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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: political appointment

political appointment stories: 20 news summaries
BLAGO FALLOUT


 Ethics Panel 
 Slaps Burris 
 on the Wrist 

'Letter of admonition' cites fibs surrounding Blagojevich

Nov 20, 09 11:47 AM CST
(Newser) - The Senate Ethics Committee today issued a “public letter of qualified admonition,” its gentlest censure, to Roland Burris. The Illinois Democrat had been required to come clean about his dealings with then-governor Rod Blagojevich before his appointment to replace Barack Obama, which he did—before amending his testimony.... More »

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Senate Ethics Committee • false statements • Rod Blagojevich • political scandal • Roland Burris • political appointment • Senate seat • rebuke • admonish

OPINION

 Hey, Kennedys! 
 'Enough With the Entitlement' 

Dukakis would have been a better choice for Mass. and Patrick

Sep 24, 09 12:46 PM CDT
(Newser) - Ted Kennedy’s seat “is not a Kennedy seat anymore.” His wife could have run. Or his nephew Joe. They chose not to. So why did Massachusetts' governor bow to the wishes of a now-defunct dynasty when choosing a replacement for the late senator? “Enough, finally, with... More »

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Ted Kennedy • Massachusetts • Joe Kennedy • Michael Dukakis • Deval Patrick • US Senate • political appointment • Senate seat • Vicki Kennedy • Paul Kirk

 Crist Names Aide to Senate 

LeMieux is the Florida governor's former chief of staff

Aug 28, 09 12:22 PM CDT
(Newser) - Florida Governor Charlie Crist has appointed his former campaign manager and chief of staff to fill the Senate seat of Mel Martinez, MSNBC reports. George LeMieux will represent the state until next year's election, when Crist himself will vie for the GOP nod. “George is bright, capable, and an... More »

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Florida • Senate • Charlie Crist • Mel Martinez • governor • Election 2010 • political appointment • Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee • George LeMieux

(Newser) - Fox News ripped into President Obama's choice for surgeon general yesterday for being too fat for the job. "Enough fat for my next guest to say 'fat chance' for Dr. Regina Benjamin to even be considered," said host Neil Cavuto. The guest? Not a public health expert or... More »

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fat • Surgeon General • obese • overweight • political appointment • presidential appointment • Regina Benjamin

analysis

Obama Lacks Health Team
as Swine Flu Spreads

Terrorism pros handle health crisis

Apr 27, 09 1:53 AM CDT
(Newser) - With key health posts in the Obama administration still vacant, the swine flu outbreak is being handled by a counter-terrorism specialist and a former governor, Politico reports. The administration still lacks a surgeon general and chiefs for the Food and Drug Administraion and Centers for Disease Control, and needs to... More »

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epidemic • Department of Health • outbreak • Kathleen Sebelius • flu • US Senate • Obama administration • Obama Cabinet • political appointment • swine flu

New Solicitor General in Line for High Court

Center-left lawyer
will work closely
with Supremes

Mar 21, 09 4:48 PM CDT
(Newser) - Elena Kagan became America's first female solicitor general yesterday, putting her one step closer to a possible Supreme Court nomination, the AP reports. As the so-called "10th Supreme Court justice," Kagan will effectively audition for the high court if she argues a Voting Rights Act case next... More »

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Department of Justice • lawyer • Harvard Law School • confirmation hearings • solicitor general • US Supreme Court • Obama administration • President Obama • political appointment • Elena Kagan

 Obama's Agenda 
 Dwarfs His Staff 

President's team stretched thin despite flurry of appointments

Mar 16, 09 11:08 AM CDT
(Newser) - President Obama is filling government jobs more quickly than his predecessors, but there's so much going on that his team is still stretched thin, the Wall Street Journal reports. Obama is juggling the economic crisis, stimulus package, and two wars, all with just 43 confirmed aides. "No one... More »

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Department of Health • Treasury Department • Department of Commerce • federal employees • Obama administration • Timothy Geithner • Obama Cabinet • political appointment

Bribery Sting Nets Employee of Obama Tech Appointee

Vivek Kundra not linked to DC investigation: FBI

Mar 12, 09 1:08 PM CDT
(Newser) - FBI agents raided the office of the District of Columbia’s chief technology officer today as part of a federal bribery investigation, WTOP-AM reports. The FBI arrested an employee of the agency and a private contractor who has received several hundred thousand dollars in city contracts. Vivek Kundra, President Obama’... More »

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Barack Obama • FBI • bribery • District of Columbia • chief information officer • Obama administration • President Obama • political appointment • Vivek Kundra

ANALYSIS

Obama's Clinton Retreads Followed Voters Leftward

Seemingly centrist appointments have not produced a centrist government, Douthat writes

Mar 10, 09 6:00 PM CDT
(Newser) - When Barack Obama announced his Cabinet appointments, conservatives and liberals alike looked at the numerous Clinton veterans and wondered if Obama the president would be much more centrist than Obama the candidate. Now, “Obama is proposing the most thoroughgoing transformation of domestic policy offered by any President since Reagan,... More »

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Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • Larry Summers • Obama administration • Obama Cabinet • political appointment

(Newser) - Judd Gregg’s flirtation with the top job at Commerce has brought the partisan battle over the US Census to the fore with just a year to go before before the official count, the New York Times reports. Most Americans may not think of the census as a political... More »

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partisanship • Department of Commerce • US Census • redistricting • Obama administration • Judd Gregg • President Obama • Obama Cabinet • political appointment • 2010

Bush Faithful Rewarded With Plum Jobs

No crony left behind
in last-minute
appointments

Feb 10, 09 8:39 AM CST
(Newser) - The Bush presidency lives on through more than 100 end-of-term appointments to a wide range of presidential panels, the Washington Post reports. The positions, many of which will outlast his successor's current term, have gone to George Bush's aides and political donors. Most are unpaid, although four top aides snagged... More »

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World Bank • Bush legacy • political donors • George W. Bush • political appointment

Oprah: 'I Could Be Senator, I'm Just Not Interested'

Winfrey 'amused' that Blago considered her

Jan 26, 09 1:06 PM CST
(Newser) - Oprah was “amused” by the news that Rod Blagojevich had considered naming her to Obama’s Senate seat—but would not have been interested, ABC News reports. “Absolutely not,” Winfrey said in an interview this morning, citing the demands of managing her media empire. “I think... More »

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Barack Obama • Oprah Winfrey • Illinois • Good Morning America • governor • Rod Blagojevich • political scandal • political appointment

(Newser) - Gov. Paterson says he'll name Hillary Clinton's replacement for the Senate tomorrow, and strong signs point to Albany-area Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, the Times Union reports. Given the recent carnival regarding the seat, it's probably best to hold off wagering, but two confidential sources say the Democrat will be named, and... More »

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Congress • Senate • New York • David Paterson • Kirsten Gillibrand • political appointment

 Ill. Court Clears 
 Burris' Path to DC 

Blago pick to replace Obama doesn't need secretary of state's signature

Jan 9, 09 4:18 PM CST
(Newser) - The Illinois Supreme Court ruled today that the secretary of state’s signature was not necessary on Roland Burris’ US Senate credentials, Reuters reports. The move effectively validates Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s choice to fill Barack Obama’s seat, and puts the issue back to the Senate. Lawmakers there said... More »

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Barack Obama • Congress • Senate • President Obama • Illinois Supreme Court • Roland Burris • political appointment • Jesse White

OPINION

Presumptuous?
Caroline Is Aiming Low

Senate would be lucky to have her 'smart, cultivated' voice: Dowd

Jan 7, 09 10:44 AM CST
(Newser) - When John F Kennedy Jr founded George magazine, many upbraided him for not trading more valuably on his clan’s mystique. But when sister Caroline aims for a Senate seat, Maureen Dowd writes in the New York Times, she’s “blasted by a howl of ‘How dare she?’... More »

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Congress • Senate • New York • Jesse Helms • Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg • Strom Thurmond • Kennedy family • Bush dynasty • George W. Bush • political appointment • John F. Kennedy Jr.

(Newser) - CNN correspondent and neurosurgeon Sanjay Gupta is Barack Obama’s choice for surgeon general, and the doctor is expected to accept, the Washington Post reports. The two had a meeting in Chicago in November, where the president-elect noted that Gupta would be a very high-profile appointment and would have... More »

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Hillary Clinton • Sanjay Gupta • CNN • Surgeon General • President Obama • Obama Cabinet • political appointment • neurosurgery

 Panetta Tapped to Helm CIA 

Former Clinton adviser has little intelligence experience

Jan 5, 09 2:31 PM CST
(Newser) - Barack Obama will name Leon Panetta, a former congressman and chief of staff to Bill Clinton, director of the CIA, the New York Times reports. Observers were split on the choice of Panetta, who is well-respected for his Beltway savvy but has no specific intelligence experience. Panetta will report to... More »

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Barack Obama • CIA • Leon Panetta • President Obama • CIA director • Dennis Blair • political appointment

Senate Clerk Rejects Burris Paperwork

But former AG says
he's confident his appointment is legal

Jan 5, 09 2:13 PM CST
(Newser) - The secretary of the Senate blocked the appointment of Roland Burris to Barack Obama's former seat today on the grounds that Burris’ certificate of appointment lacked the signature of Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, CNN reports. White has refused to sign the certificate because of the controversy over Burris’... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • Senate • corruption • Illinois • governor • Rod Blagojevich • corruption charges • Roland Burris • political appointment

 Va. Guv Kaine 
 to Lead DNC 

Longtime Obama friend will become voice of the new administration

Jan 4, 09 6:13 PM CST
(Newser) - Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine will take the top post at the Democratic National Committee later this month, the Washington Post reports. With a year left in the governor’s office, Kaine will juggle his gubernatorial responsibilities with his new role as the voice for the Obama administration. Kaine has gotten... More »

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Tim Kaine • Virginia • Democratic National Committee • President Obama • political appointment

Illinois House Revives Chance of Special Election

Bill returns to committee hearing scheduled for next week

Dec 31, 08 4:03 PM CST
(Newser) - Add this to the confusion over a certain Senate seat in Illinois: Democrats may try to hold a special election to fill it after all. One day after Rod Blagojevich surprised all by naming his own appointment, the Illinois House speaker quietly revived the possibility of holding an election by... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • Senate • Illinois • vacancy • Rod Blagojevich • special election • Mike Madigan • Illinois House of Representatives • political appointment

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