Progressives Ponder Obama (excerpts)

"A Clinton Administration?"-Tom Englehardt (The Nation):

No one should be shocked to discover that, in his transition to the presidency, the "inexperienced" former senator from Chicago has turned to the last Democratic administration that had experience in Washington. It seems, however, that the Obama team is doing so big time. Looking at lists of early appointees for the transition period and the administration to come, from Rahm Emanuel on down, you might be forgiven for concluding that Hillary had been elected president in 2008. Clintonistas are just piling up in the prospective corridors of power.

"Antiwar groups fear Barack Obama may create hawkish Cabinet" (LA Times):

Activists note that most of the candidates for top security posts voted for the 2002 resolution authorizing President Bush to invade Iraq or otherwise supported launching the war.

"Agents of Change or Hawks, Clintonites and Neo Cons?" (Democracy Now, with video and audio):

As speculations abound over who President-Elect Barack Obama will name to key cabinet positions we look at some of the central figures advising Obama, many of whom are leading candidates for posts in the next administration. We speak with Jeremy Scahill, author of the new piece, “This is Change? 20 Hawks, Clintonites and Neocons to Watch for in Obama’s White House” and David Corn, author of “The Agents of Change on Obama’s Transition Team.”

"A who's who guide to the people poised to shape Obama's foreign policy" (Jeremy Scahill):

U.S. policy is not about one individual, and no matter how much faith people place in President-elect Barack Obama, the policies he enacts will be fruit of a tree with many roots. Among them: his personal politics and views, the disastrous realities his administration will inherit, and, of course, unpredictable future crises. But the best immediate indicator of what an Obama administration might look like can be found in the people he surrounds himself with and who he appoints to his Cabinet. And, frankly, when it comes to foreign policy, it is not looking good.

"The Agents of Change on Obama's Transition Team" (David Corn):

Last week, the Obama transition team announced its agency review teams, which, according to the office of the president-elect, will examine key departments, agencies, and commissions, as well as the White House, to provide Barack Obama and his key advisers “information needed to make strategic policy, budgetary, and personnel decisions prior to the inauguration.” As the media and most political consumers focus on who will get what senior position in the Obama administration, this group of about 130 people will do the nuts-and-bolts work of preparing the agendas for the incoming decision-makers.

Howie P.S.: David Corn also writes (in "Obama's First Drama: Hillary Clinton"):

I was agnostic on the matter of Hillary Clinton's possible appointment as secretary of state--until last night.

Barack Obama