Meet the Democratic White House Staff(s)

[blogslut]

Historically, elected Presidents often hire the people that worked on their campaigns as White House Staff members. Other campaign operatives take positions within the hierarchy of the Executive Office.

So, let's play a game. Let's imagine that a Democratic candidate wins the White House this 2008. The very people that are currently running each candidate's campaign will likely be running the White House. H.R. Haldeman guarded access to Richard Nixon like a pit bull. Andrew Card was Dubya's office peacemaker. Ford's Chief of Staff was freaking Dick Cheney who went on to manage Ford's presidential run. Harold Ickes was a Deputy Chief of Staff for Bill Clinton.

Who will assume the positions we all know and love? Who will be the next Dee Dee Myers? Will there be an Alexander Butterfield? What will become of the Office of Strategic Plans? If you aren't aware, that was the office of a certain balding, bespectacled man named Karl.

So, here's information on the people that are currently working the campaigns of each candidate:

Hillary Clinton
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign%2C_2008#Campaign_staff_and_policy_team

Barack Obama
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama_presidential_campaign%2C_2008#Campaign_staff_and_policy_team

Odds are that these people will be helping our new president not just run the White House but the country. Where will Mark Penn fit in a Clinton White House? Where will David Axelrod be positioned in Obama's?

?

[babylonsister]

1. OT, but your avatar is cute! nt

[blogslut]

2. He's twinkling

:D

[blogslut]

3. Oh well

I thought it was an interesting topic. We've come to know both campaign teams so well over these last months. We've seen various WH lackeys and heroes over the decades. The show the West Wing gave us all a familiarity with the inner workings of the White House.

H.R. Haldeman ran Nixon's presidential campaign. Andrew Card ran GWB'S. Cheney ran Ford's. Harold Ickes ran Bill Clinton's. Campaign staff tend to become White House Staff.

When we elect our Democratic president, that person will, without a doubt, bring some of their campaign people with him/her. I think that fact is kind of important.

:)

[Kittycat]

4. I agree that's it's a good topic.

I'm just scared to death of anyone in HRCs inner circle having anything to do with the WH after their bungled, repuke-like campaign. Especially Mark Penn.

[blogslut]

7. The meat of my point

The White House will be run as the campaign was run, at least, initially.

[MyNameGoesHere]

5. What is the Obama avatar shooting out of his eye?

Some kind of seizure inducing light?

[blogslut]

6. Are you having a seisure?

Would you like to play the game or are you just going to sit on the sidelines and heckle the players?

[MyNameGoesHere]

10. No i figure if shrub can have halos

your candidate can have some kind of seizure inducing device. And it's really scary too. Makes me want to get my anti-alien gear out and do battle.

[UALRBSofL]

8. blogslut, I know that's how that works

I can go back as far as JFK and the way the people worked for him. Look at the Bush Klan. Same thing. They had there nose in a lot of stuff. It's just that the Bush's were the crooks of politics.

[blogslut]

9. Don't you think the possibilities are intriguing?

Who is your favorite campain staffer? Where would you place them in your candidate's White House? Who gets the glamour jobs? Who will be National Security Advisor! Oh my!

This is important stuff. Maybe it's too scary a game?

[anigbrowl]

11. I agree and have been thinking about this or a while

I'm for Obama, so if I say his administration would run this way or a Clinton administration would run that way, it's just gong to lead to flame bait. But it will be very like the campaign.

Me, I don't like the idea of Mark Penn as chief of staff and General Zod Howard Wolfson as communications director.

[blogslut]

13. Would Mr. Penn take the job?

Are those his intentions? Do we know?

Ms. Clinton is dead on certain to hire at least one person from her campaign to help her run the White House. Who will it be? What position will that person have?

How about Mr. Obama? Will he offer a job to David Axelrod? What about other members of his staff? Will they be the people that helped him run a winning campaign?

?

[blogslut]

12. Kick

Maybe the evening shift wants to play?

[blogslut]

14. Kick for the game

Samantha Power just resigned from team Obama. If the Senator wins the White House, will Ms. Power have a job there? Is she off the list now?

And where would Mark Penn or Howard Wolfson go? Will they return to the private sector? Or will they take important positions in the offices that make up the Executive branch?