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

[LeSamourai]

I do believe that CBS is non other that Za786 who is in turn non other than the bitter_drunken Neo.

Tell us CBS, have you created an id named Sybil yet?

With as many socks that you wear, it would be fitting.

Try SybilSox1, SybilSox2, SybilSox3, SybilSox4, SybilSox5, SybilSox6, SybilSox7.­..

But still, as much as you and the rest of the tr0//z just like you hold onto your divisiveness, no amount of socks will keep you warm.

You may feel more comfortable here:

Palin's whining bootlicks are being true to form with their McCarthy/B­achmannesq­ue postings of their building blacklist at Redstate:

http://www.redstate.com/diaries/erick/2008/nov/05/operation-leper/

Loop the following clip for the proper effect as you read through their posts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HabIoeqzL40

LOL
LOLOLOL
ROFLMAO!

[MNmommy]

I'm not much to engage in troII gazing - I'd rather just copy and paste the profile of the bothersome types and move on - but I have noticed rather schizophrenic posting by CBS - for whatever that's worth.

[LeSamourai]

Za... is a homophobe.­.. I detest bigots.

I laugh in their closeted insecure faces.

[RobertaInCT]

There are some on both sides flying under the radar. I simply do not engage them. When I see their postings I simple close the comment and move on.

[ivillage]

Barack Obama Sets Stage: http://www.sefermpost.com/sefermpost/2008/11/barack-obama-sets-stage.html

Key dates leading up to the change of administration: http://www.sefermpost.com/sefermpost/2008/11/key-dates-leading-up-to-the-change-of-administration.html

[FDRJFKLBJ]

Goldman Sachs, a Wall St. firm, added Obama to their "braintrust" when they donated $874,207 to his campaign, more than twice what they gave to McCain.

I'm sure Obama will do everything in his power to bailout the fat cats on Wall St.

Sending $700 billion in taxpayer money to friends in high places, yes he can!

[SmellyOne]

Who do you think Obama will announce as his representative from the Oil Companies? Gotta have an Oil Guy in the administration, or it just won't feel like America...

[BlueStateMan]

Good one!

[Kalima]

Hey, I just sent you my first email and thank you for always getting my back.

[LeSamourai]

That wouldn't be a very.... slick thing to do? ;)

[CocteausTwin]

I was a bit concerned about the pick of Emanuel at first, worried that it might be a continuation of the Clinton machine. But the more I have learned about him, I really think he and President-elect Obama will work well together. I like the intelligence and strategic ability of Axelrod so that is a good chance. And I really love Gibbs. I hope that the job of Press Secretary will be suitable to him, because I know that he is certainly capable of doing it.

[abby4ever]

Apparently they work well together now. A person from mhe Clinton years was on CNN yesterday and he said they are very close. And he said that Rham is right for the job: articulate, commands respect, knows legsilation and will run a tight ship. I am sorry I can't recall his name but I think he worked in the Clinton administration.

It doesn't have to be about going back, just because he worked for Clinton. Does it? Don't you just pick the best ones, if they are still around and still the best? He will be working for Obama not Bill. Obama would know all the negatives as well as the positives and will have weighed them carefully against each other. Just as he will with every decision he makes about his cabinet.

[MNmommy]

Both Paul Begala and David Gergen endorsed the choice.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

Actually many in the white house under Clinton mostly Hillary it turns out wanted him out of the administration. He was not a true FOB.

[GWHayduke]

Hey Huffpo - is that link for applying for a job doing the Pres-elect any favors? Gotta think promoting that link will fill up their inbox with junk.

[WLA]

I suggest you apply for Secretary of Duh.

[realpolitic]

What are the duties?

[Kalima]

No more junk than we have had here for the last 5 or 6 months.

[CBS]

I thought you were in Japan...so­mebody here said that in a response to me

[CBS]

huh?

BlueStateMan See Profile I'm a Fan of BlueStateMan I'm a fan of this user permalink

Kalima's in Japan.
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:40 AM on 11/07/2008

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

Wow! The Monkey Wrench Gang--Edward Abbey. One of my heroes.

