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Happy New Year, Mr. President-Elect

January 09, 2009 10:43 AM

Abc_rick_klein_081203_main_2ABC News’ Rick Klein Reports: It’s been President-elect Barack Obama’s first week in Washington -- and here’s guessing he’d like to have at least some of it back.

A thought: How many of the week’s many missteps might have been avoided with a few extra phone calls and/or a little foresight?

To recap a few highlights:

- One of Obama’s Cabinet picks, Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M., withdrew from consideration, amid squabbling between his team and the president-elect’s over how forthcoming Richardson was regarding a federal probe. 

- Obama’s pick for CIA director was quickly panned by the incoming chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who complained that she wasn’t consulted on the front end. 

- Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., blinked in their stand-off over Obama’s old Senate seat, with Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s pick, Roland Burris, now on track to being seated. 

- On the day of his highest-profile speech as president-elect, divisions erupted among congressional Democrats over his tax proposals, with even staunch allies like Sen. John F. Kerry, D-Mass., sounding skeptical notes. 

- His announcement of a new Democratic National Committee chairman was marred by a rather pointless dust-up, with allies of outgoing Chairman Howard Dean feeling dissed.

January 9, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (10)

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It's just the beginning of a LONG 4 years, plenty more to come.

Posted by: samhiguchi | Jan 9, 2009 10:56:23 AM

You people are really sad. Nit picking about miniscule issues and things with no lasting impact just to create a false narrative. Rick Klein, your bias against Obama is no obvious, and the pathetic thing is you sound as if you glorify any so-called mis-step, for god sake get a life and do proper journalistic work!

Posted by: John Johnson | Jan 9, 2009 11:11:15 AM

Dear President Elect,
My concern is for the senior citizens of America. We get Social Security yet we are greatly taxed. Medicare that does not cover health care, prescriptions or quality assistant living. After working hard all your life there needs to be a time to relax and not worry. Not only that but all the crazy paperwork that comes with this is overwhelming to most seniors and they need help to finally understand that what they thought was being taken care of.........is not.
What can you do to help the seniors of America?
A Senior Citizen That Voted for you with heart and hope in hand,
Rosemarie Laviada

Posted by: Rosemarie Laviada | Jan 9, 2009 11:13:51 AM

What game are you playing Rick Klein? Obama is not an angel. He is a human being like anybody else. If something goes wrong let him find the way to correct it and move on.

Posted by: Rita | Jan 9, 2009 11:42:02 AM

samhiguchi: Not nearly as long as the last 8 have been. Seems like a century.

Posted by: William J. LePetomane | Jan 9, 2009 12:33:16 PM

Will someone please tell Mr Obama
that there is NO Such Thing as the
Office of the President-Elect and please
get rid of that phoney podium!

Posted by: reaganfan | Jan 9, 2009 7:39:14 PM

I find it pretty hard to believe that not inviting Dr. Dean to be part of the DNC Chairmanship handover was an "oversight."

Maybe I could believe this for just about anyone else in the country... but as the Outgoing DNC Chairman, who was of course, during the planning of the event THE DNC Chairman, nobody is going to believe such a stupid lie.

So, what are we supposed to believe? As all reports on this story have been forced to recognize, Howard Dean's tenure at the DNC has been fairly spectacularly successful.

So how about an apology, Mr. Obama? You can be inclusive of Rev. Warren, but not of Gov. Dean?

Posted by: bco | Jan 9, 2009 10:14:29 PM

I find in this tough economy times of people losing jobs or not able to find jobs in there job skills is very stressful. I want to Know what law will be passed for those that may have a felony on there criminal record and can not get a job. Most companies will not hire a person that has a back ground that has not thing to do with the job description and a conviction that 5-10years old.It seems to me if some of these people that have a criminal record, falsely accused, or been a victim of identity theft should be able to get a job with companies especially if the crime was not committed or the offense is very old. Its not fair that some stupid judge that trying to make his or her political mark or prove a point with a human life is fair. So many people have been accused of a crime that they did not commit even when the facts show that they have not. These are the same people that are trying to get a job and can not, because Corporate America see's them as a criminal, and its not the fact that they have bills to pay, nor families to take care of. This is one of the reasons why they economy is in the shape that it is in there is no more compassion, not willing to give a person a chance to prove there work abilities. I do believe if companies were to give those with a back ground a chance to work the economy would be stimulated on that,possible less crimes would be committed as the result of them working, and bill would get paid. If this could be forward to President Elect Obama this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Posted by: Erylsha | Jan 10, 2009 4:44:50 AM

And to think that Jesse Jackson was
caught on mike wanting to "cut Obama's".................
ACORNS off! Why, the cheek of that
man! The ACORNS are doing well in
Minnesota as we speak.

Posted by: grizzly bare | Jan 10, 2009 9:43:57 PM

Howard the Duck....dissed by his own
party....and he never got the chance
to move on to Montana, and South Dakota
and Idaho...and Minnesota ...and...
and'''YARRRRGHHHHHHHH! This clown is
a sure bet for the political time
capsule..............

Posted by: grizzly bare | Jan 10, 2009 11:12:20 PM

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