Sam Power

by Josh Orton, Fri Jan 30, 2009 at 01:25:21 PM EST

This is probably the best news I've read all week:

Samantha Power, the Harvard University professor and Pulitzer Prize-winning author who earned notoriety for calling Hillary Rodham Clinton a "monster" while working to elect Barack Obama president, will take a senior foreign policy job at the White House, The Associated Press has learned.

Officials familiar with the decision say Obama has tapped Power to be senior director for multilateral affairs at the National Security Council, a job that will require close contact and potential travel with Clinton, who is now secretary of state. NSC staffers often accompany the secretary of state on foreign trips.

Back when I started working for the Obama campaign during the primary, Power hadn't done much surrogate work yet. But later in 2007, when I set up one of the campaign's first blogger conference calls, Power happily joined to give details of Obama's Iraq policy (and she was terrific). Professor Power communicates Obama's international vision better than anyone else - but instead of a career political adviser hopping on the latest bandwagon, she's an academic and visionary who believes specifically in our new President. It speaks to Obama's commitment to foreign policy that she's joined his administration.

Here's Prof. Power on Charlie Rose, from a year ago:

Tags: Barack Obama, Samantha Power (all tags)

Comments

27 Comments

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Re: Sam Power

I knew Obama wouldn't cut her loose forever.

This is great news, a terrific appointment.

And I will take the flack from the Clinton folks, yes, she put her foot in her mouth about SOS Clinton, but she is brilliant, and we need that kind of world view in foriegn policy.

She also married Cass Sunstein, my dream first pick to the USSC when Barack steps up to the plate..

(see my soon to be posted diary on the USSC...)

BTW, I suspect she and SOS Clinton will get along just fine.

We are talking TWO very strong women, with a lot more in common then different.

by WashStateBlue 2009-01-30 01:38PM | 0 recs
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Re: Sam Power

It's fantastic news. Really happy for Samantha

by brit 2009-01-30 01:57PM | 0 recs
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Re: Sam Power

I'll give you Samantha Power, but holy shit, Sunstein for the Supreme Court?  You may want to read a thing or two he's written about executive power in the last eight years before you write that diary, unless we're prepared to acknowledge that Bush was right about everything after all.

by Steve M 2009-01-30 02:00PM | 0 recs
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Re: Sam Power

I have read them....Cass is not one to avoid controversy, I will give you that.

Got my thread up and running, head over and list your choices....

by WashStateBlue 2009-01-30 02:04PM | 0 recs
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Re: Sam Power

If you're listing "dream picks" for the Supreme Court, I don't get Sunstein at all.  He's sort of like the Posner of the left.  He's basically left-of center, but completely unpredictable.  

Now, that's not a bad quality to have for an academic or for someone in his current gig.  But it might be nice to actually appoint a solid judicial progressive to the Court instead.  It will be very interesting to see who Obama taps for the DC Circuit vacancies.  I suspect whoever goes there may end up being the second appointment.  

by HSTruman 2009-01-30 02:28PM | 0 recs
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Re: Sam Power

Plenty of posting space on my USSC thread....

http://www.mydd.com/story/2009/1/30/1843 41/211#commenttop

Come on over...

by WashStateBlue 2009-01-30 02:33PM | 0 recs
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Re: Sam Power

There's going to be some interesting rants on here later.

I'll be sure to check back.

by Bush Bites 2009-01-30 01:59PM | 0 recs
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Re: Sam Power

Killjoy stepped up the plate below..

So far, that wins the bitter Clinton post award.

by WashStateBlue 2009-01-30 02:35PM | 0 recs
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Re: Sam Power

Power has a selfcontrol/discipline problem.  It has little to do with Clinton except that that incident was a demonstration.

by killjoy 2009-01-30 10:30PM | 0 recs
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Re: Sam Power

Why is she a good adviser if most of her focus is in human rights?

Wikipedia quote: "A scholar of foreign policy especially as it relates to human rights, genocide, and AIDS, she is currently the Anna Lindh Professor of Practice of Global Leadership and Public Policy at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government."

She is very young and has little experience in actual policy issues. It's a good thing that Obama has better people around him than pie in the sky thinkers.

by bsavage 2009-01-30 02:15PM | 0 recs
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technically

Cass Sunstein is just a "thinker"

by ab03 2009-01-30 02:20PM | 0 recs
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Re: Sam Power

Yeah, you can always spot a rookie by their Pulitzer.

<rolls eyes>

by Josh Orton 2009-01-30 02:21PM | 0 recs
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Re: Sam Power

The election is over and she has spoken to HRC and this issue is over and that is that.

But as for Josh she only said what we all know you think.

david

by giusd 2009-01-30 02:17PM | 0 recs
Mars_attacks
Re: Sam Power

Knowing what other people think, without them otherwise communicating those thoughts; wow, that's ESP right?

You must a fun at parties.  Then again, maybe not.

by fogiv 2009-01-30 02:56PM | 0 recs
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Re: Sam Power

Wha?

by Josh Orton 2009-01-30 03:22PM | 0 recs
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Re: Sam Power

In other words you hate Hillary Clinton, I THINK.

by Jess81 2009-01-30 03:22PM | 0 recs
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Re: Sam Power

She is my candidate for first Obama appointee to resign, not unlikely in disgrace.

by killjoy 2009-01-30 02:31PM | 0 recs
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Re: Sam Power

Yeah but who do you think will resign in disgrace second?  That's what I want to know.

by Jess81 2009-01-30 02:42PM | 0 recs
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Re: Sam Power

My bet is Secretary of Commerce Rod Blagojevich.

by Steve M 2009-01-30 02:45PM | 0 recs
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3rd will be

Chairperson for still cleaning up Cheneys shredded documents, Harriet Miers..

The woman will just not damn go home!

by WashStateBlue 2009-01-30 02:49PM | 0 recs
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Re: Sam Power

I'm happy about this.  Her presence on Obama's foreign policy team was one of the things that drew me to him in the first place.

by Jess81 2009-01-30 02:43PM | 0 recs
Mars_attacks
Re: Sam Power

Naturally, she's brilliant.  I never had any doubt that Obama would put her to work. and quickly.

by fogiv 2009-01-30 02:47PM | 0 recs
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Re: Sam Power

Excellent pick.  I knew she'd be back in the Administration.  Hopefully after receiving a few lessons on how to talk to the press.

by Dreorg 2009-01-30 03:24PM | 0 recs
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Particularly...

...the British Press. Long story, but it was a bit of setup. In the US those remarks would have never been published. But she's learned her lesson.

by brit 2009-01-30 03:43PM | 0 recs
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Re: Sam Power

Awesome.  She impressed me in the primaries (monster gaffe aside) she is obviously a very strong mind, and a strong voice for human rights.

by lojasmo 2009-01-30 03:44PM | 0 recs
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Re: Sam Power

I don't mind Samantha Power getting a job in the Administration, but that's only because Hillary Clinton has okayed it. Power deserved to get booted for her "monster" comment. (And I won't forget her remark that Ohio Democrats were "obesessed" with NAFTA. God forbid the poor bastards worry about THEIR jobs.)

Bring on the insults!

by Upstate Dem 2009-01-30 04:12PM | 0 recs
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You have to try harder to get an insult...

This is just worthy of a yawn....

by WashStateBlue 2009-01-30 05:31PM | 0 recs

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