| Few
surprises in Obama cabinet: a mix of safe and daring
choices
Secretary
of State: Most
likely to be Hillary Clinton.
Secretary of
Treasury: Paul Geithner, N.Y. Federal Reserve bank
president.
Secretary of
Defense: short term, Robert Gates. Long term, Sen.
Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, a former Army Ranger and
graduate of West Point and Harvard Law.
| Homeland
security: Janet Napolitano (read
more about Napolitano). We've
been pushing Janet Napolitano for months, either as
attorney general or homeland security. Governor of
Arizona, strong on homeland security, former
attorney general of Arizona, a burning passion for
education issues, an early endorser of Obama, and a
popular Democrat in McCain's red state. It has to be
good. Napolitano is also on Obama's transition team. |
Go
to Napolitano gallery
|
Attorney
General: Eric H. Holder Jr.
National
Security Advisor: Gen. James Jones, Susan Rice
Interior:
Tony Knowles, former gov. of Alaska
Commerce:
Bill Richardson, governor of New Mexico. This is a bitter
disappointment for the Hispanic community. Richardson, an
early Obama backer, was a candidate for secretary of
state. he deserves more than the minor commerce job. This
is an Obama blunder.
Agriculture:
former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack
Labor:
former Rep. David Bonior of Michigan, a liberal friend of
labor unions, former House whip and campaign chief for
candidate John Edwards who moved quickly to Obama
Housing and
urban development: Valerie Jarrett, chairwoman and CEO
of Habitat Co,
Transportation:
Federal Aviation Administration chief Jane Garvey
Energy:
Kathleen Sebelius, governor of Kansas. If not energy or
agriculture, Sebelius will be given a weighty portfolio.
She's capable and she pulled out all the stops to campaign
for Obama.
Vet. affairs:
Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, an Iraq vet who ran for
Congress in 2006
Health: Tom
Daschle of South Dakota, former Senate Majority Leader.
Jobs for the
boys: Hillary Clinton will have to be offered
something substantial. Obama doesn't want to insult her.
She'd like to be Sec. of State but Obama doesn't want Bill
that close to him. Perhaps she can be packed off to Europe
or the United Nations. Maybe Obama will invent a job for
her: Ambassador at Large for Global Affairs.
Whichever of the
two Bill Richardson or John Kerry, does not become Sec. of
State will need, and deserve, an important job.
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