What I'm following

2009 has been a year of change with Obama, the financial crisis and major challenges in foreign policy. So what are some of the issues I'm following and reading about?

1. What is happening on the climate change debate? Sceptics have pushed harder on the false choice between the environment and the economy amid the crisis, but Obama is pushing for action in the US, and the world is leading up to the major Copenhagen summit to follow Kyoto.
2. The media's future - as newspapers struggle to remain profitable, everyone has an opinion on where they are headed. Bill Simmons from ESPN has actually had one of the more interesting takes on the issue, coming from his perspective as one of the most successful writers on the Internet. His podcasts with Chuck Klosterman, Rick Reilly and the ESPN management have been great listening on the subject.
3. Where are the industries and countries that are going to thrive in the new economic environment? Look for green tech, the Asian economies and a greater emphasis on utilising a broad range of human capital. Why is McKinsey & Co hiring a variety of people while serving companies that only want someone with an MBA and a stereotypical background in finance?

The expat life - for students

The NY Times has an in-depth look at US students going abroad for university today. As a student who has lived overseas for 12 months, and who attends college with many international students, I highly recommend this option to expand a student's horizons and independence levels. People become more tolerant, open to ideas, and keen to learn.

I'm looking forward to more travel for work and study in my own future.

Overanalysing

Greg Sheridan likes to stir debate on foreign policy issues from his position as a columnist, and it is healthy for Australians to look beyond the matters concerning Canberra each week. Recently Sheridan was brave enough to suggest that George Bush was the best friend that Australia had ever had, when even Bush's real friends don't want to be seen in public with him.

But today's article, suggesting with little evidence and lots of assumption-making that the Mumbai terrorist siege is a warning for President-elect Obama, went too far. When people are still trapped and in potentially grave danger, hiding in hotel rooms from gunmen, it is not appropriate to remove the human element from an ongoing terrorist attack and tie it to a belief among conservative pundits that Obama is somehow an easy target for enemies of the West. Fareed Zakaria believed that Westerners may not have even been the intended targets.

Debate is healthy, but the immediate human issues must be considered too.

Obama's Roster

So Obama's Cabinet is taking shape fairly fast, and is full of big names:

State: Hillary Clinton - former First Lady and current Senator (Obama's biggest Rival, and a respected politician known worldwide)
Defence: Bob Gates - current Sec of Defence (staying in the job he has remade after Rumsfeld, Gates brings knowledge of the wars and a belief in diplomacy in the Middle East)
Treasury: Tim Geithner - NY Federal Reserve chairman (chosen as a less controversial pick, but Larry Summers will still be a go-to guy and rumoured for the Fed Reserve board. UPDATE: Summers is expected to be appointed a White House advisor and potential Fed Reserve chairman-in-waiting for 2010)
Attorney General: Eric Holder - former Deputy AG (a highly respected lawyer, and the most prominent - and so far only - African-American in Obama's Cabinet)
Homeland Security: Janet Napolitano - Governor of Arizona (seen as a rising star, either for Cabinet or a Senate race, and highly capable. John McCain has already praised her selection)
Health: Tom Daschle - former Senate Majority Leader (one of Obama's political sherpas, and a big presence in a previously niche portfolio that may be revolutionised under the new administration)
Commerce: Bill Richardson (he is the rumoured pick, and would be a prominent Latino. I don't know how this is the best use of his skills, but he may move up in a 2nd term)

General James L. Jones is also rumoured for National Security Advisor, and Joe Klein has an excellent look at the amazing caliber of Obama's security team.

We await Energy and Education as some of the more interesting positions without widely-rumoured (not official) nominees. I hoping that the team includes some 'non-politicans' as well - perhaps a scientist or businessman for energy (Steve Westly or Dan Reicher perhaps). The best people don't need to have been elected before.

A Team of Leaders

President-elect Obama could present a powerful form of change if he were to appoint the very best people for Cabinet roles, rather than purely rewarding political loyalty. If Hillary Clinton is willing to focus on the President's goals for America, and Obama wants her in the role, she should be appointed as Secretary of State (as the latest gossip in Washington suggests is possible). Likewise with Bob Gates, and maybe even Arnold Schwarzenegger in a position to promote alternative energy.

Obama previously promised to look at intellect and ability, rather than ideology (a HUGE change from Bush), when appointing his team. These selections would demonstrate that the best way forward is to put America's finest leaders to work on these massive issues.

Chris Cillizza has a good overview of the considerations for Obama in picking Hillary.

Good riddance

From the 'nobody is surprised' category, Sarah Palin thought Africa was a country. It's being reported on Fox News:

The change we have been waiting for

(Photo: Chicago Sun-Times, via BarackObama.com)