA: James Lee Witt
EPA: Howard Learner (Pres, Exec. Dir, Environmental Law and Policy Center), Ian Bowles (MA), RFK Jr, Kathleen Sebelius, Kathleen McGinty (former secretary of Pennsylvania's Department of Env Protection), Mary Nichols (chair of California's Air Resources Board), Robert Sussman, Dan Esty, Lisa Jackson (NJ environ commission)
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)
Peace Corps: Chris Shays
UN Ambassador: Caroline Kennedy, Susan Rice, Ray Mabus (fmr MS gov)
USTR: Cal Dooley (American Chemistry Council president), Daniel K. Tarullo (Georgetown University law professor), Lael Brainard (Brookings Institution vice president), Thomas F. “Mack” McLarty (fmr Clinton White House chief of staff)
Climate: Terry Tamminen (climate change, adviser to Schwarzenegger), Al Gore, Carol Browner (Audobon Society), Jonathan Lash (World Resources Inst), Kathleen McGinty, Janet Napolitano, Mary Nichols, Kathleen Sebelius
Auto Czar: Jennifer Granholm
Secretary of the Army: Mortimer Downey

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

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Comments

If you like giving taxpayers current and future money to rich banks, automakers, and Wall Street, then you're going to love Tim Geithner. Geithner is the King of Bailouts. Wall Street loves this appointment, at least in the short term. Think of how the Wall Street types look at this guy. Geithner sees that Wall Street screwed up big time, so to correct the problem, he's going to send Wall Street "Free Money"!

Playing With House Money (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 12:31 PM)

Obama looked so presidential during his press conference. Can you imagine Bush giving the type of press conference that Obama just gave??

Laura, Matthews, NC (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 12:37 PM)

Just watched the news conference, I dont know how to act watching PE Obama, It seems like he may be intrested in compentence. It has been so long since we have has a leader who made excellance a priority in his administration. We have such a long way to go
for our economy, for our health care, for our energy problems. We are in a big black republican hole, where greed and corruption has been the rule, now to start the long dig out. Thank you to all who voted for Pe Obama, I think what a McCain presidency would look like right now, the same people with the same plans as President Bush. Everyone have a wonderful Thanksgiving
marty

marty,columbia,s.c. (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 12:40 PM)

Yes... it's about time we got a president who is concerned with the middle class.He's using the Clintonian motto,"you won't have a successful business, without customers purchasing the goods." After the likes of Bush/Cheney, Obama's a genius.

Sunshine, Peoria Il (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 12:40 PM)

I could think of worse picks.

Stephen, Albany, NY (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 12:43 PM)

exactly THE CORRECT ACCURATE THINKING ON OBAMAS PART BY PICKING HIM. I VOTED FOR BARACK AND VERY PROUDLY I DID SO MAY I ADD!!! NOW REPUBLICANS DONT THROW ANY MIORE SLANDER OUT THERE ABOUT BARACK !!! BECAUSE THE ELECTION IS OVER AND WE WON!!!

GREG CULPEPER (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 12:45 PM)

Why don't we just give the stimulus checks to the middle class.Not just $1000, but how about $15,000 + or more.Just think if they had given the 700 bill to the people that would be an average of $1 mil per family.I say screw the fat cats with the private jets.Give the money back to the taxpayers.Business can't survive without the customers.

Woman4Obama (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 12:46 PM)

Another stimulus package may help if it goes to the correct part of the population. Giving it to taxpayers is sensible I know, but what about those below $18,000 a year income who would not be required to pay tax? For example, retiree's that have been retired a long time and their SS payment is low or Disabled Americans who don't have to pay tax? The American poor need it more than most middle income families. Higher prices on food, heat and services hit everyone. I know many will call it welfare but shouldn't we be helping those that need it most? We received the lst stimulus and banked it. The poor or low income Americans would positively put it back into the economy. That's a stimulus is all about.

Genny Wilson (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 12:47 PM)

I am very impressed, but not surprised. I saw this kind of excellence during the primary. Pres-Elect is steady and methodolical. He researches everything before making a decision. He understands a lot about everything. Although he does not have longevity in Washington politics, I never saw him as being inexperienced. He has longevity in world knowledge, constitutional law and human interaction. He is confident...the man knows what he is doing. Relax America, we are in good hands. He has it...he has a command of things....he will have that command in his presidency.

Jeannette, Washington, DC (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 12:57 PM)

This man knows what he is talking about. I know he can bring America around. By the way, he still has an open line to reach him via email! You could not find Bush if you had ever wanted to. He was out riding his bicycle in Maryland when the White House was supposedly under attack! Whatever protects him is unique.

