# Obama's appointsments...oh yeah, big change **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 19, 2008, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-appointsments-oh-yeah-big-change/473515 "2008-11-19T20:25:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-appointsments-oh-yeah-big-change/473515/61 "2008-11-21T03:24:03Z")
What’ s the matter with Bill Richardson for SoS? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-appointsments-oh-yeah-big-change/473515/62 "2008-11-21T05:35:06Z")
I don’t think much of Richardson anymore. He struck me as a lightweight during the campaign - making lots of gaffes and not adding much of anything substantial to the conversation. There was one interview he did on ‘This Week’ that looked like a Sarah Palin interview. He stumbled over basic facts and kept answering a different question when he didn’t know the answer to the proper one. And he didn’t go very far in the Presidential race, either. But he was one of the earliest people to endorse Obama and I think the Richardson endorsement helped Obama quite a bit, so I suppose Obama owes him something. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-appointsments-oh-yeah-big-change/473515/63 "2008-11-21T20:11:45Z")
Reports are coming out now that say Obama’s going to make his economic picks Monday - I’m guessing those will be announced rather than these leaks, with which his people are or are not cooperating - with Geithner as Secretary of the Treasury. The Washington Post suggested Richardson may become Commerce Secretary or an ambassador to China. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-appointsments-oh-yeah-big-change/473515/64 "2008-11-21T20:30:27Z")
Hillary as Secretary of State! Wow! that’s going to come with a lot of bagage (Bill). ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-appointsments-oh-yeah-big-change/473515/65 "2008-11-21T20:40:48Z")
My opinion and support of Obama just plummeted. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-appointsments-oh-yeah-big-change/473515/66 "2008-11-21T20:42:14Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Never never never would happen. The crazy segment of the right would EXPLODE. I’d like it, but still pretty unpossible. Huh? Why would they explode? Zakaria is already a very high-profile media personality and he isn’t particularly attacked by the right:crazy or otherwise. And I really dislike the idea of giving the “crazy right” a veto power over whom Obama appoints. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-appointsments-oh-yeah-big-change/473515/67 "2008-11-21T20:44:46Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > My opinion and support of Obama just plummeted. Because of Hillary Clinton as Sec of State? Really? That seems a little fickle. It’s not that surprising a pick. She knows her shit. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-appointsments-oh-yeah-big-change/473515/68 "2008-11-21T22:12:14Z")
Look, Obama, to govern effectively, needs some people who have experience in government – federal, executive-branch experience, such as he himself lacks, as we were endlessly reminded during the campaigning; and he needs Democrats – anyone who served under Reagan or either Bush is tainted and not to be trusted. The only people available who meet both criteria are those who served in the Clinton Admin. (Carter aides would be too old by now.) Which does not mean they’ll do just as they did under Clinton’s leadership; who is ultimately giving them their orders does make a difference, or, if you will, a change. I’m sure the RW would be squawking even louder, if Obama had chosen to surround himself with unknown, inexperienced cronies, like Jimmy Carter did. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-appointsments-oh-yeah-big-change/473515/69 "2008-11-21T22:16:11Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Because of Hillary Clinton as Sec of State? > > Really? > > That seems a little fickle. It’s not that surprising a pick. She knows her shit. I don’t like her, I don’t trust her, and I think she and the country would be better served by her remaining in the Senate. The only reason I can see for Obama picking her is that he is holding to the adage that you “keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-appointsments-oh-yeah-big-change/473515/70 "2008-11-21T22:26:55Z")
It’s Geithner for Treasury. He has all the right experience and abilities. The Dow gained 400 points within an hour of the report. Geithner is a well respected think-tanker, as opposed to the CEO types we’ve seen in the past decade or two. As head of the NY Fed, he’s been in the bowels of this economic crisis since it began to unravel. And Wall Street almost universally trusts him. In addition to his economics expertise, he speaks Chinese (don’t know which one[s]) and Japanese, and was a student of Asian studies. He’s also Obama’s age. General Jim Jones has been tapped for National Security Advisor. He will serve as the hub of the national security team that will include Hillary, Biden, and Napolitano. Jones is a four-star marine general, who’s on a first name basis with leaders all over Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. He’s about 6 foot 4, and needless to say is a commanding presence. He’s the perfect choice to coordinate and discipline all these elephants. Obama is a genius. And he’s got real balls. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-appointsments-oh-yeah-big-change/473515/71 "2008-11-21T22:32:31Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I don’t like her, I don’t trust her, and I think she and the country would be better served by her remaining in the Senate. The only reason I can see for Obama picking her is that he is holding to the adage that you “keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” He chose her because, next to Obama, she is one of the most respected American leaders among people throughout the world. She has extensive experience in brokering agreements among foreign interests, especially in human rights (most notably women’s rights), and family health. She will be the smiling face of America on Obama’s behalf. And she has pledged to represent his — and only his — diplomatic agenda. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-appointsments-oh-yeah-big-change/473515/72 "2008-11-21T22:35:24Z")
