These are some of the top Bidden admin national security people….
John Kerry will be back getting a government check….
Biden brings back in. a old hand for a piece of foreign affairs…
Smart and reassuring move….
The group is diverse….
Full list:
- Secretary of State: Tony Blinken
- National Security Adviser: Jake Sullivan
- Director of National Intelligence: Avril Haines
- Department of Homeland Security Secretary: Alejandro Mayorkas
- U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations: Linda Thomas-Greenfield
- Special presidential envoy on climate: John Kerry
Between the lines, via Axios’ Margaret Talev: The list, set to be announced at an event in Delaware on Monday, is a deliberate effort to package nominees in a way that suggests diversity — a “first” for women and Latinos, a Black woman, and a white man.
- Neither Sullivan nor Kerry will have to endure confirmation hearings, but it brings Kerry into the administration in what is likely to be an important role…..
New York Times: “The emerging team reunites a group of former senior officials from the Obama administration, most of whom worked closely together at the State Department and the White House and in several cases have close ties to Mr. Biden dating back years. They are well known to foreign diplomats around the world and share a belief in the core principles of the Democratic foreign policy establishment — international cooperation, strong U.S. alliances and leadership but a wariness of foreign interventions after the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
image….Justin Sullivan/Getty
Update….
As expected….
Biden picks former Fed Chair Janet Yellen for Treasury Sec….
I looked up Mayorkas, (born in Cuba) and he is also Jewish, or at least his parents were.
So, that is 2 out of 2 for actual Secretaries on both the children of refugees and Jewish front. That will drive some people crazy.
And, of course, both of Kamala Harris’ parents, like Barack Obama’s father (let alone me and my own parents), were immigrants just here to steal jobs and give birth to anchor babies.
“They’re not sending us their best; they’re sending us First Ladies and future Democratic cabinet secretaries — some of them, no doubt, are good people…”
Bless the incoming Democrats and the return of diversity to the top of American Government after and absence of 4 years!
The Vice President Elect ‘s husband IS Jewish…
Janet Yellen picked for Treasury Secretary.
3 for 3 Jews.
Maybe he is going for a Minyan. I think I might be in the running for Transportation if Rahm is too radioactive on the left….
I’m guessing we’ve never had a Jewish Secretary of Agriculture.
Dan Glickman!
I like the Kerry pick the best so far….
And old Foreign Affairs hand to be around….
Attorney General pick?
Does Wray stay at the FBI?
Hmmmm?
I’m just ignoring whatever it is that Kerry is supposed to do.
(technically he has some Jewish in him too)
The Feinstein thing was a joke…
Wray has a 10 year term so he is staying around unless someone fires him.
I think Kerry IS there on climate change which is a show….
I think the REAL reason he’s gonna have a spot is to be a resource and steady had at State….
The place is supposed to be a mess …
In addition ?
He’s been around on the highest level of government …. Sp ?
People will listen to him with his institutional knowledge and contact’s among heads of state …
Smart move by Biden….
Blinken is a inside guy….
Kerry is well known comfort for other countries
John Kerry is not being picked for any role at the State Department. He is going to be an advisor to Biden on climate matters or whatever and does not require Senate confirmation.
The person he picked for SOS and his team should do just fine without Kerry involved in that. Good for Biden for picking someone for the job who has more to offer than just being a big national political name in the party.
“World leaders” probably already respect Blinken more than they do a politician like Kerry.
World Leaders have SEEN Kerry in. the flesh CG…….
Blinken was a mechanic…
He was a National Security Council creature….
He did 2 year’s at State
There is NO comparison…
Kerry was THE Sec of State….
I’m not saying Kerry will freelance foreign policy….
But he’ll be working for the White House…
The President….
Cabinet offices report TO THE White House people….
We’ll see how works out….
But Kerry IS gonna be a resource for more than Climate Change….
No doubt….
Biden’s crowded West Wing
By ALEX THOMPSON and THEODORIC MEYER 12/07/2020 06:06 PM EST
Welcome to POLITICO’s 2020 Transition Playbook, your guide to one of the most consequential transfers of power in American history.
Kerry IS a former Sec of State.,..
He WILL be talking to foreign heads of state….
Nuff said….
There’s a tradition, although not necessarily the dominant one, of appointing Secretaries of State who had once campaigned for, or competed with you for, your party’s presidential nomination. [It should of course be noted that such a person already enjoys a reputation for ability and clout, which is why some presidents choose him or her — and conversely why other presidents deliberately avoid doing so.]
Wm H. Harrison appointed Daniel Webster.
Lincoln appointed William Seward.
Garfield & Benjamin Harrison both appointed James G. Blaine.
Wilson appointed William Jennings Bryan.
Harding appointed Charles Evans Hughes.
George W. Bush appointed Colin Powell.
Barack Obama appointed John Kerry.
Most notably, Obama offered his two main 2008 rivals, Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, the Vice-Presidency and the State Department, Biden getting first pick (he chose VP, so Hillary became Sec. of State).
Blinken isn’t on your list, eh?
Hillary was mentioned and dismissed in the next sentence…
MSNBC Kristen Walker is floating Doug Jones for Biden AG pick…
Based on Biden’s picks so far Yates is NOT a choice….
Obama front and center people are NOT in the mix for Biden’s cabinet ….
Obama background people ARE…..
Rachel Maddow has a new book out the reminds us about Sirio Agnew resignation and then being charged with tax fraud,…
I’d forgotten that….
Maddow points to AG Richardson not going for jail for Agnew is part of the no pressing President’s now….
Might do a post on this,…
do not be surprised with Doug Jones for AG…
the build up is based on Biden and the Alabama Senator ‘s ‘time working together ‘…
Also with the Sec of Def and Housing going to blacks Jones works….
As i have said here….
Obama name people are out ….
The Senate Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday voted to move forward Alejandro Mayorkas’ nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security — edging him closer to a confirmation vote.
The 7-4 vote puts the Biden administration one step closer to having a confirmed head of the department that will be key in the rollback of the Trump administration’s controversial immigration policies. If confirmed, Mayorkas will also play a role in handling national security threats and helping coordinate on the pandemic response….
More…
I would add GHW Bush appointing James Baker Sec of State. Baker practically ran Poppy Bush’s campaign in 88, and later resigned as Sec of State to do so officially in 1992. Although I heard Baker wasn’t happy about leaving the State Dept to go back into campaign mode.