posted
Great speech. Lots of Lincoln and MLK cribbing, which is fine with me.
After the celebration dies down, we'll start hearing in the next three or four days about his cabinet. I think tomorrow we'll hear him announce his Chief of Staff, arguably the most important appointment when it comes to day to day White House operations.
By the end of the week I think it's likely you'll hear him make some sort of announcement on SecTreas as well. SecState and SecDef will come next week. He won't waste any time in announcing the Big 4 (SecState, SecTreas, SecDef and AG). There are a lot of names being bandied about for all positions. There's a strong possibility that Robert Gates, the current SecDef, will be asked to stay on for maybe a year until Obama gets a handle on the Middle East situation and appoints someone else to the post. I really don't know who he has in mind for some of the other spots (possible that Paulson will also be asked to stay on, but less likely than Gates), but he might choose the guy in charge of the NY Reserve, I can't remember his name, and I think Sam Powers is a strong candidate for National Security Advisor. Rahm Emmanuel is being talked about as a Chief of Staff candidate.
For AG, Michigan's own Jennifer Granholm is being talked about seriously. She was Michigan's AG before being elected governor. Too bad she can't run for president.
Can anyone believe that Indiana still hasn't been called? Obama is currently ahead in three of the last four states: Monatan, North Carolina, and Indiana. If he takes them all, he'll come in just shy of the 370 official landslide, but I don't care about what's official. This is a stunning electoral college victory across the map that I will result in a lot of power in Washington, as Congress realizes this amounts to a mandate.
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quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: There's a strong possibility that Robert Gates, the current SecDef, will be asked to stay on for maybe a year until Obama gets a handle on the Middle East situation and appoints someone else to the post.
You really think so? It could be a good idea, I respect Gates. I was pleasantly surprised to like Rummy's replacement.
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But he'll start to exert influence almost immediately. He'll meet with Bush quickly to discuss a host of matters, not the least of which is an upcoming economic summit that Bush wants his input on. He also has to form a government from scratch over the next couple months. He needs to be ready to go on day one.
Here's a question no one has asked: Two senators were just taken off the table in Deleware and Illinois. Who will the Democratic governors of those two states appoint to replace them? There were strong rumors that Biden's son Bo would get the nod in Deleware, and if that's the case, it'd be a coup for his political career. He's the state's AG I think, and a reserve officer in the army. Being appointed Senator might be a nice stepping stone to the Governor's mansion and then a run at the White House of his own in 12 or 16 years. The problem there is the fact that he was supposed to be deployed to Iraq (even though he was in Chicago at Grant Park tonight). Many felt that would stop the governor from offering him the spot, but I don't know. He's certainly qualified. Keep your eye out for names for those spots.
quote:Originally posted by Morbo: You really think so? It could be a good idea, I respect Gates. I was pleasantly surprised to like Rummy's replacement.
Obama likes Gates. Actually most Democrats like Gates. He's a breath of fresh air after Rumsfeld. The two of them have met several times and had productive meetings. He knows the issues, he's in the midst of a military in transition to a 21st century fighting force, and the two already have a working rapport. Keeping him on makes sense in that sense, and also because keeping on a Bush appointment has strong political appeal as far as bipartisanship goes. He won't stay on for the full term I don't think, but he'd be an excellent interim choice that I think would earn a unanimous confirmation in the Senate.
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quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: Can anyone believe that Indiana still hasn't been called? Obama is currently ahead in three of the last four states: Monatan, North Carolina, and Indiana. If he takes them all, he'll come in just shy of the 370 official landslide, but I don't care about what's official. This is a stunning electoral college victory across the map that I will result in a lot of power in Washington, as Congress realizes this amounts to a mandate.
I think that he could hit the 370 landslide. Missouri isn't done being counted, and St. Louis isn't done being counted yet, looking at the gap, it may be just enough. I don't know if it's likely, but it's definitely not out of the realm of possibility.
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posted
This is really a vindication of Dean's 50-state strategy. I had my doubts, but Obama's campaign did so well fund-raising that they had the resources to pull it off.
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The rumors are that Jesse Jackson Jr. will be the appointment for Obama's seat, and I would bet on Bo Biden as well for Delaware Lyrhawn. Those would be two great senators.
I also like Colin Powell for Secretary of State, Gates may hang around for a year, and I would bet on Joe Lieberman coming into Obama's cabinet in some capacity. I don't think, after the general, that Lieberman can go back to the senate because the dems want his head, and I think it would a great move on Obama's part for him to bring him in. I also see Bill Richardson as UN Ambassador or Chairman of the DNC for Dean, the guy from the federal reserve whose name neither of us can remember as Treasury Secretary (with Paulson serving as an advisor for at least a year), and Gates to return as Secdef as well.
