Comments on: Source: Obama wants Valerie Jarrett to replace him in Senate

By: Dennis

Dennis — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:49:54 +0000

It appears that many of you suggest that his senate position should go to a republicn so at to be a partisian choice or perhaps an enemy of his. I don't care what color she is or if she is a friend of his or not. My only issue is is that she's smarter than Palin.

By: Ken

Ken — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:21:52 +0000

My kneejerk was that the best person for the job should get it. But then I thought about the affirmative action aspect and it doesn't seem unreasonable to find the best African American for the job. Of the 100-member Senate, President-Elect Obama was the ONLY current African-American member (and only the 5th ever). If he's fully qualified, I think Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. (Illinois 2nd district, and a 13-year member of the House of Representatives) would be a fitting replacement...

By: L. Camille Mason

L. Camille Mason — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 06:45:29 +0000

For crying out loud! After reading a few of these posts and realizing how incredibly ignorant and or mindless some people are, I completely understand why our forefathers set the electoral college in place. Some of you participating in this blog do not have the mental capacity to separate fact from fiction. And will follow any voice that sounds soothing like bleating sheep. McCain supporters accused Obama supporters of "drinking the koolaid" but all of the negative rhetoric and conspiracy theories came from them. And like blind mice they followed the music that tickled their burning ears. It is a waste of time to present facts to this type of people because they will believe what they want. They look for any excuse to not support him because they are afraid to say why they really don't support him. It isn't his political style, policies, or even whether he has enough experience, all of that is a smokescreen for not liking him because he is black. And you know what? That's ok because most people fear what they do not know. The good thing is, they have four years to find out. For everyone elses sake let's hope they can be opened minded enough to learn.

By: bill

bill — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 03:39:07 +0000

Wow....what happened to Jesse Jackson Jr.?

By: adonna

adonna — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 03:00:50 +0000

I would love a rainbow coalition as Mr. President cabinet. That's America.

By: adonna

adonna — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 02:59:06 +0000

I'm amazed at how many people mentioned race! If this woman is capable, I don't care if she's purple. Appoint her for the job.
Simply...race has nothing to do with it. Get over it already.

By: Andy, TN

Andy, TN — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:23:19 +0000

While Ms. Jarrett is a very intelligent woman, I don't think it would be very wise for Gov. Blagojevich to appoint her to Obama's US Senate seat with no elected political experience. She is good friends with Obama, and one of his closest advisers and supporters, but that is not a qualification for the job. Cronyism needs to stop now, and high-powered positions need to go to people who are actually qualified for them. If Jarrett wants to be a member of Congress, perhaps she should run for the House of Reps if a member from Chicago gets appointed to the Senate in Obama's place. I think the governor should at least consider Obama's preferences, and ask him for three or four of them, but exercise his own discretion in choosing the replacement. As has been mentioned, I think Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., would be a good choice, since so many people are worried about the loss of the only African-American in the Senate. Rep. Bobby Rush or Rep. Danny Davis are two other well-qualified African-American congressmen from IL that could also fill the seat. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, a Hispanic congressman from Chicago who has served 15 yrs, or Rep. Jan Schakowsky, a Jewish congresswoman from Evanston, might be good replacements as well.

By: no change

no change — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:07:11 +0000

same old , same old , politics , politics never change , it looks like the change that obama promised was a change of the name of the president ,

By: Ann,

Ann, — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:06:54 +0000

To Samuel who wrote:
I can't believe the McCain/Palin supporters still active.
Bush brought in half of Texas population to the White House when he got elected.

Yes, Samuel he did and we all remember the whining from all the democrats who deplored his actions then. So does it seems any less repugnant now when a democrat does it or is it okay since Obama is involved and not Bush? Obama supporters must remember exactly what they cried foul for before and not look too hypocritical as they try and excuse Obama for the same actions.

By: CB

CB — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:03:17 +0000

Geez...do all you posters know how to do is tear each other down? Don't you guys have lives??? I could see posting @ work but on a Sunday?!? Chillllllllll out

By: Jaye

Jaye — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:36 +0000

I feel sure the correct person will be chosen for the job.
I trust Senator Obama's judgement completely.

By: SMK

SMK — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:34 +0000

You keep asking the Republican’s to support Obama and come together for the sake of the Country. And yet, you continue to demean and name call McCain and Palin every chance you get, especially Palin. Sure, we are mad that our team didn't win. But we would also get over it sooner if we didn't have to keep hearing the dribble you hateful Democrat bloggers keep posting every chance you get. It's over, you won, we lost, and that’s the end of it. So stop calling Palin "Bimbo", "Idiot" and all the other names that you have been calling her. She is NOT a Bimbo or an Idiot and she would have never been elected Governor or chosen as a VP if she was. There is NO reason for it now, but to show your true immature intelligence. You are the rotten winners and that makes everything said about the Un-American statements true. If you truly want Unity across both parties, then stop casting so much hate.

By: andrea from MA

andrea from MA — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:33 +0000

a woman who is a democrat is always the best choice !!!!!!

By: John Doe

John Doe — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:58:04 +0000

My friends....it only has begun...you have seen nothing yet...paybacks are very necessary, and there will be many of them...someday we will ALL look back and wonder what we hath wrought....remember what he said in one of his earliest speeches in the primaries, "Our time has come". I do not believe he was referring to the Democrats. The Reid/Pelosi witch-hunt has begun...and there will be more

He is our President, we must stand behind him and support him, until we can elect him out legitimately

By: angel M.

angel M. — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:55:24 +0000

bush and cheney maxed out the credit card and now we are all left paying the bill! Just for the record obama didnt run as a black man he ran becouse he thought he was the right man for the job, he made history by winning but dont expect him to pick his cabinet any differently, i think he will put together a team that is best for the country no matter male or female ethnic or white.

By: Kenneth

Kenneth — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:54:24 +0000

Yes, that's good, you Obama haters, just keep it up with your e-mails and hate-filled blogs and racist comments. I guess you forgot about a few things your buddy Bush initiated that are still in effect like warrantless wire-tapping and the Patriot Act. Don't be surprised if you find yourselves on terrorist watch lists since the KKK is also a terrorist organization and a valid threat to national security now that we have a black president.

By: JaxMom

JaxMom — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:53:42 +0000

"as long as he is picking the BEST people for the job who cares what color they are"

I agree. Too bad people voting for Obama didn't believe that though. If Obama were white (or rather ALL white), he would not have even been considered, much less elected. The black voters put him in office and they voted for him strictly because of skin color. Hmmm....judging somebody by skin color – doesn't that make you a RACIST???

By: Dee

Dee — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:49:42 +0000

Jarrett, known as the other side of Obama's brain, is up to her neck in shady real estate deals that left underpriviledged Chicagoans living in slums. She and Rezko were recipients of government housing subsidies, channeled their way by their friend, Barak Obama. While they got rich, the people in their housing projects got rats and sewage coming up through their kitchen sinks. Despite her history, though, I'm not surprised that he wants her in the senate, This is Chicago machine politics folks, and it's what the electorate said it wanted,.

By: M M B

M M B — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:48:12 +0000

We already have too many lawyers in washington, 50%+ of the sitting members, that is why the US government has not worked for 50 years! Lawyers are only trained to manipulate the rules, they originate very few new ideas. I just hope Obama is an exception to the rule.

By: KLEE

KLEE — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:47:33 +0000

Hi; Lydia November 9th, 2008 3:25 pm ET , one of the better comments among others on this page

Obama was elected – let him do his thing! What kind of President would you have if "we" were doing all the thinking for him.....He has a good head on his shoulders (obviously!)

Only time and the real world will tell us how his Presidency & the decisions he makes turns out.

Anyone with any sense of the political, economic, & social climate at this time – knows without a doubt – this is no easy task.

Its great we can sit on the side lines in the peanut gallery and have our say.......it relieves some of the angst we are going through right now if not for ourselves for our children and this country.

By: angel M.

angel M. — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:47:17 +0000

for all of you who say so much for change, these are the people who are going to help obama get the change he wants.The bi-partisen will come from the repubs not trying to block everthing he is trying to get done.You guys have had 8 yrs to get it right how dare you complain when someone else has to fix the mess that was left behind. Get over the politics and help the people!!!!

By: jim

jim — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:43:56 +0000

who cares, she and the whole team will fall, Obama has no experience and now he is picking all Clintons old team, He will solely rely on his team. He know nothing.

By: Alpha and Omega

Alpha and Omega — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:41:01 +0000

Let the govenor be not persuaded.

Let Obama be free to govern!

To God be the glory!

By: jim

jim — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:39:26 +0000

I am so glad that Barack Obama was elected and that people saw what could have been if America had not pushed hard enough to keep Sarah out.

To all the haters just think for awhile .

