the buzz log

A note to Broadway fans: Our apologies for taking liberties with the Broadway classic, "Fiddler on the Roof.")

A president in waiting...sounds crazy, no? But here in our little country of America, you might say every one of us is in waiting, looking to the future and change, hoping not to collapse into debt.

It isn't easy. You may ask, how can we stand waiting for the next few weeks, when things are so tough all over right now? Well, we stand it because America is our home.

And there is something to keep our hopes up, something that I can encapsulate in one word: transition!

Because of the presidential transition, people have been conducting many related searches. As Barack Obama builds his team, there are transition searches for:

  • "barack obama economic team" (off the charts)
  • "obama appointments" (+554%)
  • "barack obama's cabinet" (+229%)
  • "obama's cabinet picks" (+225%)
  • "biden transition team" (+128%)

Not all appointed Cabinet members will be new. For instance, Robert Gates will likely continue as defense secretary. And of course, many Cabinet appointments will be throwbacks from a previous era.

You may ask, when will these appointments be announced? I'll tell you: I don't know. But to keep track of Obama's predicted picks (again, with apologies to "Fiddler on the Roof"), we've set four of the Cabinet positions to the tune of "Tradition," so that every one of us knows who they might be, and what Obama expects them to do.

(Why these four? Because they fit the revised lyrics the best.)

Transition

What chief of staff must manage the agenda,
Put a staff together, run interference,
And who has to serve master of the White House
Who has the final word of all?

The Rahmbo, the Rahmbo! Transition!
The Rahmbo, the Rahmbo! Transition!

Who must know the way to make a secure home,
A border safe, a FEMA work?
Who must keep the citizens from any harm
Obama's guard against emergencies.

Janet Napolitano! Transition!
Janet Napolitano! Transition!

'93, she was a first lady, and then was senator.
She missed on the presidency, got top diplomat.

Hillary Clinton! Transition!
Clinton! Clinton! Transition!

And who does press outreach, to mend and tend and spin
Delivering the message, and take it on the chin?

Robert Gibbs! Robert Gibbs! Transition!
Robert Gibbs! Robert Gibbs! Transition!