Murtha? Are you kidding me? I don't want Murtha speaking on my behalf when it comes to Veteran's affairs.

I pray it isn't McCain, who pretends to support vets but votes down every attempt to honor and help them. Murtha would be good.

Tammy Tammy Tammy *fingers crossed*

Former Georgia Senator Max Clelland would be an excellent choice.

I would love to Senator Max Cleland in this role

For veteran's sake I hope it's not John McCain!

Maryland LtGov Anthony Brown. Army reservist, spent time in Iraq, was at Harvard Law with BHO

Obama now has a site were you can see what they are doing and also send them your ideas as to what needs to be down and how to do it. I did this and the following is what was submitted.

There is a current program that should work if you change how it is now being implemented.

The current program includes the VA's Extended Use Lease (EUL) unused land program and State government funding programs.

We can use a building that is on the VA campus in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The State of Minnesota put up the money for two sites, one temporary and one permanent. The Minneapolis site is the permanent site.

The building is a beautiful building. However building mistakes are now showing up and that is where it stops. I have been trying to get the VA (both Washington’s EUL department and the local Director at the Minneapolis Hospital), Hennepin County (They own the building), the Minnesota Housing and Finance Authority (they are on of the oversite groups) and the State of Minnesota’s Audit Department (They check on how the money was spent and is it following the intended use.), to correct what is wrong with the way this Permanent Supportive Housing for the Homeless is being run. Currently around 20+ Veterans have been put back on the streets, 5+ have died (two by suicide). The building is only two years old.

Hennepin County and the current building management refuse to follow the McKinney-Vento Homeless Act which would have provided the outline for what supportive programs should be in place and are not.

PLEASE! PLEASE! HELP ME HELP THE 90 VETERASN IN THIS PROGRAM AND THEN WE WOULD ALSO HAVE A BETA-SITE FOR WHAT FUTURE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS SHOULD BE LIKE.

could it be McSAME hmmmm????

Max Cleland

An excellent choice might be Bob Filner, Congressman from CA. He has been a strong supporter of veterans and worked tirelessly to promote better health care and support, especially for wounded vets.

He is going to appoint the completely unqualified and inexperienced Tammy Duckworth. For the mere fact that she is a Democrat who also happened to be grievously wounded in Iraq. It will be the new, socially-sensitive, pity-based affirmative action of the future of this country. Forget about whether they are qualified, let's put them in because it makes us feel good. Sort of like Obama himself.

Kerry or that woman from Ill. Cant remember her name
She has no legs…..
what is her name????

Senator John Kerry, Colin Powell, Senator John McCain, Senator Chuck Hagel…

Really no speculation? Come on is this appointment such a a disappointment that CNN won't even speculate?

Even in the name of being "bipartisan", McCain's name won't float to the top of anyone's list. He voted against every veteran's benefit for the past 6 years.

This appointment should be a veteran who understands the plight of all veterans and is committed to act in their behalf, not the self-serving interests of the Pentagon.

I do hope it is the double amputee who served in Iraq. I can't recall her name. But she know the plight of our returning Iraq Veterans.

isn't this what you get , when stop teaching morals and valuals and let your young people think everything.goes nothing is out of bounds,don't blame them just be careful what we say and do in front of them.so when we look at this picture of Sen.clinton and those two young men .we see what we all have become.[disrepectful,greatful and dishonest]

Tammy Duckworth?

Max Cleland (Former Senator from GA) should be Obama's choice for Sec. of Veteran Affairs. A a war hero and triple amputee, he will fight hard to bring all veterans the rights and diginty they deserve.

JIM WEBB.

Tammy Duckworth? Max Cleland? Evan Bayh?

Chuck Hagel might be a good choice also. Of course Jim Webb is equally qualified and both men have shown great support for our troops.

How bout Max Cleland? Just to spite Saxby..jerk

Please, not Webb or Murtha. They are practically Republicans.

Someone like Tammy Duckworth would be fantastic.

I'm hoping for Tammy Duckworth, double amputee & great American from Illinois to be the head of Veterans Affairs. It would also be the first female if I'm not mistaken. Her nomination would sail thru in a heartbeat.

McCleland of Georgia would be a great pick.

