Obama Takes Office Early

Blunders show new administration to be quite ordinary, blogger writes

(NEWSER) - News coverage has so far given the impression that Barack Obama’s transition is one of the smoothest, best-executed in history. But with a number of recent blunders grabbing headlines, the administration’s image is coming back down to earth, writes Ed Morrissey for Hot Air. “Most transitions feel embarrassed by one high-profile withdrawal,” Morrissey writes “but Obama’s had three: Daschle, Killefer, and Bill Richardson.” More»

Prez-elect's process a combo of 'discipline' and 'curiosity'

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama’s transition into the presidency has provided a window onto how he’ll operate as president, writes Peter Baker in the New York Times. Despite major challenges ahead, he has been “a font of cool confidence” throughout. But he’s “hard to label”—while he’s shown a bipartisan style, he’s also pushing for massive government expansion; and while he’s reached out for advice, he’s also centralizing decision-making in the White House. More»

Groups modernize process of sorting resumes

(NEWSER) - Special interest groups eager to cement plum spots in the Obama administration are using private websites and online databases to angle for positions, Politico reports. Instead of tossing their résumés onto the pile at Change.gov, savvy applicants are casting their lots with these groups, which pore over the resumes and pitch the cream of the crop. There’s no sign it’ll work, but in a field of 320,000 applicants, any edge helps. More»

(AP) - Barack Obama today selected a Harvard physicist and a marine biologist for key science posts, in a sign he plans a more aggressive response to global warming than did the Bush administration. John Holdren and Jane Lubchenco are leading experts on climate change who have advocated forceful government action. “It's time we once again put science at the top of our agenda,” Obama said today. More»

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama announced his final Cabinet choices today, making official what insiders have hinted at for a week, the Washington Post reports. Hilda Solis will be the nominee for labor secretary, Ron Kirk for trade representative, and Republican Ray LaHood for transportation. Solis appears to be the lightning rod, as union officials praised the appointment and foes said she would “toe the line for union bosses.” More»