Oh and what a speech. Just...wow...
Edited: And his COS will be Rahm Emmanuel from Illinois.
Edited2: Oh and Buffet will serve some role, probably as one of his economic advisers, along with Steve Forbes (republican), and maybe Sam Power in a foreign relations role. One last thing, how about Hillary Clinton for AG? That would be interesting, but I am not sure that she either wants it or that Obama wants to give it to her.
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I agree with your last post, humean, except for Leiberman. Blech. He made his bed with the Republicans, let him lie in it.
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Looks like the gay marriage ban will pass in Florida and Arizona. The ban on gay adoption will pass in Arkansas. The ban on gay marrriage in CA is winning but not a lot of the vote is in.
Here in MI, medical marijuana and embryos for stem cell research both passed. In my own district, it looks like Gary Peters will unseat Joe Knollenburg for the US House, turning us blue
Rep. Chris Shays has lost his House seat for the GOP, which means all of New England is now blue. He was the last Republican. North Carolina elected their first female governor ever.
On the senate:
4 Senate seats remain. They need all four to get to 60. It's not going to happen. Alaska is probably a given, so let's say 57 is guaranteed (the rest have all been called). Watch Minnesota and Oregon. As we speak they are both neck and neck. Between 5 and 10 thousand votes. Watch Georgia too. Martin isn't going to overtake Chambliss, but if he can knock him down to 49%, he'll get a runoff in December, and Obama will turn every resource as his disposal to the race. It'd be a sight to see.
Dems will probably net pickup 15-20 seats in the House. It won't be the 30+ turnover that they got in 2006 or that some were suspecting, but it'll pad their lead, and more importantly, it'll lessen the power of the Blue Dogs to force the Dems to center right or center left on a lot of issues.
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posted
Last I saw California it was 52-48 against Prop 8; this is a switch. Hopefully it won't be the last of the night.
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Giving Lieberman a place in the Administration would be a fantastic move for a lot of reasons. It'd give the governor a chance to appoint an out and out Democrat to replace him, which may be more important than one might think with Democrats looking for his head and Republicans looking to woo him into a party switch. It would also look nice and bi-partisan, and he's actually qualified for several positions, so why not? Many may view it as rewarding treachery, but it's a smart political tactic. Frankly, it's something Lincoln would have done.
I think the guy from the Reserve is Tim Geithner? Gathner?
Hillary as AG? Her name has been seriously bandied about as a possible SCOTUS Justice for Obama's first appointment. Jennifer Granholm has also been discussed in such a capacity. She has demured whenever asked about either position. I think Obama would be okay with offering such a place to her, but I think she'll remain in the Senate and look to replace Reid when he eventually retires. Let me say this though; if she DOES take the AG spot, she's running for president in 8 years. I think she'd be crazy to do so. Obama isn't just the leader of the Democratic party now, he's the harbinger of a new brand of Democrat, or at least a new generation. She's part of the old generation. After Obama will be a long line of younger 40 something Democrats that will want their shot. Biden and Clinton will fade away into the history books.
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quote:Originally posted by Sterling: Last I saw California it was 52-48 against Prop 8; this is a switch. Hopefully it won't be the last of the night.
I've been watching that all night and I've never seen it switch to the no side. It's been pretty consistently 53/47 in favor of "yes".
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quote:I think Obama would be okay with offering such a place to her, but I think she'll remain in the Senate and look to replace Reid when he eventually retires.
I thought about that too, but it won't happen. When the Republicans talked about Reid/Pelosi, that was a real drag on the Democrats in some ways, and so, replacing that with Clinton/Pelosi just makes it worse. Obama knows that, as do the democrats who, by the way, don't even like Hillary in the senate, and who would not put with her as their leader in the senate.
I really don't think her post as the AG means she will run in 2008, I think she saw her chance in this election and didn't get it, and I think she knows that her and Biden will fade, as you said. I don't think she is going to run for President again, though she may seek the governership of NY, but I do think that if she accepts the position of AG, then she will accept a position on the Supreme Court with her position as AG setting that up.
Just a few more names to remember: General Wes Clark, who would make a great Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Claire Mcaskil (sp?) of Missouri, Caroline Kennedy (who I would not be surprised to be tapped to head up something Barack starts), and last but not least, T. Boone Pickens.
Edited: It looks as if Obama will win NC and Indiana and McCain will win Montana and Missouri. That will place the final tally at 364-173. It was close to that big huge landslide, but it was still quite the landslide.
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posted
What spots do you see Caroline Kennedy or Claire McCaskill getting? Besides, who is the governor of Missouri? It might give the seat away. I think she stays in the Senate.
