Obama's White House Brain Trust Starts To Form

Barack Obama has started to assemble his brain trust, the inner circle of advisers who will guide him as he leads the country and navigates the shoals of Congress.

In addition to chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, who accepted the post today, Obama has reportedly selected his campaign's chief strategist, David Axelrod, to be his senior adviser in the White House, according to ABC News.

Axelrod and Emanuel would make a formidable duo, both known for their expertise in brass-knuckle politics and experienced at tough Chicago-style politicking.

In addition, Robert Gibbs, a campaign spokesman known for his steady presence on Air Obama, the campaign plane, will be named the White House press secretary, Democratic officials told Politico.

Gibbs is a more genial presence, although he made headlines at the tail end of the campaign by aggressively confronting Fox News host Sean Hannity over the host's inclusion of an anti-Semite in his documentary on Obama.

The next step for President-elect Obama will be his Cabinet picks, especially the crucial post of Secretary of the Treasury.

Read more about Obama's potential Cabinet picks here.

And check out HuffPost's BigNews Page on Obama's potential Cabinet.

Comments

[realpolitic]

"A copy of Wassilla hillbillies looting Neiman Marcus from coast to coast" -Republican operatives speaking of Sarah Palin and her husband.

[Ammobob]

With the looming DEM wins still to be played out in the SENATE, I am preparing for the worse, but hoping for the best.........

If JObama gets the absolute majority in the SENATE or somewhere really, really close, the economy will be in the toilet for quite sometime.........I was not happy with the 'stimulus' packages and am truly dismayed by the further bailout talk now circulating in Washington. Handouts for all are coming.........

My predictions.........DOW will sink below 6000 by Jan 20th, unemployment will approach 10%, and Israel will hit IRAN before then......more to come......

[TheWordman]

Good Morning, my Fellow Americans!

Too bad I missed MJ this morning. Sounds like a zinger from the posts I've read. Part of me is happy, and part of me deeply unnerved that the republicans are still in denial.

[ThunderclapNewman]

If they weren't in denial, they wouldn't be Republicans.

[RobertaInCT]

Spot on!

[Ammobob]

Maybe some, maybe not............

JObama is my President too. He didn't get my vote, but I'll give him until Oct 2008 and his first budget. Then all bets are off........

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

Troolls have awaken from their depression and are ready to bullchit again.

Glad to have you losers back.

Question: How does it feel to be irrelevant?

[gladys46]

Hahaha ... they have nothing but culture wars !!!

[realpolitic]

Yes, I have not seen so many conservative posts in a long time. I thought they were hiding their heads in the sand.

[stealthgurl007]

To my US neighbours,

This Canadian wants to say congratulations and thank you for choosing this man as your president. Because of you the world is a better place today than it was a few days ago.

All my respect to you.

[abby4ever]

Thank you very much and you are very welcome!
From one little voter out of millions and millions...
:]

[MsDoc]

You're a great representative of / for the rest of us.....

[lecraftygirl]

thank you!!! trust me it's a great feeling to know as an American I have been part of this historic election!!

[nostalgia]

this site is now infested with hateful, uninformed trolls. Would you like to go to Palin' s websites? She needs your help.

[BabsfromKansas]

The New York Times
Friday, November 7, 2008 -- 8:35 AM ET
-----

Economy Lost 240,000 Jobs in October

New figures from the Labor Department show employment deteriorating much faster than expected, with 240,000 jobs lost in October and major upward revisions in job-loss figures for August and September. The unemployment rate jumped to 6.5 percent, a 14-year high, from 6.1 percent in September.

Read More:
http://www.nytimes.com/?emc=na

[ThunderclapNewman]

No wonder the market is tanking again.

[levibatgirl]

Unbelievable!! And it will get worse before it gets better.

[truthforme]

I agree.

[MsDoc]

I don't want to cry this early in the morning...I'd rather wait until the stock market opens.

And just wait 'til the real figures come in from the automotive industry... siiigh

[abby4ever]

I know people always say this, but it's true: it's one thing on paper, it's something else off paper, each job loss having reprocussions for a real live family with bills to pay and food to buy and kids to support.

