What will happen as President Barack Obama enters his second term – Obama to-do list?

Posted: 3:37 am, November 13, 2012 by Amarendra Bhushan

The big question – What’s next on the newly re-elected U.S. President Barack Obama agenda – Obama to-do list? He may be the most powerful man in the world, but his real power is limited, as close to half of Americans oppose him and his political adversaries have made a firm decision to undermine his every move.

Here’s what one of the most powerful Washington Insider thinks is going to happen, one of the top lobbying firms in D.C., Patton Boggs has released its forecast for what it expects will happen as the president of United States of America Barack Obama enters his second term.

Afghanistan and Pakistan - President Barack Obama will stand by his decision to withdraw U.S. combat troops from Afghanistan by 2014. United States will continue to be clear with Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership that it will refuse to take off the table future drone strikes and other potential operations involving Al Qaeda-affiliated targets in Pakistani territory.

Iran and Syria- the Obama Administration will continue to focus on enforcing and selectively expanding multilateral (and corresponding unilateral) sanctions in order to intensify the pressure against the Iranian Government as it pursues its nuclear enrichment program — It is doubtful the Obama Administration will intervene militarily in Syria.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton - Hillary Clinton will depart as President Obama’s second term begins, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry is a candidate to succeed Secretary Clinton. Other candidates to replace Clinton include:

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice, “as befitting her rapid rise through the Democratic foreign policy establishment.”
Departing Senator Richard Lugar (R-Ind.)
Congressman Howard Berman (D-Calif.), who just lost his seat to fellow Democratic Congressman Brad Sherman as a result of redistricting.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano - The report predicts that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will likely remain in Obama’s Cabinet for a second term … she is rumored to want the Attorney General job if Eric Holder departs.

If Janet Napolitano moves to Eric Holde position, Here’s who Patton might replace her if that happens:

Retiring Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT)
New York City Police Chief Ray Kelly
Former Los Angeles Police Chief and former New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton
Former Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-CA)
Former Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen

Secretary of Defense- With Leon Panetta stepping down as Secretary of Defense, former Undersecretary of Defense Michelle Flournoy is the likeliest candidate for the job. According to Patton Boggs, “most Pentagon watchers consider [Flournoy] to be the leading candidate to succeed” Panetta. Other leading candidates named in the report include Senate Armed Services Committee Member Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Deputy Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, and former Clinton Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig.

Treasury Secretary – As Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner prepares to exit, Here’s the shortlist to replace Tim Geithner at the Treasury:

Former Clinton White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles
White House Chief of Staff Jacob Lew
Evercore CEO and former Deputy Treasury Secretary Roger Altman
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink

[image by DVIDSHUB, FreedomHouse , sskennel ]

Posted in: INNOVATION

Tags: Barack Obama,Congress,Features,Fiscal Cliff,Obama administration,Pakistan,Patton Boggs,Policy,Syria,United States

About the author: Amarendra Bhushan

A journalist, author and serial entrepreneur- Founder and CEO of CEOWORLD Magazine and Lucentbyte Media Technologies LTD. (amar@ceoworld.biz)

Explore the World of CEOWORLD Magazine

CEOWORLD Magazine is the only magazine written strictly for c-suite forward-thinking corporate executives and directors to network, learn and share ideas with peers that help them effectively lead their organizations.

Our collection of avid readers includes CEOs, CFOs, Chairmen, Directors, business leaders, corporate manager, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, researchers and their peers – a powerful mix of executive professionals.

It covers a range of business and technology related news, analysis, emerging trends, information, strategy, growth opportunities, challenge on global economy, and executive life.

Some of the companies it covers in depth include Microsoft, Blackberry, Google, Apple, Facebook, Twitter, Zynga, Cisco, but it also covers pathbreaking start-up companies.

As an authority on the future of business and technology, it is a leading source for reliable news, review and updated analysis for people who create and fund the innovations that drive the global economy.