atimes.com - 11/25/2008
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President-elect Barack Obama inherits a chasm of mistrust between the Pentagon and the White House, regardless of whether Defense Secretary Robert Gates stays on. First, Obama has to avoid a confrontation over the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on the sexuality of the forces. Then there are the ...
openleft.com - 11/25/2008
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openleft.com —
The most important appointment decision Obama will make
during the transition, bar none, is who becomes, or...
remains, Secretary of Defense. As I have noted in the past , the Department of Defense oversees the expenditure of 52% of all discretionary ...
(more)
The Debate Over Gates
commentarymagazine.com - 11/26/2008
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commentarymagazine.com —
According to the latest news reports, President-elect Obama
will nominate a national security team next week that...
is stunning in its moderation. The headliners–Bob Gates staying at Defense, Hillary Clinton becoming Secretary of State, retired ...
(more)
Obama’s Picks
blogs.abcnews.com - 11/25/2008
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blogs.abcnews.com —
Martha Raddatz and Jake Tapper Report: Sources tell
ABC News that Defense Secretary Robert Gates will be...
staying on in the top Pentagon job, for at least the first year of the Obama administration. "It is a done deal," a...
(more)
Gates a 'Done Deal'
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Open Thread for Night Owls, Early Birds & Expats
Daily Kos —
... US military ripe for a fight with Obama The most intense debate in the aftermath of Barack Obama's election as the next president of the Untied States has been over whether Robert Gates will agree to stay on as defense secretary. Speculation on Gates' status seems to change by the hour. "Bob wants to come back to Texas to finish his work as a university president," a Gates friend said in the aftermath of Obama's sweeping victory over Republican Senator John McCain. Another colleague proffers a different story: "Bob and his wife are intent to enjoy their retirement," he ...
The Debate Over Gates
Open Left - Front Page —
... the Department of Defense oversees the expenditure of 52% of all discretionary spending, rendering it literally impossible for any other cabinet Secretary to oversee as much federal money. Further, keeping Gates on would only worsen Democratic image problems on national security, as he would be the second consecutive non-Democratic Secretary of Defense nominated by a Democratic President. The message would be clear: even Democrats agree that Democrats can't run the military.
There is a debate about this inside the Obama transition team:
The speculation ...
Times: Gates to Stay at Defense
Daily Kos —
... has been carried over from a president of a different party, Democrats close to the transition said Tuesday. More fuel for the belief that even Democrats think Democrats are weak on defense and only Republicans can serve as Secretary of Defense. If Gates stays the full four years, it would mean that from 1953-2013, a Republican will have held the SecDef post for 51 1/2 of 60 years. Not all Obama's advisers are happy about the choice. As noted here last night: The speculation over Gates' tenure has been most intense inside ...
Avoiding The Tough Fights
Open Left - Front Page —
... Keeping Gates on as Secretary of Defense allows Obama to avoid a confirmation fight, thus maintaining Obama's pattern of grabbing the low hanging fruit. Obama's rationale for avoiding early fights probably comes from the start of Bill Clinton's Presidency, when he was "tamed" by the military: ...
The Importance of Recognizing Internal Debates at the White House
Open Left - Front Page —
... , or whether or not to keep Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense. All of these issues and more are debated inside the White House, and the progressive view is almost always represented. Rather than there being a single, monolithic viewpoint among President Obama, his aides, staff and advisers, what the White House ends up doing is following the internal argument that wins the day. ...
Related Content
What Would Obama Do?
openleft.com 12/9/2008 — Michael Tomasky writing in the Guardian about how anyone who thought Gates was a bad pick are complete idiots:
And people who can't see that Obama needs to reassure the political establishment by doing things like re-appointing Robert Gates at the ...
Gates Stays on at Pentagon?
mudvillegazette.com 11/26/2008 — First, your U.S. history trivia for the day: Henry Lewis Stimson, Secretary of War throughout World War Two under Democrat Presidents Roosevelt and Truman, was a Republican.
*****
And now back to the news. If the rumors are true, then Politico ...
Gates
washingtonmonthly.com 11/26/2008 — GATES.... As has been widely reported, Barack Obama will keep Defense Secretary Robert Gates at his post next year. This is not a surprise -- speculation about Gates staying on was common even before the election -- but it is...
Hullabaloo
digbysblog.blogspot.com 11/12/2008 — Monday, November 10, 2008 Change by digby Podesta also said Obama is working to build a diverse Cabinet. That includes reaching out to Republicans and independents — part of the broad coalition that supported Obama during the race against Republican ...
BREAKING NEWS: Gates to remain at Pentagon
the-reaction.blogspot.com 11/26/2008 — By Michael J.W. Stickings CNN : Several officials close to President-elect Barack Obama's transition tell CNN that Defense Secretary Robert Gates is expected to stay on the job for at least the first year of the new administration. One source ...
Times: Gates to Stay at Defense
dailykos.com 11/26/2008 — Peter Baker and Thom Shanker at The New York Times write: Obama Plans to Retain Gates at Defense Department : President-elect Barack Obama has decided to keep Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates in his post, a show of bipartisan continuity in a ...
The Obama/Gates Pentagon
washingtonmonthly.com 12/2/2008 — THE OBAMA/GATES PENTAGON.... From a progressive perspective, there are a few concerns about Robert Gates staying on as Defense Secretary in an Obama administration. One the main issues has to do with Gates' deputies -- Gates may be a sensible...
Statement by Secretary Gates
mudvillegazette.com 12/1/2008 — Statement by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates "I am deeply honored that the President-Elect has asked me to continue as Secretary of Defense.
Mindful that we are engaged in two wars and face other serious challenges at home and around the ...
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