Obama: Time To Circle The Waggons

SPIEGEL ONLINE sumarizes some of German Press voices regarding the building of  new US cabinet. its clear that the pressure of existing problems needs first a tough action plan. Proven Track Record ranges ahead of innovative shaping force.
Thats necessary. And fast paced deadlines will mark Obamas starting time.

As Don Beck says these days-in another context but close to these steps:



"Well, I think we now know. The mixture of Orange
and Green value-systems without a good functional
Blue expression of responsibility, discipline and
regulations has helped provoke this crisis,
especially in the home financing business.
Unbridled Orange greed married to Green naivete
is an unhealthy union as negative versions of
these two codes have contributed mightily to the
mess we are current in. This spiral down dynamic
has literally exploded through financial
institutes around the world. No doubt these toxic
elements reflect the end stages of the First
Tier, a condition that Graves envisioned many years ago.

This will be a great time for people like us as
even the election of President-Elect Obama did
not causes this revival; it simply revealed what
has been happening for some time. Social tectonic
plates are shifting with mind-quakes on the
surface that are just now becoming visible."

For me, it will be most interesting how Obama Cabinet will perform first 100 days next year. And 2009 in general. As elections in United Kingdom and Germany will happen in 2009 too this year will ofer a most amazing window of opportunity for new transatlantic intiatives.

Obama Has Secured The Best Economic Expertise Available

US President-elect Barack Obama is assembling his cabinet quickly, but focusing first on his economic team. German commentators are pleased by his selections so far.

The message coming out of President-elect Barack Obama's transition team is clear: Now is not the time for political dilettantes or those without proven experience. Rather, it is a time to circle the wagons in the face of numerous problems facing the US.



His first big move was that of tapping Hillary Clinton to be his Secretary of State, though the appointment won't be finalized until after Thanksgiving. Other big Democratic names -- including Bill Richardson, Tom Daschle and Janet Napolitano -- appear to be primed for other seats around Obama's cabinet table.

Given the importance and severity of the current financial crisis, Obama seems determined to get jerseys for his financial team first. On Friday it was revealed that Obama wants Timothy Geithner, 47, to head the Treasury Department. The news of Geithner's probable appointment sent the US stock market's current roller-coaster into a steep 500-point ascent Friday. Geithner has held posts in the Treasury Department under three administrations and is currently the president of the New York Federal Reserve.

More importantly, Geithner has been intimately involved in working with current Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke in orchestrating the response of President George W. Bush's administration to the ongoing financial crisis. While some see this as good preparation should he assume the reins in tackling the economic slowdown and credit crunch, others worry that his involvement might lead to some heated opposition during his confirmation hearing.

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