[UPDATED] Obama Review Teams Begin Scrutiny of Federal Agencies

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Wednesday December 03, 2008 · 2:00 AM PST

2008/12/03 · 02:00

I first wrote about Obama's Review Teams here. Now details on their work are starting to emerge:

Wearing yellow badges and traveling in groups of 10 or more, agency review teams for President-elect Barack Obama have swarmed into dozens of government offices, from the Pentagon to the National Council on Disability.

With pointed questions and clear ground rules, they are dissecting agency initiatives, poring over budgets and unearthing documents that may prove crucial as a new Democratic president assumes control. Their job is to minimize the natural tension between incoming and outgoing administrations, but their work also is creating anxiety among some Bush administration officials as the teams rigorously examine programs and policies.

wonkymuse

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Wednesday November 12, 2008 · 9:06 PM PST

2008/11/12 · 21:06

The President-Elect means business:

Facing two wars and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s, Obama will have to hit the ground running when he takes office, amid global and domestic expectations that he will swiftly institute a slew of landmark changes.

Obama's transition team announced Wednesday that former Clinton administration officials, ambassadors, top business leaders and lawyers would head up the teams setting up in the Treasury, State Department and Pentagon.

No stone will be left overturned [sic], and even the nooks and crannies of the White House will be probed with the 450-strong transition team set to scour more than 100 departments and agencies, his team vowed...

The teams will be in place by the end of the week, and will gather enough data to ensure that from day one, when Obama takes over from President George W. Bush, his cabinet picks can "begin implementing signature policy initiatives immediately after they are sworn in." --AFP

Poll

368 votes Show Results

Which government branch/agency should President Obama clean up first?

368 votes Vote Now!

Which government branch/agency should President Obama clean up first?

White House/Executive Office of the President

63 votes

Defense

10 votes

Homeland Security

19 votes

Health and Human Services

2 votes

Justice

132 votes

State

1 vote

Treasury

13 votes

Other

4 votes

All of the above

124 votes

Sarah Palin's Horrible Day [Plus Poll]

wonkymuse

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Thursday October 30, 2008 · 11:31 PM PDT

2008/10/30 · 23:31

Talk about the unkindest cut of all:

Lawrence Eagleburger, who served as Secretary of State under George H.W. Bush and whose endorsement is often trumpeted by McCain, said on Thursday that the Alaska governor is not only unprepared to take over the job on a moment's notice but, even after some time in office, would only amount to an "adequate" commander in chief.

"And I devoutly hope that [she] would never be tested," he added for good measure -- referring both to Palin's policy dexterity and the idea of McCain not making it through his time in office. (Listen to audio below.)

The remarks took place during an interview on National Public Radio that was, ironically, billed as "making the case" for a McCain presidency. Asked by the host whether Palin could step in during a time of crisis, Eagleburger reverted to sarcasm before leveling the harsh blow.

"It is a very good question," he said, pausing a few seconds, then adding with a chuckle: "I'm being facetious here. Look, of course not."

Poll

256 votes Show Results

Who should be blamed for McCain's disastrous choice of Palin as running mate?

256 votes Vote Now!

Who should be blamed for McCain's disastrous choice of Palin as running mate?

John McCain

147 votes

Sarah Palin

1 vote

Johnah McPalin

5 votes

McCain operatives Steve Schmidt & Rick Davis

12 votes

Conservative hacks Bill Kristol, Fred Barnes et al

9 votes

All of the above

82 votes

OBAMA ON THE OFFENSIVE: Assembles Thousands of Lawyers to Monitor Election [Updated with Poll, Info]

wonkymuse

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Monday October 20, 2008 · 1:10 AM PDT

2008/10/20 · 01:10

[Crossposted on Wonky Muse and The Blue Voice.]

Obama assembles the largest "law firm" in the country:

In Florida, Democratic lawyer Charles H. Lichtman has assembled almost 5,000 lawyers to monitor precincts, assist voters turned away at the polls and litigate any disputes that can't be resolved out of court.

"On Election Day, I will be managing the largest law firm in the country, albeit for one day," said Lichtman, 53, a Fort Lauderdale corporate lawyer and veteran of the five-week recount after the 2000 election when Florida eventually delivered the presidency to George W. Bush...

We all know that as the desperate GOP contends with the very real possibility of losing this election and losing it big, the dirtier and sleazier they'll play.

Poll

4750 votes Show Results

What is the best way to combat GOP election shenanigans?

4750 votes Vote Now!

What is the best way to combat GOP election shenanigans?

