Comments on: Finding and defining Obama’s CTO should be higher priority

By: Obama administration announces technology policy working group » VentureBeat

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:48:32 +0000

[...] Technology policy may not be dominating president-elect Barack Obama’s agenda so far, but it’s moving forward along with the rest of his transition. Today, Change.gov, the site his campaign uses to announce transition moves, has posted an update on who will be shaping his administration’s plans for action once he assumes power. [...]

By: Stephen Fox

Stephen Fox — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:27:09 +0000

I don't care who is Energy Secretary.

It is clear to be that New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson would be a better Secretary of State than Al Gore, to respond to yesterday's Washington Post columnist's piece.

Regarding Howard Dean, if you had any idea how much neurodegenerative damage is done by junk food, additives, sweeteners like aspartame, etc., you might appreciate the concept of having Dr. Dean overhaul the FDA and do for American Health what he did with the 50 state strategy for bringing the Democratic party back from the shambles after Kerry's "defeat."

I like so much the idea of having a Nobel Laureate like Krugman for the Treasury position.

The next AG must have some sense of rebuilding the legal structure of our American Democracy, little things like restoring habeas corpus, that legal nuisance Bush got rid of even though it has been one of the strongest points of Western law since 1215 A.D. I like Janet Napolitano and I like Senator Leahy, although why would he want to leave the Senate for a Cabinet position, unless he too saw the need for a legalistic overhaul similar to what is needed at the FDA!

I don't think Colin Powell should be in Obama's Cabinet at all. If there is to be one conciliatory Republican based on merit and reliability, it should be former Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel, one of their brightest, who jumped ship for Obama very early on, and actively campaigned for him in many states. He happens to be the most talented and most trustworthy of all of the Defense Secretary contenders from either party.

Personally, I want to see Caroline Kennedy as UN Ambassador (think what that would mean to most of the world!) and I certainly believe Susan Eisenhower deserves some important policy-making position, if not a Cabinet Post. She is bright and dumped the GOP after McCain's Rovian tactics made that obligatory to her. That shows verifiable integrity.

Stephen Fox
Contributing Editor, New Mexico Sun News

By: hawk

hawk — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:56:59 +0000

Only energy guys up there? I sure this isn't John Doerr's fault.

By: Barrett

Barrett — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:54:38 +0000

1. I call fake. Obama's staff runs an extraordinarily tight ship, and I'd be shocked if they let such a detailed slide presentation slip through their grasp. Besides, why would put together such an extensive list? It doesn't contain many surprises, and those who need to know probably have this information in their heads already.

2. Even if it's real, I'm optimistic that the lack of a CTO mention doesn't presage bad things. Obama will have to go to Congress to get a budget and authority for a CTO position, I believe, so it might be early to be thinking about who will fill it.

But I agree that this is more important now than ever before, given light of the economic situation and the phenomenal disbursal of government cash.