[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/10/30/art.liveblog.jpg]
Tonight on AC360°, building his team. President-elect Obama has made it official. Fellow Chicagoan Rahm Emmanuel has accepted the job of White House chief of stafff. What other power players may be headed for the White House? We've got the raw politics. And, the first daughters-to-be. What life may be like for Obama's two daughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, when they move to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
We want you to be a part of tonight's program. Just scroll down and post your comments. We'll try to post as many of them as possible from 10pm to 11pm ET.
And, don't forget to watch Erica Hill's webcast during the commercials. LINK TO WEBCAST.
And take a look at our live web camera from the 360° studio. LINK TO THE BLOG CAMERA
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/POLITICS/11/06/emanuel.reaction/art.emanuel.gi.jpg caption="There's mixed emotion to Rahm Emanuel's appointment from Republican and Democratic leaders."]Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer
If you were going to be President of the United States who would you want in your inner circle?
There's no "if" for President-elect Barack Obama. It's a done deal. And, he's already making some crucial decisions.
Obama has picked Rahm Emanuel, a top House Democrat, to be his White House chief of staff. He's a close friend. They are both from Chicago. But the Illinois congressman is no stranger to the White House. He's a former top aide to Bill Clinton.
"No one I know is better at getting things done than Rahm Emanuel," Obama said today in a statement.
Emanual also released a statement.
"I'm leaving a job I love to join your White House for one simple reason - I want to do everything I can
to help deliver the change America needs," he said.
Though, some Washington insiders are questioning Obama's pick. It boils down to his temperament. Emanual is not low-key like his future boss. He's known for being partisan and outspoken.
"This is an ironic choice for a president-elect who has promised to change Washington, make politics more civil, and govern from the center," Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, said in a written statement.
Obama is expected to hold his first news conference tomorrow as President-elect, where he may announce other key appointments.
And, on Monday, Obama and his wife, Michelle, will visit the White House. According to White House spokeswoman Dana Perino, Pres. Bush and Obama will meet in the Oval office, while Mrs. Bush and Mrs. Obama will tour the private residence.
It's a busy week for Mr. Obama, and we're tracking all the developments.
Tonight on AC360°, find out what Washington power players are seeking jobs in the Obama administration. And, do you agree with the GOP outrage over Obama's picks?
Join us at 10pm ET.
Beat 360° 11/06/08
Ready for today's Beat 360°?
Everyday we post a picture – and you provide the caption and our staff will join in too.
Tune in tonight at 10pm to see if you are our favorite!
Here is the 'Beat 360°’ pic:
Vice President Dick Cheney applauds President Bush, after the president made remarks on the transition to administration employees, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington.
Have fun with it. We're looking forward to your captions!
Make sure to include your name, city, state (or country) so we can post your comment.
________________________________________________
But wait!… There’s more!
When you win ‘Beat 360°’ not only do you get on-air prime-time name recognition (complete with bragging rights over all your friends, family, and jealous competitors), but you get a “I Won the Beat 360° Challenge” T-shirt!
Beat 360° 11/06/08
Statement from Ellen DeGeneres
Host, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show"
Watching the returns on election night was an amazing experience. Barack Obama is our new president. Change is here. I, like millions of Americans, felt like we had taken a giant step towards equality. We were watching history.
This morning, when it was clear that Proposition 8 had passed in California, I can’t explain the feeling I had. I was saddened beyond belief. Here we just had a giant step towards equality and then on the very next day, we took a giant step away.
I believe one day a “ban on gay marriage” will sound totally ridiculous. In the meantime, I will continue to speak out for equality for all of us.
Matt Coles
ACLU Director of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Project
After the California Supreme Court’s brilliant, inspiring decision in May, Tuesday's loss at the polls is a bitter pill. That it follows all the wonderful stories of people getting married, and the Connecticut decision that seemed to put us on a roll, makes it all the more difficult to accept.
But indulge me for a look back in history. In 1982, we passed a domestic partnership law in San Francisco, the country’s first. Despite having carefully laid the groundwork, it was vetoed without warning, and a vote essential to an override defected the next day. It took us seven years to get it passed again. And when we did, our opponents got enough signatures to put it on the ballot in 30 days. We ran one of the most expensive local initiative elections in California history. And we lost, 50.5 to 49.5. In 1990, we put it back on the ballot again and won. But the next year, we had to defend it again against an attempted repeal initiative.
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/06/art.fond.du.lac.jpg caption="For every pound lost by Weight Watchers between Sept. 7th and Oct. 18, the equivalent of one pound of food will be donated to Share Our Strength or Action Against Hunger."]David Kirchhoff
CEO, Weight Watchers International
We live in such an unusual time, given that so many people are struggling to get enough to eat, and yet obesity is a major health care issue around the world. Just look at these two statistics: 862 million people are underfed, and1.6 billion people are overweight or obese. What a startling imbalance.
To contribute to righting this imbalance, we announced Lose for Good a couple of months ago, a new challenge to Weight Watchers Members to band together and invest in their own health while helping a neighbor in need.
The goal was simple: For every pound lost by Weight Watchers between Sept. 7th and Oct. 18, we would donate the equivalent of one pound of food, up to a million dollars, to Share Our Strength or Action Against Hunger. In addition, our members and staff could contribute food locally to those who are having a hard time making ends meet.
When we started planning earlier this year, it seemed a compelling way to motivate our members and do something good for the community. As the economy started to deteriorate, food banks started to get hit pretty hard with decreased donations and increased demand. Suddenly, Lose For Good began to feel more than just compelling. It became a call to action.