Obama's First 100: Channel FDR, Avoid Clinton Foibles

President-elect expected to move 'quickly, but not hastily' to fill top jobs

(NEWSER) - The president-elect has offered the job of White House chief of staff to Rep. Rahm Emanuel, Jake Tapper reports this morning. Emanuel, who Tapper calls a "sharp-tongued, sharp-elbowed, keenly intelligent veteran of the Clinton White House," hasn't given his answer, Tapper's source says. Meanwhile, campaign insiders tell the Washington Post that Cabinet announcements are expected to start trickling out as soon as next week. More»

Former foes issue joint statement after Chicago confab

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama and John McCain met today in Chicago, and reaffirmed their call for bipartisanship and cooperation, the Tribune reports. The 90-minute meeting, at Obama’s transition headquarters, was described by the president-elect as a “conversation about how we can do some work together to fix up the country.” McCain, asked if he would help see that goal through, was clear. “Obviously.” More»

Already a historic prez, Obama can be great

(NEWSER) - The American Civil War finally ended last night, writes Thomas Friedman in the New York Times. The struggle that began at Bull Run was brought to a close when white America elected a black American president—the ‘Bradley effect” trumped by the “Buffett effect” of rich whites secretly voting Obama, wanting to share the younger generation’s hope. “Obama will always be our first black president,” Friedman writes. “But can he be one of our few great presidents?” More»

Looking ahead, Democrats approach Illinois congressman

(AP) - Barack Obama's campaign has approached Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel about serving as White House chief of staff, say anonymous Democratic sources. An aide to the congressman says he "has not been contacted to take a job in an administration that does not yet exist. Everyone is focused on Election Day, as they should be." More»

(NEWSER) - Bill Clinton and Barack Obama engaged in a mutual admiration fest tonight, their first joint appearance since their relationship soured during the primaries, the Boston Globe reports. "This man should be our president," Clinton told a Florida crowd at the end of a spirited endorsement. Obama then joined him on stage, saying, "In case any of you forgot, this is what it's like to have a great president." More»