T. Boone Pickens. It's possible. But the only spot I see him taking would be Secretary of Energy. Either that as some sort of energy task force leader, but I think that role would more likely be offered to Al Gore, who despite his protestations, I think would jump at the chance if Obama really offered him a position of real power rather than just an advisory role.
Missouri is down to a thousand vote difference with 99% reporting! In MN, Franken trails Coleman by 3,000 with 10% left.
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The California Registrar-Recorder is currently estimating that 97%! of all registered California voters voted! Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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Rivka sweetie, a) it's LA county b) I'm not sure the 97% is a percentage of all registered voters. I think it's some technical voting stat. edit: or maybe it does mean 97% in LA voted. That would be incredible.
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quote:What spots do you see Caroline Kennedy or Claire McCaskill getting?
Well, the thing about Caroline Kennedy is that she is not a politician, so it might be interesting for Obama to get her to help run a coalition or committee he creates around health care or the environment or some other post in government. From what I know of Obama, he wants to set an example of government service and patriotism, and I think she would make a perfect example for others to follow.
McCaskill is different because I think she became a large part of the campaign for Obama and I think he wants her as part of his government. Matt Blunt in the governor of Missouri but he will not run for a second term and the Democrats won the governorship (Nixon won) of Missouri tonight, so he may have the opportunity to appoint McCaskill to a post that can be filled after Jan. 22.
Indiana has been called for Obama, and he might just take Missouri after all...
ETA: LOL, Missouri is down to a 398 vote difference.
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posted
Missouri is down to three counties, one of which is the Kansas City suburbs and is heavily Obama. The other two are for McCain. All three have been at least partially reported, and in the case of the Democratic district, has been heavily reported.
He has like 400 votes to make up.
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posted
Well, Jeff Merkley is in a race with Gordon Smith in Oregon, both are tied with 47% and if the dems win they will pick up the seat. Al Franken and his opponent and Coleman are in the same kind of battle in Minnesota where again the democrats can pick up a seat. Ted Stevens is leading in his bid to retain his senate seat even after he was convicted in his corruption trial. Finally, it appears that Chambliss will beat Martin in Georgia.
More than likely, the democrats will have a 57 or 58 seat majority in the senate, depending on how Franken and Merkley do and just what exactly happens to Lieberman. Think of this too, Obama may have a Jewish problem with some voters, so placing Lieberman in his cabinet might help that, which just gives him another reason to bring him in to his White House.
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Remember Martin doesn't need to win, he just needs to keep Chambliss' total under 50% to force a runoff in December.
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posted
Obama is President! What a relief! Finally someone who doesn't perceive the world only in terms of black or white. (Pun not intended. ) And it's good to see that it wasn't a tight race either.
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quote:Originally posted by Pinky: Obama is President! What a relief! Finally someone who doesn't perceive the world only in terms of black or white. (Pun not intended. ) And it's good to see that it wasn't a tight race either.
Obama has a mandate from Odin.
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And with that I'm signing off for the night. I've already tarried too long when I should have either been reading or asleep. Keep in mind with whatever Alaska's final numbers are, that there are 10,000 absentee ballots to be counted in the coming days as well, and supposedly they have a heavy Republican tilt. Stevens just might pull this thing off afterall, which I believe would throw the matter to the courts during his sentencing hearing.
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And that, my friends, is why someone from Alaska probably cannot relate to the country as a whole. Call me silly, but I doubt most people would reelect a convicted person unless they had a damn good reason for believing him to be innocent.
Or perhaps if his opponent was absolutely terrible. Not sure which, if either, is the case x_x
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I'm more excited about Gordon Smith in Oregon. The 2006 election was terrible for moderate Republicans. The more moderates like Smith and Coleman we keep, the happier I'll be. I'd much rather see Saxby Chambliss lose than Smith or Coleman. And the prospect of Al Franken in the Senate, while slightly entertaining, is simultaneously nauseating to me (because his rhetoric is so ascerbic, which is the last thing I think our country needs).
As for Stevens, I'm seriously dumbfounded.
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Yeah, Smith is a pretty reasonable guy. I'm not particularly sorry to see him keep his seat.
Stevens, though... Good gravy, sometimes I hate it when I'm right. Way to pin a bullseye to yourselves for some much-deserved mockery, guys.
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Ok, on CNN looks like IN went blue. Do we know which way Missouri and North Carolina went yet?
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Yes, Lyrhawn, I appreciate all your updates and other work on the election threads. Thanks!
In the Georgia Senate race, Saxby Chanbliss appears to be headed for a run-off in Dec., as he can't get 50% + 1.
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quote: In the Georgia Senate race, Saxby Chanbliss appears to be headed for a run-off in Dec., as he can't get 50% + 1.
Has that been confirmed? I know they were beginning to or had been counting absentee ballots according to the local news when I left this morning.
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) And it's good to see that it wasn't a tight race either.
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