Obama Adds Progressive Blogger/Advisor to Transition Team

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 10:30:00 AM EST
Tags: transition team (all tags)

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Huffington Post reports that Barack Obama has added Mike Lux, a blogger at Open Left and advisor to the Clinton transition team (among other accomplishments) to his transition team.

Veteran Democratic official Mike Lux has been tapped by Barack Obama to serve as an adviser and progressive liaison during the transition period, the Huffington Post has learned.

Lux, who worked on the Clinton administration transition efforts in 1992, confirmed the hiring but, citing a need for clearance, declined to offer further information.

More Lux credentials below:

After working in the Clinton White House on issues ranging from health care and the budget to school lunch policy, he founded Progressive Strategies LLC and began writing for the site OpenLeft.com in July 2007. He also helped co-found a number of progressive institutions including: Americans United for Change, Center for Progressive Leadership, Grassroots Democrats, Progressive Majority, Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, and Women's Voices/Women Vote. He writes for the Huffington Post.

Congratulations, Mike and Good on Obama. Anyone know Mike's position on crime issues?

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Obama Adds Progressive Blogger/Advisor to Transition Team | 24 comments (24 topical)

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Interesting (5.00 / 3) (#1)
by Steve M on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 10:52:25 AM EST

Who knew that finding someone to convince Matt Stoller to pipe down was such a priority?

: heh (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by Faust on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 10:59:52 AM EST

: I think everyone (2.00 / 0) (#4)
by Pepe on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 11:21:31 AM EST

who reads Openleft has had some disagreements with Stoller in some manner. But what blogger doesn't have people disagree with them from time to time?
To his credit during the primary and the general election I think he was one of the most objective bloggers on the Left as he was not afraid to present the good, the bad, or the ugly of Obama. That is more than Bowers did or for that matter this blog.
Stoller has some chinks but he also has some inside info as he exists in the face to face world with a lot of movers and shakers and is not just a virtual personality. He is a passionate Progressive advocate. as opposed to a Centrist, and very active is raising money for progressive candidates and exposing the Blue Dogs for what they are.
On balance he isn't that bad.

Ugh (5.00 / 2) (#3)
by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 11:03:04 AM EST

Lux is a nice fellow but judging from his writings I do not believe him to be very astute.

Indeed (none / 0) (#5)
by gyrfalcon on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 11:26:06 AM EST

Not astute at what? (none / 0) (#6)
by Pepe on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 11:38:23 AM EST

He is obviously astute enough to have worked in the WH and has put together or help put together a number of productive organizations. Given that I'd say he is astute in his field and has a good sense of vision.

One may not always agree with his politics or his preference of policies but that is no reason to call anyone not astute.


Not particularly insightful (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by gyrfalcon on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 11:40:58 AM EST

inclined to see things in pretty limited and simplistic terms, is my impression.


Oh you mean (none / 0) (#10)
by Pepe on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 12:02:57 PM EST

like Obama did when he finally 'simplified' and presented things a 'limited' way to win the election.

I think he is plenty insightful but then maybe I open up my mind to what the writer is saying as opposed to reading with the notion that he is not saying exactly what I want to hear.

It's ridiculous to call someone not astute just because they think differently than you do. Like being very connected does not display astuteness. Gees.


Heh (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 12:08:47 PM EST

Yep, you are the very person I think of one the phrase "open minded" is used.

You are certainly a valuable commenter here.


Oh so now you are (none / 0) (#14)
by Pepe on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 12:23:15 PM EST

down to put-downs? I thought that was the territory of less astute posters.


: Indeed (5.00 / 1) (#16)
by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 12:28:53 PM EST

Sometimes it is. Consider your own comments.
But you are right. I'll leave you alone now.
Have a nice day.

Huh? (none / 0) (#8)
by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 11:44:02 AM EST

George Bush worked in the White House too. I feel pretty comfortable calling him not astute. how about you?