Vote in record numbers and give Obama a landslide victory

1475 votes

Volunteer on election day

61 votes

Watch out for and report voter irregularities before, during and after the election

134 votes

Set up a neighborhood voter fraud watch

22 votes

Alert the media

18 votes

Other [feel free to make suggestions in comments]

14 votes

All of the above

3025 votes

Obama's Cesar Millan Effect

wonkymuse

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Wednesday October 15, 2008 · 9:29 PM PDT

2008/10/15 · 21:29

Crossposted at Wonky Muse and The Blue Voice.

OBAMA McCAIN

Andrew Sullivan said it best (emphasis mine):

wonkymuse

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Thursday October 09, 2008 · 4:51 PM PDT

2008/10/09 · 16:51

Crossposted on Wonky Muse and The Blue Voice.

Oh. My. Gahd.

In 1986 John McCain wrote a political note — on official House of Representatives stationary — apologizing to Charles H. Keating Jr. for his campaign having listed his good friend and supporter as part of McCain's Senate campaign finance committee.

Keating responded with a handwritten note — addressed to "senator," seven months before McCain won his Senate seat — telling him not to sweat it, "I'm yours till death do us part."

Poll

92 votes Show Results

Should Obama bring up this smoking gun if McCain brings up Ayers in the last debate?

92 votes Vote Now!

Should Obama bring up this smoking gun if McCain brings up Ayers in the last debate?

Yes

66 votes

17 votes

Not Sure

9 votes

Axelrod: Obama Prepared To Counterpunch In Tonight's Debate

wonkymuse

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Tuesday October 07, 2008 · 2:14 PM PDT

2008/10/07 · 14:14

Crossposted at Wonky Muse and The Blue Voice.

McCain claimed that the "gloves will come off" in tonight's debate.

He might come to regret it:

Senator Barack Obama is prepared to hit back, including with Keating Five scandal if necessary, if Senator John McCain uses tonight’s presidential debate to attack him over his associations with controversial figures like former William C. Ayers, the former Weather Underground leader, Mr. Obama’s chief strategist said this afternoon.

wonkymuse

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Thursday August 28, 2008 · 4:27 AM PDT

2008/08/28 · 04:27

Crossposted at Wonky Muse and The Blue Voice.

Because they have nothing of substance to talk about, McCain and his wingnut horde are once again engaging in the idle sport of mocking Obama, this time for the set of his acceptance speech at Invesco Field:

Pictures and an aerial film footage of the set being constructed for the speech show a curved backdrop with creamy, gray column-like structures, which could suggest Washington architecture, or a classical structure, like a Greek or Roman temple.

Republicans sent out an edition of their "Audacity Watch" email newsletter which they use to point out perceived examples of hubris by the Obama campaign, titled "The Temple of Obama."

McCain also featured the structure on a blog on his website.

Talk about shooting themselves in the foot.

wonkymuse

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Thursday August 21, 2008 · 4:02 AM PDT

2008/08/21 · 04:02

So Bush is about to "cut and run":

U.S. and Iraqi negotiators reached agreement on a security deal that calls for American military forces to leave Iraq's cities by next summer as a prelude to a full withdrawal from the country, according to senior American officials.

The draft agreement sets 2011 as the date by which all remaining U.S. troops will leave Iraq...

Teams of American and Iraqi negotiators spent months haggling over the deal, which represents a remarkable turnaround from just a few months ago, when talk of timetables and deadlines was routinely dismissed by the Bush administration and other Republicans in Washington...

President George W. Bush is almost certain to accept the agreement, according to U.S. officials. The administration believes that the deal doesn't require congressional approval and won't present it to U.S. lawmakers.

wonkymuse

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday August 15, 2008 · 1:21 PM PDT

2008/08/15 · 13:21

Crossposted at Wonky Muse and The Blue Voice.

McCain wants the presidency so bad he forgets his place:

Standing behind a lectern in Michigan this week, with two trusted senators ready to do his bidding, John McCain seemed to forget for a moment that he was only running for president.

Asked about his tough rhetoric on the ongoing conflict in Georgia, McCain began: "If I may be so bold, there was another president . . ."

He caught himself and started again: "At one time, there was a president named Ronald Reagan who spoke very strongly about America's advocacy for democracy and freedom."

RSS

[UPDATED] Obama Review Teams Begin Scrutiny of Federal Agencies

Obama Team To Conduct Sweep of White House, Govt. Agencies

Sarah Palin's Horrible Day [Plus Poll]

OBAMA ON THE OFFENSIVE: Assembles Thousands of Lawyers to Monitor Election [Updated with Poll, Info]

Obama's Cesar Millan Effect

SMOKING GUN: Keating Wrote To McCain, "TIL DEATH DO US PART" (With Proof)

Axelrod: Obama Prepared To Counterpunch In Tonight's Debate

It's Not A Temple, It's A Tribute To MLK, Jr.

Bush "Cuts and Runs": U.S., Iraq Set Timetable

McCain The Usurper