Well, friends, today marks the swan song for Vox Politics as we close out our election unit until the 2010 midterms. This is our final post in this space. On December 1st, our esteemed colleague and friend Ken Rudin will pick up NPR's political blogging mantle with a daily blog version of his beloved Political Junkie column.

As I return to radio-land I offer my deepest gratitude to all of our contributors and editors, and of course to our readers and commenters as well. To all the members of the NPR election division who turn into pumpkins after today: we will miss you immensely.

As we noted in yesterday's roundup, the selection of AZ Governor Janet Napolitano for Homeland Security Secretary will elevate Republican Secretary of State Jan Brewer to the Grand Canyon State's Governor's condo.

Mike Memoli, filling in for Ambinder, has an exhaustive and fascinating look at some other potential Obama appointees whose selection could lead to party-changes in Governorships and Senate seats.

The Democratic Governors of Kansas, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Virginia would have Republican successors, and if Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed gets a political appointment, GOP Gov. Don Carcieri would select his replacement. But if one of Maine's moderate Republican Senators is tapped for a cabinet job, the Democrats could gain a seat with an appointment from Gov. John Baldacci...which would be huge if the Dems get to 59 with an Al Franken or Jim Martin Senate victory (and could be a potential reason for Susan Collins or Olympia Snowe to pass on an appointment offer).

From the transition office:

President-Elect Obama and Vice President-Elect Biden Announce Key White House Staff

WASHINGTON — President-Elect Obama and Vice President-Elect Biden today announced the following White House staff: Patrick Gaspard, Director of the Office of Political Affairs; Jackie Norris, Chief of Staff to First Lady; Catherine (Cathy) M. Russell, Chief of Staff for Dr. Jill Biden; Cynthia Hogan, Counsel to the Vice President; and Moises (Moe) V. Vela, Jr., Director of Administration for the Office of the Vice President.

President-Elect Barack Obama said, "This group of public servants will bring decades of expertise to my administration, and I'll rely on their counsel and hard work as we fix our struggling economy and meet the great challenges of our time. Vice President-Elect Biden and I look forward to continuing our work with these outstanding individuals who have dedicated their careers to a better America."

Vice President-Elect Joe Biden said, "These individuals all possess incredible integrity and an unmatched commitment to public service. Cathy Russell has a unique blend of policy and management experience, combined with an ardent commitment to ending injustices around the world. Cynthia Hogan is a brilliant lawyer who was instrumental in guiding the Senate Judiciary Committee though some of its most important challenges in both crime control and judicial selection, and has shown incredible legal acumen and integrity over her career. I'm grateful to have Moe Vela, a man with experience in White House management and broad outreach skills on my team. Their combined experience, diverse leadership and esteemed counsel will be essential in helping the Obama-Biden Administration bring the change we need to America."

Bios after the jump.

— Evie Stone

A source close to the Obama transition team's decision making process has confirmed to NPR's Juan Williams that New York Fed Chief Timothy Geithner has accepted an offer to serve as Treasury Secretary in the Obama administration. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has been selected to head the Commerce Department. Both appointments will be announced on Monday.

The transition team will announce after Thanksgiving that Senator Hillary Clinton has accepted an offer to be Secretary of State.

The New York Times is reporting that Hillary Clinton is prepared to accept an offer to serve as Secretary of State in the Obama administration. News organizations have breathlessly followed Clinton's leaked indecision on the matter — as well as the behind-the-scenes negotiations of her vetting process, which included thorough investigations of her husband's post-presidential activities:

People close to the vetting said Mr. Clinton turned over the names of 208,000 donors to his foundation and library and agreed to all of the conditions requested by Mr. Obama's transition team, including restrictions on his future paid speeches and role at his international foundation.

Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson has apparently decided not to run for chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Thompson's former finance chair, B.C. "Scooter" Clippard, tells the Associated Press that the lawyer-turned-actor-turned-Senator-turned-actor-turned Presidential candidate-turned-guy with a PAC has decided to return his career attentions to the business they call show:

"He has some wonderful opportunities back in the television market that probably financially far outweigh being chair of the RNC," Clippard said.

Today the Chicago 2016 delegation made their case to the European Olympic Committees General Assembly, which is taking place in Istanbul. President-elect Obama's contributed to their efforts with this video.

According to the AP report on the meeting, the Chicago 2016 folks see Obama as a big potential draw to the Windy City:

Photos of Obama were sprinkled throughout Chicago's 20-minute presentation, including a shot of him delivering his acceptance speech in Grant Park. His taped message was introduced by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, who said they share a goal of inspiring young people to participate in sports.

