throwing long

Rahm outlines the Obama Admins goals:

He stressed that the new administration would "throw long and deep," taking advantage of the economic crisis to push wholesale changes in health care, taxes, financial re-regulation and energy. "The American people in two successive elections have voted for change, and change cannot be allowed to die on the doorsteps of Washington," Mr. Emanuel said.

Meet Eric Holder Jr., (most likely) our next Attorney General

The Nation makes the case against Holder for AG

TPM sifts through his record and finds some blemishes, but is mostly impressed.

Daschle tapped for Health and Human Services Secretary, and will also be named "health reform czar," a new title meant to give him power over the wide range of issues that span from policy to politics. Ezra Klein on why this matters:

This is huge news, and the clearest evidence yet that Obama means to pursue comprehensive health reform. You don't tap the former Senate Majority Leader to run your health care bureaucracy. That's not his skill set. You tap him to get your health care plan through Congress. You tap him because he understands the parliamentary tricks and has a deep knowledge of the ideologies and incentives of the relevant players. You tap him because you understand that health care reform runs through the Senate. And he accepts because he has been assured that you mean to attempt health care reform.

Joe Conason makes the case for keeping Gates on as Sec of Def

The media frenzy over Clinton SoS rumors

Re: "team of rivals," Daniel Drezner doesn't find it very applicable here, but thinks it makes for good show:

That said, it’s pretty smart for Obama and his staff to spread this meme around. First, it flatters all of his cabinet officers to think that they’re like Seward, Salmon Chase et al. Second, by invoking the metaphor, Obama gets to frame his administration as evoking both the great challenges of the Civil War period and the greatness of Lincoln.

Kerry expected take Biden's old spot as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (assuming he's not drafted into the Obama Admin). This would put him at the helm of the committee which over three decades ago he confronted as a returned Vietnam Vet and asked "how do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?"

Brad Delong profiles our "central economic planner," Ben Bernake.

Apperently the Obama team will be posting periodic videos to give us glimpses into the transition. Cool! Here's one:

The MN recount began today. Good luck Al!

The day in 100 seconds:

Thomas Frank thinks voters may have actually meant it when they voted for the liberals.

John Oliver discovers a magic wall conspiracy!: