White House Chief of Staff Valerie Jarrett?
If Napolitano does become the new attorney general, that will leave her seat open, but the lack of rumors of a replacement suggests that if she is making a move it will not be for a while yet.
The most high-profile departure is, of course, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton. She is reported to be leaving “as soon as she can.” Her replacement is already making headlines as the presumed nominee, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice, has recently been strongly criticized by lawmakers for her response to the Sept. 11 attack on the diplomatic mission in Benghazi. Rice appeared on news shows the Sunday after the attack saying it was a result of an anti-Muhammad YouTube video instead of a coordinated terrorist strike. Several Republican senators have already expressed concern over her nomination and stated her confirmation in the Senate would be difficult.
Though presumed, Rice’s nomination is far from certain. She faces a stiff contender: Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.). Kerry was the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee and is current chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. With the controversy swirling over Rice, Kerry could be looking at a new title in a few months. If this happens, a Senate seat in Massachusetts would open up, causing some concern among Democrats who want to maintain their comfortable majority in the Senate.
Obama, in an interview with Bloomberg TV last Tuesday, reiterated that Rice is “highly qualified” for the job, but said, “I haven’t made a decision about secretary of State.”
The Pentagon is likely to see its second turnover during the Obama administration as Leon Panetta reportedly eyes retirement. Several names are surfacing for Panetta’s replacement, including his deputy, Ash Carter, former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), and former Navy Secretary Richard Danzig. There is also the possibility of the first female secretary of Defense: Michele Flournoy was the undersecretary of Defense for Policy from Feb. 2009-Feb. 2011, when she left to work on Obama’s campaign. On the campaign she was a strong advocate for Obama’s foreign policy.
Reuters reported that Hagel met with the president last week to discuss a post on his national security team, but there has been no announcement yet from the White House.
The Washington Post reported that President Obama is considering Kerry for secretary of Defense, making it possible for both him and Rice to have seats in the cabinet. The Pentagon is likely to face huge budget cuts and will need a leader who knows Congress well to navigate through budgets. Unless the post goes to Hagel, this would leave secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood as the only Republican among the 16 cabinet members. LaHood has made no mention of leaving and will most likely stay through Obama’s second term.
“He and I are going to continue our discussions,” LaHood told Politico last Wednesday. “We had a meeting a week or so after the election and we agreed to continue talking. … I think the president will get back to some of these discussions after some kind of a deal is reached on the fiscal matters.”
Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar are also potentially on their way to new jobs. Chu has been tainted by Solyndra, and Salazar was criticized for his handling of the BP oil spill. Salazar also had to apologize last month for threatening to punch out a Colorado Springs reporter.
Though not cabinet positions, the chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Mary Schapiro, and the director of the CIA, David Petraeus, have both already stepped down, leaving important roles to be filled.
Valerie Jarrett, alongside Huma Abedin, belongs in jail, let alone as top aides. Here are just some of Val’s bonafides – http://adinakutnicki.com/2012/11/02/valerie-jarrett-her-mischief-making-capable-of-upending-western-civilization-the-unofficial-buck-startsstops-at-her-door-addendum-to-barack-hussein-obamas-hidden-hand-commentary-by-a/
This nightmare is never ending!!
U.S. Attorney’s Office claims author’s of Blagojevich book “Golden” lying
http://illinoispaytoplay.com/2012/12/10/u-s-attorneys-office-claims-authors-of-blagojevich-book-golden-lying/
Valerie Jarret!! Who will be President then?
And I hope “Dick” Holder’s second term is life in prison After all I think he’s entitled to it.
Yes – why would she take a demotion?
On the money. Isn’t Jarrett the Chicago slumlord who told Obama to drink a warm glass of milk, go to bed and get a good night’s sleep during the attack on our facility in Benghazi?
Holder should be in jail for his part in Fast and Furious. He is still in Contempt of Congress and I wonder how that will play out this year, if at all. Seems like the Republicans in the House are not that anxious for yet another fight with Holder, but they should because of Holder’s very real part in Fast and Furious. As with the fiasco in Libya, Obama and his minions must be held accountable for their actions. Just remember, if there was a Republican in the White House, the mainstream media would be on this 24/7. We should not allow Obama and his merry group of criminals to get away with this simply because they are the darlings of the mainstream media. People like us need to keep a spotlight on these bums and we will because the mainstream media certainly will not.
I still think Holder leaves so Obama can put him on the Supreme Court, where he becomes completely unassailable.
Then when another judge leaves, he nominates a Muslim judge to take his place (probably the same one Chris Christie appointed in New Jersey).
If Obama thinks he would have strong opposition to Rice being secretary of state, wait till he tried to put Holder on the supreme court, now THAT would be controversy.
Valerie Jarrett, the Ivy Starnes of our era.
I haven’t really been able to figure out why Obama’s been on the receiving end of so much conservative wrath, during the same four years that his consistent siding with her faction in the WH (on policy) has been frequently reported.
She’s a puppetmaster. I mean, for heavens’ sakes, she decided who he’d marry…
Jarrett for chief of staff? Well, why not? She’s running the damn country anyway.
I don’t think so. The CoS has DUTIES, among which are speaking to the hoi polloi. As “Senior Adviser”, she gets to do whatever she wants, and doesn’t have to interact with the “little people”.
It’s almost as good as being a south-side slum lordette.
Man, the winter soldier traitor as Secretary of Defense would be quite the irony.
Just look at what has happened to the United States of America. The list of current cabinet members and the list of potential replacements reads like a who’s who list of racists, communists, rabid America haters, and organized crime criminals. What a shameful travesty.
Obama himself is a racist,with Communist friends and mentors,and his sayings and doings strongly suggest that he hates America, and he has lots of friends in Chicago politicians (an organized crime gang if there ever was one). So no DECENT person would be asked to join HIS cabinet, being around THEM would make him feel guilty and uncomfortable. So he appoints like minded people to be his yes men and toadies. He HIMSELF is a shameful travesty as a President,I feel sickened and ashamed whenever I see him or hear his name. 2017 can’t come soon enough, if they don’t impeach him this year. And if they can impeach Holder too, or instead, that maybe would be enough to disqualify HIM as a Supreme Court nominee. Maybe.
With the great and powerfull “O” in until 2017 there wont be anythig left in America worth keeping. Time to get locked and loaded the next four years are going to be the only chance were going to get to prepare.
Anything that occurs, does not occur without our God’s permission or allowance. I believe Obama was allowed along with his like kind to cause negative acts and havoc because of disobedience in the US as promised. One reaps what one sows. Realize who is really in charge. Nothing happens unless it is allowed. Homosexuality, greed, unfair treatments, racist, denying God in schools, etc.. When you deny our Creator, you leave a void. There is only one who replaces a void when good has been displayed. SATAN!