"If You Leak, You're Gone": Obama Transition Team

Marc Ambinder reports on the Obama team's somewhat unsuccessful attempt to run a tight ship:

Several Obama transition staffers have put a version of that quotation in transition co-chief John Podesta's mouth.

Many of the major staff appointments so far - Rahm Emanuel as chief of staff, Greg Craig as White House counsel, the fact of the Clinton meeting, along with details about internal thinking on Gitmo and other subjects - have escaped whatever barriers the Obama team has set in place.

Every transition staffer and adviser has signed a non-disclosure agreement, and staff members are regularly warned by their superiors not to talk to the press.

My guess is that the sheer size of the universe that Obama's now dealing with - huge agency teams, reams of outside advisers being asked for their opinions - renders silence virtually impossible.

Read more about Obama's transition team here.

Comments

[Coinyer101]

they already leaked that they wont go after the bush administration for their crimes. sounds like everyone's on the same team, after all.

[AContrario]

It has been few weeks now since Mr.Obama has been officially confirmed as the next POTUS. Although I celebrated this event with joy of witnessing the USA
getting back its true self , my first reaction has been a mix of restraint and expectations.

"What he is going to do? what he is going to say?What exciting and fresh he has in box".Nada.

[AContrario]

So far I haven't seen or heard any thing different from the past decades.Re­alpolitik, already the usual recriminations of the hardcore Obama fans:
give him break he just arrived,no much he can do right now he doesn't have the executive powers yet, don't have too much expectations,let's keep it real one step at the time and on and on....

I can give him the benefit of doubt BUT allowing mediocracy from this man and his government­,never.Eve­r. Too much at stake.
Mr.Obama will be more accountable than his contemporary predecessors. Why?

This man has been elected not only by liberal,wo­men,minori­ties,white men and some republicans(they are not all evil) to bear high the beacon of the american dream.

Realpolitik doesn't work. It is the victory of the US people's will and aspirations to try "another way " to do things that won this election.
So far Mr.Obama's words or symbolic actions such official nomination­s(Clinton!­) or consultati­ons(consul­ting CEOs and other dot-com gurus on the current state of the economy lol) have been sobering, it will be business usual at least for the first months. Why?

Why not starting to change now? the next months will show that the US and the world have nothing to loose from the current economic system. The winners have won all the bets and they are now betting that we will all carry on the old system.

[AContrario]

America is creative,young and resourceful but only a fistful of people has the power to rule not only the common wealth of the weakest in the US but also in the world...american people are also paying the price.

This is time to be bold,creative,smart and look beyond the obvious in terms of individual­s,ideas,po­licies or organizations.

And from the bottom of my heart and soul I want Mr.Obama to stay true to his words and succeed but no man should think that his intelligen­ce,qualiti­es and high moral values are
enough to overhaul a system. Do you really think that G W Bush hates america or the whole world(ok not sure about that one)?

This is a plausible scenario like any other ones(ask the last administration about what is impossible or not )

A realpolitik-Obama wouldn't be worse than Hillary or John McCain but because of his huge popular plebiscite and his individual qualities and talent, Mr.Obama doing relpolitik would be like Agent Smith taking control of the Matrix. He would bring realpolitik to a level sophistication never seen before and I repeat the problem is structural and moral.... The biggest financial crisis of the world(yup) is also the biggest failure of a morally corrupt system(not moral like in religion or philosophy).

[AContrario]

Don't get me wrong Mr.Obama is not evil or naive,far from it but if he or you believe he can,alone, bring down this system without the support of the same people who elected him, you are in for a ride.

Unless those who supported his vision by electing him,stay vigilant,it will be not only another missed opportunity but THE missed opportunity. The missed opportunity that will kick back to the curb all minor gender,racial, social and moral barriers that have been conquered.

The problem is structural and on several levels:eco­nomic,soci­al and individual liberties and only a big involvement of the US population can contribute to the reality of this "other way". So as long as Mr.Obama use the power he will be invested with to make good things happen for the weak and fearful happens with the constant vigilance of the US people EVERYDAY and question some of his decisions no matter how unpopular.

Friends,br­others,sis­ter and other the times are dire and we have an opportunity to make it happen
now. YES WE CAN.

PS:Hillary Clinton lied during this POTUS campaign,mismanaged her campaign,was arrogant and use
divisive tactics to get her hand on power, that's here trademark.I believe in forgiveness but not forgetting.

[IllinoisTexan43]

It'll be alright. Give him a little slack, show a little patience. Every single move he makes will be under a microscope. I personally don't recall giving a rat's a$$ about shrubs cabinet decisions or even Clinton's. A lot of people like me who are new to this can make armchair predictions, but I'm willing to admit I know not what I'm criticizing, so I don't. He made good decisions during the campaign, he'll make good decisions as president. I know he'll even make mistakes. Now is not the time for novices in the White House. He'll need to hit the ground running, and to accomplish that, he'll need staff familiar with beltway policy. I just take comfort in knowing he's lightyears from Bush in policy.

[DogTown]

this happens with all president elects!

[Bystander]

Lot's of luck, BO.

[pupbayer]

Too late.

[theVoice0fReason]

Loose lips sink ships.

As much as nosy reporters, struggling to remain relevant, by getting "the next big story".

Think Clinton as Madame Secretary, via Andrea Mitchell -- You suck.

[Geranium]

I hear Depends works quite well for that problem.

[super]

If Judas Lieberman can be tolerated, pandered to and even pampered, why so hard on leakers?

[MsLiz]

Try a different perspective. If you define the Lieberman situation as tolerance, pandering, and pampering, you might miss the point that a sizable majority of Democratic Senators and President-Elect Obama have approved this manner of managing Lieberman. We don't know what has been said behind closed doors. Have a little faith in Obama, he's a proven pragmatist.

[monicaangela]

Right, "Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer."

[Pupadup4oBama]

Cheers!

[Pupadup4oBama]

it is really not the same thing at all.
It's comparing elephants to donkeys - we expect better from the donkeys.

[Invox]

It's about time! There's not a thing wrong with keeping things under wraps until the President makes his announcements. That's HIS job! I was wondering when we were going to hear about this issue.

[Pupadup4oBama]

I agree - with the way the blogosphere has been reacting to every little thing that has popped up, i think it's in our best interests - if not for our blood pressures.

[kinnycut]

Transparency in government does not mean transparency in transition. This is an example of Good "Shy Town" politics Mr. President-elect. You have a right to hold those cards until it is time for them to be played. Fire those idiots that can't even keep their mouth shut until you get into off ice. If you can't trust them to simply stay silent before you take the oath then you darn sure won't be able to trust them with more important items after you take the oath. It is a most simple truth.

[super]

Ah, trust! Like the trust he reposed in Lieberman!

[foxbat]

Obama didn't put any trust in Lieberman. He just extracted a few IOUs from Lieberman and he WILL call those in at critical times, especially if the Dems make it to 60 Senators.

Lieberman will be assume, and he'll be correct, that every move is being watched and scrutinized. There's very little that Obama does that doesn't have longer term implications to it. Above all, he's a skilled politician. Those that have underestimated him are starting to pile up. He's on a completely different playing field than most in politics. He's also setting some tone for the rest of the world's leaders. Revenge would have been sweet for Obama and other Dems, but I think Obama's figured out that revenge would only be a short-term win ... he's looking for the bigger score later on.

[RButler]

Reminds me of a cookbook titled "First, you take a leek......."

[Pupadup4oBama]

OMG - ok....you not only have my late father in laws name, but that was one of the funniest comments i have ever seen.
Thank you for making me seriously - LOL