Update: Dow closed more than 500 points up. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-appointsments-oh-yeah-big-change/473515/73 "2008-11-21T22:40:07Z")
It’s Bill Richardson for Commerce. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-appointsments-oh-yeah-big-change/473515/74 "2008-11-21T22:46:08Z")
> [@seodoa](#): > > ETA: I was going to fix “neato-o” but I think he is cool enough to deserve that extra o. Gotcha ya. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-appointsments-oh-yeah-big-change/473515/75 "2008-11-21T22:56:12Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Hillary as Secretary of State! Wow! that’s going to come with a lot of bagage (Bill). There’s been speculation, IIRC, about Bill as U.S. Ambassador to the UN. His wife as SoS would dovetail nicely with that. (And she gets him out of the house for a while. ;)) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-appointsments-oh-yeah-big-change/473515/76 "2008-11-21T22:59:35Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > It’s Bill Richardson for Commerce. . . . I guess he’s qualified, but isn’t he an awfully big free-trader? I was hoping the Obama Admin would portend a change in **that** policy field, at least. [Fair trade,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_trade) not free trade! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-appointsments-oh-yeah-big-change/473515/77 "2008-11-22T00:05:28Z")
I’m not at all an expert on Geithner, but I felt earlier that he was the right choice because he’s new, compared to Volker and Summers. Obama’s gone with experience in many areas and that’s a good move. Particularly if he’d picked Summers, though, I expected people to say “How is he going to guide the economy out of this crisis when he didn’t do anything to prevent it? Why is he the right pick now? This is just recycling.” Choosing someone “new” (but not inexperienced) seems more responsive to the current situation, and more forward-looking. I’m not sure what qualifies Richardson for commerce in particular, but since he endorsed Obama and there aren’t any other Latinos in the cabinet to this point you had to expect him to end up someplace. (I don’t bring up the Latino issue to suggest he’s unqualified, but Obama wanted a diverse cabinet and I’d heard this discussed.) To recap the potentials so far: Secretary of State: Sen. Hillary Clinton Secretary of the Treasury: NY Fed Chairman Timothy Geithner Secretary of Defense: no word, but Sec. Gates may stay on Attorney General: former Deputy AG Eric Holder Secretary of the Interior: unknown Secretary of Agriculture: unknown Secretary of Commerce: NM Gov. Bill Richardson Secretary of Labor: unknown Secretary of Health and Human Services: ex-Sen. Majority Leader Tom Daschle Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: unknown Secretary of Transportation: unknown Secretary of Energy: unknown Secretary of Education: unknown Secretary of Veterans Affairs: unknown Secretary of Homeland Security: AZ Gov. Janet Napolitano Other positions named or suggested or strongly rumored: WH Chief of Staff: Rahm Emanuel Deputy White House Chiefs of Staff: Jim Messina, Mona Sutphen Senior Advisers: David Axelrod, Pete Rouse, Valerie Jarrett [Jarrett is also Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liason] Press Secretary: Robert Gibbs National Security Adviser: Gen. James Jones Director of the Office of Management and Budget: Peter Orszag Vice President’s Chief of Staff: Ron Klain Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs: Phil Schiliro White House Counsel: Greg Craig Cabinet Secretary: Chris Lu Staff Secretary: Lisa Brown EPA Administrator: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Assuming the Clinton thing is for real, which by now I have to admit it is, you wonder who would take her spot. I am positive it won’t be Gov. Paterson. RFK Jr. might be interested and weighing the potential damage I’d prefer that solution to a cabinet post. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-appointsments-oh-yeah-big-change/473515/78 "2008-11-22T00:08:19Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Update: Dow closed more than 500 points up. The reason is because it was down like 500 points the previous day. It’s been doing that a lot lately. Don’t read anything into it. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-appointsments-oh-yeah-big-change/473515/79 "2008-11-22T00:10:48Z")
> [@Cosmic Relief](#): > > The reason is because it was down like 500 points the previous day. It’s been doing that a lot lately. Don’t read anything into it. [Here’s what the Dow did today.](http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=%5EDJI#symbol=%5EDJI;range=1d) I don’t need to tell you when word of the Geithner pick got out. 😉 It’s not right to put it ALL on him in my opinion, since there was other stuff going on and some of it is probably just relief that ANY pick has been made, but still, you get the sense Wall Street generally approves. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-appointsments-oh-yeah-big-change/473515/80 "2008-11-22T01:27:35Z")
I say Nita Lowey gets Hil’s spot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-appointsments-oh-yeah-big-change/473515.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-appointsments-oh-yeah-big-change/473515.md?page=5)