Obama Brings Clinton Team Back Together

Politico:

The Politico reports that Barack Obama's administration is starting to looks a lot like Bill Clinton's:

Here's how you can tell the campaign is over and the transition has begun: Barack Obama's aides now wear suits and ties, their desks are in the Federal Building on 6th Street in Washington, D.C.--and Clintonites are everywhere.

Obama's victory in the general election produced what his primary campaign couldn't: A swift merger of the Clinton Wing of the Democratic Party with the Illinois Senator's self-styled insurgency. The merger began, during the campaign, in the policy apparatus--which is now rapidly becoming the governing apparatus.

The absorption of the Clinton government in waiting represents Obama's choice not to repeat what he and his advisors see as an early mistake made by the last two presidents: Attempting to wield power in Washington through an insular campaign apparatus new to town.

...

While only one pure Clintonite, former White House Chief of Staff Podesta, has been added to the Obama inner circle, the shift in Obama's universe is not to be understated. From the top down, his early choices reflect an openness, and even a warmth, to the veterans of 1990s governance. It's a shift from a campaign that in the primary explicitly attacked President Clinton's tenure as a time of partisan strife and missed opportunities.

...

Thirty-one of the 47 people so far named to transition or staff posts have ties to the Clinton administration, including all but one of the members of his 12-person Transition Advisory Board and both of his White House staff choices.

Obama is also reportedly considering Hillary Clinton herself for Secretary of State. Read more about Obama's transition here.

Read the whole story: Politico

Comments

[freshnotbitter]

O will be just fine as long as he doesn't appoint any of Clinton's second term foreign policy staff to any significant positions. We need a completely different paradigm. I just hope he talks to the right people about that and gets away from the old dinosaurs like Joe Biden, Albright, Berger, Holbrooke, et al.

There is a whole different way of approaching the world, a different world view, that we need to get started on right away. James Baker and Warren Christopher , who actually agree in many respects, are much more progressive than the Clinton gang. The Clinton 2nt term security team actually ressembles the Bush administration in many ways. In fact, Bush was quite happy following Clinton's lead on the Levant and Central Asia, much to his regret in the end. O should not make the same mistake.

[RobinL]

Seems smart. Choose people who know their way around and have solid resumes from what was, in essence, a successful Democratic administration. So far, I like his choices.

[master09]

America don't underestimate this man he is the leader that the world needed at this time, its no accident that he won; I would think all those who call themselves christians would know this. This nation has done herself proud. Let the politicians and pundant continued to play their games while this nation rises up and live out the true meaning it creed. As we witness history being made I have to disagree with Rev Wright and say GOD HAS BLESSED AMERICA ONCE AGAIN.

[lizr]

I think you need to talk to the SOu thern Chr is tians...

[RobinL]

Down, Cowgirl. Obama did GREAT in the South this time. He's not going to reject someone because they're Christian or from the South.

[Bustinurbal]

sounds more like a revival than a post, get real, obama so far has been another politician, continuing the policies and keeping on board the cremina.ls from bush's regim and bringing back the hacks from clinton era tells me that the corporate government is alive and well only the guards have changed,

some change
get real

[jacqmac]

Y'all just need to CALM DOWN. Since when is it a 'given' that someone who flies to Chicago to meet with the President-elect in a closed door session is going to be the next Secretary of State? This MAY have been what we've grown to expect over the last eight years of hell, but I frankly believe you are really way to off the mark here, with all your speculation. And--UNTIL IT COMES OUT OF THE PRESIDENT-ELECT'S MOUTH--IT IS SPECULATION!! Clinton and the President-elect could have been talking about a LOT of things, everything from which schools are really the best ones in D.C. to HOW TO GET ACTION FROM A LAME DUCK SESSION ON AN ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE!
Frankly-I believe that this was a 'purposeful leak' intended to take the attention AWAY from the crabbing, carping Republicans and The Governor of Alaska and her 'exclusive' interviews. I'm getting really tired of seeing all this public hemorraging that the Repubs are doing anyway!

