- On November 4, the world exhaled. The age of George Bush
ended, and a new one under Barak Obama began. With high hopes he'll reverse
the toxic legacy of the past eight years. Adopt socially progressive policies.
End foreign wars. Govern the nation responsibly, democratically for all
its people. Show his supporters that their faith in him was justified.
-
- "Let us congratulate ourselves on being alive at
such a promising moment," wrote The Nation magazine's William Greider.
His victory is "a monumental rebuke to tragic history -- the ultimate
defeat of 'while supremacy.' Barak Obama has already changed this nation
profoundly. Like King before him, the man is a great and brave teacher.
(He) redefined the country for us."
-
- The Nation endorsed Obama early on and called his candidacy
"historic (for) a new generation (with) new possibilities....a sea-change
of course (for) progressive-driven reform....(the) end of the Reagan era....an
end of the occupation of Iraq....empowering labor (and) challenging our
trade policies." A socially liberal new beginning.
-
- A "transformational presidency," according
to its editor Katrina Vanden Heuvel. A "new era of possibility opened
up by Barak Obama's victory. (His) team's respect for the core decency,
dignity and intelligence of the American people was reflected in the campaign's"
rhetoric. He represents "a historic opportunity for a progressive
governing agenda and a mandate for bold action....Tonight we celebrate."
-
- Early on, The Nation shamelessly endorsed Obama with
over-hyped expectations for him. They're unfounded, and based on early
indications, hold the cheers. Obama's transition team is the first sign
of the type people he'll choose for cabinet and other top posts. Insiders
all, including former Clinton administration figures. The usual cast of
characters in Democrat or Republican administrations. The parts nearly
interchangeable for their common agenda. Progressive? A new beginning?
A "mandate for bold action?" A reason to "celebrate?"
Indeed so for insiders, who engineered what's now apparent.
-
- Earlier this writer imagined it, but who then could have
known. In a July article titled A Possible September Surprise," it
was suggested that "Republicans may stick with a likely loser, someone
many insiders dislike, go for a 1976 repeat, turn things over to a Democrat,
let him deal with their mess, then retake the presidency next time around."
-
- In the 1970s, the Rockefellers (America's most powerful
family) chose Jimmy Carter for president after the turbulent Nixon years.
Gerald Ford went along as window dressing. The same process repeated in
2008 to decompress after eight toxic Bush years. A needed respite for the
country, the world, and humanity. A new party and face to appear different
from the old one. Who better chosen than the first black president (a stroke
of genius some believe) to deflect attention from the past and focus it
all on him and the task he faces.
-
- McCain-Palin was the vehicle. A perfect foil. A caricature-like
ticket. An embarrassment. Supremely unqualified on both ends. By a man
with a distinct "passion gap" for conservatives. Known mostly
for his unpredictable temperament, unimpressive intellect, instability,
and genius for making enemies in his own party. And a woman more knowledgeable
about fishing than affairs of state. Pulled from obscurity. Noted only
for having been chosen. Now consigned to a footnote in history. One conservatives
plan to forget, then erase.
-
- Now a new beginning under Obama. With hoped for change
that he promised. A "bold mandate (for) progressive governing."
A "transformational presidency." The end of neoliberalism and
new era for his faithful. With legions lining up to cheer. Unmindful of
how American politics works. The way it is most everywhere. The same old,
same old that The New York Times ignored in saying that "Obama began
moving (swiftly) to build his administration and make good on his ambitious
promises to point the US in a different direction...."
-
- Without a whiff of progressivism in any high-level appointees
so far named, suggested, or in his transition team co-chairmen:
-
- John Podesta
-
- From 1998 - 2001, he was Clinton's chief of staff, and
in the 1980s, served as legal counsel for various congressional committees.
He's the founder and current president of the Center for American Progress,
a Democrat party front group claiming progressive credentials that got
seed money from investor and Obama advisor Warren Buffett. He's also a
visiting law professor at Georgetown University Law Center, and since 1988
the head of the Podesta Group, a Washington-based lobbying firm representing
corporations like Lockheed Martin, BP, and Walmart as well as trade associations
among its other clients. The Washingtonian magazine ranked him the third
most powerful city lobbyist.
-
- Valerie Jarrett
-
- A Chicagoan who worked for Mayor Harold Washington in
the 1980s as Deputy Corporation Counsel for Finance and Development. She
then moved on to the Daley administration in the 1990s as deputy chief
of staff and in other positions. She's currently CEO of the Habitat Company,
a real estate development and management firm with a dubious record. She
works closely with city officials on public housing and helped the Chicago
Housing Authority get public subsidies for its notoriously substandard
work.
-
- Habitat managed Grove Parc Plaza from 2001 - 2008 and
an even larger complex that the federal government seized in 2006 because
of its dilapidated and uninhabitable state. Nonetheless, she's rumored
to become the new housing secretary where she may do for the country what
she did to Chicago.
-
- Jarrett is also a Board member of the Chicago Stock Exchange
where she served as chairman from 2004 - 2007. She's one of Obama's most
trusted and longest serving advisors and campaign aides.
-
- Pete Rouse
-
- He's a long-time Capitol Hill insider for over 30 years.
Once served as Senate majority leader Tom Daschle's chief of staff and
was known as "the 101st senator" because of his knowledge, skill
and contacts. He's been allied to Obama since 2004. Wrote his "Strategic
Plan" for his first year in the Senate and also served as his chief
of staff.
-
- All three individuals are expected to have key roles
in the new administration once it takes over in January as well as others
on the Transition Project. It's been around for months as a fund-raising
front. The Chicago Sun Times said it was to raise money from individual
donors up to a maximum $5000 and do no internet or direct mail solicitations.
It helped Obama raise $600 million for his campaign, and though he claimed
transparency as one of his principles, he made no "voluntary early
disclosures." Money raised is also being used for his transition period
with no mention of how he'll use any residual amounts.
-
- Other Transition Project Members
-
- Carol Browner
-
- She served as Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency for eight years under Bill Clinton. The longest of anyone in that
position. Earlier she worked for Citizen Action in Washington. As general
counsel for the Florida House of Representatives Government Operations
Committee and for Senator Lawton Chiles. In addition, as Senator Al Gore's
Legislative Director. In 2001, she joined the Albright Group, a global
strategy firm headed by former secretary of state Madeleine Albright.
-
- William Daley
-
- Brother of Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley. He's a lawyer
and was Clinton's secretary of commerce from 1997 - 2000. He's a well-connected
insider and member of numerous high-powered organizations like the Council
on Foreign Relations, Friends of Hillary, Friends of Joe Lieberman, Obama
for America, and a number of corporate boards. Companies like Boeing, Abbott
Labs, Merck and Boston Properties. He's also vice-chairman of Evercore
Partners, a 1996-founded investment banking "boutique providing advisory
services to prominent multinational corporations on significant mergers,
acquisitions, divestitures, restructuring, and other strategic corporate
transactions."
-
- In the Clinton administration, Daley was instrumental
in getting NAFTA passed. He's also a past president of SBC Communications
and was later Midwest chairman of JP Morgan Bank among other positions,
including the practice of law.
-
- Michael Froman
-
- He's president and CEO of CitiInsurance, a branch of
banking giant Citigroup. Also a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign
Relations and a Resident Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United
States. Earlier and in the Clinton administration, he served as treasury
department chief of staff from 1977 to 1999. From 1993 - 1995, he was director
for International Affairs on the National Economic Council and the National
Security Council at the White House.
-
- Federico Pena
-
- He held two cabinet posts under Bill Clinton - from 1993
- 1997 as transportation secretary and from 1997 - 1998 as energy secretary.
In 1992, he advised then governor Clinton on transportation issues. Since
1998, he's been affiliated with the investment firm, Vestar Capital Partners,
as senior advisor and is now one of its managing directors.
