Poll Finds Faith in Obama, Mixed With Patience - NYTimes.com

More at NYTimes.com: “President-elect Barack Obama is riding a powerful wave of optimism into the White House, with Americans confident he can turn the economy around but prepared to give him years to deal with the crush of problems he faces starting Tuesday, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News Poll.”

Zennie Abraham Takes On CNN's Ali Velshi On Economic Stimulus

For me this was a ton of fun to do. But it's even better when someone takes time to let folks know you did a great job. Such was the case with the CNN iReport and CNN.com, who contacted me regarding my question for CNN's Ali Velshi on what he thought of giving $3,500 to each American taxpayer under $100,000.

Here's the video:



This is what CNN iReport's Rachel8 wrote:

Would you go head-to-head with CNN's top economic expert on an economic stimulus plan? How about live on the air?

Fearless iReport superstar Zennie Abraham did. After submitting an iReport suggesting a taxpayer stimulus package, he discussed his plan with CNN chief business correspondent Ali Velshi on CNN.com/live. Velshi said the plan -- which calls for a $3,500 stimulus check to those making less than $100,000 a year -- was not targeted enough to work. But Zennie courageously defended his idea.

"I disagree, with all due respect," he said to Velshi. "$3,500, particularly for college students or their parents, can help pay for their housing. For a person who's older, that could help pay their mortgage. ...You have to have time for the other aspects of President Obama's programs to work. The idea with this proposal is to buy time for those programs to kick in. I'm not saying that this is a cure-all. It works as part of a package."

And, after hearing the explanation, Velshi started to agree.

"In that context, I can understand that. If we are creating jobs, and we are helping people out with their mortgages, as an added extra, that could work," he said.

Nicely done, Zennie! You really held your own

.

Thanks Rachel! It was a lot of fun and I hope I get the chance to do something like that, again.

Senator Harry Reid: ‘I don’t work for Obama’

More at TheHill.com: “Democrats must be “very, very careful” to avoid overreaching and will not rubber-stamp President-elect Obama’s policies, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Tuesday.

In an interview with The Hill, Reid said it is essential for Obama and congressional Democrats to work closely with Republicans in the new Congress. He added that 2009 is very different from 1993, the last time Democrats controlled both Congress and the White House.

Back then, Reid said, Democrats had controlled the House for decades and behaved as though the opposition did not exist. This time around, their recent stint in the minority would give them a commitment to bipartisanship.

“Even though we’re one short of 60 [senators in the Democratic Conference], I don’t want to ever have to depend on cloture,” Reid said. “We may have to do that, but it will be with the support of a few Republicans.”

Reid, who lambasted the GOP-led Congress for being a rubber stamp for President Bush, indicated that he will not bow to the Obama administration.

Reid stated, “I don't believe in the executive power trumping everything... I believe in our Constitution, three separate but equal branches of government.”

“If Obama steps over the bounds, I will tell him. … I do not work for Barack Obama. I work with him,” he said.”

Obama says trillion-dollar deficits may last years

More at SFGate.com: “President-elect Barack Obama says the nation probably faces huge deficits for years to come, but heavy spending is needed now to spur the economy.

Obama said Tuesday the deficit appears on track to hit $1 trillion soon. Speaking to reporters after meeting with top economic aides, Obama said: "Potentially we've got trillion-dollar deficits for years to come, even with the economic recovery that we are working on."”

NBC TODAY SHOW STICKS IT TO ANN COULTER - New York Post

More at the New York Post: “CONTROVERSIAL conservative Ann Coulter blew a gasket yesterday when the "Today" show abruptly canceled an appearance on the day her new book about the Obamas comes out.

The cancellation sparked reports that she had been "banned for life" from NBC and its two cable news networks.

Officially, NBC said that Coulter was bumped from the morning show because of "breaking news."

Behind the scenes, "Today" sources said they needed to make time for former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's mission to the Middle East and President-elect Barack Obama's new plan for an economic stimulus package.”

-- YEAH! And she's angry? So what? That's what she gets for building a career by saying and writing outlandish and tasteless words about people just because their politics are different from hers.

Those days are over -- I hope! Let Ann whine. I love it.

Barack Obama taps Leon Panetta to run CIA

More at chicagotribune.com: “WASHINGTON - President-elect Barack Obama has selected Leon Panetta, a former congressman with little experience on intelligence matters, to serve as the next director of the CIA, according to Democratic officials familiar with the decision.

The selection puts the prominent Democrat in charge of an agency that has been at the center of a storm of criticism in recent years, ranging from intelligence failures leading up to the Sept. 11 attacks to the aggressive tactics that were embraced in its aftermath.