Margaret Whiteside (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 12:57 PM)

What I really like about our incoming President is that he is very strategic with everything..from running his campaign, putting his team together, to hopefully subsequently pulling our country out of this rut! That's exactly why we need a young, intelligent & fresh minded President. Go Obama!!!

Alyce, Deltona, FL (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 1:00 PM)

Goolsbee and Higginbottom...starting to feel like Hogwarts.

a little economic magic? lol

dl, exeter, nh (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 1:00 PM)

Dear President Elect Obama.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE appoint Congressmen Gephardt to the Department of Labor.

Please

Catholic Democrat Concord NH (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 1:04 PM)

His economics team gives me assurance that he wants to go for strong people with great intellect. If that holds across his administration, we are in for a lot of national healing after the rule of incompetent cronies we have seen for the last eight years.

Karen, New York (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 1:05 PM)

I find it interesting that MSNBC hasn't placed Environment in the top tier of positions. And yet it has been touted as one of the greatest problems facing us.

I did note the CEO of Dow Chemical at the front of the possible Energy appointees.

gill (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 1:07 PM)

Bush has/is giving us the shaft ...and he will continue to. Unemployment claims are surging, manufacturing production is plummeting, interest rates on corporate bonds — which reflect investor fears of default — are towering. Where is George Bush? Pat Buchanan please stop sounding like the Grim Reaper. FDR’s time is the past. Which is better to continue doom and gloom or to bring the economy and Americans to work together with vigilant hastiness? I prefer the latter change.

Beverly in Chicago (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 1:09 PM)

Well, now you will see how does it make difference in selecting superb team for the country, since very telented president elected for our country. Temprament is the one most essential for the job, He has cool temprament for this job.
You will see the chang

Bud Patel (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 1:11 PM)

President Elect Obama is beginning to assemble what i believe to be a very good team of talented people to support him in dealing with domestic and international issues. This will take some time to correct however I know he is up to the task and it for us to support him and be patience. This mess we are in now did not happen overnight and it will be correct it self overnight. Our prayers are with you Presidend -Elect Obama and Vice President elect Biden

darnell turner, Hercules, California (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 1:12 PM)

Laura - agreed - but even better, can you imagine Sarah Palin's 'answers' to the same questions?

Susan, Boston (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 1:14 PM)

It was a solid pick by Obama to pick Giethner for the Secretary of the Treasury. He has a good balance between all sectors of the economy, and can be flexible to address a variety of difficult situations. His record shows competence in all world markets however, his expertise in the Asian markets will be crucial. Wow! Our nation has not seen a competent President in 8 years. It was nice to see an intelligent individual, with a foward thinking plan of action, working at the executive level again. Time to keep moving forward America!

Rock,Janesville, Wisconsin (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 1:18 PM)

I agree that it's been a long time coming, but it looks as if we have a 'real' leader in Mr. Obama. I'm interested to see how willing we are to work with him instead of making a sport out of finding fault and pointing fingers. We need to get on with the repair - give him room and time to get his agenda in place - we all need hime to be successful.

Linda Huntoon, Mt. Kisco, NY (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 1:24 PM)

For the first time in years, I am allowing myself the "luxury" of feeling optomistic for the future. We have not yet reached the botttom, but Obama appears to be doing everything he can to cushion the blow when we do. The only concern I have is that by the time he takes office, the situation may be so bad that getting the country's finances back on track may consume the majority of his term, allowing little time for action on his other initiatives. If ever there was a time to move inauguration day up, this seems like it. Happy Thanksgiving to our troops and to all.

Walter, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 1:26 PM)

Has anyone considered Congressman Tim Bishop for Education? He actually is eminently qualified, having a career in education before Congress and understands issues.

hoping for someone that understands education as Secretary (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 1:28 PM)

I like an Economy you "Build from the Bottom Up". You don't start work on your new house by putting the roof on first. You lay the foundation and you build your house from the bottom up. Obama laid one heckuva foundation with his new Economic Team.

Barbara C. - Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 1:28 PM)

Congrats to Christine Rommer /Exec Education and
mature...........

Boyan Kathleen/yes former NBC and commuting (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 1:29 PM)

I've just retired, and all my working life I've heard complaints from fellow staff regarding our manager's and director's inability to communicate. I look at running the USA as running a company on a GRAND scale: the basics are the same. You manage cash flow, departments, programs and people. Mr. Obama has showed us in a few short weeks that he is a master communicator. He introduces his appointments (staff) and they are there for us to see. We don't have to rely for too long on speculation and rumor. He holds meetings (press conferences) and speaks to his employees (we, the people). Mr. Obama you got my vote, and I'm impressed!

