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Gibbs To Be White House Press Secretary
From Politico...
Robert Gibbs, a top aide to Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) on his campaign and in his Senate office, will named the White House press secretary, a top Democratic official said.Gibbs was usually the senior official on Air Obama, the campaign plane. As communications director of Obama's Senate office, Gibbs was a key strategist on Obama's rapid move to the national stage.
The announcement, to be made shortly, is likely to be viewed favorably by reports because Gibbs has unquestioned authority, access and institutional memory.
Gibbs has shown himself to be a brawler-with-a-smile on Obama's behalf, and he'll need one.
Late Update: A senior adviser to Obama says the Gibbs White House gig isn't a done deal yet.
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Makes total sense. A smart choice.
Thoughts on other appointments: I don't think that Summers should be named Treasury Secretary. I cannot imagine Kerry as Secy of State. I think it would be interesting and bold if he kept Condy in that position.
November 6, 2008 10:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Condosleezy Rice the incompetent liar? O I don't think so.
November 6, 2008 10:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rice is too culpable regarding numerous Bush failures and possible crimes. I'd rather see Bill Richardson or Wes Clark than Kerry as Secretary of State.
November 6, 2008 10:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like Richardson. But as I said below - this isn't my team. It's President Obama's team. He has to work with them - not me.
I'm not going to start second-guessing this guy on who he thinks is the best to do what he wants to do.
November 6, 2008 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Don't you remember how he went after her in hearings? I don't think he likes her. For good reasons.
November 6, 2008 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
so true.
the idea that ANY bush player that has stayed with the rotting ship till the end is qualifide to be part of an Obama admin. is perverse.
November 6, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Summers doesn't think girls can do math or science. I'm inclined against him for that reason, but what do I know about being SecTreas?
November 6, 2008 10:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here's the thing about that - everybody is complaining about Summers. He hasn't been appointed yet.
If Obama appoints Summers - well, that means he thinks he's the right person.
I'm in no position to judge that - and I hate to start bitching on Day 2.
But that's just me -
November 6, 2008 10:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Are we already on day 2? Wow--time really does fly when you're having fun!!! :-)
November 6, 2008 10:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rice? Excuse me everyone, I think my eyes must be bleeding. Help me out here. Did Pangaea, above, just type the word Rice for State?
RICE???!!! Is your real name Rip Van Winkle, Pangaea? Please tell me you're a sleeper troll, or something. Really.
November 6, 2008 10:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
OK, I was just thinking aloud about Condy. However, from what I have read, she has been rated a very competent Secy of State who successfully steered the W admin away from the initial crazyness of its foreign policy.
As for any contentiousness during her confimation hearings, Condy deserved it given what a crappy job she did as NS Advisor.
November 6, 2008 10:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Boy, have you got a wrong number.
November 6, 2008 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Boy no kidding.
Are you a progressive Democrat? And you're pushing Kindasleezy?
November 6, 2008 10:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, don't be too hard. Perhaps, the witnessed Condi's interview after Obama's election. Condi was quite moved and actually gave a nice schpiel. However, no matter how gratious and nice Condi can be at times- she is quite simply one of the biggest incompetents Bush had in his Adm. Rumsfeld, Condi, Tenet, and of course, Bush the biggest incompetent of them all. An adm. of incompetents led by an incompetent. All blindly following Cheney off a cliff.
November 6, 2008 10:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
And was obviously so well before Dubya foisted her upon us. All ya had to do was listen to her spout drivel on one of her many talking-head appearances on TV.
November 6, 2008 11:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Let me emphasize that I am not endorsing Condy. I put the thought out there because I believe that positive things have been written about her tenure at State. One positive thing that I recall reading is that she was able to take the influence of State away from the neocons.
November 6, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's damning with faint praise, but you're right. She did help oppose the neocon turdheads who were screaming, "Bomb Iran Now!"
November 6, 2008 11:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Simply being sane, and an actual grown-up - which I agree, she is - just ain't good enough.
Not to patronize - swear to god - but, I'm going to chalk this comment up to the last 8 years of gyrating mindfuck to which you've been mercilessly subjected.
Think excellence. That is what we need right now. Rice just isn't.
November 6, 2008 10:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
You may be right about my gyrating mind...
Let me emphasize that I was thinking aloud and was not making an outright endorsement of Rice.
I do believe that she has gotten positive reviews about her tenure at State. I am trying to find articles that verify this.
