The Obama Cabinet

Barack Obama completed his cabinet today with the appointments of Hilda Solis as Labor Secretary, Ray LaHood as Transit Secretary and Ron Kirk as Trade Representative. His complete cabinet (several top non-cabinet jobs are included):

Cabinet
State: Senator Hillary Clinton
Treasury: NY Federal Reserve Bank President Tim Geithner
Defense: Current Defense Secretary Robert Gates
Attorney General: Fmr. Deputy AG Eric Holder
Interior: Senator Ken Salazar
Agriculture: Fmr. Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack
Commerce: New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson
Labor: Congresswoman Hilda Solis
Health and Human Services: Fmr. Senator Tom Daschle
Housing and Urban Development: NYC Housing Commissioner Shaun Donovan
Transportation: Congressman Ray LaHood
Energy: Nobel Prize Winning Physicist Steven Chu
Education: Chicago Schools Chief Arne Duncan
Veteran's Affairs: Fmr. General Eric Shinseki

Cabinet Level
Chief of Staff: Congressman Rahm Emanuel
Environmental Protection Agency: New Jersey Environmental Protection Chief Lisa Jackson
Office of Management and Budget: Congressional Budget Office Director Peter Orszag
US Trade Representative: Fmr. Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk
UN Ambassador: Fmr. Undersecretary of State Susan Rice

Other Important Possitions
National Security Advisor: General James Jones
Director of National Intelligence: Admiral Dennis Bair
Energy and Climate Change: Fmr. EPA Chief Carol Browner
SEC Commission: Chief Financial Regulator Mary Shapiro
National Economic Council: Fmr. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers
Economic Recovery Board: Fmr. Fed Chairman Paul Volcker
Council of Economic Advisors: UC Berkley Economics Professor Christina Romer

Top Advisors
Senior Advisor(s): Political Strategist David Axelrod, Obama Senate Chief of Staff Pete Rouse, Businesswoman Valerie Jarrett
Deputy Chief of Staff: Congressional Staffer Jim Messina, Fmr. NSC Member Mona Sutphen
Cabinet Secretary: Obama Senate Staffer Chris Lu
White House Counsel: Fmr. White House Special Counsel Greg Craig
Press Secretary: Campaign Communications Director Robert Gibbs
Communications Director: EMILY's list Executive Director Ellen Moran
Chief of Staff to Joe Biden: Fmr. Gore Chief of Staff Ron Klain
Chief of Staff to Michelle Obama: Political Strategist Jackie Norris

Today in History

On December 15:

1488: Bartholomeu Diaz returns to Portugal after becoming the first european to sail around the tip of africa
1791: The bill of rights becomes law as Virginia becomes the 10th state to approve the first 10 amendments to the constitution
1864: The Confederate Army of Tennessee is decimated at the battle of Nashville, and ceases to be an effective fighting force. The Battle signals the beginning of the end of the American Civil War
1899: The Boers decisively defeat the British at the battle of Colenso during the Boer War
1922: The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) is formed
1939: The movie Gone With the Wind premiers
1939: Nylon is used commercially for the first time
1944: The Battle of Luzon begins as American General Douglas McArthur continues his quest to retake the Philipines from the Japanese
1961: Adolph Eichmann, the architect of the holocaust, is sentanced to death
1964: Canada adopts the maple leaf flag it is now known for
1965: Gemini 6 and Gemini 7 become the first craft to link up in space
1989: Romanian Dictator Nicolae Ceaucescu falls
1997: The last Minuteman Silo is destroyed. The Minuteman missle was the heart of the U.S. nuclear arsenal during the cold war

Birthdays: Nero (37 AD), Gustave Eiffel (1832), Paul Getty (1892)

Today in History

on December 14th:

1287: 50,000 die after Zuider Zee wall collapses in the Netherlands
1790: Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton proposes to create the Bank of the United States
1900: German Physicist Max Planck published his quantum theory. Synthesis of his theory with Einstein's theory of relativity is the basis of modern physics
1906: Germany's first U-Boat is commissioned
1918: Woman vote in a UK general election for the first time. The first woman MP is elected, but, being a Sinn Fein member, she is unable to take her seat.
1927: Iraq is formally recognized as an independent country
1947: NASCAR is founded
1981: Israel annexes Golan Heights

Birthdays: Nostradamus (1503), Tycho Brahe (1546), King George VI (1895), Jimmy Doolittle (1896), Margaret Chase Smith (1897),

Continuity Notice

I'll be back to daily posting Sunday. Sorry for the brief hiatus.

