Subject: RE: Daschle letter on confirmation process
From: "Chris Lu" <[email-masked]>
To: "Cassandra Butts" <[email-masked]>, "John Podesta" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:43:07 -0500

My two cents is that Daschle shouldn’t sign since he’s involved in our transition efforts.   If Dole is going to sign, isn’t George Mitchell the better Democratic person to sign?

 

From: Cassandra Butts [mailto:[email-masked]] 
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2008 3:36 PM
To: John Podesta; Chris Lu
Subject: Daschle letter on confirmation process

See the following from Sen Daschle regarding a letter he has been asked to sign with Sen Dole on the confirmation process. I think this may have come up on our Friday call but it is being pushed by Howard Paster and Max Steir of the Partnership for public service and Dole has agreed to sign.

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

	From: "Bennett, Jody" <[email-masked]>
	Date: September 22, 2008 12:58:41 PM EDT
	To: [email-masked]
	Cc: "Hogan, Timothy" <[email-masked]>
	Subject: TAD request

	Cassandra - 

	I'm about to bother you with a random request…. 

	Senator Daschle was asked if he would sign the following letter with Senator Lott to Congressional Leadership regarding the importance of expediting the confirmation process.  Tim and I are not inclined to have him sign this letter for a couple of reason, primarily because we don't want to do anything that is at cross purposes with the campaign.  However, Senator Daschle would like to have your opinion before he gives it further consideration.  Would this cause angst for you all?

	Thanks, 
	Jody 

	-------------------------- 
	Dear Senator Reid, Senator McConnell, Chairmen and Ranking Members: 

	With  two  ongoing wars, the threat of terrorism and a flagging economy, it is  essential  that  our  nation's national, homeland and economic security remain undiminished   during  the  presidential  transition.  

	From our perspective as former Majority Leaders, we believe the Senate can perform a  vital  service to the American people by working in cooperation with the President-elect  to  ensure  that  his  core  security  team  is  in  place immediately after Inauguration Day.

	In the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, the Senate acknowledged the importance of expediting consideration of national security nominees.  

	Our government bears the responsibility of keeping the American people safe, and the actions of the Senate before and after the general election can facilitate a seamless transition between presidential administrations.   

	We know from experience that enemies of peace and stability seek to exploit leadership transitions to their advantage.  The 1993 World Trade Center bombing occurred only five weeks into President Clinton's first term, the2004 bombings in Madrid were timed to disrupt national elections, and Al Qaeda's attempted attack in London and Glasgow occurred just two days after Gordon Brown was sworn in as Britain's Prime Minister.  Only 60 percent of President George W. Bush's appointees were in place when the Pentagon and World Trade Center were attacked on September 11, 2001.

	Between the 2008 general election and the inaugural, Congress and the President-elect should work together to ensure that functioning national, homeland and economic security teams are in place as soon as possible after the President takes the oath of office.  It is essential to the safety and security of all Americans - and could raise the bar for all future transitions.

	We encourage you to reach out to the presidential campaigns with an offer:  the committees of the Senate will consider, and the Senate leaders will schedule a vote - as soon as possible after Inauguration Day - for individuals designated by the President-elect for as many key Cabinet and Subcabinet positions affecting national, homeland and economic security as is feasible.  In order to meet this highly ambitious and unprecedented timetable, the President-elect would need to provide the names of his designees to enable the Senate to conduct a thorough, but swift, review.

	The Senate has an opportunity through this proposal to initiate a new standard of excellence in the selection and confirmation of presidential appointees.  Doing so would insulate the American people from the dangers of a sluggish appointments process and, just as important, assure the American people that Congress can act quickly and decisively when the times demand.  This is one of those times.

	Sincerely, 
	[Senator Tom Daschle, Senator Trent Lott] 

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