EARLYBIRD

Wednesday, November 26, 2008 10:51 AM

Top Transition News - 11/26

President-elect Barack Obama wants to keep his BlackBerry, he told Barbara Walters, because "one of the worst things I think that could happen to a president is losing touch with what people are going through day to day" (Chicago Tribune).

Saddled with low morale and a string of high-profile failures, the Food and Drug Administration will be looking to the new administration for an infusion of cash, manpower, technology and leadership (Washington Post).

After his chairmanships were nearly stripped from him, Sen. Joe Lieberman, I/D-Conn., has been effusive in his praise for Obama, calling his actions since Election Day "just about perfect" (AP).

Obama will tap former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker to chair a new White House advisory board charged with stabilizing the financial markets and pulling the nation back from a recession (Wall Street Journal).

What Vice President-elect Joe Biden's role in the Obama administration is shaping up to be is more trusted confidante than task-master for a particular set of issues (New York Times).

The oil and natural gas industry's new top lobbyist doubts Obama can slash American consumption of oil by 10 million barrels a day by 2030 (Washington Times).

Some union advocates are dismayed that Obama is not giving labor a higher profile as he cobbles together his economic team, especially considering the millions of dollars unions spent getting Obama elected (Politico).

"Test The Mettle Of This Guy"

Obama will keep Defense Secretary Robert Gates at his post, making it the "first time a Pentagon chief has been carried over from a president of a different party" (New York Times).

Obama will tap retired Marine Gen. James Jones to be national security adviser, according to Democratic sources (AP).

John Brennan, a CIA veteran whose links to controversial CIA programs drew scorn in the liberal blogosphere, withdrew his name from contention to be the agency's next director (New York Times).

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev appears to be providing Obama with the "generated crisis" that Biden warned about during the campaign, as tough talk is emanating from Moscow and the Russian navy is beginning joint exercises with Venezuela's military (Politico).

Lean Times

Obama vowed Tuesday to trim wasteful spending from the federal budget to help pay for new programs aimed at rejuvenating the economy (New York Times).

Obama's new budget director, Peter Orszag, likes to find common sense solutions to problems that don't always involve spending money (Wall Street Journal).

Inauguration Conflagration

Obama plans to limit contributions for his inaugural festivities to $50,000 a person and bar special interests from donating entirely (New York Times).

Can't get tickets to the real thing? Check out the inauguration rehearsal on Jan. 11, complete with music, a parade and a fake swearing-in (Washington Post).