Everything is Happening

I apologize again for my absence this week. Here is a roundup of recent political news:

-Obama has announced former General Eric Shinseki as Secretary of Veteran's affairs. Shinseki is known for his role in the lead up to the Iraq war, when he was highly critical of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's approach to the war. Shinseki is the first Asian appointed to Obama's cabinet.

-Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) of Illinois has been arrested for trying to sell the appointment to Barack Obama's senate seat. For those of you who don't know Blagojevich he could best be summarized as an idiot schmuck who gives both the democratic party and the state of Illinois a bad name. He has consistently been one of the most unpopular governors in the country and was only reelected in 2006 because the republicans nominated someone just as bad (voters were so disgusted in the choice that the Greens got 11% of the vote.) Regarding this senate seat Blagojevich reportedly said the seat “is a fucking valuable thing, you just don’t give it away for nothing,” Trying to sell a senate seat while under investigation is a rather stupid thing, and Blago will hopefully soon be in prison. The Illinois state senate seems likely to soon consider legislation striping the governor of his power to fill senate vacancies and instead hold a special election. Illinois is weird. It elects fantastic senators (Obama and Dick Durbin are top notch,) but its governors are terrible (Blago's predecessor, George Ryan, is in prison for corruption)

-The final races in the U.S. House of Representatives have concluded. In Louisiana two delayed general elections produced wins for the republicans. In the 4th district John Fleming (R) apparently defeated Paul Carmouche (D) by a tiny margin for the seat of outgoing congressman Jim McCrery (R). In the New Orleans based 2nd district the republicans scored an upset as Joseph Cao beat corrupt congressman Bill Jefferson. The results shocked the political world, as the democrats normally win the district with 70+ percent. In Ohio's 15th district Mary Jo Kilroy (D) was declared the winner over Steve Stivers (R) after the final ballots in Kilroy stronghold Franklin County were voted. In California's 4th Tom McClintock (R) was finally declared the winner over Charlie Brown (D) (for the record, I despise McClintock wholeheartedly and am very disappointed about this) There is still a recount going on in the Virginia 5th, but democrat Tom Perriello has enough of a lead over incumbent republican Virgil Goode that it seems highly unlikely that Goode will win.

-Caroline Kennedy has emerged as a front runner to replace Hillary Clinton in the senate. It is unclear how interested she is in the job, however.

-In Canada, Parliament has been suspended so that Prime Minister Stephen Harper of the conservative party can delay a vote of no confidence in his government. The newly minted Liberal-NDP coalition, with the support of the Bloc Quebecois, will likely topple Harper when parliament reconvenes, though its unclear if the coalition will take power or if another election will be held. Meanwhile, the Liberals appear likely to replace their leader, Stephane Dion, with Michael Ignatieff. Mr. Dion, a wonky Quebecer, lead his party to a record low number of seats in an election in October. Mr. Ignatieff is smart and seems politically skilled, but is criticized by some because he spent most of his life in the United States. Some in the NDP fear that the coalition may collapse, as Ignatieff was not as strong of a supporter of the coalition as Mr. Dion. Ignatieff's path to the leadership was made clear today when former Ontario Premier Bob Rae stepped aside. The other main challenger for the leadership, Dominic LeBlanc, dropped out several days ago. It is unclear when exactly Ignatieff will become the party leader, or if he will subsequently become Prime Minister if Harper falls to a vote of no confidence in January.

-In Ghana, votes are still being counted in an election held on December 7th. It appears as though it will head to a runoff between John Atta-Mills and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on the 28th. The world is holding its breath, hoping for a clean and fair election after a year that saw questionable or fraudulent polls in Zimbabwe and Kenya. Hopefully, if there is a runoff, is will be a refreshingly clean election.

Sorry

expect minimal posting over the next week, I'm super busy and will not have much time to post on here

my apologies

HUGE UPSET IN LOUISIANA

New Orleans has shocked the political world tonight.

The 2nd congressional district takes in New Orleans and a few surrounding areas. It is overwhelmingly democratic, to the point that its not even considered remotely contestable for a republican. It has been represented since the 90s by Bill Jefferson, an utterly corrupt democratic who was indicted last year and will likely be in prison soon. Jefferson has faced tough fights in the primary, but always survived. Tonight was the runoff in his congressional race, and he was expected to easily beat republican also-ran Joseph Cao.

Cao won.

To say this is an upset is an understatement. Its way more than an upset, its a total shock. No one saw this coming, no one even considered the possibility that Cao could win. Nothing remotely comparable has happened wince Michael Flanagan took out Rostenkowski in '94. Just Bizarre.

Also, Paul Fleming (R) beat John Carmouche (D) in the 4th, holding onto it for the republicans. This one was supposed to be the close race.

Cookies

Taking a brief break from politics, I'd like to write about something that's been on my mind for a very long time.

Why the hell can't they just make white chocolate chip cookies? Why do they have to include macadamia nuts. I love cookies, and I love white chocolate and together I think they are a fantastic combination. But the stupid cookie makers just have to include macadamia nuts, which completely ruins it. Macadamia nuts are awful, they don't crunch right and have a weird taste to them. I find it to be a very disappointing experience when I bite into a nice good white chocolate chip cookie and then suddenly have the scourge of Macadamia nuts being what I taste. I don't understand why cookie makers insist on adding Macadamia nuts to them, and i think they should immediately stop.

Another question I have always had: Why are there not plain cookies? I like chocolate chip cookies, but I always find I enjoy the parts of them without chocolate chips more then the parts with them. I think i would very much enjoy chocolate chip cookies without chocolate chips. I think it is strange that just plain cookies are not more widespread, and I also think i would very much like to eat them.

Harper Government Safe......for now

The Governor General of Canada has suspended Parliament, saving the Harper government from a vote of no confidence on Monday. Parliament will reconvene in January, when another no confidence vote will probably be called. Harper now has a month to try and save his government. It seems likely at this point that his government will fall whenever the vote is called.

Today In History

On December 4th:

771: Charlemagne becomes the ruler of the Frankish Empire
1674: The first building of what will eventually become Chicago is built
1808: The Spanish Inquisition is banned by Napoleon
1867: The Grange, a influential gilded age political movement, is founded
1918: Woodrow Wilson departs to France to represent the US in the Versailles negotiations. It is the first ever official trip to Europe by a US President
1945: The US Congress votes to join the UN
1977: Jean-Bedel Bokassa, President of the Central African Republic, declares himself Emperor of the newly named Central Africa Empire

Birthdays: Thomas Carlyle (1795), Francisco Franco (1892), Pappy Boyington (1912)

Fascinating

Obama announced New Mexico Governor and former Presidential contender Bill Richardson as his Secretary of Commerce. This is Richardson's account of an interesting incident during one of the Democratic Primary Debates last year, recounted in an Esquire Magaine interview:

"As I’m chatting with Obama, the moderator says, “Governor Richardson, what do you think of that?” And I look at him like a deer in the headlights. I was about to say that I hadn’t heard, when Obama puts his hand over his mouth and says, “Katrina.” So I gave my four-point plan on Katrina. When I was done and the debate moved on, I looked over and said, “Thanks, you’re okay.” He said, “Nothing to it, brother.”

Today In History

On December 3rd:

1868: The treason trial of Confederate President Jefferson Davis begins. He will later be pardoned by President Andrew Johnson
1879: Thomas Edison demonstrates the light bulb for the first time
1944: Civil War breaks out in Greece
1967: The first heart transplant is performed
1971: The 3rd Indo-Pakistani war breaks out as India moves to intervene in a civil war between West and East Pakistan. The war will lead to East Pakistan's independence as Bangladesh
1984: A Union-Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India leaks lethal gases into the air. 8,000 die and 600,000 are hurt by the worst industrial accident in history
2001: Dean Kamen introduces the Segway

Birthdays: Samuel Crompton (1753), Sir Rowland Hill (1795), Ozzy Osbourne (1948)

Watching the Politics

Some political news:

-Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) was reelected in a runoff against Jim Martin (D), ending the democrat's "quest" for 60 senate seats (which doesnt at all matter, by the way)

-Jeb Bush is apparently interested in running for Mel Martinez's senate seat. If he does, he would almost certainly win it due to his huge popularity in Florida. If he does then look for the top name democrats to pass on the race

-Rumor has it that Xavier Becerra has been offered the post of Trade Representative in the Obama Administration, a completely unexpected choice. If he accepts Becerra would give up his leadership post (Caucus Vice-Chair) in the House.

-In Canada Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper hinted he may seek a prorogation in order to prevent his government's fall in a no confidence vote on December 8th (a prorogation would suspend parliament, basically)

-Down in Australia the Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, and the deputy opposition leader, Julie Bishop, are in a quarrel over Gillards behavior toward Bishop during question time. Ms. Bishop recently made an odd claw-like gesture toward Gillard (those of you who don't know what question time is HAVE to watch C-SPAN at 9PM on sundays, its the most interest political ritual in the world)

-In Thailand the constitutional court has disolved the ruling People's Power Party and banned prime minister Somchai Wongsawat and many other from politics (see the next post)

A quick note from Austin:
Sorry the second part of the Pakistan thing hasnt been posted yet, I'm working on it.

