White House Names Kundra CIO

The Obama administration today introduced the president's choice to be techie-in-chief at the White House. The Author is impressed. Vivek Kundra sounds like just what we need, at just the right time. Born in New Delhi, India, Kundra moved at an early age to Tanzania and his first language is Swahili. Awesome. And the man did a great job getting DC's technology shit together, and prior to that as the first dual cabinet member in the state of Virginia. Yeah. A real braniac. That's what I'm talkin about. Read about the appointment here. And check out Kundra's Wikipiedia entry for more background. I've extracted some of the relevant background in the quote below. Again, exciting news. After all, it's the digital age. What could be more important than technology and information management?

Vivek Kundra formerly served in Mayor Fenty's cabinet as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for the District of Columbia, responsible for technology operations and strategy for 86 agencies. He has been recognized among the top 25 CTO's in the country and as the 2008 IT Executive of the Year for his pioneering work to drive transparency, engage citizens and lower the cost of government operations. Kundra is also recognized for his leadership in public safety communications, cyber security and IT portfolio management. Before Kundra came to the District, Governor Timothy M. Kaine appointed him Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Technology for the Commonwealth of Virginia, the first dual cabinet role in the state's history. Kundra's diverse record also includes technology and public policy experience in private industry and academia. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia's Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership and holds a MS in Information Technology from the University of Maryland.

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Daschle Withdraws - Kitzhaber Needs a Look

President Obama's choice to be secretary of Health & Human Services, as well as the new health care reform Czar, Tom Daschle has withdrawn after concluding that his much publicized tax problems were to big an obstacle to overcome. Though Daschle is former leader of the Senate and a man afforded infinate respect in D.C., his acceptance of a complimentary car and driver from a supporter doomed his nomination. The Author regrets this setback, as health care reform is a top priority on everybody's list. The economy simply won't recover without fundamental changes in this system.

The Obama administration has, however, a wonderful opportunity to select the perfect replacement in every way. Former Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber, M.D. is the ideal nominee. Co-author of the Oregon Health Plan and founder of the Archimedes Movement, Kitzhaber has devoted much of his energy and career in public service to this issue. Further, his experience as the chief executive of a state gives him the necessary experience and gravitas to handle the job. Let's hope he gets it.

DASCHLE
JOHN KITZHABER

Honor and Public Service

I was struck this week with the juxtaposition of several news stories that highlight the loss of accountability and even more importantly personal "honor" in the conduct of domestic politics. Consider this: In Japan, a cabinet minister and associate snared in scandal actully committed suicide rather than face the shame associated with the widening corruption probes. They also checked-out to take "responsibility" for their errors and practices. What a concept. In China, which is also struggling with corruption at every level, the head of the country's equivalent to the FDA was recently sentenced to death for allowing counterfeit, killer medicines into the domestic and foreign distribution channel. Now that's accountability. Big Pharma take note.

Contrast that to the current American administration which has lost control of the food supply in this country and squandered our good name and reputation worldwide. An administration that refuses to accept accountability for anything while wallowing in corruption, political dirty tricks, secrecy and failure. An administration that is so very obviously intent on circumventing the Constitution, the Geneva Conventions, and the wishes of its citizens. Witness the President's recent interpretation of the last election. According to Bush, the thrashing his party and positions took last November were a clear message that we need to send MORE troops to die babysitting a dysfunctional government involved in a bloody civil war. How clueless is that?

And Alberto Gonzales is the poster child for the loss of honor in government. I've posted about Gonzales before, calling for his resignation for derelection of duty, obstruction of Congress and politicizing the Justice Department. For an update on the Impeach Gonzales effort and a look at Robert Greenwald's newest video on the subject from Brave New Films, click here.