Sarah Palin would be totally lost, and useless to McCain, she couldn't help McCain select his Cabinet. All she would have been was a yes woman to everything. She proved that when she accepted the prank call, the clothes and her babbling with Katie Couric and Charles Gibson.

Obama is working hard to get his cabinet together and you just have to be patient to see what the outcome is going to be. He can't do anything until 1/20/09. It can't be no worse than the Bush 8 years.

I am hoping that the Bush Administration help the Big Three which is the heart of America. If they don't there will be way more job losses than youcan imagaine. They cannot wait for Obama to get in because it might be too late. .

By: worriedmom

worriedmom — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:38:38 +0000

Duh! who would have thought that one! writing was on the wall! She was actually sickening this morning drooling over Obama. Chicago is taking over!

By: Alpha and Omega

Alpha and Omega — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:34:34 +0000

Beloved brethren,
I beseech you to treat this presidential candidacy as one led by the Lord.
Check your Bibles to see the many situations that fit this country and the world around us. We have given him the opportunity to allow God to lead him when we cast our votes.
Now, we must fall in line with godly wisdom and pray for our leaders that they will govern with our best interest at heart. To God be the glory.
It is irrelevant who wants the nod for the seat vacated by president-elect. Our prayers for God's chosen should supersede all of the political jockeying.
I challenge us all to brush the dust off of our King James version and thumb through it to find our beloved President-elect's path towards leading this perverse people towards godliness.
Face it, we have got to allow ourselves the rights to see God in all that's being done.

By: it's vintage, duh

it's vintage, duh — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:32:45 +0000

Hope. Change. Wanting to appoint cronies with no elective experience to your old Senate seat.

By: BM

BM — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:27:21 +0000

My mistake! Palin is not worthy of being in Jarett's company.

By: white over 65 Republican for Obama

white over 65 Republican for Obama — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:25:51 +0000

Valerie Jarrett is far too talented to become a senator. I'd like to see her run for president after Barack,

By: Perusing-through

Perusing-through — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:25:22 +0000

NO CRONISM HERE, , , JARRETT IS MORE THAN QUALIFIED TO TAKE OBAMA'S SENATORIAL SEAT. Read Valerie Jarrett's resume. It is impressive. Got her undergraduate at Stanford and Advance J.D. at Univ. of Michigan. She is a lawyer, business woman, civic leader, and President & CEO of 'The Habitat Company'. A member of several boards to include the 'Chicago Stock Exchange' and President-Elect Obama's Senior Advisor ever since Michelle introduced her fiancé Obama to Ms. Jarrett. Valerie Jarrett and Barack Obama have identical visions for America and they are both immensely talented.

By: BM

BM — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:24:34 +0000

Valerie Jarett is a very smart woman and I'm sure she will fit into whatever position she is given.
Maybe she can be Palin's tutor.

By: PD

PD — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:20:56 +0000

I notice the article says nothing about actual qualifications (in the sense of "accomplishments") other than that Jarrett knows Obama. "Dear friend." "Valuable ally." So what?

By: Carole

Carole — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:20:17 +0000

She seems like a cool lady. Smart, with a good head on her shoulders.

By: Robert Lee

Robert Lee — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:19:04 +0000

If the Republicans are really the patriots that they profess to be, they will help the President elect in this time. The reason they lost in the first place is because we Democrats joined each other in a well organized campaign toward a common goal, electing the smarter choice.

By: kelly WI

kelly WI — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:18:50 +0000

Boy, there sure are a lot of naive people out there. You must realize, all the "deals" are made in the back room. They are made before we ever hear about it. The gov. will appoint who ever Obama wants. Then its pay back time. Obama hasn't named his cabinet yet. Obama has to fill it with people who know how gov. works and the players with experience. Junior Senators don't have much power. They are mostly "yes" men/women.

By: Granny3

Granny3 — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:17:05 +0000

Gosh! You mean Republicans are questioning a choice "possibly" made by our new President? And everyone is bashing them for it? Well, get a taste of the last eight years, folks. Our current President has been called every name in the book, any achievements were overlooked, and everything wrong in the world blamed on him.
That's the way American politics work nowadays, I guess. It's just your turn. Not much fun, is it?

By: Fallon

Fallon — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:15:46 +0000

Personally, I like Tammy Duckworth. She is currently the Director of the Illinois Department of Veteran's Affairs.