[SENATORCALLENBOWE]

SPREAD THE UNBREAKABLE WEALTH :)

[colette]

Read the Politico story carefully. They are making the point that Clinton really blew the first year of his term by not having people around who understood how to work Congress, how to organize helath care reform, ow to nominate people the Repubs couldn't savage because of stuff they wrote (Lanie Guinier) and taxes they didn't pay for their nannies, and how to articulate what they were doing well to get the public behind them.

Clinton folks know how to avoid this stuff. Trust me, he's going to have plenty of people in there also who had nothing to do with the Clintons....

[305Rider]

Exactly.

[smltnks]

I have a thought, GET REAL!! Clinton was Obama's opponet during the primaries. Of course, he would not lavish praise on his rival. Obama is smart, he knows that the Clintons are intelligent people who ran a successful administration. He would be foolish not to include them in his administration. I do not doubt for one minute that Obama will not be the head and heart of his time in the white house. How quickly you folks doubt!!

[lizr]

Obama is smart and has the aloha spirit.

He is all about healing and unity.

we are so blessed to have him!!

[Whatashame]

Obama has to bring in qualify people. Hcan not select rookies at a time of crisis. So if the Clinton people will help him with their past experiences, I say bring it on.

[Agentlady007]

Well, this is one smart president-elect. Our countries economic wealth is consolidated ino the hands of only a few. We know this is not a balanced democracy when this power has unlimited competition where only the strongest (richest) survive. Bill Clinton is a former president who understands the special care of the poor and helpless, and has used his determination to improve the tempers of class struggles. Good Luck Bill. Thank you Obama. Wise choice.

[Gemma08]

The economy is the no. 1 issue amongst voters.

The economy boomed under the Clintons.

Therefore, it makes sense to get back as much of the economically successful Clinton administration as possible.

Progressives KNEW going into this election, when the economy so obligingly blew up, that the progressive agenda would HAVE to take a backburner. After all, you cant pay for many of the things progressives are pushing for if your economy is in a tailspin.

You people need to grow the hell up.

Democrats are always criticising Repubs for voting AGAINST their own economic interest. Now you are criticising Obama for acting in ways that will support the number one concern of the majority of the very people who voted for him.

Are progressives simply leftist neocons?

[faith]

That picture is worth a thousand words: there is Obama, hand outreached to shake hands. And, Clinton? Well, he looks like he is withdrawing, refusing, or playing coy. Not good. Mr. Obama's early choices for the WH admin are not boding well for him, even in the name of resolving differences..

[DuPageDem]

If DLC Republicrats are allowed to hijack the president's agenda, it's going to be a very long four years. And that's all it will be, because Pres. Obama won't win reelection. Desperate times call for bold measures, not meet-you-halfway incrementalism.

[FaceYourFears]

If he selects her, then I too will have to ask....who is Ba rack O bama!

[lizr]

Face your fears, please re read your name.

O is all about healing and unity and he will not let our little egos get in the way of that for the whole country.

[Rep0X]

Oh please... Quit with the bargaining and excuses. I was, and still am a strong O supporter, but I want real change, and NOT more of the same! FaceYourFears said it well! U're certainly NOT gonna tell me that there's just a handfull of people that can take this country outta this mess, are you (and someone remotely connected to Clinton are among them?)?

[2sleepy]

Almost every dem with political experience has ties to the Clinton administration, it's really naive to think that Obama would or should go on a search to find people who were not linked to that administration.

[NationalTreasure]

it is official President-Elect Obama is going to have one of the worst run administrations ever -- it is a shame because Americans did not want 4 more years of Clintons and now the Obama/Biden administration will be a puppet show run by the Clintons

[ricitizen]

It's official. You have no basis in fact or reason for your statement. McCain lost.

[NationalTreasure]

time will tell and you will be proven wrong

get back to me in 6 months

[swift goat pet for truth]

ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

With the election of W, our national nightmare of peace and prosperity was finally over.

[HHarvey]

Everyone knows that those tapped early in administration do not stay forever. This is a transition team which was a smart move politically because you need the experience. I will be more interested to see what happens after 4 years and who will come and go.

[larmarch5]

Please give me names to replace each of the Clinton era people on Obama's teams. Names. Start making a list.