EARLYBIRD

Tuesday, November 11, 2008 6:42 AM

Top Transition Stories - 11/11

"The incoming" Barack Obama "administration plans to explore a more regional strategy to the war in Afghanistan -- including possible talks with Iran -- and looks favorably on the nascent dialogue between the Afghan government and 'reconcilable' elements of the Taliban, according to Obama national security advisers," the Washington Post reports.

"While Iraq has long dominated headlines, Afghanistan will demand more immediate attention, as" Obama "becomes the first commander-in-chief since Richard M. Nixon in 1969 to take charge during wartime," Bloomberg News reports. "Intensifying violence is ramping up U.S. involvement, costing money and lives when America faces a record budget deficit and the public is weary of war."

"A group of Foreign Service employees on Monday urged" Obama "to reform what they claim is an arbitrary security clearance process," GovernmentExecutive.com reports.

Obama "is unlikely to radically overhaul controversial Bush administration intelligence policies, advisers say, an approach that is almost certain to create tension within the Democratic Party," the Wall Street Journal reports.

"An Election Day announcement that the federal Bureau of Land Management plans to lease more than 350,000 acres for oil and gas drilling in Utah, including areas adjacent to Arches National Park, drew fire from environmental groups who accused the Bush administration of giving the oil industry a gift on the way out of office," the Wall Street Journal reports. "Sunday, John Podesta, who is helping to lead Mr. Obama's transition team, singled out the Utah leases as one decision the Obama administration might try to reverse."

Obama Visits White House

Obama "visited the White House yesterday for a long and cordial meeting with the man he will succeed, setting aside two years of withering criticism of President Bush's record to discuss the economy and tour the presidential living quarters," the Washington Post reports.

"No matter how people remember President Bush's time in office, let there be no doubt about how he wants to end it: gracefully," AP reports. "The result is that Bush's last image at the White House will be one of a magnanimous leader. Whether it will improve his legacy is another matter."

"The struggling auto industry was thrust into the middle of a political standoff between the White House and Democrats on Monday as" Obama "urged President Bush in a meeting at the White House to support immediate emergency aid," the New York Times reports

"The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released" Sunday "found that 57 percent of Americans overall believe the hand-over of power will be 'relatively easy,' 63 percent of whites but only 48 percent of blacks say that," the Boston Globe reports. "Nearly the same number of black respondents, 47 percent, said they believe the transition will be 'relatively difficult.'"


Inauguration Frenzy

"The frenzy to attend President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration has already begun, with thousands calling Congress for a ticket and scam artists promising entry for hundreds of dollars," Roll Call (subscription) reports.

"Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is drafting legislation that would make it illegal to sell tickets to" Obama's "inauguration ceremony," The Hill reports. "The tickets won't be given out until days before the ceremony, but they are already being advertised on websites like eBay and Craigslist for as much as $40,000."

"Obama is gearing up to raise money for his transition to the White House and his inauguration, having just concluded the most successful campaign fund raising in history," the Wall Street Journal reports. Bush "raised $42.8 million mostly from companies and executives to pay for his second inauguration." 


The Short List

Obama "is leaning toward asking Defense Secretary Robert Gates to remain in his position for at least a year, according to two Obama advisers," the Wall Street Journal reports. "A senior Pentagon official said Mr. Gates would likely accept the offer if it is made."

"A potential energy czar candidate may have just dropped from the shortlist," the Politico reports. Obama's "camp is remaining tight-lipped, but California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told CNN's John King over the weekend that he's heard nothing from the Obama transition team and has no interest in coming to Washington for a top job -- at least until he's finished his term in 2011."

Obama "doesn't plan to name a Treasury secretary or fill other top positions on his economic team this week, people familiar with the matter said, as he tries to keep from being drawn into Bush administration decisions he may disagree with," Bloomberg News reports.

"Democratic officials say" Obama's "transition aides have approached Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's former campaign manager" Patti Solis Doyle "about taking a senior White House post," AP reports.


First Family Fodder

"Michelle Obama wasn't always an admirer of Hillary Clinton, but last Wednesday the soon-to-be first lady dialed up the former first lady for pointers on protecting her two young daughters from the media maelstrom of the White House,"the Politico reports.

Michelle Obama "toured Georgetown Day School in the morning and Sidwell Friends School, which former President Bill Clinton's daughter, Chelsea, attended," yesterday afternoon, AP reports.

"The blogosphere and even some print publications are buzzing with speculation as to who might become the next White House chef," the Chicago Tribune reports.

"The Obama family recently received its new (and alliterative)" Secret Service code "names: 'Renegade' (Barack), 'Renaissance' (Michelle), 'Radiance' (Malia) and 'Rosebud' (Sasha)," the Chicago Tribune reports.