The day Obama appoints a strong liberal progressive to his cabinet will be a great day!

[John Q. Citizen]

I can't wait.

it's going to be so good after 8 years of bush abetting.

[Tom Kitten]

1. Bernie Saunders would be a good Secretary of Labor

That said, and I don't expect it to happen, I am waiting for somebody somewhere to offer me a job, any job, please!!!

[John Q. Citizen]

2. I like Bernie. But he's quite important where he's at right now. We need a voice in the Senate.

I'm thinking we need an expert and advocate on single payer health insurance would be a good addition. That way we can get some balance and a good discussion.

[sohndrsmith]

3. I think he got the best one elected to run the place... : )

That is a pretty good sign, no?

[Tom Kitten]

4. and who would that be

please tell a naive fellow poster, I'm just trying to be helpful...

[sohndrsmith]

6. I'm sorry - the shorthand in my brain sometimes comes through in what I write,

which invariably causes people to go "huh"?

The gist of my message was: Obama got himself elected. I'm guessing you knew that, but are (politely) questioning my opinion because, perhaps, you don't think he is a liberal progressive? If I'm confused or have this wrong, please set me straight.

I think Obama is liberal, progressive as well as pragmatic and intelligent. One message I heard throughout his campaign was: Don't expect me to act in ways that are familiar to you - because if doing so doesn't make sense or offer positive opportunities, I won't do them. DO expect me to appoint, consult and work with the people I think are most qualified, most informed for the positions under which I ask them to serve. DON'T make the mistake in assuming that because I hire or am willing to work with people who are legends from the Clinton administration, Republicans who hold many philosophical views - means that my policies and my agendas will not be progressive or exemplify change. Etc., etc.

One thing I have discovered (now repeatedly) is that the definitions of "liberal" and "progressive" much less "liberal progressive" mean very different things to different people - even those who assume that they hold the same beliefs or similar beliefs...

Obama, as far as I'm concerned is the epitome of progressiveness... because he campaigned on the "United States of America", not a black America, republican, democrat, old, young, disabled, not disabled, gay, straight.... you guys know the speeches and this message was huge for a lot of us.

That he is following through, with utter consistency, in upholding this message - is something that many of us were hoping for - and voted for! He's walking the walk, and some of us get mad because he includes people that aren't "on the same team"? Obama promised us that labels were not what he was looking for, and we showed up by the tens of thousands because of this message.

Now that he is doing what he said he would do, is it a problem? I'm not asking the question facetiously or sarcastically. I really want to know... given that Obama was adamant of standing for "every" man (woman/child/etc) did people just not believe him, or did they expect him to only fill his cabinet with the "right" kind of person? Liberal/Democrat/Progressive, whatever... when what was so exhilarating to so many of us what his inclusion of all - his interest in judging an individual not by the party on his/her voter registration card, but by the content of his/her character AND his/her ability to handle the biggest SNAFU being handed to an incoming president in the history of this nation.

If you disagree with me, please - post a response... I may be missing something, and there's nothing wrong with disagreement... I think they're invaluable. And I have long been a proponent of what Obama (refreshingly) states regularly, that we can "disagree without being disagreeable." A lot of people don't get - or have lost that concept. A cigar smoking talk-show host comes to mind. Actually, a KO nemesis comes to mind even more appropriately...

Obama is following through with the idea that this is one America... and I find it fascinating that it's not acceptable now that he's bringing in people - regardless of political ideology. And it would be nearly if not completely impossible for him to nominate Dems who were not part (even significant parts) of the Clinton Administration... that was the last Dem administration and many Dems were part of it...

I've said too much... I'm no good at encapsulating. Hopefully, Someone gets my drift. : )

[Tom Kitten]

7. I read your post and pretty much agree with all you say

I have a stupid useless college degree and I consider myself pretty smart but my industry went bye bye to China to produce packaging for products grown here in the Willamette Valley and my bosses promised me a new world of prosperity with a new shiny office and they hired a new assistant for me and then they "let me go" with a month's pay and that was it...No negotiations, that was it..I found out later this "assistant" is more knowledgeable with the internet crap than I was but rather than invest in a loyal empoyee who already made 16 dollars an hour they just let me go...

[John Q. Citizen]

5. Don't leave him lonely. Where's his best friend in policy?

[polichick]

8. If it doesn't happen with the environmental appointments, I'll be extremely disappointed...

But I think it will happen.

[styersc]

9. I have it on good authority that one of the people who has been

interviewed to work as a valet car parker during the inauguration once worked as a roadie for a Farm Aid concert. I think that may be as close as we get.

[Hippo_Tron]

10. He already has appointed Xavier Becerra to the Cabinet-level post of US Trade Representative

Becerra is a member of the Progressive Caucus and has receives high praises from Bernie Sanders.

[Vattel]

11. I would also consider Rice a progressive

[mtnsnake]

12. I wish my favorite of all Democrats currently working in Congress, Dennis Kucinich, was in there

AFAIC, no other Democrat better represents the ideals of Liberals and Progressives better than he does. In fact, I think Dennis represents the ideals of what the Democratic Party is SUPPOSED to stand for better than almost anyone out there. Even though the position is already taken, I think he would make as fine a SOS as anyone going, pushing diplomacy as well as anyone out there. Also, there is no one better suited, IMO, to be Secretary of the Interior than he is (with the exception of Kerry), considering his amazing record on the environment.

[John Q. Citizen]

13. The only problem i would have with either would be the hole in congress. They have been around and

they are quite effective.

Kitzhaber might be good at interior and he would be helpful in the health care debate.