Panetta, who was chief of staff to President Clinton, is regarded as a bright political operative and highly capable manager. But if confirmed by the Senate, he would be among the few directors in agency history with no prior experience at one of the nation's spy services.
”

-- Or was this a trial balloon to see how Senator Diane Feinstein would react? Whatever the case, she was not happy to have learned the news via the New York Times.

Choked-up Obama leaves Chicago - Chicago Breaking News

More at Chicago Breaking News: “Like many Americans, Barack Obama spent today getting things organized so he could head back to work after an extended holiday vacation.

But the president-elect's departure from Chicago's Midway Airport for a flight to Andrews Air Force Base brought with it some emotion, as he left behind an empty home and the city most associated with his historic political rise.

"I gotta say I choked up a little bit leaving my house today," he told reporters aboard a military aircraft that transported him to Washington.”

MEET THE PRESS FULL VIDEO: David Gregory, Dave Axelrod, The Economy

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Ok, I've gotten over my dismay at NBC's decision to select long-time White House Correspondent David Gregory over the newcomer Rachel Maddow, and have thus ended my self-emposed embargo on posting of the Meet The Press Videos.


Today, we have Obama Special Advisor Dave Axelrod being interviewed by Dave Gregory, and by all accounts he did well. But I disagree with the notion that the tax cut will be enough. I thinkk giving each taxpayer below $100,000 a $3,500 check would dramatically boost this economy and buy time for the other more long term programs to take effect.

Blagojevich Investigators Won't Subpoena Obama Aides - FOXNews.com

More at FOXNews.com Transition Tracker: “CHICAGO -- The Illinois House committee investigating a possible impeachment of Gov. Rod Blagojevich won't subpoena two incoming White House advisers, the committee chairwoman said Saturday, shutting down a request from the governor's attorney.

In a letter received by the committee Friday, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald asked the special investigative committee specifically to not subpoena President-elect Barack Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, incoming chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Nils Larsen, a Tribune Co. executive vice president.

Fitzgerald said any such subpoenas "would interfere with the ongoing criminal investigation into the activities of Governor Rod Blagojevich and others."”

-- To me this is evidence that it was a member or members of the Obama camp that "outted" Blago to begin with. They're being protected and rightly so. Blago should not have disrespected the President-Elect with his behavior.

Republican candidate Chip Saltsman Distributes Racist Obama song

More at TheHill.com: “RNC candidate Chip Saltsman’s Christmas greeting to committee members includes a music CD with lyrics from a song called “Barack the Magic Negro,” first played on Rush Limbaugh’s popular radio show.

Saltsman, a personal friend of conservative satirist Paul Shanklin, sent a 41-track CD along with a note to national committee members. ”

-- And the Republicans wonder why they lost the election?

Gov Blago's lawyer asks panel to subpoena Obama staff

More at SFGate.com : “In a move intended to force public testimony from President-elect Barack Obama's inner circle, a lawyer for Gov. Rod Blagojevich has asked the legislative panel considering impeachment of the governor to subpoena more than a dozen witnesses, including Obama's incoming chief of staff.”

-- Blago knows where the bodies are buried, but not with Obama's people. Things will get interesting when -- and if -- Blago turns to the Illinois legislature in the other issues surrounding the ethics charges.

Obama Shirtless? My Chest Is Better Than Barack Obama's

The sight of our President-Elect Barack Obama shirtless in Hawaii has some in a tizzy. But look, many brothers have hairless, sculpted chests, like me! My chest is better than President Obamas!

Obama Blagojevich Report: Team Claims Exoneration

More at Huff Post: “Barack Obama's chief counsel declared on Tuesday afternoon that only one member of the President-elect's staff -- incoming chief of staff Rahm Emanuel -- had any communications with embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his staff since Obama's election.

Emanuel's interactions, moreover, were not in any way improper, Obama's aides stressed, and the transition team was fully compliant both with the law and the U.S. Attorney's investigation into Blagojevich's alleged pay-for-play scheme.

"No one in the Obama circle was aware of what was going on in the governor's office until he was arrested," said Greg Craig, Obama's counsel. "They found out what the Governor was doing the same time the American public found out about it."”

Biden To Chair White House Middle Class Task Force - Huff Post

See Huff Post for more: “WASHINGTON — As vice president, Joe Biden will oversee an Obama administration effort to find ways of building up the ranks of the middle class, that ambiguously defined segment of society most Americans identify with.

The task force will include four Cabinet members as well as other presidential advisers, the Obama transition team announced Sunday.”