Jean Watson, Hope Valley RI (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 1:30 PM)

NO ONE can say the genius or stupidy of Barack Obama until he's been in office. You people are eager for him to succeed and that's admirable but it doesn't mean he will. Certainly he will have to make appropriate changes here and there. He obviously cannot lean far left and pay back those who got him elected.

And thank you President Bush for keeping us safe for the last 7 years. Let's hope Barack can follow in your footsteps.

Bad Chihuahua (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 1:35 PM)

I wasn't for him at first, but let's give Obama a chance. Everybody be patient for a little while. The economy problem is a result of greed...banks', unions', CEOs', stockholders', yours, mine, everybody's. For a long time, we all saw our 401(k)'s rising steadily and we started to expect it, as if it was due to us. That's not the way things work...not for long, anyway. If everyone just takes a deep breath and resists the urge to overreact, we may all come out of this ok.

S (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 1:41 PM)

What is the combined total of the Auto Industry executives salaries & bonuses, including perks, private jets, expense accounts, etc ? Now reduce that number to what the Commander-in-Chief makes for the US, and eliminate the bonuses and perks. That's REAL progress towards a bailout and recovery plan. The Taxpayer American Public has NO MORE blank Checks to write. 2) Why doesn't the Auto Industry exec's get the bailout money from the BIG OIL Companies ? They're the ones with the windfall profits. 60616 MikeSmith

Michael Smith,Chicago, Illinois (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 1:46 PM)

please no bail out for the auto companies. They are not a victim of economic crises but merely a victim of their own management system.

elb of Illinois (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 1:46 PM)

Hmmm, when the DOW tanked last week the haters were calling it the OBAMA RECESSION. Now since Obama announced his pick for Treasury Sec. and the rest of his financial team, the DOW has jumped over 600+ so far. So are we now calling this the OBAMA RECOVERY?

57 Days Until Inauguration Day!
http://jawillie.blog.com

jawillie, Philadelphia, PA. (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 1:50 PM)

Is there a way that both Economic Cabinets start working together before January 2009?
We need URGENTLY some important decisions that could give us the Main Street a sense of confidence.

Pablo Becker (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 1:59 PM)

Ahhhh Change... the chant that brought BHO to the White House. A change in Washington, change the way Washington operates, Change the way Washington thinks, Change having lobbyiests around the administration, change, change, change........ All I see is a administration FULL OF (you fill in the rest) Washington insiders. How can a cabinet full of Wahington "good ole boys" actually promote "change"? I would rather see a administration stock piled full of an intellectual pack of NON Wahington insiders to get fresh ideas and a fresh perspective. I did not vote for BHO, because I did not think he could "change" and it has proven itself in his choices. Good Luck America..........

Robert N, Royal Oak Michigan (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 2:03 PM)

This is such a ray of sunshine. I am very optimistic and hopeful. Bye, Bye, Bush and Cheney, Oh, and Mr. Cheney, don't drop the soap in the shower.

Jacky, Napa, CA (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 2:09 PM)

Still waiting for change. I will know refer to Obama as Barrak rodham Obama Clinton. So much for change. what a liar.

Scott Omaha (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 2:10 PM)

How wonderful it will be to have a new President that will take charge in Jan. 2009. He seems to be making some great choices for his cabinet. Also it will be wonderful to have a President that can talk intelligently and make complete sentences for a change.

JoAnn, Moundsville, WV (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 2:12 PM)

First of all I feel that the economy situation has taken the US for a great loop with businesses closing people losing jobs, being laid-off, once you may have had good credit now with the economy its like your robbing peter to pay Paul why should we have to live like this I pray that Obama and his team get the whole entire US back on track life is not about struggling to make it..i

wynettawatson san antonio,texas (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 2:13 PM)

700 billion divided by 300 million equals $2333 per person. Big deal! It would not get you anywhere. The financial system must be saved first so that we all can make $2333 many times over. When that happens, everybody wins; and a sound footing is again created.

Singh of Washinton, DC (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 2:22 PM)

I hope the new administration that I voted for will strengthen and solidify the decaying separation of Church and State. Religion should not be in fear that the government will tell them what they can believe in. Religion should not tell people what they can vote for. Our founding fathers new well that religion and government could not travel in the same wheelbarrow without destroying the very fabric of society.

Leslie M. Lower Cleveland Ohio (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 2:28 PM)

I understand things will take time and I am budgeting my best to make it to that time period..
And as a white, female in a "family relationship" raising two boys I can only hope some of the racism in this country will allow for this new leadership to take hold and build our country event stronger.
God bless this new administration.

Just trying to get along, Babson Park, FL (Sent Monday, November 24, 2008 2:32 PM)

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