Thailand

Over the last few years Thailand has been immersed in political turmoil. Today, it got a lot worse.

In the 2001 election, widely seen as one of first clean elections in Thai history, the Thai Rak Thai Party (TRT) won a majority in parliament and formed government with Thaksin Shinawatra as Prime Minister. Thaksin was immensely popular in the rural areas north of Bangkok, but was despised by the Bangkokian elite, the military and hard line royalists. In 2005 Shinawatra and the TRT decisively won reelection In 2006 the military launched a coup d'etat and overthrew Shinawatra. The military then banned Shinawatra from politics and abolished the Thai Rak Thai. Party members then joined the People's Power Party (PPP), which subsequently won the 2007 elections, effectively returning the TRT to power. Samak Sundaravej became prime minister, and openly said he was a Thaksin proxy. Despite the election results, the opposition was not done in their quest to purge the Thaksinites out of government. Supporters of the main opposition party, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), took to the streets in massive protests against Samak and occupied many government buildings. In September the courts forced Samak out of power. Before becoming Prime Minister Samak had been the host of a cooking show. After he became Prime Minister several pre-taped episodes were aired. The courts decided that this violated a provision of the constitution banning a Prime Minister from drawing income from a non-governmental so Samak was forced out of power. He was replaced by Somchai Wongsawat. Since then the PAD protests have continued, culminating in the takeover of the Bangkok airport last week. Earlier today, the constitutional court banned the PPP and barred Somchai and the top PPP leaders from politics. The remaining Thaksinites will likely now join the Puea Thai Party, which will probably take power.

This whole episode has been deeply disturbing. Either Thaksin or his supporters have been elected in the last three elections by convincing margins. The election after which the military launched it's coup was a Thai Rak Thai landslide and had the highest voter turnout in Thai history. That electoral verdict should have been respected. The PAD and it's supporters need to understand that political change should be accomplished at the ballot box and not through street protests and coup d'etats. Thaksin was, admittedly, a poor Prime Minister, but that doesn't mean the PAD and the military should launch coups and street protests and use back room maneuvering to pry him out of office, rather it means that they should do all they legally can to beat him in the next election. Democracy will never flourish in Thailand if the opposition or the military thinks it can just throw out the popularly-elected winner. One can only hope that PAD's disgusting attempts to circumvent democracy fail and that Thailand's military permanently removes itself from politics.

Today in History

On December 2nd:

1697: St. Paul's Cathedral in London is opened
1804: Napoleon crowns himself Emperor of France
1805: One year after his coronation, Napoleon defeats Russian and Austrian forces at the Battle of Austerlitz, possibly the most genius battle of his career
1823: James Monroe proposes what will come to be called the Monroe Doctrine
1859: John Brown is hanged for treason
1942: The first chain nuclear reaction is created at the University of Chicago
1954: Communist hunter Joseph McCarthy is censured by the US Senate
1969: The Boeing 747 is publicly demonstrated for the first time
1979: Ayatollah Khomeini's new Iranian constitution is ratified
1990: The first elections are held in the reunited Germany
2001: Enron files for bankruptcy

Birthdays: Georges Seurat (1859), Georgy Zhukov (1896), Alexander Haig (1924)

MARTINEZ TO RETIRE

First term Republican Senator Mel Martinez of Florida, who briefly served as RNC chair in 2007, will not run for reelection in 2010. This is huge news, as there will probably be a mammoth battle for this Senate Seat. State CFO Alex Sink, the democrat's strongest potential challenger, said yesterday that she would not challenge Martinez, but is rumored to now be reconsidering her decision. On the republican side state Attorney General Bill McCollum, who was defeated by Martinez in the primary 6 years ago, put out a statement that he was considering a bid. Another possibility is popular Fmr. Governor Jeb Bush, who would be the frontrunner if he ran (though it seems doubtful that he will.) Other potential Republican candidates include Fmr. State House Speaker Marco Rubio, State Senate President Jeff Atwater and Reps. Ander Crenshaw, Adam Putnam, and Connie Mack IV. On the democratic side potential candidates include Sink, State Senator Dan Gelber and Reps. Allen Boyd, Kathy Castor, Kendrick Meek, Rob Wexler, Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Ron Klein. It will be a very interesting race

and who knows, maybe Katherine Harris will throw her hat into the ring again. (kidding)

Update: Congressman Allen Boyd, a centrist from the Tallahassee area, released a statement saying he is considering a run. Boyd would be a very good general election candidate, but it seems unlikely that he would be able to win a democratic primary, as he is both a centrist and hails from the north while the majority of democratic primary voters live in southern Florida.