Mary L. Schapiro, Gary Gensler and Daniel K. Tarullo, Obama Economic Appointees

Truthdig - Ear to the Ground - Tough Road Ahead for New Economic Appointees: “Mr. Obama named Mary L. Schapiro, 53, to head the Securities and Exchange Commission, which has come under sharp criticism for its failure to detect signs that major Wall Street banks were in trouble before the financial crisis, as well as lax oversight of the New York financier Bernard Madoff, who the authorities say has confessed to running a $50 billion Ponzi scheme.

[...] Mr. Obama also announced the selection of two former Clinton administration economic officials, Gary Gensler and Daniel K. Tarullo, to leading economic posts.

Mr. Gensler, who will head the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, was a Treasury official in the Clinton administration. He also worked as a senior adviser to former Sen. Paul Sarbanes, a Maryland Democrat, who wrote legislation to increase oversight of the accounting industry and reform corporate governance.

Mr. Tarullo, a law professor at Georgetown University who was also an economic advisor to President Clinton, will fill an open seat on the Federal Reserve board in Washington. He is currently leading Mr. Obama’s transition team at the Treasury Department, and is considered an expert in international economic regulation.”

-- President-Elect Barack Obama is rounding out his economic team with the choice of Mary L. Schapiro, Gary Gensler and Daniel K. Tarullo. I have to note that it seems there are more women appointed to this cabinet than at any time in American History. I think the reason for this is these choices -- and women in general -- may have better "vetting" track records than their male counterparts. It's just a guess -- I have nothing other than experience to base this on.

Shaun Donovan Named Secretary Of Department Of Housing And Urban Development By Obama

HuffPost - Shaun Donovan Named Secretary Of Department Of Housing And Urban Development By Obama: “CHICAGO — Promising a prominent role for his housing department, President-elect Barack Obama on Saturday named a Harvard-educated architect to lead an agency dealing with the mortgage mess that dragged the country into a recession.

With one in 10 U.S. homeowners delinquent on mortgage payments or in foreclosure, Obama said New York City housing commissioner Shaun Donovan will bring "fresh thinking, unencumbered by old ideology and outdated ideas" at the Housing and Urban Development Department to help resolve the housing and economic crisis.”

Inaugural Committee Donors - Presidential Inaugural Committee

Presidential Inaugural Committee | Inaugural Committee Donors From the website:
"In keeping with President-elect Obama’s commitment to changing the way business is done in Washington, the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) is taking unprecedented steps to insure transparency in the public reporting of donors to a Presidential Inaugural Committee. This chart will allow you to view, sort, and search virtually real-time information on all donors contributing over $200 to the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Unlike previous inaugural committees, the 2009 PIC does not accept contributions from corporations, political action committees, labor unions, current federally-registered lobbyists, non-U.S. citizens and registered foreign agents and does not accept individual contributions in excess of $50,000."

Think Progress » Who Is Steven Chu? A Nobel Physicist Who Believes In Bold Energy Transformation

Think Progress » Who Is Steven Chu? A Nobel Physicist Who Believes In Bold Energy Transformation: “Numerous media outlets are reporting Dr. Steven Chu will be President-elect Obama’s choice to head the Department of Energy. Chu, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, is the director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California where he has been addressing the climate crisis by pushing breakthrough research in energy efficiency, solar energy, and biofuels technology.

Colleagues who know Chu best say “he’s not a manager, he’s a leader.” In an interview with the Wonk Room, David Roland-Holst, an economist at the Center for Energy, Resources and Economic Sustainability at UC Berkeley, described Chu as a “very distinguished researcher” and “an extremely effective manager of cutting edge technology initiatives.””

The Raw Story | Obama says creating jobs can help US race relations

The Raw Story | Obama says creating jobs can help US race relations: “President-elect Barack Obama, the first African-American to serve in the White House, said in an interview that producing new jobs would help improve race relations in the United States.

"The biggest challenges we face right now in improving race relations have to do with the universal concerns of Americans across color lines," Obama told the Chicago Tribune in an interview published in its Wednesday edition.”

Lesbian Nancy Sutley Leading Obama's Environmental Council

Nancy Sutley Leading Obama's Environmental Council: “WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama intends to round out his environmental and natural resources team with a Nobel Prize-winning physicist and three former Environmental Protection Agency officials from the Clinton administration.

The president-elect has selected Steven Chu for energy secretary, Lisa Jackson for EPA administrator, Carol Browner as his energy "czar" and Nancy Sutley to lead the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Democratic officials said Wednesday.

Still unclear is whom Obama will tap for interior secretary.

Officials close to the transition said support for John Berry, the director of the National Zoo and a former assistant secretary at the Interior Department, was growing. But these officials also said Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva and California Rep. Mike Thompson were still in the running.”