[urbanopolis]

Lawrence O'Donnel on Mj about Palin,

"why is it Joe s. and the republican party celebrate ignorance?"

priceless.....

[gladys46]

"These guys take pride in their ignorance" .... coined !!!

[realpolitic]

Oh man, I would have paid to hear that! Can you tell us how he responded? Joe is always saying how he is offended about this or that...

[ENOS]

I keep posting this on foxnews.com forums:

If you can not stand to look at President-Elect Barack Obama, or even hear his name, I ask... How Christian are you? How American are you? How democratic are you? How Christian are you really behaving. Really, think about it. What would Jesus do?

"You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD."
Leviticus 19:18

Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. [44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

And there isn't even reason to believe he wants to do anything but help. Be a Christian, love America and its Democracy. Love your President.

[only1Demvoter]

ENOS : The ' Leviticus ' thing... They're just proverbs written in a passe' story book.

Your inquiry was relevent, though.

The answer : They're self - loathing.


-ralph

[abby4ever]

What? I don't think so.

[usreporter]

Where is the diversity? Where are the women? Why is he the only minority representative?

[ThunderclapNewman]

He's only made three appointments.

Don't get your panties in such a wad.

[RobertaInCT]

I don't know what's worst to fight off, hate spewing tr-olls or wigged out liberals pi-ssing and whining about every appointment Obama makes...........

[MsDoc]

No magic wand came with the electoral victory... give the man time to think.

Had he rolled out his entire team and cabinet you would have likely accused him of haste and arrogance,

Geeesh.

[lecraftygirl]

People, be patient. You have to see the BIGGER picture as Barack does. First, these are his KEY people, the people right at his side. I really believe in his judgment and choices. Although, the Repubs painted Obama as a Leftist liberal, he is really not. Obama understands that in order for his administration to work effectively he MUST get both sides of congress on the same page. He knows that with Emanuel he will be able to do that.

And don’t forget Obama is trying to create a strong young powerful administration. Obama will also be making further important decisions in regards to the rest of his cabinet. The diversity will happen naturally, as it should be. He will definitely be bringing in women such as Napolitano & Caroline Kennedy. He will bring all types but with high expertise in their field.

Just because it looks as though Obama is moving to the center, it doesn’t mean that his philosophy, policies and determination to help the less fortunate will diminish.

A great book that I am currently reading is "THE GREAT AWAKENING" by Jim Wallis. As it was published in 2007, it hits it on the nail as to the movement that is going on right now. Fantastic read!!!

[abby4ever]

If I were you I'd stop expecting Obama to wave a magic wand. He just got started, do you mind giving him a chance?

[klondiker]

OMG - I am so completely enamoured with this administration already!!

Did anyone check out this link??

http://www.change.gov/page/s/application

I could be wrong, but when has a President-elect ever done this?? So organized, so quick - he really is our first 21st century president!

[gladys46]

Indeedy !

[TLV]

As I run off to work, I'll leave with you the meanings of Barack Obama's first and middle names...

Barack means blessed. Hussein means beautiful.

Have a wonderful day all!

More on the meaning of names:

http://www.juancole.com/2008/02/barack-hussein-obama-omar-bradley.html

[realpolitic]

Thanks!

[ThunderclapNewman]

This one is really unhinged.
.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/users/profile/cantalopejones14

[MNmommy]

I was just gonna paste *that one*.

Heh.

[mdmpo]

done

[only1Demvoter]

Newman : Yes it is...


-ralph

[bayside]

When Obama wanted Rahm I thought what is he doing as Rahm is the wrong person for that job..Then I got to thinking Obama is smart and knows his weakness..Rahm is a scrapper , and will get things done..From now on, I am going to just trust Obama in his judgements..Once he starts showing that color or gender should not matter ,ability ,character does and I bet Obama will go on to two terms..

[realpolitic]

Yes, they have contrasting styles. Rahm is a scrapper and Obama the cool, detached intellectual. They will work well together.

[texasweed]

Who was that creepy Huffie blogger on election night ("celebrate..then indict)?

[texasweed]

Ohhhh-kay. He just made me uneasy and kept me from fully enjoying Obama's victory.