The Washington Post's Shailagh Murray and Chris "The Fix" Cillizza take a look at the Obama operation's switch from airtight campaign to transition leakfest:

"There is nothing they can do about it — vetting and FBI background checks require a lot of calls, and that leads to leaks," explained Steve Elmendorf, a longtime aide to former House minority leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.) and now a lobbyist in Washington.

And unlike in a campaign, there is now simply more information to disseminate and more outlets chasing the ever-elusive scoop. "It's the era of the Internet; what do you expect?" joked a former Clinton White House senior adviser who is not involved in the transition process.

Luckily for the Obama camp, most of the names floated thusfar have been seemingly well-received — with the exception most notably of campaign finance chair (and Hyatt hotel heiress) Penny Pritzker, who took herself out of the running for Commerce Secretary yesterday when it became clear that her business entanglements would create problems in the confirmation process.

UPDATE: Another wave-making potential appointment...John Brennan as CIA director. Not a popular choice among the netroots left given his ties to the George Tenet legacy.

In this priceless vid, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin discusses her political career after symbolically pardoning a turkey at the Triple D Farms in Wasilla. Meanwhile, a guy slaughters the pardoned gobbler's wattled brethren in the background...and MSNBC has some fun with the captions.

The uncensored version is here.

Happy Friday! Just a few short days until turkey time...

We are relieved to report that Attorney General Michael Mukasey seems to be okay after collapsing during a speech at The Federalist Society last night. He was rushed to George Washington University Hospital from the event, and the DoJ's press office released a statement shortly after midnight saying that Mukasey was "conscious, conversant and alert" but would stay at the hospital overnight for observation. President Bush spoke with the Attorney General by phone this morning, and according to a White House statement he "sounded well".

The latest on Hillary Clinton's possible appointment as Secretary of State: the vetting issues with Bill Clinton's foundation fundraising and international speechmaking have apparently been resolved. The anonymously-sourced phrase that's making the rounds is that the nomination is "on track" and may be announced shortly after Thanksgiving.

Meanwhile the NYT reports that if Clinton does not head to State she may get a "still-undefined leadership role" in the Senate. According to the Times, the Senate leadership is trying to come up with an elevated post for Clinton that would not dislodge any other Democrat. It's a tricky situation, since Clinton is still pretty junior. But if she takes the State post, she'll be barred from raising any more money to pay off her remaining $7.5 million in campaign debt ($5.4 million of which she owes to pollster/strategist Mark Penn). So what will she decide?

Via the WP, Handshake Man will not be putting in an appearance at the 2009 Inauguration festivities.

The Rev. Richard C. "Rich" Weaver — dubbed Handshake Man by followers of his exploits — has been Washington's most famous uninvited guest. Now in his early 60s, he has reached out and touched six presidents and countless senators. He was the ultimate man-without-a-ticket, the scourge of the Secret Service and Capitol Police, a hero to wedding crashers and gate jumpers everywhere, all the little people eternally locked outside the velvet ropes of life.

When asked how he penetrated the tightest of security bubbles, Weaver would say simply: "It's just God, buddy."

Weaver has jumped out of the crowd to present every President since Carter with a handshake, a medallion, and a message from God. He was arrested at the 2005 Inauguration before he managed to greet President Bush, and his sentence requires that he stay of of DC for another year.

The newly re-elected House Minority Leader says in a statement that John Dingell's ouster as chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee to make way for the more liberal Rep. Henry Waxman is evidence that the "Democratic caucus increasingly seems to be pulled leftward by radical special interests."

As the Franken-Coleman recount continues apace in Minnesota, our friends at Minnesota Public Radio provide a few illustrative contested ballots for your viewing pleasure.

In an email to Lynn Sweet, Obama campaign finance chair Penny Pritzker says that — contrary to rumor — she is not a candidate for Secretary of Commerce.

Evie previewed it this morning, and now the verdict is in on Waxman vs. Dingell. House Democrats voted 137-122 in favor of giving California Rep. Henry Waxman the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Michigan's John Dingell, the top Democrat on the powerful committee for the past 28 years, will hand over the reins when the 111th Congress convenes in January. Dingell's defeat is seen by some as a blow to the bailout hopes of the "Big Three" who have often counted on the 27-term (soon to be 28-term) Michigan Congressman to defend their interests. The move also strikes a blow to the seniority system in the House.

There's no doubt Waxman, who has been the top Democrat on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform since 1997, has what it takes to run a hearing room. Now we'll get to see if he plans to give Ford, GM, and Chrysler the Roger Clemens treatment.