The Obama Cabinet - What a Progressive Team Looks Like

Lots of speculation swirls about who will be in Obama's cabinet, and who should be. In These Times magazine's October cover story solicited suggestions from leading progressive writers and thinkers about who would be best for an Obama cabinet.

Though the specific list of 22 people are just a suggestion, it lays down some markers about what a progressive cabinet might look like. Read the article here. Since everyone is speculating about Obama's Treasury nominee and wondering who might be a credible progressive choice, here's a preview of the magazine's suggestion for that post: Harvard's Elizabeth Warren.

If you like this article consider subscribing here. If you already have a subscription, consider making a tax-deductible donation. Every little bit counts for a publication that Cornel West calls "the most creative and challenging news magazine of the American Left."

Use the comments section here to float your ideas for a progressive cabinet.

Comments

[slemay]

Earl Blumenauer as Secretary of Transportation makes sense. He seems forward thinking and pragmatic, which is exactly what we need at this moment.

Infrastructure projects are likely to be the basis for job creation for the next several years--and bike trails, walking paths, and golf-cart paths are useful infrastructure in the fight for cleaner air, energy security, and national security.

An useful post. I hope the Obama people read it.

[Lilliputianm]

I loved Jim Hightower's books and I think he'd make a great Secretary of Agriculture. He'd stand up for family farmers (if there are that many left) and stick it to Monsanto.

[Debzie]

Thanks for posting this. I already signed the petition against Larry Summers as treasurer.

[knowBuddhaU]

Thanks for this great resource, brother.

I'm still wondering the same thing I wanted to know at the outset of the presidential campaign: who are the NSA moles? Who are the Perkinsian Economic Hit Men?

Former US Attorney David Iglesias learned the hard way that he wasn't working for the Jedi, but "the Sith Lords, y'know?"
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=173526&title=david-iglesias

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/409192893/m/3890026502001?r=3890026502001#3890026502001

Neocon Bunker Hunker
If you know neither your enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle. -- Sun Tzu

It ain't over just because they've been voted out of power. Until January, young Mr. Bush is still commander in chief and Dick Cheney is still in charge. Surge architect Fred Kagan is putting the finishing touches on the "resurgence" strategy, and the neocons have two months left to do that voodoo that they do so well.

A former professor of military history at West Point, Fred knows the components of a classic advance-to-the-rear maneuver: the main body backs down toward safe haven where it can regroup for the counter-offensive, leaving skirmishers in its wake to mine, booby trap, burn bridges and otherwise harass the advancing enemy.

Know Your Enemy

In the case of the neocons, safe haven amounts to a well established network of think tanks, academic citadels and media outlets.

[BJW]

I am disappointed with Obama's picks for Economic Advisors. If we are going to take care of the middle class or average citizens when we address the economic collapse, then we need some progressive economists, not the same old crew. My recommendations:

Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel prize economist
Paul Krugman, Nobel prize economist
Dean Baker
Elizabeth Warren

[sunny123]

I agree with you. I am very disappointed with the Clintonista look of his advisors. We need to look forward, not backward. We need a NEW crew. That is what CHANGE is supposed to be about. That you David for keeping us informed.

[Adiam]

I am mortified by the prospect of Anthony Lake as CIA director and Susan Rice anywhere near the State Department. I am Eritrean and have personal reasons to feel this way.However, if they are to be judged on their records , they do not come close to being a change. The ERitrean/Ethiopian conflict, Somalia and Rwanda were all on their watch in the Clinton administration. I am only talking about Eat Africa here. They practice the same policies as Bush- you are either with us or against us. The believe in giving money and aid to the nations without any accountability. This promote corruption and maintains the status quo. It is such a slap in the face of the Eritrean-American community, who worked so hard for the campaign, especially in Virginia. I am so disappointed , but I guess we will have to mobilize for their possible confirmation hearings.

[avraamjack]

.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of Democratic White House experience will have been from the Clinton Administration.
.
Bill Clinton was really a moderate Republican, at best.
.