-
- Suggested Obama Administration Members
-
- The first already chosen as Obama's chief of staff -
Rahm Emanuel, but hold the cheers. He's an influential insider and Democrat
member of the House since 2003. In 1991, he joined the Clinton campaign
as a fundraiser. Then later was political director and senior advisor.
-
- From 1999 - 2002, he was a managing director for investment
bank Dresdner, Kleinwort, Wasserstein in Chicago and also served as mayor
Richard Daley's chief fundraiser.
-
- In 2006, he chaired the Democratic Congressional Campaign
Committee for the midterm elections. He's the fourth ranking House Democrat.
A hawk, neoliberal and pro-Israeli hardliner. Now deceased long-time Chicago
activist, investigative reporter, and founder and chairman of the Citizens
Committee to Clean up the Courts, Sherman Skolnick, called him the "acting
deputy chief for North America of the (Israeli intelligence) Mossad."
-
- He's the son of Benjamin Emanuel (changed from Auerbach
in 1936 by his grandfather Ezekiel), a Chicago pediatrician involved pre-1948
with smuggling weapons to the Irgun. The Israeli group former prime minister
Menachem Begin headed that in 1946 bombed the King David Hotel and conducted
numerous other terrorist attacks.
-
- Emanuel is hard line like his father in his one-sided
support for Israel. He's dismissive of pro-Palestinian sympathies, and
supports a failed peace process that guarantees no chance for one. In 1991,
he served as a civilian volunteer in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) during
the Gulf war and is believed to hold dual citizenships.
-
- The Nation magazine's David Corn praised his appointment
and called Emanuel "an intelligent, fierce, competent, and sharp Washington
partisan....an agent of change....and guy who gets things done." Corn
also hailed Obama's victory and called him "one of the most progressive
(or liberal) nominees in the Democratic Party's recent history." Looking
ahead to his presidency, he represents "hope and change. He opposed
the Iraq war....Bush's tax cuts for the rich. He was no advocate of let-'er-rip,
free market capitalism or American unilateralism. In policy terms, Obama
represents a serious course correction....And more."
-
- In fact, Obama is mostly opposite of what Corn suggests.
On financial and economic matters alone, his Transitional Economic Advisory
Board reveals it. All its 17 members are high-level corporate and financial
types plus Democrat party insiders. CEOs like Warren Buffet, Robert Rubin
and head of four major corporations Penny Pritzker with more about her
below regarding her dubious business dealings and influential role in an
Obama administration. His other Brain Trust members (as the Wall Street
Journal calls them) are:
-
- -- Roel Campos - former SEC commissioner;
-
- -- Daniel Tarullo - Georgetown University professor and
former deputy director for international affairs of the National Economic
Council (NEC) from 1993 - 1998;
-
- -- Eric Schmidt - CEO of Google;
-
- -- Antonio Villaraigosa - mayor of Los Angeles;
-
- -- William Donaldson - former SEC chairman, under secretary
of state, chairman and CEO of the New York Stock Exchange, CEO of Aetna,
and founder and head of the investment firm Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette;
-
- -- Laura Tyson - former chairman of the National Economic
Council (NEC);
-
- -- David Bonier - former congressman;
-
- -- vice president-elect Joe Biden;
-
- -- Jennifer Granholm - governor of Michigan;
-
- -- Paul Volker - former Fed chairman with more on him
below;
-
- -- Rahm Emanuel - congressman and incoming White House
chief of staff; it's the most important administration post after the president
and a Dick Cheney type vice-presidency;
-
- -- Richard Parsons - chairman of Time Warner;
-
- -- Anne Mulcahy - CEO of Xerox;
-
- -- Lawrence Summers - former Treasury secretary with
more on him below;
-
- -- Roger Ferguson - CEO of TIAA-CREF financial services;
-
- --John Podesta - transition team head;
-
- -- Robert Reich - former labor secretary; and
-
- -- William Daley - former commerce secretary.
-
- Noticeably absent - anyone representing ordinary people.
Workers, homeowners, the unemployed, the disadvantaged, the poor who've
been hurt the most by Wall Street's-caused financial crisis now morphed
into the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. Their omission
is clear evidence where Obama's administration is headed, where his allegiance
lies, and what his policy directives will look like. A rigid class society,
white supremacism, and neoliberalism are safe in his hands.
-
- -- he's for permanent occupation of Iraq;
-
- -- America's imperial agenda;
-
- -- militarism and foreign wars;
-
- -- new ones against Pakistan; possibly Iran as well;
-
- -- an enlarged military;
-
- -- more troops to Afghanistan;
-
- -- a new Cold War with Russia;
-
- -- in 2006, campaigned for Joe Lieberman against anti-war
candidate Ned Lemont;
-
- -- opposes impeaching Bush and Cheney;
-
- -- in July 2005, backed reauthorizing the Patriot Act
with its police state provisions;
-
- -- supports Homeland Security funding to enforce them;
-
- -- supports the death penalty;
-
- -- privatized in lieu of public education;
-
- -- is one-sidedly pro-Israel;
-
- -- opposes universal single-payer national health care;
-
- -- supports medical providers in wrongful injury cases;
-
- -- backs "free trade" and initiatives like
NAFTA;
-
- -- the right of mining companies to strip mine everything;
-
- -- is unresponsive to labor;
-
- -- supports biofuels production, big agribusiness subsidies,
and the industry's rage to make all foods GMO;
-
- -- supports the Bush administration's energy policy;
its huge subsidies and other generous handouts;
-
- -- backs nuclear power, loose industry regulation, and
multi-billions in subsidies;
-
- -- supports the Paulson bailout plan and the fraudsters
that get it;
-
- -- backs repressive immigration legislation affecting
people of color;
-
- -- is beholden to his corporate backers; and
-
- -- is committed to a pro-business agenda overall.
-
- He steered clear of criticizing Wall Street, and appears
ready to back down on his campaign pledge to cut taxes for earners under
$200,000 and raise them on incomes over $250,000. When asked point blank,
he waffled and said this policy may be reconsidered, which is clear evidence
it's been scrubbed.
-
- He's reputed not to be a member of the far-to-the-right-of-center
Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), but according to its founder, Al From,
he's on board for "a good part of the strategy we have articulated
over the years." He added that Obama has an "intellectual"
and "tactical" connection to the DLC. It was clear in his first
appointment - Rahm Emanuel.
-
- He's a key DLC member in good standing. The organization
Ralph Nader calls "corporatist (and) soulless." Governing from
the far right no different than Republicans. Founded in 1985, it grew dominant
in the party under then governor Clinton and Senators Gore, Lieberman and
John Breaux.
-
- Its ideology is anti-labor, anti-populist, anti-welfare,
pro-business, and very amenable to imperialism, militarism, and foreign
wars. Again Ralph Nader: "To the DLC mind, Democrats are catering
to 'special interests' when they stand up for trade unions, regulatory
consumer-investor protections, a pre-emptive peace policy overseas, pruning
the bloated military budget now devouring (the federal budget), defending
Social Security from Wall Street schemes, and pressing for universal health
care coverage. So right-wing is the DLC....that even opposing Bush's tax
cuts for the wealthy....is considered ultra-liberal and contrary to winning
campaigns."
-
- DLC "special interests" include the rights
of blacks, Hispanics, Latino immigrants, Muslims, labor, the poor, consumer
justice groups, populism, progressivism, environmental protection, anti-war
activists, peace supporters, groups demanding corporate and war criminals
be prosecuted, and anyone believing that America should have honest elections
and be governed democratically.
-
- Based on early indications, these "interests"
appear sidelined in a new Obama administration. But not according to New
York Times columnist Bob Herbert in his "Take a Bow, America"
article. "The nation deserves to take (one). This is not the same
place it used to be."
-
- In his latest Times commentary, our newest economics
Nobel laureate, Paul Krugman, agreed in calling November 4 "a date
that will live in fame. If the election of our first African-American president
didn't stir you, if it didn't leave you teary-eyed and proud of your country,
there's something wrong with you. But will the election also mark a turning
point in the actual substance of policy? Can Barak Obama really usher in
a new era of progressive policies? Yes he can."
-
- Times writer Frank Rich agreed as well in his article
titled "It Still Felt Good the Morning After (as) America's tears
of catharsis gave way to unadulterated joy....millions of....Americans
were....waiting for a leader. This was the week that they reclaimed their
country."
-
- It will await a future one before they realize they were
fooled again. The nation will remain in safe elitist hands. It won't get
"a new New Deal" Krugman advocates given the names being floated
to serve in it who seem to have passed under the radar screens of the above
commentators.
-
- Tom Daschle
-
- The former Senate majority leader. Now a special policy
advisor at the Alston & Bird law firm and visiting professor at Georgetown
University's Public Policy Institute. He's also a senior fellow at John
Podesta's Center for American Progress. Possible posts mentioned include
secretary of state, health and human resources for his work on health care,
and agriculture for the same reason.
-
- Richard Holbrooke
-
- Another long-time insider. He twice served as assistant
secretary of state. From 1977 - 1981 under Jimmy Carter for Asia and from
1994 - 1996 for Europe under Bill Clinton. From 1993 - 1994, he was ambassador
to Germany, and from 1999 - 2001 served as UN ambassador. It's rumored
he's being considered for secretary of state, a position he failed to get
to replace Warren Christopher when Madeleine Albright got the job as the
first ever woman in it.
-
- Richard Lugar
-
- A senior Republican senator and man, who as mayor of
Indianapolis in 1975, gave an impressive welcoming address to a group assembled
by this writer for an event unrelated to world or national affairs. He's
now served 30 years in the Senate where he's been chairman of the Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations from 1987 - 1995 and again from 2003 - 2007.
He's been mentioned as a possible secretary of state.
-
- Lawrence Summers
-
- From 1982 - 1983, he served on the Reagan administration's
Council of Economic Advisors. Then in 1993 in the Clinton administration
as under-Treasury secretary for international affairs and as Treasury secretary
from 1999 - 2001. Earlier from 1991 - 1993, he was chief economist for
the World Bank where he authored a controversial memo stating that "the
economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage
country is impeccable and we should face up to that."
-
- Summers was later president of Harvard University from
2001 - 2006 where controversy again dogged him. For his contentious relations
with faculty members and for suggesting that the presence of few women
in upper-level science and math positions was because of innate differences
between men and women. The combination led to his 2006 resignation.
-
- He now teaches at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government,
is a consultant to Goldman Sachs, and is a managing director of the DE
Shaw & Company hedge fund. His name is being floated as the leading
candidate for Treasury secretary, and as Michel Chossudovsky states: "Putting
a Hedge Fund manager (with links to the Wall Street financial establishment)
in charge of the Treasury is tantamount to putting the fox in charge of
the chicken coup," and more evidence that Obama plans the kind of
business as usual that he pledged to get rid of.
-
- Jon Corzine
-
- Former CEO of Goldman Sachs who was forced out by the
current Treasury secretary, Henry Paulson, in a palace coup. He's now New
Jersey governor and according to the New Jersey Star-Ledger "is being
actively vetted by the Obama transition team as a possible candidate for
Treasury secretary in the new administration, two New Jersey Democrats
familiar with the process said (on November 5)....Neither Corzine nor his
aides would respond to a request for comment."
-
- Paul Volker
-
- The former Fed chairman from 1979 under Jimmy Carter
and under Ronald Reagan until Alan Greenspan replaced him in 1987. He's
a key Obama economic advisor and another possible Treasury secretary. Timothy
Geithner, the New York Fed chairman, is also being mentioned. He's allied
with Henry Paulson and worked closely with him on his bailout plan.
-
- James Steinberg
-
- An academic and political advisor, he served as deputy
National Security Advisor to Bill Clinton in his second term. He's currently
dean of the Lyndon Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of
Texas. He's reported most likely to become National Security Advisor.
-
- Senators John Kerry and Republican Chuck Hagel are mentioned
as possible secretary of state choices, and the AP reports that Kerry wants
the job. New Mexico governor Bill Richardson also who under Clinton was
energy secretary and UN ambassador but then broke with the Clintons to
support Obama.
-
- Dennis Ross
-
- The former State department director for policy planning
and special Middle East coordinator under Clinton. Under Republicans and
Democrats he's been instrumental in shaping Middle East policy with an
extreme pro-Israeli bias. He may do it again under Obama or serve in another
key role.
-
- Susan Rice
-
- A National Security Council member and assistant secretary
of State under Clinton. Rumored to become UN ambassador.
-
- Some observers think the current defense secretary Robert
Gates may stay on, but an anonymous source close to Obama discounts it.
Others mentioned include John Hamre, a former deputy defense secretary
from 1997 - 2000 and current president of the far right Center for Strategic
and International Studies (CSIS) that specializes in crisis management
and "advancing (US) global interests." Senator Jack Reed's name
is also mentioned as well as Marine general and former NATO commander Jim
Jones and general Anthony Zinni when he's available in 2010.
-
- Penny Pritzker
-
- According to some, she's the most powerful woman in America.
At the least one of them and one of the richest as heiress to a portion
of the Pritzker family fortune (believed in excess of $40 billion) and
its grandfathered in (free from taxation) offshore trusts. Hundreds of
them for secrecy that were set up in the Caribbean by her grandfather Abram.
-
- Forbes magazine did a feature 2005 story on her saying
she "was chosen by her late uncle (and family patriarch) Jay (Pritzker)
to help oversee the family's vast portfolio of investments" that includes
Hyatt hotels, other real estate investments, and 40% of the Marmon Group
after 60% was sold to Warren Buffett for $4.5 billion.
-
- In its "Power of Penny Pritzker" article, Bloomberg
called her the "billionaire head of Barack Obama's fundraising machine
(and) the person to call when you want to 'get the job done,' says Warren
Buffett," who's had a long-standing business relationship with the
family going back decades. Today, it's with Penny, the multi-billion dollar
fortune she controls, and the enormous influence she wields in Washington
as a Democrat party insider and fund-raiser extraordinaire.
-
- According to Bloomberg, Penny gets much of the credit
for getting Obama elected. For "organizing the best-financed campaign
in US history." For tapping wealthy and first-time contributors through
her influence, contacts, and "no-nonsense" style.
-
- Her controversial one also, according to Fran Sweet,
a retired Ameritech manager, who lost $100,000 in the failed (suburban
Chicago) Hinsdale-based Superior Bank that collapsed in 2001 with some
$2.3 billion in assets. The result of poor lending practices, sloppy bookkeeping,
and likely fraud at a time Pritzker was on its Board and in charge.
-
- Superior was a predatory lender very heavily into subprime
mortgages in the late 1990s. Pritzker was one of its originators, and some
call her the "subprime queen." The doyenne of predatory lending
that cost the FDIC $700 million and depositors $65 million.
-
- Fran Sweet for one. She calls the Pritzkers "crooks.
They don't care anything about people who spent their whole lives trying
to save." Many lost everything in Superior accounts in amounts over
the FDIC $100,000 limit.
-
- Bloomberg reported controversy about another Pritzker
company - the credit reporting firm TransUnion. "It controls the $3.3
billion market in equal shares with Atlanta-based Equifax and Dublin-based
Experian Group Ltd. After widespread consumer complaints about shoddy service
in the credit checking industry, the US Congress passed legislation in
2003 that allowed people to get free copies of credit reports so they could
check for mistakes and block information obtained from identity theft."
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