And The Nominees Are…
EmailThe President-Elect is making it official — and his top national security nominees are speaking.
Would-be Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — who Mr. Obama introduced as a "tough opponent" and "dear friend" — says that while she leaves the Senate and New York with a heavy heart, she will "give this assignment…my all." Attorney General nominee Eric Holder is introduced as someone who will "serve the American people" and uphold the constitution — a clear swipe at Bush Administration AG Alberto Gonzales. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates — the one Bush Administration holdover — says he is "deeply honored", a phrase repeated by would-be UN Ambassador Susan Rice and tweaked by the nominee for National Security Adviser, James Jones. ("I am deeply humbled," he says). Finally there is Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, tapped for head of the Department of Homeland Security.
Not surprisingly, perhaps, VP-elect Joe Biden calls this "One of the most talented national security teams ever assembled." And the first outside reaction to hit the news wires is this one:
NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton says he’s thankful that Barack Obama has chosen his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, to be his secretary of state. In a statement Monday, the former president said his wife is "the right person for the job."
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I applaud Senator Hillary Clinton to become our next Secretary of State. I too feel that she is the right person for the job!!!
Let the STRONG OPINIONS BE HEARD!!!!
BRAVO!!!!
Posted by: sisterdearest09 | December 1, 2008, 11:44 am 11:44 am
What a competant team! It’s nice to have people I trust running the government (for a change)!
Posted by: dem in chicago | December 1, 2008, 11:48 am 11:48 am
Obama wants strong-minded people.
Obama did not want people who group-think.
Obama’s choices fit that bill.
However, how will they get anything done? Most people he picked are hyper-verbal and grandiose. They are type triple-A personalities.
I wish him luck with that group. I really do.
Did anybody notice that he was bascially saying the same thing Bush was saying all along?
He needs to keep America safe. He needs to withdraw troops from Iraq, but not until it’s ‘time’ and it’s ‘safe’ for our troops and for the people of Iraq.
Also, the war might now be shifted to other places to ‘keep America safe’.
I don’t disagree with the above, but it’s not original thinking.
I’m not faulting him. It is what it is.
It just would be nice to hear people admit that Obama is echoing Bush’s words.
Posted by: Play it again, Sam | December 1, 2008, 12:00 pm 12:00 pm
Obama is making the choices that he believes is right for all of America. What else was he expected to do? Those of us who supported him knew that he was smart enough to keep America safe and secure. The man has a family that he wants to protect, too. He has values, he has morals and a belief system that he wants to protect. Why did anyone think otherwise? Why was he doubted and considered as too “radical”? Too many people in this country do not read character very well. Let this be a lesson to you.
Posted by: geecee | December 1, 2008, 12:14 pm 12:14 pm
We are going to miss President Bush more and more every day. Hillary Clinton plays to the camera. Obama should never have picked her. Why didn’t we elect her President. I am so disappointed in him that I would never, ever vote for him again. Ever. Hillary will run the Presidency, she is not a role player. She will be the boss. It is so sad.
Posted by: Janice | December 1, 2008, 12:20 pm 12:20 pm
He only picked a cabinet.
He was expected to pick a cabinet.
What are you crowing about?
He picked people who are just like him.
He didn’t want a group thinking alike – this is what he said. But, yet, that’s what he has.
I see a group of people who think alike, but will still argue to the nth degree.
I truly wish him luck. We ARE ALL Americans, aren’t we? Well, there you go.
However, he IS echoing a lot of Bush’s words. Go back and read what he said about Iraq and ‘keeping America safe’ and the ‘timetable of withdrawing troops’. Listen carefully.
Posted by: Song sung blue | December 1, 2008, 12:35 pm 12:35 pm
We are going to miss President Bush more and more every day.
SPEAK FOR YOURSELF!! I AM GOING TO MISS BUSH LIKE I MISS A MIGRANE HEADACHE, A TOOTHACHE, AND A BROKEN LEG.
Hillary Clinton plays to the camera.
HOW DOES SHE DO THAT?????
Obama should never have picked her.
WHY????
Why didn’t we elect her President. I am so disappointed in him that I would never, ever vote for him again. Ever.
WOW. YOU ARE TAKING THIS WHINING THING TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.
Hillary will run the Presidency, she is not a role player. She will be the boss. It is so sad.
YOUR COMMENTARY WAS SAD AS WELL.
America made its choice. Go with it or continue to whine. Now is not the time for whining. Now is the time for action to help this country get back on track. Not saying to go along with everything that Obama does but to provide COMPELLING THOUGHTFUL TRUTHFUL SUBSTANTIATED arguments for or against the new administration to help the betterment of this country.
ENOUGH WITH THE BASELESS CHILDISH WHINING.
Posted by: Janice | Dec 1, 2008 12:20:41 PM
Posted by: Omentum | December 1, 2008, 12:47 pm 12:47 pm
He needs to keep America safe. He needs to withdraw troops from Iraq, but not until it’s ‘time’ and it’s ‘safe’ for our troops and for the people of Iraq.
Also, the war might now be shifted to other places to ‘keep America safe’.
I don’t disagree with the above, but it’s not original thinking.
I’m not faulting him. It is what it is.
It just would be nice to hear people admit that Obama is echoing Bush’s words.
Posted by: Play it again, Sam | Dec 1, 2008 12:00:13 PM
==================================
Obama also said that WE SHOULD HAVE NEVER WENT INTO IRAQ AND TAKE OUR EYE OFF AFGANISTAN.
Obama also said that WE WOULD GET OUT OF IRAQ AS CAREFULLY AS WE CARELESSLY WENT INTO IRAQ.
…. He will keep us safe…..ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!!
What do expect…Obama not to have intentions of keeping the U.S. safe????
Don’t spin yourself out of control there.
Posted by: Omentum | December 1, 2008, 12:56 pm 12:56 pm
Obama is finding out that any moron can SAY anything during a campaign. Especially when that moron has no past record to speak of. Now its time to face reality, time to sit back and stop spewing about 10 Billion a month in Iraq, but 10B or more a month in Afganistan. History shows us that complete vctory in that country is a very hard thing to achieve. Just ask the Russians! Oh yes, and how much more complex a situation has that become in the past few days ?
The War on Terrorism carries a world wide front, not just one or two countries. The sooner we all realize it and accept it, the more successful we will be.
you can throw blame at Bush all day, but the fact remains, ZERO attacks on American soil since 9/11/01. Years from now, we may come to know just exactly how many attempts were thwarted due to intelligence gathering and co-operation with our allies. For now instead of bashing Bush, offer a Thank You for keeping us safe enough to have these discussions!
Do you think if anyone kills Bin Laden and we get see his corpse splattered all over the media, that the War on Terror is somehow magically over? Should we then stop all intelligence gathering ?
I guess according to some liberals, if we stop, the terrorists will stop. Good Luck with that one!
Posted by: Mike_C | December 1, 2008, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm