Barack Obama

Bill Richardson has been selected because he is the best person for that job.

Commerce secretary is a pretty good job, you know.

I'm looking for the best people, first and foremost, to serve the American people.

One gets the sense that he is trying to be a good president.

I offer you the hand of friendship, the same commitment to partnership as a do my Democratic colleagues. There is a time for campaigning, and there is a time for governing.

This administration does not intend to delay in getting you the help that we need.

I offer you the same hand of friendship, the same commitment to partnership as I do my Democratic colleagues. There is a time for campaigning and there is a time for governor.

This administration does not intend to delay in getting you the help that we need.

Tomorrow, Vice President-elect Joe Biden will be briefed by the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism.

That is the kind of strong partnership I intend to build as President of the United States.

I promise you this -- as President, I will seek your counsel.

I know he'll bring to the White House the same dedication and integrity that have earned him the highest praise in every post, from Secretary of the Army to university president.

I offer you the same hand of friendship and cooperation that I offer our Democratic governors.

To solve this crisis and to ease the burden on our states, we need action -- and action now.

Governors can partner with us to create jobs.

That is the spirit I want to reclaim in this country.

Louis has served his country with distinction in uniform and in government, and his pedigree is second-to-none.

That is what we're seeing today.

I think -- this is fun for the press to try to stir up whatever quotes were generated during the course of the campaign.

But understand I will be setting policy as president. I will be responsible for the vision that this team carries out and I expect them to implement.

I'm a strong believer in strong personalities and strong opinions. I think that's how the best decisions are made. One of the dangers in the White House, based on my reading of history, is that you get wrapped up in group think.

As we learned so painfully on 9/11, terror cannot be contained by borders nor safely provided by oceans alone. Last week we were reminded of this threat once again when terrorists took the lives of six Americans among nearly 200 hundred…

But understand, I will be setting policy as President. I will be responsible for the vision that this team carries out, and I expect them to implement.

I am a strong believer in strong personalities and strong opinions. I think that's how the best decisions are made. One of the dangers in a White House based on my reading of history is that you get wrapped up in group think.

I believe that 16 months is the right time frame, but, as I've said consistently, I will listen to the recommendations of my commanders.