The Hollywood Liberal

The Blame Game

Obama Cabinet Complete by Christmas
Transition chief John Podesta told Bloomberg that President-elect Obama would complete “virtually the whole Cabinet” by Christmas, and the new president’s team will reach beyond the Democratic Party. He said there will be “multiple Republicans” in the administration.

Said Podesta: “You’ll see them spread throughout the administration.”

Why Is Lou Dobbs Minimizing the Impact of Hate Crimes?
Dobbs got nervous after a news conference on link between the rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric and hate crimes against Latinos.

The Daily Muck
House leaders voiced their support for the Constitution’s “speech or debate clause” — a provision designed to protect members of congress from being arrested for their legislative activities — in a brief filed Monday in the case of outgoing Arizona…

Don’t Hide the Fudge!
Okay, this one’s just for fun. You know, John McCain’s been having a rough few days on the image and message front. Had to cancel the visit to New Orleans and the Gulf Oil rig because of the recent oil…

Dionne: ?Obama?s Bush Doctrine.?
The Washington Post’s E.J. Dionne argues, “In electing Barack Obama, the country traded the foreign policy of the second President Bush for the foreign policy of the first President Bush.” Noting Obama’s willingness to heed the advice of Defense Secretary Robert Gates and former National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft, Dionne says Obama’s realist foreign policy […]

The Washington Post’s E.J. Dionne argues, “In electing Barack Obama, the country traded the foreign policy of the second President Bush for the foreign policy of the first President Bush.” Noting Obama’s willingness to heed the advice of Defense Secretary Robert Gates and former National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft, Dionne says Obama’s realist foreign policy mindset resembles that of the elder Bush:

Obama’s national security choices are already causing grumbling from parts of the antiwar left, even if Obama made clear six years ago that while he was with them on Iraq, he was not one of them.

Ironically, Obama is likely to show more fidelity to George H.W. Bush’s approach to foreign affairs than did the former president’s own son. That’s change, maybe even change we can believe in, but it’s not the change so many expected.

Obama’s Choice of Elected Officials for Administration Leaves Seats Vulnerable
President-elect Barack Obama’s speed in naming Cabinet nominees and top White House staffers has drawn praise from many within his party but also has left a series of likely vacancies that could endanger Democratic electoral prospects in the coming months and reduce diversity within party ranks.