Grab a Chair

By stepping down from the chairmanship of the Appropriations Committee, Robert Byrd set in motion a power scramble in the Senate. (By Susan Walsh -- Associated Press)

For those who've already booked the event, please note the following advisory from event host Center for a New American Security. "UPDATE: Due to overwhelming interest in this event, the book discussion will now take place in the Grand Ballroom on the lower level of the Willard Hotel. Books will also be on sale at the discounted price of $20. We look forward to seeing you there!"

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Bring Your Rubber Thumb

Looking to get your foot in the door with the new Obama administration? Here's your chance. The transition team is looking for "dedicated individuals" to volunteer at transition headquarters in downtown Washington, according to an all-call that Alexandria Democratic Committee Chairwoman Susan Kellom e-mailed to Alexandria Democrats.

"Tasks will range from answering phones in the call center, greeting and escorting visitors in the welcome center, handling the mail, making copies and other special projects that will provide support to the transition staff," she wrote in the e-mail, forwarded by a dedicated Loop reader.

The gang will work in shifts on weekdays: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. "Of course, evening and weekend shifts are available," Kellom wrote.

Safe Bets

While much of the chatter these days naturally focuses on the big Cabinet jobs, there is plenty of speculation about jobs farther down the food chain, including the regulatory agencies and other posts.

For example, folks who follow consumer safety matters are already compiling possible nominees to chair the Consumer Product Safety Commission, our colleague Annys Shin reports. They divide the likely suspects into those in the Washington area and those who would be Obama favorites from Illinois.

The D.C. contingent includes Pamela Gilbert, a longtime public interest lawyer and former CPSC executive director under Clinton's CPSC chair, Ann Brown; Rachel Weintraub, a lawyer for the Consumer Federation of America who has been trying to regulate all-terrain vehicles and get them banned for sale to children under 16; and, Alan Korn, director of public policy for Safe Kids USA, another advocacy group in Washington, who is said to want the job. Korn has testified on the Hill many times on CPSC matters and favors putting more safety experts -- as opposed to lawyers, on the commission.

The Illinois contingent includes Cara Smith, deputy chief of staff to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Smith has been working to ban dangerous cribs. Also well-known consumer advocate Nancy Cowles, executive director of Kids in Danger, who's also long worked on crib safety issues.

The product liability lawyers will be working overtime if any of these folks get the nod.

With Philip Rucker