Obama Unveils Presidential Transition Team

As Congratulations Pour In, President-Elect Begins Process To Build Cabinet To Help Deal With Challenges At Home And Abroad

(CBS/AP)  President-elect Barack Obama Wednesday announced that his presidential transition team will be led by John Podesta, who served as chief of staff under President Bill Clinton, campaign advisor Valerie Jarrett, and Pete Rouse, who has been Obama's chief of staff in the Senate.

Though informal transition planning has been going on for months, the creation of the Obama-Biden Transition Project gives Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden a formal structure through which to undertake the tasks necessary in transferring power, chief among them helping to select Cabinet members and White House staffers in the new administration.

There have been reports that one decision has already been made: Some news organizations reported Wednesday that Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel was offered the position of White House chief of staff. But the Obama camp has indicated that Obama has not formally offered Emanuel the position, and aides to the Democratic Caucus Chair, the fourth-highest ranking Democrat in the House, told CBS News that the reports are wrong.

Not since Franklin Delano Roosevelt won the 1932 election has a president-elect faced so many problems both at home and abroad. Obama has just 76 days until his inauguration.

Ken Duberstein, former chief of staff under Ronald Reagan, told CBS News senior White House Correspondent Bill Plante, "You gotta hit the ground running. You have to be going a hundred miles an hour from day one."

Obama has told aides that he wants to take his time and choose his cabinet carefully. He presently aims to announce his choices after Thanksgiving, CBS News has learned, and does not want to rush the process - or appear to be doing so.

On Thursday, Obama will begin receiving highly-classified daily briefings from top U.S. intelligence officials. He will receive information, mostly written by the Central Intelligence Agency, to which he never before had access, even as a senator.

Biden will also begin to get his own briefings beginning this week.

Despite all this, Obama managed to enjoy a relatively normal day in his hometown of Chicago on Wednesday: Seeing his two young daughters off to school - a simple pleasure he's missed during nearly two years of virtually nonstop travel - and then a workout.

The quieter morning followed an electric night of celebration, anchored by his victory rally of 125,000 in Chicago and joyful outpourings of his supporters across the country.

Though votes are still being counted out west - and there are provisional and absentee ballots outstanding - CBS News is estimating that the final turnout in the 2008 election will be 133 million or more Americans, many of whom endured hours-long waits Tuesday to cast their ballots.

133 million votes would mean that 57 percent of the voting age population cast a ballot, up from 55 percent in 2004 and 50 percent in 2000.

The first African-American destined to sit in the Oval Office, Obama was also the first Democrat to receive more than 50 percent of the popular vote since Jimmy Carter in 1976. He is the first senator elected to the White House since John F. Kennedy in 1960.

And Obama scored an Electoral College landslide (349 to 163, with two states still outstanding) that redrew America's political dynamics. He won states that reliably voted Republican in presidential elections, such as Indiana and Virginia, which hadn't supported a Democratic candidate in 44 years. He also tapped Ohio and Florida, both of which were key to President Bush's victories.

"Indeed, Obama’s election arguably represents the most dramatic break from the status quo ever in presidential politics," said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs. "The first black president, one with a less-than-familiar name, is in so many ways a complete repudiation of everything about the presidency of George W. Bush."

On The To-Do List

Naming the staggering list of problems he inherits in his decisive defeat of Republican John McCain - two wars and "the worst financial crisis in a century," among them - Obama sought to restrain the soaring expectations of his supporters late Tuesday night, even as he stoked them with impassioned calls for national unity and partisan healing.

"We may not get there in one year or even in one term," he said. "But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you, we as a people will get there."

Helping him to get there will be a strengthened Democratic majority in both houses of Congress. When Obama becomes the president on Jan. 20, with Biden as his vice president, Democrats will control both the White House and Congress for the first time since 1994.

Dee Dee Myers, a White House press secretary under President Bill Clinton, told Early Show anchor Harry Smith that Obama should make appointments to demonstrate he is moving ahead to signal "that you have a handle on these problems."

"It wouldn't hurt him, in the next few days, to be surrounded by some of his economic advisers, the people who got him here, like (billionaire) Warren Buffett, Bob Rubin, the former treasury secretary, Paul Volcker, former chairman of the Fed - people who are very reassuring in the eyes of the American people and helped to get Barack Obama here," she said. "But I think he needs to show that the competence that got this candidate to the White House is going to be the rule of the day as they go forward, and that he's moving quickly."

Obama appears likely to draw several of his top aides (including some Cabinet secretaries) from three key sources: Democratic governors midway through their second and final terms in office; former top appointees of Bill Clinton's administration; and political pros from Obama's hometown of Chicago.

People close to Obama believe he would offer jobs to some or all of a quartet of Democratic governors who campaigned hard for him, even if a couple of them opposed him initially.

Two who have thrived in Republican-leaning states - Gov. Janet Napolitano of Arizona and Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas - backed Obama from the start. Napolitano is seen as a possible attorney general. Sebelius is mentioned as a possible secretary of Education, Commerce, Energy or Health and Human Services.

Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania is seen as a possible pick for the top Energy or Transportation posts. Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, who sought the presidential nomination himself, is thought to be on a short list for secretary of state.

The four would have to give up the last two years of their eight-year terms as governor, something that might give them pause.

Former Democratic governors who might become Obama appointees include Tom Vilsack of Iowa, mentioned as a possible Agriculture secretary.

Obama already has turned to a former Clinton aide, John Podesta, to head his transition planning.

Top Obama campaign aides David Axelrod and David Plouffe of Chicago would be probable picks for senior adviser or political posts. Campaign aide Robert Gibbs has the inside track to be press secretary.

Other Chicago associates likely to land posts in an Obama administration include lawyer and fundraiser Penny Pritzker and business executive and family friend Valerie Jarrett. Also deemed certain to have a prominent role, if he wants one: Former Senate Majority leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota.

One major task facing Obama, writes CBS News legal analyst Andrew Cohen, is to pick an Attorney General who will continue to rebuild the Justice Department "in the wake of Alberto Gonzales’ disastrous reign."

"The candidate must restore professionalism and nonpartisanship within the Department and also continue to adapt to the evolving legal war on terror," writes Cohen.

[doccraig]

What ever happened to "It''s unpatriotic to no support your president"

[thelastvoter]

A Message to Governor Palin: As a Conservative Republican, I do not like the way you were treated by both the media and those bums inside the Republican Committee and McCain Campaign -- no reflection on Senator McCain himself -- and when those bums are identified publicly, and they will be identified, I can guarantee you that they will no longer have a place in the Republican Party. Why? Because those bums, along with that corrupt crowd on Capiol Hill and Wall Street, have sold out America, and they have no business advising any candidate, period. I hope that once they are identified publicly, Americans give them the same treatment that they gave Governor Palin. She has thick skin -- they don''t. This is a message from a Republican who in hindsight thanks the Democrats for helping clean out those Washington politicians who have strayed from Republican principles, and this includes most of the Bush Administration.

[thelastvoter]

Congratulations to the Obama Campaign Team! As a Conservative Republican, I voted for Senator McCain. Your campaign was well organized, focused, and though you had most of the press and media with you, Senator Obama was able to handle himself with class throughout the campaign and the debates. If the Bush Administration and those Republicans in Congress had shown your discipline when it came to government spending and Conservative ideals, including oversight of the Congressional banking and finance committees when they were in charge between 2000 and 2006, this election might have turned out differently. %u201CMy Republicans%u201D, with a number of exceptions, did not deserve to be re-elected, and it was ashamed that the McCain-Palin ticket got caught in the %u201Ccrossfire%u201D, because both McCain and Palin were two decent candidates who could have helped our nation. I hope that the Obama supporters recognize that our nation is nearly %u201Cbankrupt%u201D and therefore, they should not push the president-elect to keep promises that might have to be delayed for some time. Give him time and let him lead at his own pace. Again, Congratulations to all of those Obama supporters that I gave a rough time to on this blog. It was a fun campaign.

[solarrays247-2009]

Posted by FromTexwLove at 06:12 PM : Nov 06, 2008

Only the Anglo-Saxon Whites abort their offsprings because they cannot afford it. Their Career is much more important. I care less if the unborn is an offspring of a Democrat or Republican or whatever.

Read the abortion rate in Orange county in Southern California which is solid Republican. Hypocrite goes into one ear and out my other ear.
Soon, you will be under the mercy of Legal Hispanics.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by lovegetpeace at 06:27 PM : Nov 06, 2008

And it couldn''t happen any too soon to that horrible bigot, TexwLove. Peace!

[newbie43]

Yeah, sucks to be YOU, doesn''''t it. Welcome to the United Communist States of America! I hope you enjoy the skrewing you''''re about to get. But I bet even Tinkerbelle could wave her magic want make losers like you happy!

Posted by FromTexwLove

Ha - actually, it''s pretty good being me. Haven''t had the time to be on here looking at you implode, because I was so busy working for Obama. Still recovering from the victory party, actually. :) But hey, listening to the people I work with who are from other countries, they and their friends back home can now look at America with hope, trust and astonishment again. They were upset to view America with anger and distrust, it used to be a beacon of light to them, and it is again.

[lovegetpeace]

Posted by freespeach at 06:23 PM : Nov 06, 2008

Exactly 1 hundred years ago, America was just as Corrupt as Mexico. The Wild West was rule by rifles. America is 248 years old. Mexico is only 91 years old. It takes time for any country to develop and mature.

[lovegetpeace]

Posted by FromTexwLove at 06:12 PM : Nov 06, 2008

Only the Anglo-Saxon Whites abort their offsprings because they cannot afford it. Their Career is much more important. I care less if the unborn is an offspring of a Democrat or Republican or whatever.

Read the abortion rate in Orange county in Southern California which is solid Republican. Hypocrite goes into one ear and out my other ear.
Soon, you will be under the mercy of Legal Hispanics.

[yrunuts]

It would behoove the repubs to let the demos get this country back in order in the next 4 yrs, altho it will take at least 8,and hopefully by then they will realize that as in the past, America has ONLY moved forward under a Demo administration. If in doubt, refer to the last eight!

[tcoleman12]

I believe he has Rezko tapped to head up HUD.

[microcapmave]

RE: On Thursday, Obama will begin receiving highly-classified daily briefings from top U.S. intelligence officials. He will receive information, mostly written by the Central Intelligence Agency, to which he never before had access, even as a senator.

Technically, he shouldn''t even be able to get a security clearance-- read why:http://colony14.net/id41.html

[nanc12]

So lovely to see you again, Rowdy. Thought maybe your head had exploded Tuesday night. What are you going to talk about now? Let''s do a chronological recap. First, you %u2018supported%u2019 Hillary, saying she was definitely going to win, then definitely going to win Super Tuesday. Then, she was going to win the rest. Then the super delegates were going to come thru. Then the convention was going to revolt and nominate her by acclamation.
Then, you ''switched'' your support to McCain. Then PUMA was going to be the end of Obama. Obama would lose by a landslide. Hillary wouldn''t support Obama, Hillary voters wouldn''t support Obama. Obama was Muslim/Radical Christian. He was Marxist/Socialist/Fascist. No white person would vote for him, no working class, no southerner - NO ONE!

Don%u2019t have a very good record of being right, do you? Sucks to be you.

[thuderstone]

Posted by MaharajaG at 03:10 PM : Nov 06, 2008

Indian nuclear weapon yield is yet not large, providing them with uranium and weapons and plant design will greatly help their military and their conflict with Pakistan and China. You are an paid blogger aren''t you? watch what you say because Barack is smarter than Condelezza Rice.

[thuderstone]

I really hope Bill Clinton is picked

Posted by jh6379again at 09:34 AM : Nov 06, 2008

Mr. Obama

Don''t have anything to do with Bill Cliton or Colin Powell, they are too conservative, Stick with John Kerry, John Edwards, Joe Biden, Tom Dashule. Don''t have any relation with the Clintons, they are bad news. Support people who love freedom and have nothing to do with people in bed with the tyrants such as those two mentioned, don''t be naive, be firm and kick ***.

[butch-40]

it really amazing that the repubs want Pres.Obama to fill his cabnit with corrupt Repubs and molesters,while Bush filled his Cabinet with friends who didn''t even know where Washington D.C. waI suppose he was repaying old debts.

[thuderstone]

Mr Obama

I urge you not to give in to the Prime Minister Singh''s idea of expanding the Indian Armed forces and not to sell them any American weapon technology or know how.

[thuderstone]

Posted by USA-No1 at 01:39 PM : Nov 06, 2008

Forign policy making is for the state department and only state department, it is not the business and main responsibility of the president, the president have power over desicion making and not use our country''s foreign policy as an hobby like an high school club or college student wants to build an resume. I am relative of Mao and I said the rest of the world is not the toy for American losers to play with, one Jewish settler said it best:" American soilder go home in coffins."

[thuderstone]

Bye the way, the market has so much confidence in Oh Bummer it is down another 310 points.

Posted by HK4U at 12:11 PM : Nov 06, 2008

This is cause purely by daytraders and the get rich quick online trading firms, they should be banned.

[whatithink10]

"Bye the way, the market has so much confidence in Oh Bummer it is down another 310 points.

Posted by HK4U at 12:11 PM : Nov 06, 2008"


For 8 years, anytime anything went wrong it was Clinton''s fault.

Two days after Obama is nominated everything is now Obama''s fault.

In between, we had Bush who you thought wasn''t responsible for anything.

Well, at least you plan to make Obama work for his money...unlike Bush.

[nanc12]

Good luck!
Posted by FromTexwLove

Well, Obama will need some luck to try to fix all the problems Bush created.

So lovely to see you again, Rowdy. What are you going to talk about now? Let''s do a chronological recap. First, you ''supported'' Hillary, saying she was definitely going to win, then definitely going to win Super Tuesday. Then, she was going to win the rest. Then the super delegates were going to come thru. Then the convention was going to revolt and nominate her by acclamation.
Then, you ''switched'' your support to McCain. Then PUMA was going to be the end of Obama. Obama would lose by a landslide. Hillary wouldn''t support Obama, Hillary voters wouldn''t support Obama. Obama was Muslim/Radical Christian. He was Marxist/Socialist/Fascist. No white person would vote for him, no working class, no southerner - NO ONE!

Sucks to be you.

[ladyraestewa]

It''s ridiculous - so many have absolutely no concept of reality. You repeatedly demonstrate that you are narrow minded thinking way is it believing what the media says refusing to learn! I do my research selecting the candidate I believe best suited for the position. It''s that simple and party lines never come into play.

In this election, for the first time, I supported a winner. I''ve supported lots of loser who won but this time, a winner who stands above so many all the time. President-Elect Obama displayed a tremendous amount of dignity during this campaign. He dealt with misinformation and lies that were repeatedly spoken, repeatedly debunked. He never lost his temper, he never lowered himself to the standard that came from the McCain camp.

In the end he prevailed and for the first time in my lifetime I backed someone who is a winner. But instead of doing what he said, uniting as Americans, too many of you want to cry in your beer still repeating the lies and refusing to step back from your blind hatred. I''m sorry so many of you have such shallow existences you cannot rise above the lowest places you reside. I''m sorry for others in your life that are forced to deal with you. I''m especially sorry to your children because they are not learning how to live proudly with honor and dignity they are instead learning about being consumed with hatred, bias and ignorance.