Peter Gosselar's blog

With the Obama administration in full swing, Becoming44.org is shutting its doors. Thanks for reading!

Edwin Meese III, attorney general under President Reagan, and Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) have an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal this morning drawing attention to a little-known piece of Attorney General-designee Eric Holder's time in the Clinton administration - the so-called "Holder Memorandum." The pair write, "this memo changed Justice Department policy regarding the formerly unquestioned right to counsel and to confidential communication with one's counsel." Calling the policy "unconsitut

According to the Washington Post's 44 blog, Susan Tierney, an energy and economics consultant with Boston-based Analysis Group, is expected to be named deputy secretary of energy. Tierney served as assistant secretary of energy for policy under President Clinton, and is a member of the Obama transition team.

Several sources are reporting that Obama has picked his technology advisor Julius Genachowski to head up the Federal Communications Commission. Genachowski and Obama were classmates at Harvard Law.

According to the Politico, Obama has nominated Bill Corr, the executive director of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, to be deputy secretary of health and human services. The Politico noted back in November that Corr, also a member of Obama's transition team, was a registered lobbyist as recently as September.

Last week, the Washington Post's 44 blog reported the rumor that Cass Sunstein, University of Chicago Law professor and acclaimed author of the book Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness, would be Obama's pick to run the White House's primary overseer on government regulations. (More after the jump.)

Obama announced four key Department of Defense posts this afternoon. The New York Times's The Caucus blog reports that Secretary Gates interviewed each of the nominees and "came away impressed with their personal character and professional credentials." (More after the jump.)

Becoming44.org contributor Alexander Cohen was on National Public Radio this morning, talking to Peter Overby about  donor access and the Obama transition. NPR has the interview available on its Web site.

Obama announced this morning the nomination of Nancy Killefer  for Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget. Killefer is currently the leader of McKinsey & Company's Public Sector practice. She served as Assistant Secretary for Management in the Treasury Department under President Clinton.

The Washington Post's 44 blog is reporting that Obama wants to tap neurosurgeon and CNN/CBS correspondent Sanjay Gupta as Surgeon General.