Obama Preparing a Transition Team - No Time To Waste

75 Days until Inauguration Day - January 20, 2009

He's not even in the Whitehouse yet, but Barack Obama is already making decisions. In an election like this when the opposing party takes over, a transition of power takes place, not only in the Presidential position, but several positions that need to be filled that will be critical so that a president can lead the country. It is important that he do so to set the right tone early, unlike President Clinton who picked several Cabinet positions just five days before he was sworn in. This is very high visibility time with Obama, as everyone is watching his every move. He plans to meet with advisers about his transition team, including his very first unconfirmed appointment as chief of staff, Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel. A maverick in his own right, Barack Obama is considering a few people from the other side of the isle from the republican party, Hagel, R-Nebraska who was a fierce critic on how Bush handled the Iraq war, and Lugar, R-Indiana who worked with Obama just a year ago to help with the aim at destroying weapons of mass destruction in the former Soviet Union. Even someone serving with President Bush at this time is being considered, Robert Gates, who is Bush's defense secretary. They are being considered for his national security team. If Barack Obama decides to go accross the isle like that, it may be an important factor to help corral the Republican party to work with the new president.