Change we can believe in, really?

I wonder if Favreau will be photographed with a cardboard cutout of the new secretary of veterans affairs bent over the mini-bar??

This was "the full story"?!

This appointment is part of a vitally important reform. To elevate veterans' affairs to a cabinet-level department and to appoint a qualified person committed to treating the members of our armed forces with the respect they deserve and the social services they need represents a major change in the way presidential administrations do business. Here, finally, is an administration committed to "support[ing] our troops."

It therefore deserves more than a single sentence of reportage, especially when "the full story" was promised. Who are the candidates for head of this department? What are the goals of the planned department? What is the public response to its creation?

I hope he asked US House Rep. John Murtha from Pennsylvania,and that this proud Vietnam War "Amputee" Hero accepted. It will be good for our veteran's health/moral to see one of their own running the show for a change.

He should get fired

Jim Webb?
With Tim Kane as Senator?

i say he pick tammy ducksworth???

Why not raeching beyond the party-boundaries an ask John McCain?

This must be John Kerry for Sec. of Veterans affairs,
That will be great !

i hope its tammy duckwoth i thinks thats her name or max cleland . they are injured veterans who know what it means to suffer !!!!!! as veterans . they will be simpathetic to alll veterans . and their hardships. a walter reed episode will not happen under their watch.

"A source in the Obama transition reveals President-elect Barack Obama will announce his choice for Secretary of Veterans Affairs Sunday at a news conference scheduled on Pearl Harbor Day and intended to highlight the service of veterans and current service members."

Now that I really like…a lot.

I bet it will be Chuck Hagel! Good man for the job.

I hope his pick is a wise one, perferrably a disabled veteran as my preference is for Tammy Duckworth. She exudes the spirit of the disabled veteran and has paid a long painful and life-long price for freedom. All gave some, some gave all and Tammy Duckworth will continue to give in perpetuity!!!

I know he is too busy to ask my opinion but I would absolutly pick Max Cleland of Georgia. Not only does he understand veterans and their issues but he was cheated out of his position in the Senate by that lying SOB Saxby Chambliss. I so wish Martin had won. Oh well. You can't win them all.

Hopefully it's someone who really cares about our veterans and our current military men and women.
Our military men and women have, and are, being treated horribly by the same people that sent them to war….and it's a complete disgrace.
Bush and Cheney send them to war to be killed and mamed and offer no real care when they return home. Shameful!!!

I have an idea – appoint that woman whose legs were blown off in Iraq. She's looking for a job, and women would forget all about the Facebook episode – wouldn't they??

I'm guessing Tammy Duckworth or Max Cleland.

Longshot… John McCain

Andrea Mitchell, does one of your spies already know who it is? Please, please tell me!!!!

How about Saxby Chambliss?

Barack is doeing just as he told us before.
He is a man of his word and he is proving
that every day.
I am from the Netherlands but he is my
president too, because his policy of change wil effect our country an
whole Europe intensively.
80% of the Dutch people are aproving his Presidency and
that's the highest number all over the world.
We know what a great and historic President he will be.

May he and his family be safe.

My guess? Tammy Duckworth. I worked on her campaign in DuPage county as a volunteer, and she is an astounding person. I would be quite surprised, if it is not Major Duckworth, who heads Veteran's Affairs in Illinois presently. She would be a stellar choice.

Veterans are truely going to find out who really has always supported them in the next four years. Anyone actually interested in who had the real record of supporting veterans and their issues could have easily researched and found out that Obama has a better voting record on supporting veterans than McCain. McCain's lip support was only lip service and photo ops. It's nice to shake someone's hand and say thank you. But it's even better when you make sure they have adequate health care and benefits.

Sure hope it isn't "songbird mccain" – he's voted against every veteran's benefit for a long time now. Bet he votes himself a pay raise in the senate next month.

I think the perfect choice would be, a previous Secretary of Veterans Affairs, former Senator, Max Cleland. Such a patriot, such a dedicated American, President-elect Obama couldn't go wrong with such a nomination. Max Cleland would be the perfect advocate for the Veterans and those returning from our present engagements. This is an extremely important nomination for President-elect Obama and I pray he finds the right nominee for such an important post.
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.