The incoming Obama Administration - with visual aid!

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

Maybe it's the cynic in me, but I look at those two as the same thing; the rhetoric about "change," in my mind, equates to saying "I'm not going to do business as usual," so to speak.

I think the bigger issue will be if/when he announces that Hilary Clinton will be his choice for Secretary of State. She represents a previous incarnation of power for the Democrats, and putting her in such a visible and important position would be an interesting move.

Again, I don't necessarily have a problem with his doing this, but it certainly raises some questions about whether he's going in a truly new direction, or whether he's just taking a different take on the Clinton years.

That may be, but perhaps this is really the manifestation of Obama's belief in the old phrase "keep your friends close and your enemies closer"?

Imagine -- if Hillary was to remain in the Senate, would she likely be an ally? Or would she likely be constantly demanding concessions, making herself an obstacle to Obama administration policy? I'm definitely cynical enough to believe that she wants the Obama administration to be a single term administration. By offering her this position, he's put her in a position to either remain in the Senate, basically being outted in her opposition, or to serve as the Secretary of State as a tool to implement Obama's policy.

This inclusion of her seems to at least potentially unite the two camps (for now). It's good strategy.

I also think with this move and these hires that now, some major obstacles to "change" could potentially be removed if he can just get these new executive appointments to march in lock-step with his administration.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by Kevin

That may be, but perhaps this is really the manifestation of Obama's belief in the old phrase "keep your friends close and your enemies closer"?

Imagine -- if Hillary was to remain in the Senate, would she likely be an ally? Or would she likely be constantly demanding concessions, making herself an obstacle to Obama administration policy? I'm definitely cynical enough to believe that she wants the Obama administration to be a single term administration. By offering her this position, he's put her in a position to either remain in the Senate, basically being outted in her opposition, or to serve as the Secretary of State as a tool to implement Obama's policy.

This inclusion of her seems to at least potentially unite the two camps (for now). It's good strategy.

I also think with this move and these hires that now, some major obstacles to "change" could potentially be removed if he can just get these new executive appointments to march in lock-step with his administration.

True - and as someone in my office noted, if he wants people who are experienced and can handle working White House politics, he's essentially limited to Clinton people (as the Carter people are probably mostly retired at this point).

[LttleMsPrEp]

Originally Posted by Kevin

That may be, but perhaps this is really the manifestation of Obama's belief in the old phrase "keep your friends close and your enemies closer"?

Imagine -- if Hillary was to remain in the Senate, would she likely be an ally? Or would she likely be constantly demanding concessions, making herself an obstacle to Obama administration policy? I'm definitely cynical enough to believe that she wants the Obama administration to be a single term administration. By offering her this position, he's put her in a position to either remain in the Senate, basically being outted in her opposition, or to serve as the Secretary of State as a tool to implement Obama's policy.

This inclusion of her seems to at least potentially unite the two camps (for now). It's good strategy.

I also think with this move and these hires that now, some major obstacles to "change" could potentially be removed if he can just get these new executive appointments to march in lock-step with his administration.

That's a really good point. I actually don't have a problem with Obama appointing Clinton and previous Clinton staffers to his administration. However, I would be a bit more at ease if more "newbies" were considered for his administration. Like most of you I think the Clinton era is a bit overrated so I don't see the need to try and mimic it.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by Kevin

That may be, but perhaps this is really the manifestation of Obama's belief in the old phrase "keep your friends close and your enemies closer"?

Imagine -- if Hillary was to remain in the Senate, would she likely be an ally? Or would she likely be constantly demanding concessions, making herself an obstacle to Obama administration policy? I'm definitely cynical enough to believe that she wants the Obama administration to be a single term administration. By offering her this position, he's put her in a position to either remain in the Senate, basically being outted in her opposition, or to serve as the Secretary of State as a tool to implement Obama's policy.

This inclusion of her seems to at least potentially unite the two camps (for now). It's good strategy.

I also think with this move and these hires that now, some major obstacles to "change" could potentially be removed if he can just get these new executive appointments to march in lock-step with his administration.

I'm not 100% in agreement with your exact mechanism here, but I agree with the conclusion and I've 100% come around on HRC as Secretary of State - I think it's a masterstroke. Dude's a politician, and a sick one at that.