Obama-Clinton cabinet talks progress; announcement perhaps by December
(UPDATE: No official announcement but Friday afternoon word is Clinton has accepted the Cabinet offer.)
Obama transition team sources say that substantive talks are ongoing between President-elect Barack Obama and New York Sen. Hillary Clinton about her joining his cabinet in a new White House administration starting Jan. 20.
Since their secret meeting in Chicago one week ago today to discuss a possible appointment as secretary of state, the two former Democratic presidential rivals have reportedly conversed several times on foreign policy issues.
Other aides worked on details of necessary financial disclosures of foreign donations to ex-President Clinton's library and foundation.
But the sources say that, while plans could still change, at the moment the process is continuing with an announcement about a Clinton cabinet appointment not expected before Thanksgiving.
Clinton would be the third female secretary of state after Madeline Albright and Condoleeza Rice. See additional news video below.
-- Andrew Malcolm
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Photo credit: MSNBC
Andrew Malcolm's immigrant parents repeatedly stressed the importance of active participation in a democracy. Early lessons included learning the alphabetical list of states by watching televised roll calls of national political conventions. That childhood exposure led to a lifelong fascination with politics, including 40-plus years of covering them and a brief stint practicing them as press secretary to Laura Bush in 1999-2000. A veteran foreign and national correspondent, Malcolm served on the Times Editorial Board and was a Pulitzer finalist in 2004. He is the author of 10 nonfiction books and father of four.
Johanna Neuman is a veteran Washington correspondent for both The Los Angeles Times and USA Today, having covered presidents and politics as far back as Ronald Reagan. A former president of the White House Correspondents Assn., she authored a book on media and foreign policy, “Lights, Camera, Wars.” Most recently she was co-author of the 
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Why should Bill Clinton divulge his donor base, so Barack Obama can raid it in 2012? No thanks.
Posted by: Alessandro Machi | November 21, 2008 at 01:13 AM
Not pleasing words, but appreciation of the vetting process! I admire the way Obama team selects known would-be-efficient cabinet people. In the views and thoughts of Americans' expectation, I would rather hope that dedication and hands-on actions of cabinet members should and must deliver without fails the hope of Change (people seek for and Obama always chants). I know it is tough but can be done. The world is watching, and I wish them well.
The works are tough, Americans must cooperatively work hard also, the rests of the world should express supports; be it or not Americans must pull up their socks together!!!!
Posted by: Paoly | November 21, 2008 at 01:54 AM
The republicans who were asked by obama to come in his administration can't exept their new job till the general election is fully over, that means till georgia has made its final choice for the senate. But then even mccain maybe part of the new goverment.
Posted by: maz hess | November 21, 2008 at 03:10 AM
Hey, Wait! Aren't these the same corrupt party hacks from the previous administration? So much for "change you can believe in"! Hail the new chief, same as the old chief! I guess "change" simply means moving the deck chairs from the right side of the titanic back to the left side while leaving the tiller unmoved.
Posted by: American Sharecropper | November 21, 2008 at 05:22 AM