Created Fri 14th Nov 2008 1:22pm PST by

bigken1 Level 15, Seer (H$358,666)

How many new cabinet positions will be created by Obama?

Voided

Market voided. Problems discovered by Question creator, void at creators request.

Background:

Background: With all the number of new problems our country is facing, there are a number of possible new cabinet positions that Obama may believe are required to deal with them, cited in this article, not even counting the "geek czar", etc.So, how many will he create?

From the post article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/10/AR2008111002815.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns
The intense competition among Democrats for top jobs in the incoming Obama administration assumes there are a fixed number of posts worth having. But it's looking likely that some extremely choice, even consequential, positions are going to be created by the new administration.

For example, plans are underway to establish a White House Office of Urban Policy ... said Valerie Jarrett, co-chairman of the Obama transition team.

"He's going to have a White House chief of urban policy," Jarrett told the Trotter Group, an organization of black columnists.

Meanwhile, there's chatter that, if the administration decides to create the position of environmental czar, ...

Settlement details:As reported by a major mainstream news source, when results appear to be firm, even if before inauguration. I have put one month to suspend date, market will settle based on number of positions created by inauguration date, but question should suspend earlier, if new cabinet positions appear to be final, as Obama seems to be moving more swiftly than Bill Clinton, or G. W. Bush did.

Forecast history %

0-1

10%

20%

30%

20%

6 or greater

10%

Voided Sun 23rd Nov 2008 7:52pm PST

Activity: H$11,169
Predictions: 49
Comments: 9

Suspend date: Sun 14th Dec 2008 11:59pm PST

Initial likelihoods: 0-1: 10%, 2: 10%, 3: 20%, 4: 30%, 5: 20%, 6 or greater: 10%

Action history:

Created Fri 14th Nov 2008 1:22pm PST by

bigken1 Level 15, Seer (H$358,666)

Changed Settlement info Sat 15th Nov 2008 5:20pm PST by

destry [Admin]

: show details

... put one month to suspend date, market will settle based on number of positions created by inauguration date, but question should suspend

Suspended Sun 23rd Nov 2008 7:48pm PST by

notablenotices [Power User]

: Flagged by super user: pending void, per question creator.

Voided Sun 23rd Nov 2008 7:52pm PST by

destry [Admin]

: Market voided. Problems discovered by Question creator, void at creators request.

hide

Suspend date: Sun 14th Dec 2008 11:59pm PST details

Get widget!

Predictions (49)

51 weeks ago

jimk

predicted 2 (H$50 at 22%)

52 weeks ago

pita_soup Level 13, Psychic (H$61,079)

predicted 0-1 (H$20 at 38%)

52 weeks ago

hect0r Level 11, Legend (H$18,579)

predicted 0-1 (H$100 at 37%)

52 weeks ago

rogi

predicted 0-1 (H$100 at 35%)

52 weeks ago

bigken1 Level 15, Seer (H$358,666)

predicted 2 (H$100 at 21%)

Comments (9)

raidersin09 Level 14, Prophet (H$102,904)

I don't think he'll go hog wild and create a bunch of new positions at this level. It's serious stuff, and even if he ultimately does expand the cabinet I believe he's shrewd enough to take his time. He's got four years after all. Very good market though, bigken!

posted 1 year ago

raidersin09 Level 14, Prophet (H$102,904)

Oh I forgot to mention my rationale: he won't want to be perceived as "expanding big government", that kind of thing. I honestly hope he doesn't feel pressured by his big campaign donors and supporters to go beyond that.

posted 1 year ago

raidersin09 Level 14, Prophet (H$102,904)

Okay, at the risk of overkill in the commenting-on-a-market department, I wanted to add: if he's smart he won't want to be perceived as overusing *executive branch* power and prerogatives, something that the anti-Bushites have been hammering GWB with for years now.

posted 1 year ago

bigken1 Level 15, Seer (H$358,666)

It was my intention (and I tried to change the question wording) to indicate that the new positions be created by inauguration day (or be decided by then). Hope this is clear, or can be accommodated.

posted 1 year ago

bigken1 Level 15, Seer (H$358,666)

From the movement towards the 0-1 values, I think it is clear to a lot of people. Thanks for remarks raider.

posted 1 year ago

jbreed Level 11, Legend (H$18,593)

The Cabinet positions are the heads of the executive Departments. To create a new cabinet position would require creating a new department. The last department created was Homeland Security in Nov 2002 in response to the attacks of Sep 2001. There's no way a new cabinet position can be created before inauguration day.

posted 1 year ago

bigken1 Level 15, Seer (H$358,666)

It is my understanding that a cabinet position, really just means someone who officially attends the Cabinet meetings. So, although traditionally, such people oversee departments, such a person does not necessarily have to do so. It could be that they are dealing with a current crisis (like an "auto czar", or "chief of urban policy", or "environmental/climate change czar", etc..)

posted 52 weeks ago

bayoubear [Admin]

There does need to be some clarification about what is a Cabinet position. I feel that it should be a person who is the head of an official Department, not just a created "Office of....". And if that is the case, then this question may need to be voided, as its highly unlikely that W will create a new Department for Obama before leaving.

By the way...Truman had a 'kitchen cabinet' of friends and advisors that he consulted with, not just the official cabinet.

posted 52 weeks ago

bigken1 Level 15, Seer (H$358,666)

These are good points jbreed and bayoubear. I will ask that it be voided..
ken

posted 51 weeks ago

Please log in or join to add a comment

Stake virtual dollars on the outcomes of real news stories! Win more if you're right and climb the leaderboards Learn more...

By joining you are agreeing to our terms of service

Related News
This news is selected automatically based on the question, its background, options and tags

score: 10

Timothy Geithner to be treasury secretary

Xinhuanet 51 weeks ago

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama will formally announce the choice of Timothy Geithner as treasury secretary on Monday, Obama's aides said Saturday. WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has

score: 10

Obama to formally announce Treasury pick on Monday

Xinhuanet 51 weeks ago

score: 10

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has named his longtime spokesman Robert Gibbs as his White House press secretary, Obama's tran

Xinhuanet 51 weeks ago

Photo Gallery>>> WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has named his longtime spokesman Robert Gibbs as his White House press secretary, Obama's transition office said in a statement on Saturday. Gibbs has been spokesman for

score: 10

Robert Gibbs named Obama press secretary

Xinhuanet 51 weeks ago

Special Report: WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has named his longtime spokesman Robert Gibbs as his White House press secretary, Obama's transition office said in a statement on Saturday. Gibbs has been spokesman for

score: 10

Obama's Cabinet grows by two, sources say

CNN 1 year ago

President-elect Barack Obama's top choice for secretary of homeland security is Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, multiple Democratic sources close to the transition told CNN on condition of anonymity. One source said