Opinion: Obama’s final Cabinet picks and final warning for auto industry

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Just in time to pack for his 10-day vacation in Berwyn, Ill., President-elect Barack Obama wrapped up his Cabinet nominations today. (See video below.)

We’re just kidding about Berwyn. He’s really going back to Hawaii.

Obama also took the occasion to endorse the short-term financial bailout package announced today by President Bush, who didn’t want the American automobile industry imploding on his watch. Hard to believe that $17.4 billion is short-term, but there you have it. So he kicked the can down the road for the new guys to confront, which was fine by the unions and Congress since there’ll be more Democrats to handle it come January.

The new Congress gets sworn in on Jan. 6 and starts committee hearings on Obama’s Cabinet nominees almost immediately, planning to have all or almost all confirmed by the Jan. 20 inauguration date.

Here’s a news video on the final nominees and Obama’s car remarks.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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