November 6, 2008 11:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
I wasn't a fan of Summers' presidency at Harvard, but most of his problems came when he strayed outside of his areas of expertise. I don't think his gaffes in that job should rule him out as Treasury Secretary.
November 6, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Condoleeza has blood on her hands. She was a key player in the WH Iraq Group. She authorized torture.
No. She needs to face the Hague, not be rewarded because she's...what? African-American?
http://www.salem-news.com/articles/april162008/rice_recall_4-16-04.php
Never forget. Never again.
November 6, 2008 11:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Condy is way too much of a yes-woman. Every where she has been she left everyone thinking she agreed with them and we certainly don't need any more of that.
November 6, 2008 11:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
November 6, 2008 10:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rice superior to Kerry? I don't think so. Kerry may not be the ideal candidate, but Rice, for reasons already stated, along with the fact that she went supinely along with the Iraq war, is completely unacceptable.
And can't they find someone other than Larry Summers for Treasury, who still has the stink of all that deregulatory garbage clinging to him?
November 6, 2008 10:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, Richardson is by far the most qualified guy for Sec. of State in whole country, I would imagine. While Bush was in office he had countries asking for him, BEGGING for him to come to their countries, NOT Bush cronies. He worked out a ceasefire in Darfur and had several talks with North Korea all while Bush was in office. I think the countries of the world want Richardson for Sec. of State- he certainly has their respect.
November 6, 2008 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Plus Bill's fluency in Spanish and ties with Mexico would be valuable in improving our relations in the hemisphere.
November 6, 2008 10:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
I hear they speak Spanish somewhere over in Europe, too. . .
Oh, wait! We aren't on speaking terms with them because they pulled out of Afghanistan.
Oh, wait! WE WON TWO DAYS AGO! Almost forgot after the long, dark nightmare of the last few years.
November 6, 2008 10:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think having a brown Sec. of State could do much to continue breaking down barriers here, around the world, and in our foreign relations.
November 6, 2008 10:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Paul Krugman for Treasury!
November 6, 2008 10:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
Now that's and appointment I could believe in!
November 6, 2008 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, I'm not clear on exactly what you're talking about.
Are you referring to Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman? To be installed as Treasury Secretary once President-elect Barack Hussein Obama is inaugurated as 44th President of the United States of America on Jan. 20, 2009?
Oh man, these past couple months have been pretty good in retrospect!
November 6, 2008 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Let's see, Condi Rice's resume: National Security Advisor during the two of the biggest national security failures in US in decades, 9/11 and the Iraq fiasco.
Yeah, I'd hire that.
November 6, 2008 10:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nobody from the Obama campaign, outside of the Davids, deserves an appointment more than Robert Gibbs! I personally, think he should be nominated for a nobel peace prize for the way he bitch slapped Sean Hannity.
November 6, 2008 10:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
An excellent showing indeed...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgn6rjGbp0c
November 6, 2008 10:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
So Obama's first intelligence briefing was this morning right?
Area 51, Templar treasure, Lincoln's clone...
November 6, 2008 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
secret tunnels that go under the Hope Diamond...
November 6, 2008 10:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
I saw that too and it was hysterically funny I thought. With a great ending.
November 6, 2008 10:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
the crowd scenes were pure hilarity and reminded me of minneapolis on election night. :) the city was screaming and honking in joy all night and well into the morning.
November 6, 2008 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
South Park and real BBQ are two of the biggest things I miss being an expat.
November 6, 2008 10:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
I wish I'd been there or somewhere - it was dead here. I'm sure things were going on but it was all inside. It's fucking cold.
November 6, 2008 10:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like Gibbs. He is cool under pressure and does not create as much flop-sweat as someone like Scott McClellan. We always knew that dude was lying...
http://thepajamapundit.com/
November 6, 2008 10:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Gibbs has shown his capability, even under the withering scrutiny of Faux News. He was one of my two personal choices-- the other was Donna Brazile.
November 6, 2008 10:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
^C^V! I'm all about Bill Richardson. I supported him as far as he went in the primaries and hope he gets a top nod from Obama.
November 6, 2008 10:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
That was supposed to be in reply to Tena about Bill R.
November 6, 2008 10:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
As a presidential candidate, Bill was not a good choice. He has more in common with Bill Clinton that the same first name.
November 6, 2008 10:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'll defer to your proximity on that sort of issue. Rumors never made it to Wisconsin... As a foreign policy guy though Richardson stands pretty tall and I have no problem with his politics and world view. I think he'd be a fantastic Sec of State.
November 6, 2008 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
O shit I fucked up! It got down to single digits here last night and I haven't covered a bench outside with a tile seat and the tiles cracked and the tops are flaking off.
Dammit! It's too heavy for me to move inside on my own. Shit. I love that bench - dammit. Those talavera tiles are just terracotta and this what I get -
November 6, 2008 10:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ooooops. What will Mr. Tena say?
November 6, 2008 10:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
He's not going to be happy about it but this is my house and that was my bench and he broke the fountain last time he was here, which I will remind him if he gets too stinky about the bench.
November 6, 2008 10:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good -- you're even. Time to move on.
November 6, 2008 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Great pick, Gibbs. I like Richardson for State.
I like Roubini or Krugman - or how about Steiglitz? - for Treasury.
Not sure I care for Powell at Defense, but I could be wrong. Webb would be better, I think, if he would take it. Clark, maybe?
Anybody got ideas for DHS? I really don't like the idea of Gates, but I could be wrong there too.
HOLY CRAP!! Look at this map!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
November 6, 2008 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Holy shit - look at Texas.
All that new red is outside of Texas -
November 6, 2008 10:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wow. Great map!! Looks like parts of the Appalachians are still solid red. Oklahoma, Kansas, Tennessee still pretty solid Repub. But, WOW, the rest of the co0untry- AWESOME!!!! I had no idea until I saw this- Thank you for posting this, Skymodem.
November 6, 2008 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Mindblower, ain't it? Welcome to Blue America, Everyone.
November 6, 2008 10:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Roubini or Steiglitz would both be great choices as well. Galbraith? Oh, I think we are just dreaming here... but, eh, what the heck?
November 6, 2008 10:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
You know Joe, both those guys have been outright prescient on the economy.
I'm not sure if that translates into the ability to craft policy appropriate to our current situation. But what the hell, it seems like anybody who has been as damned right as these two should at least get some consideration. Roubini thinks the FED should be dismantled, which could be a disqualifier though.
November 6, 2008 10:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, that map is just beautiful!
November 6, 2008 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes but the NYT is deceiving about Dallas Co. They make it sound like Bush won big there in '04 - he didn't. He barely made it. The suburbs carried him with a percentage point.
In '06, the whole county voted Dem and we just did it again - Obama won Dallas co. Texas just like I knew he would.
The problem there is that no one visited the state. We were written off again. Obama turned Montana blue - he was there 14 times.
Nobody paid any attention to us again and look at the map - we're turning blue all by ourselves. If someone will just help us!
November 6, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, I remember how it was like to live in TX and to be entirely ignored. I do remember Gore coming to visit El Paso during the '92 campaign. It was a very late-night quick airport rally. It was very exciting because no one usually even bothered.
I do think that if you combine the current/growing disillusionment of the Republicans and the changing demographics of TX, it really is only a matter of time before TX turns blue. The key is keeping the minority communities involved in the process. Obama drew many of them to the polls...the trick is to get them to keep coming out.
November 6, 2008 11:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
If only they had sent Richardson -
We are a Hispanic plurality state if not a majority - last I checked we were right on the edge of being Hispanic majority.
We will turn blue - but dammit, Howard, and respectfully, President Obama - help us!
It was heartbreaking listening to Bun B talk on Raw XL about how hard they worked down in the Port Arthur-Beaumont area to turn it blue. They worked their asses off down there and in H-town.
We can do it - just a little help.
November 6, 2008 12:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've seen Paul Krugman interviewed several times on Countdown. I love his humility. Perfect for an academic, but likely not enough of a head-banger to be Treas Sec'y.
OTOH, previous blustery, full-of-themselves types haven't done much for us recently, have they?
November 6, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yup. Krugman is very appealing. Love the guy. A breath of fresh air. Head bangers need not apply, AFAIC. Humility: making a comeback? Let's hope. ; )
November 6, 2008 12:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess I worry that PK might worry overmuch about offending other people. He'd be great on a team, where it's not required that everybody have every attribute needed to get things done.
November 6, 2008 12:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Excellent choice. Gibbs deserves it alone after proving himself against scumbag Hannity.
November 6, 2008 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Word AND co-sign!
November 6, 2008 5:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
I loved his Hannity bitch slap as well, but let's temper our excitement with a little background:
Gibbs is responsible for the 04 ad that had Dean morphing in to Osama bin Laden
http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/2/22/101914/565
enough of the Clintonites awready
November 6, 2008 10:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good luck finding anyone involved in campaigning who is a candidate for sainthood.
November 6, 2008 11:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Condi...give her another chance? Do you think she's on Cheney's speed dial? How he would snicker, rubbing his sweaty palms together and thinking, "With her in an Obama administration I still have a foot in the door."
November 6, 2008 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
lol... we poor liberals. Paranoia, Stockholm Syndrome, Rage, battered wife complex - a wide range of emotional responses.
We're going to need some time to recover from the last eight years of political gangrape.
November 6, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
ROTFLMAO
November 6, 2008 11:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yup, yup, Gibbs can cut down the likes of Sean Hatetity with a smile.
November 6, 2008 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
kerry would be good at state; he's smart and has the right temperament. richardson would be better, but i'm not sure he wants it. i like that they floated bobby kennedy for EPA. and stiglitz, definintely, for treasury.
November 6, 2008 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
OK, the more I think about you people suggesting Condoleeza Rice be given anything but a life term in Guantanamo, the more I fall into despair.
People, Condoleeza Rice is a CRIMINAL. She personally oversaw White House meetings where top Bush administration officials selected specific torture techniques.
Are our collective memories THAT dysfunctional? God help us all.
Highly placed sources said a handful of top advisers signed off on how the CIA would interrogate top al Qaeda suspects -- whether they would be slapped, pushed, deprived of sleep or subjected to simulated drowning, called waterboarding.
The high-level discussions about these "enhanced interrogation techniques" were so detailed, these sources said, some of the interrogation sessions were almost choreographed -- down to the number of times CIA agents could use a specific tactic.
The advisers were members of the National Security Council's Principals Committee, a select group of senior officials who met frequently to advise President Bush on issues of national security policy.
At the time, the Principals Committee included Vice President Cheney, former National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Colin Powell, as well as CIA Director George Tenet and Attorney General John Ashcroft.
November 6, 2008 11:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Who is "you people"? It was one person...and they admitted they were just "thinking outloud". And, why didn't you respond to them directly?
November 6, 2008 11:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
My Thoughts:
1. Robert Gibbs is a great choice as press secretary. He was always even keel and took Sean Hannity to the woodshed so he gets my vote. Robert Gibbs was part of the "No Drama Obama" team and always came across as no big deal and calming. Good choice.
2. In terms of Secretary of Treasury, if Obama thinks that Larry Summers is a great choice than I am all for it. I have been reading a lot and it appears that many economists thinks that Larry Summers would be a great choice. In terms of his dumb gaffe about women and science, everybody gaffes (remember Obama's clinging to guns and religion gaffe) and should not preclude him from getting the job if he is the best person to do the job.
3. Rahm Emmmanuel isn't starting off on the right foot to be chief of staff. He is very much into discipline but he himself is not enacting discipline on himself by talking to the press out loud about whether he will take the job or not. That should be a warning to "No drama Obama" team in that Rahm may be a leaker so they should take heed. Expect Rahm to shut up about it and either take the job or turn it down very soon. I suspect he is truly conflicted but he should keep that to himself.
4. John Kerry for Secretary of State? I just don't see it and Obama may not like his self-promotion to the press that he has been doing about this position. I prefer Bill Richardson for Secretary of State and would send a great signal to the Hispanic community. Apparently Richardson has been keeping mum about being asked to do any positions in an Obama administration. He and Salazar were together and was asked yesterday repeatedly about it and they said nothing until Salazar finally told the press to back off. That's a good sign. Another good sign is that he shaved off his beard. If it ends up being John Kerry than I am sure he will be fine.
5. I have a feeling a lot of these names being thrown around are from the press themselves as well as the perspective candidates. The Obama team rarely leaks unless it is on purpose to float a name to see how the public/press reacts.
November 6, 2008 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Gibbs is a great choice.
I believe he's the one that caused Sean Hannity to pop a few blood vessels during his interview.
November 6, 2008 11:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
I wonder if Gibbs was always a lock for the Press Secretary job or if his first round knockout of Hannity after the presidential debate at Hofstra University catapulted him into the position? Not only did Gibbs take down Hannity, but his riff about Andy Martin's anti-Semitic remarks led to a rare Fox apology for having booked him on the show to begin with.
November 6, 2008 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Who are the candidates for Attorney General? I think Obama will be making the cabinet announcements personally, which may be why it looks like nothing is certain yet.
November 6, 2008 1:22 PM | Reply | Permalink