Watching the Politics

Some Recent Political News:

-Florida CFO Alex Sink (D) announced that she will not run for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Mel Martinez (R) in 2010. Sink was widely seen as the strongest contender against the vulnerable Martinez, who served briefly as chairman of the Republican Party in 2007. Sink will run for reelection as CFO, and seems likely to run for Governor in 2014. Remaining possible candidates to challenge Martinez include Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Ron Klein, Rob Wexler, State Senator Dan Gelber and Fmr. Rep. Karen Thurman.

-In Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks (D) has launched a new website apparently in anticipation for a run for the Governorship in 2010. Incumbent Rob Riley (R) is term limited. Congressman Artur Davis (D) and LG Jim Folsom (D) are also looking at the race. Folsom is the apparent democratic front runner. Potential republican candidates include State Community College System Chancellor Bradley Byrne, Secretary of Staff Beth Chapman, State House Minority Leader Mike Hubbard, State Treasurer Kay Ivey, '06 LG Candidate Luther Strange and businessman Tim James.

-In Nevada it appears that LG Brian Krolicki will be indicted for financial mismanagement as State Treasurer. Krolicki was looking into a run against Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in 2010. Congressman Jon Porter, who was narrowly defeated for reelection this year, is now the republican's top candidate for the seat. With a stronger candidate Reid would be highly vulnerable, but it seems unlikely that Porter would be able to unseat the formidable Reid.

-In California's Riverside-based 44th congressional district the democrat's 08 nominee, Bill Hedrick, announced he would make a second run in 2010 against longtime republican incumbent Ken Calvert. Hedrick came out of the blue to within a few points of knocking off Calvert this year. Calvert has come under fire for fishy land deals over the last few years and was arrested in the 90s when discovered utilizing a prostitute in his car.

-Recounts and legal proceedings continue in the Ohio 15th congressional race and the Minnesota Senate. It will be awhile till either is resolved

-The runoff in the George senate race between incumbent Saxby Chambliss (R) and Jim Martin (D) is tomorrow. All the late polls show Chambliss with a solid lead, and it seems likely that he will be reelected

OPPSITION TO FORM COALITION IN CANADA

Big news from our neighbors in the north:

It seems as though Canada's three opposition parties will topple the Conservative Stephen Harper government in a vote of no confidence on December 8th. Harper was first elected in 2006 with a minority government. Earlier this year, believing a majority to be within his grasp, Harper called an election. He won, but again failed to win a majority of seats in Parliament. Now, it appears that his government will be defeated in a vote of no confidence next Monday. The centre-left Liberal Party of Stephane Dion will then enter into a coalition with Jack Layton's quasi-socialist New Democratic Party with the support of the separatist Bloc Quebecois of Gilles Duceppe. The Governor-General will then decide whether to hold another election or, most likely, allow the coalition to form government. Stephane Dion, leader of the Liberal Party, would be Prime Minister until March, when the Liberals select their new leader, most likely Michael Ignatieff (Bob Rae and Dominic LeBlanc are the other candidates.)

If the Coalition forms government it seems likely that another election will be called within the next year or two. Holding together Coalition governments are very tricky, especially as the coalition will depend in support from the prickly Bloc Quebecois. Interesting times are ahead for Canada

If you want to follow this the Globe and Mail and the CBC are probably the best news sources. I personally find this to be absolutely riveting. Something about Canadian politics is just utterly fascinating.

Today in History

On December 1st:

1640: Portugal regains independence after 60 years of Spanish rule
1824: In one of the most hotly contested presidential election in American history, congress elects John Quincy Adams president after no candidate received a majority of the electoral votes
1878: The first telephones are installed in the White House
1879: Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta , HMS Pinafore, has it's first performance in London
1891: James Naismith invents basketball at the YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts
1906: The world's first movie theatre opens in Paris
1918: Yugoslavia created
1955: Rosa Parks arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat, sparking the Montgomery bus boycotts and propelling Martin Luther King Jr. into national prominence
1990: The English and French sides of the Chunnell are united

Birthdays: Madame Tussaud (1761), Woody Allen (1935), Richard Pryor (1940)