By: NoahNox

NoahNox — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:14:09 +0000

dumb Reps fall in line or move to Alaska. Obama won a landslide and a broad mandate because he has the right, progressive vision for the country and the world. All you old school thinkers (Fox idiots, Weekly Standard, National Review losers) go crawl back under a hole.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:03:52 +0000

CLEARLY OBAMA WANTS JESSIE JACKSON JR AS PART OF HIS ADMINISTRATION....SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE...THOSE WHO ARE CRYING OUT THAT HE ISN'T CHOOSING ANY BLACKS....LOOK DEEEEEPER!!!

By: IKHIDE (England)

IKHIDE (England) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:02:22 +0000

FOR GOD SAKE, LET THESE ANTI-OBAMAS LIVE HIM ALONE. THE PRE-ELECT HAS NOT BEEN SWORN IN BUT THEY'VE STARTED JUDGING HIM ALREADY.
LOOK, YOU CAN TAKE IT OR LIVE IT.THE YOUGMAN HAS BOTH COMMON AND BOOK SENSE TO CHOOSE WHOSEVER THAT CAN MAKE HIS ADMIN EFFECTIVE.
WE LOVE U MR PRESIDENT ELECT.GOD WILL B WITH U ALWAYS

By: Sara

Sara — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:02:07 +0000

Um...I thought the governor of the Senator's state replaces outgoing Senators. Am I missing something?

By: nova mama

nova mama — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 22:57:41 +0000

There's nothing wrong with getting CONSIDERATION for the job based on a personal relationship. That's probably how half the people commenting here got their jobs. The bottom line is the final selection of a competent and qualified candidate. Jarrett seems like she fits that bill perfectly.

By: Mike, Vancouver

Mike, Vancouver — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 22:57:09 +0000

To all of you nay sayers and haters.

Turn yourself around and walk forward or be left behind in your self pity.

Don't you get it, the REPUBLICAN PARTY had their butt kicked all the way to Europe and you still cannot see it.

Wake up, do something positive, you might like it and be happy about it. Try to make a friend of someone you don't agree with.

Hate is like a cancer, it spreads until the host dies.

Get over it, and be reminded that change does not happen without an emotional response.

Don't harbour your anger, it will eat at you...........

By: Wendy in NC

Wendy in NC — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 22:56:18 +0000

Actually, if you know anything at all about this woman, you'd know she would be a great Senator from Illinois. Yes, it is up to the Governor, but if she is chosen it would be a good pick.

By: Opkem

Opkem — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 22:54:25 +0000

Obama said it was the governor's job to pick a replacement for the senate seat. That has not changed. People should stop getting overly excited. He is within his right to suggest a replacement but ultimately the governor chooses.

By: SUE

SUE — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 22:54:02 +0000

You mean ruffle some feathers, Hillary is waiting on Falin Palin. She will give her the geography of the senate, yeah she will send her out the back door. Or better yet, send her to a special meeting of all new senators on the capitol mall by the wash monument. She would probably wait all day unless of course Sarkozy shows up. Then gosh darnit, she would be in heaven. I would also prefer Jesse Jackson Jr replace Obama, but that would leave an empty seat in congress. Perhaps Valerie Jarrat would be better suited in congress to get her start

By: JJ

JJ — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 22:51:12 +0000

And what should Obama do, pick someone he does not know at all? Then he'd be accused of being a "politician."

By: Jaibones

Jaibones — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 22:48:57 +0000

Obamaman,

You know what's funny, nitwit? We have a constitution. And until your lying socialist buddy Obama ruins it, it says that the Governor of the state appoints the Senator's replacement.

You know what else is funny, nitwit? The founders apparently never imagined that there could be so many corrupt politicians elected in one place at one time. Otherwise we couldn't have Chicago – where a Senator under investigation by the U.S. Attorney could get elected President, and have the authority to fire the U.S. Attorney, and his buddy the Governor, under investigation by the same U.S. Attorney, gets to name the Senator's replacement in the Senate, and that new Senator and the existing Senator – their buddy – get to torpedo any new U.S. Attorney named by the crook Governor.

lllinois – and you thought Nigeria was corrupt.

By: joe

joe — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 22:48:10 +0000

Why not consider someone with elected talent from DOWN STATE!
Glen Poshard

By: Tiff of lithia springs

Tiff of lithia springs — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 22:47:41 +0000

To Mark Kaplan,

You better believe there is not Ivy league in the mix. As a matter a fact the way Palin pieced her education together it's just plan scary.

HEAVEN HELP US. NO MORE DUMMIES IN THESE POLITICAL OFFICES.