Lux didn't work for Bush (none / 0) (#9)
by Pepe on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 11:53:36 AM EST

or for the GOP for that matter. So what does Bush have to do with your opinion of Lux? Nothing really as there is no tie in there. Unless of course you want to go meta with people who have been in the WH as all not being astute and I don't think you would go that far. Is Hillary not very astute? Bill?

Like I said Lux is an accomplished person and I don't think it is fair to make an blanket negative opinion of him with no foundation offered. I don't think you are anyone can say a person who is as active as he is in organizing is not an astute person.


Nothing to do with it (none / 0) (#11)
by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 12:07:08 PM EST

You are the one that mentioned "working in the White house" as an absolutely qualifying credential. I merely pointed out that George W. Bush also worked in the White House.

I take it what you MEANT to say is that Lux worked in a DEMOCRATIC White house and therefore he is ipso facto astute.

I do not adhere to that view.


Well if Bush has nothing to do with (none / 0) (#13)
by Pepe on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 12:17:12 PM EST

Lux then why mention him? Again just because Bush may not be astute, which in reality is not really true no matter how much we hate him, does not make Lux or anyone else no astute. You know that.

And no I didn't MEAN to say anymore than I did in my original post. I think Lux's post-WH resumes back my opinion that he is an astute person and does not back your opinion that he is not. I'd bet that his political-activism resume is better than 90% of the bloggers on the Left. If that makes him not astute what does it say about others?

Disagree with his views if you wish, but to call him not astute is a big stretch and is just not realistic.


You mentioned the WH as an absolute qualifier (none / 0) (#15)
by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 12:27:53 PM EST

Seems to me if being in the White House is good enough for you, it is worth pointing out that George Bush did indeed also "work in the White House."

But perhaps that is too much of a stretch for you to comprehend. Then again, I am goading you somewhat here.

I won't waste your time anymore.


No (2.00 / 0) (#18)
by Pepe on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 12:51:01 PM EST

What I couldn't comprehend was your bringing up Bush in the first place because it really had nothing to do with Lux or your comment that he wasn't astute.

There have been some real undesirables in the WH on both sides. But not many, if any, were not astute in some manner or they would have never been hired. Lux is obviously astute which you don't want to admit because doing so would undermine your original comment about him. So instead you nibble around the edges of my post and bring up Bush. Not a very compelling argument at all and way off the central theme that You established.


Astute in some manner? (none / 0) (#19)
by lilburro on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 01:00:47 PM EST

Tell that to "Brownie."


One can only hope (none / 0) (#20)
by Pepe on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 02:42:15 PM EST

you are kidding. After all there is a difference between the words astute and competent. They can be mutually exclusive of each other.

Some of the synonyms for astute are: crafty, wily, shrewd...

All of which Brownie was if you look at his bio.

Do you even think before posting?


re: brownie (none / 0) (#22)
by lilburro on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 03:01:55 PM EST

Yes, Brownie was quite adept at making friends, but at some level being astute means having insight and the ability to understand the most advantageous choices to make. Obviously once he got into FEMA the lights went off for Brownie.

Also, I thought someone was saying something about putdowns, somewhere. Oh well.


Really? (none / 0) (#25)
by Pepe on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 06:44:42 PM EST

"Also, I thought someone was saying something about putdowns, somewhere. Oh well."

Seem to me you have ripped into me before several times.

You know - glass houses and all that...


Pepe, you are chattering now (none / 0) (#26)
by Jeralyn on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 08:12:26 PM EST

please move on to another topic. We've heard your view several times now.


: No problem (none / 0) (#27)
by Pepe on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 09:44:01 PM EST

I'd rather not have to make those kinds of posts.
But I do hope you saw that I was directly responding to an accusation.

"progressive liaison " (none / 0) (#23)
by ruffian on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 03:18:41 PM EST

Meaning liaison to the progressive community? That should go well.