[abby4ever]

)ff-topic

This stuff about a Repub lawyer going to Alaska to inventory and retrieve the clothes they bought Palin for the campaign, astounds me. I don't like her and never did and never will, but how humiliating! I think they should inventory and retrieve McCain's clothes as well, just because it was his decision to run her as the veep candidate, the worst and most inexcuseable political decision he ever made.
If they are going to wisk the clothes away from her, then she was at least telling the truth about one thing: she wasn't going to enjoy them if she lost.

Even though the ones McCain wore were his own and hers weren't, I think McCain should be stri.pped down to his underwear.

[BlueStateMan]

In the interests of our national consciousness, I'm willing to let McCain keep his pants.

[CBS]

Nah, I want to see him without them...he is wearing Sarah's thong

[peacekitten]

mccain s.t.r.i.p.­p.e.d. down to his underwear is an image too terrible to contemplate.

really and truly in the grand scheme of things, sarah's shopping spree was the least of the right wing's worries. they should let her keep the clothing and not continue to push the issue in front of the public.

[realpolitic]

If McCain did strip down to his underwear he would only do it for the sake of his country.

[abby4ever]

I just think it's tacky going there to retrieve her clothes. If ever she thought she was anything but a wi.ld card for his flailing campaign, she will know better now. She was not a person to them ever, but a thing, and however obnoxious she is, it says more about how che.ap and callo.us the McCain camp is. It was THEIR BIG IDEA to put her on the ticket, but now that she hasn't come through for them. they go there to str.ip her of last bit of dignity.

[CBS]

Such deep thoughts..­.you must be exhausted. So...what is Gordon Brown wearing these days other than egg on his face?

[Kalima]

You feel the need to talk after your brilliant 8 years?

[athenasword]

Funny how they had to send someone up there. I'm wondering what ELSE they think she took! (inside documents, etc?)

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

The Republican establishment is throwing her under the bus because they don't really want cultural conservatives and hockey moms to run the show. They want rich white men to retain the real power in the party and use people like Palin as window dressing.

[realpolitic]

Now when Sarah Palin goes rogue no one will be around to know!

[Paul Peete - Huffpost Blogger]

Especially First Dude, he is clueless, about how roguish she is . Did anyone ever hear him say anything during the whole campaign?

[realpolitic]

Yes Paul, I was waiting for him to open his mouth too. Apparently, he had some very uncomfortable moments (long ackward pauses) with the McCain handlers.

I guess the only one on the campaign trail that Todd had something in common with was Joe the Plumber. Todd the first dude meet Joe the Plumber!. I guess in conservative circles no one has a last name. Too elitist!

[realpolitic]

I wonder why no reporters asked the first dude about his association with the Alaskan Independence party? It was newsworthy!

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

Good point not one word. But he is a thug in the commercial fishing industry in AK from what I hear.

[MNmommy]

I heard him speak a little - he was here campaigning up on what is known as *the range* - our Iron Range, lots of hockey moms, snowmobilers and hunter/fisher types up there. Didn't do much good, lots of blue on the NYT map up on the range. :)

[WLA]

I truly do pity Alaskans who care.

I've really been enjoying the Anchorage Daily News, though.

[evgolightly]

She's a cash cow. I think we're going to be hearing plenty about Palin for as long as the stories sell. I think Sarah's going to be done in by one of her own 'up thair in Alaska'.

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

She was a Vogue Rogue. Now she is just an unemployed Hackey Mam.

[realpolitic]

She was vogue. Worse than being unemployed, she is still the governor of Alaska until they secede that is!

[CBS]

Hu..ff Po soap opera.....­tro..//s and self appointed tr..o// slayers take over H...uffPo on a regular basis. They cancel each other out. It is kind of a hoot actually. I love watching them both but the tr..o// slayers are the most amusing because they are so proprietary. like they really really believe they own this site.

[donaldw6]

Physician, heal thyself, and all that.

[CBS]

ain't no doc...just an objective observer and I represent legions of peeps who are tired of the you guyrs who are trying to turn this into a petty gossip column about suspected tro//z. check out my proifile maroon.

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

ROFLMAO!!!! BEST GUFFAW OF THE NIGHT!!! Thanks!

(BTW: You are NEXT!! ON GARDE, TR0LL!!)

[BlueStateMan]

As much of a contribution as you ever leave...

You make statements (mostly vapid utterances­).. & when I try to engage you (mostly by asking you "why"... or asking you to justify your assertion) you just LEAVE.

So... what, exactly, are you LOOKING for here?

[CBS]

hey, thanx you just proved my point.

[CBS]

Go out and get some fresh air. exercise. get that cheetos dust off your fingers and move out of your mama's basement. then talk to me.

[realpolitic]

I think CBS is that Rumplestilskin guy who changed monikers and came back under a new name.

[BlueStateMan]

Nah.... Rumpies a good guy & he's WAY smarter than this moke.

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

?!

[oceanrev]

how about adding some female brans to that brain trust? 50% would be about right!

[WLA]

Some brans would keep us regular as a nation.

I'd rather have the most qualified people to deal with this sh**tburger Duhmbya left us, though. Regardless of gender or race.

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

I would love to see Caroline Kennedy in there somewhere.

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

I would love to see Caro.line Kenn.edy in there somewhere.

[BlueStateMan]

Civil Rights Division over at Justice...­.. it's been decimated by political hacks & she would be GREAT there.

[donaldw6]

Ambassador to the U.N.? That's what I've been hearing.

[YouDisgustMe]

nope...no female brans...bu­t female brains would be nice

you clearly haven't been paying attention.­...at least three women (caroline kennedy, penny pritzker and valerie jarrett) are being mentioned as potential cabinet picks

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

Janet Napolitano would be a great AG to start.

[donaldw6]

I was just looking at the breakout of who voted where.

Obama
======
Northeast 59%-40%
Midwest 54%-44%
West 57%-40%

McCain
======
South 54%-45%

Obama has a huge mandate everywhere but the South. I think that's sufficient.

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

So do I. Man, those are some beautiful figures! LANDSLIDE AND MANDATE!!!

[BlueStateMan]

They were a 70's R&B duo, yes?

[lukebenward]

Wow. Times sure have changed.

I'm watching an eppy of 'All In The Family' where after a newspaper article publishes a story about lack of diversity of its members, Archie's lodge ("The Kings Of Queens") will lose their tax breaks if they don't let in a non-Wh|ite. So Archie proposes letting in "one Bl|ack and one J|e|w".

What would an Archie Bunker type think of a President Obama? In real-life, Carrol O'Conner was a REAL lib|eral..­.. even more so than his co-star Rob Reiner.

[CuriousPerson]

Cleanup on alsie 3.
SRNE is having a meltdown.

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

You are up late tonight. Are you calling me a tro// now? "Meltdown"?

Perhaps I need discipline­...

[Omidal]

If anyone asks you or questions Obama's choice of staffers tell them we do not need YES MEN or YES WOMEN in our government.

We need people who are respectful and will give good advice to the Prez.

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

See! Wobbly-kneed white people! Obama's Brain Trust--ALL WHITE. (Well, we will make Rahm an honorary white guy for tonight here.) Anyway, you were so afraid of a Black Planet. Ha ha! You thought Obama was going to appoint only a goon squad of black dudes. We told you you had no reason to worry! Besides, you always seem to conveniently forget that Obama is white....

[donaldw6]

Wow, how about aiming before you swing, ok?

[Paul Peete - Huffpost Blogger]

What we don't need is division among us progressives of many colors.

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

Point of explanation: No matter what anyone else believes, I dont consider J e w s to be white people. They have suffered enough on this planet to qualify as People of Color in my opinion!

[abby4ever]

Who are you talking to, Stark? You better say otherwise we'll think you are talking to us in a kind of blanket condemnation. Hope you got my post wherein I said that caring what some idyut says is a waste of emotional energy and you need to calm down...

Jeez

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

Abby please see my post in answer. LOL! YOU telling me to calm down and not be upset because of what some idi.ot says when you have been pacing back and forth ranting about tro//s for weeks?

[Rumplestiltskin]

Are you sniffing glue? I served in the reserves, and on merchant ships for years with folks of all color, hues, religions, parents, countries, etc. You need to grow up.

[realpolitic]

Believe it or not, it is not all about you! Who cares about your biography? And no college. Well, Republicans attract few who can think for themselves.

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

Yes! I am huffin' glue tonight! HOW DID YOU KNOW!?!? 8@

[Paul Peete - Huffpost Blogger]

Umm, you are half right, he is half white, and if you promise to ease up I will call Ray tonight,
Thanks for the heads up on the poetry night, Aiiiigggghhhht!