John Podesta (head of Obama Transition Team) answers questions from "Think Progress" readers

[KoKo]

John Podesta Responds To Your Questions»

Yesterday, ThinkProgress provided our readers an opportunity to ask John Podesta questions pertaining to his service on the Obama transition team. You responded with great enthusiasm, offering more than 100 comments and questions. Thank you!

I sat down with John yesterday afternoon for about 20 minutes. In that period of time, we were able to get to 8 of your questions. The first one I asked him was the top-rated question, as voted on by the ThinkProgress community. It was submitted by user curtisteff, and it read:

“Why is President Obama giving up so much to try to appease the conservatives?”

“Does Obama plan to create some kind of commission to look into past abuses of our obligations under both domestic law and foreign treaty?”

“Is Single-Payer, Universal Health Care off the table?”

“How were you able to get a man who has usually been so divisive to work together in order to meet your goals?”

“How much of the flurry of regulation weakening and last-minute government appointments done by Bush in the closing days of his administration does Obama expect to reverse?”

“Did you ever consider scrapping or massively reorganising Cabinent level positions?”

“Who will play the part of that progressive attack dog?”

“What are the ways for citizens in communities to help President Obama?”

Watch the videos for his responses at..............

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/29/podesta-responds/

[KoKo]

1. Kick....it's worth a listen, particularly Part II.

Part I it seems Podesta waffles a bit on the prosecutions of Bushies...but he does leave open the door for the Justice Department, but says they will work to undo all of Bushies executive orders even if it takes awhile to track down the ones he's put in for the last eight years. They are working to get rid of the last minute ones, first and working back. And Part II is reasuring in how Obama has structured his WhiteHouse and Cabinet. Part II has his "we've got to Muck Out the Stables" line and how it's going to take awhile to clean all the muck left by Bushies. :D