The Plum Book, 2008 Edition

November 14, 2008 5:18 PM

Wondering which Obama administration job is right for you?The Plum Book (2008 Edition) is a US government publication that lists some 8000 jobs (including salary ranges) in the executive branch that will become available upon the inauguration of President-Elect Obama. (Individual chapters are .pdf files.)

The jobs range from from part-time gigs that pay about $600 a year to executive level full-time posts with yearly salaries of around $200,000. We've covered how to apply, so here's what to apply for.

posted by BitterOldPunk (34 comments total)

Also useful for figuring out exactly who's been responsible for what for the past eight years. (Yeah, I'm lookin' at YOU, Ronald E. Meisburg, General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board...)
posted by BitterOldPunk at 5:22 PM on November 14, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

First it was 7000. Now 8?
posted by gman at 5:26 PM on November 14, 2008

They need a thousand people to go through all the jokey applications.
posted by ColdChef at 5:30 PM on November 14, 2008 [3 favorites has favorites]

Is there a Secretary of Snark?

Because really I've been preparing my whole life to serve my nation...
posted by rokusan at 5:33 PM on November 14, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Is there an opening for Vaguely Unseemly Aide-De-Camp Who Can Do Things You Don't Want To Know About?

(actually that questionairre of his...I think the shit I've copped to on MeFi & MeCha alone would disqualify me, and possibly get nme deported. and I was born here.)
posted by jonmc at 5:40 PM on November 14, 2008

SECRETARY OF PARTYING DOWNNNN
take that Bitterman
posted by nudar at 5:43 PM on November 14, 2008

"from from"! I hate hate that that!
posted by BitterOldPunk at 5:43 PM on November 14, 2008

Federal Meditation and Conciliation Service. huh. *raises hand. I could do that.
posted by nickyskye at 6:00 PM on November 14, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

jonmc, isn't that what the Vice President does?
posted by nax at 6:16 PM on November 14, 2008

SECRETARY OF PARTYING DOWNNNN

Don't try and take away Noelle Bush's right.
posted by gman at 6:17 PM on November 14, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

nax, Joe Biden's nowhere near seedy-looking enough. I have at last found my niche.
posted by jonmc at 6:20 PM on November 14, 2008

Do they need someone to hang drywall?
posted by nola at 6:23 PM on November 14, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

Are the jobs in the Plum Book the origin of the phrase "plum job," or was it the other way around?
posted by jtron at 6:25 PM on November 14, 2008

Joe Biden's nowhere near seedy-looking enough. I have at last found my niche.

Can't argue with that.

(kidding. <3)
posted by nax at 6:35 PM on November 14, 2008

Do they need someone to hang drywall?

Is that a eupemism and/or Top Secret Code? If so, yes.

nax, I'm proud of my seediness. I knew it would come inhandy someday.
posted by jonmc at 6:37 PM on November 14, 2008

Codename: Durabond
posted by nola at 6:41 PM on November 14, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Do they need someone to hang drywall?

They might, once they narrow down where Cheney has all the bodies buried. HINT: The calls are coming from inside the house!
posted by brain cloud at 6:50 PM on November 14, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

jonmc, Barack might need someone to organize his record collection. Or, like, be his beer-tester, perhaps.
posted by brain cloud at 6:51 PM on November 14, 2008

Secretary of Shit?
posted by gman at 6:58 PM on November 14, 2008

The extensive questionnaire was only for certain high-level jobs, I think.
posted by Tehanu at 7:06 PM on November 14, 2008

I'm applying for Deputy Assistant Undersecretary Administrator of Household Affairs, the 14th or 15th PDF down, I can't remember which. CHANGE the litterbox. CHANGE the dryer sheets. Yes, we'll change all that shit and cook some Kraft macaroni & cheese.
posted by crapmatic at 7:09 PM on November 14, 2008

Interestingly, although this book is published by the Democratically-controlled Congress, in the Veep's section (last one on the list), it supports Dick Cheney's contention that his office is not part of the executive branch:
The Vice Presidency is a unique office that is neither a part of the executive branch nor a part of the legislative branch, but is attached by the Constitution to the latter. The Vice Presidency performs functions in both the legislative branch (see article I, section 3 of the Constitution) and in the executive branch (see article II, and amendments XII and XXV, of the Constitution, and section 106 of title 3 of the United States Code).
posted by beagle at 7:24 PM on November 14, 2008

I don't think that wording came from the Democrats. That's almost verbatim from the GOP argument in the House.

So, will it be Joe the Barnacle or Biden the Barnacle? I'm a fan of alliteration myself.
posted by Tehanu at 7:39 PM on November 14, 2008

god help us but I hope they won't follow Dick's lead on anything.
posted by nola at 7:42 PM on November 14, 2008

The 2000 and 1996 editions list the Office of the Vice President under the Executive Branch.
posted by bac at 7:45 PM on November 14, 2008 [3 favorites has favorites]

sign me up- Im there
posted by femmme at 7:53 PM on November 14, 2008

"Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation"

Er, what? More precisely, to where?
posted by librarylis at 8:01 PM on November 14, 2008

Minister of Hope?
posted by boo_radley at 8:27 PM on November 14, 2008

Minister of Hope?

No, but Ministry of Sound, maybe.
posted by rmless at 10:52 PM on November 14, 2008

...it supports Dick Cheney's contention that his office is not part of the executive branch.

OMG. So good to be rid of him soon. Better than Bush, in a way.
posted by brain cloud at 10:57 PM on November 14, 2008

Ooh, I want a job in the "Committee for Purchase from People Who are Blind or Severely Disabled."

Cause seriously, some blind guy could come up to you with a big ole diamond, and you could just be like "looks like quartz to me, I'll give you $20."
posted by agress at 12:26 AM on November 15, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

The 2000 and 1996 editions list the Office of the Vice President under the Executive Branch.

Good catch, bac.

And, in those Clinton-era editions the Veep's staff is listed, person by person. But, following their removal in 2001 to undisclosed locations, in 2004 and 2008 they list no staff, just the statement that they are neither fish nor fowl.
posted by beagle at 5:31 AM on November 15, 2008

"Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation"

Er, what? More precisely, to where?

To? Who cares, just get them off the land with the coal.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 6:21 AM on November 15, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

"Thank you for completing your application to serve to in the Obama-Biden Administration. As you can imagine, we are receiving thousands of applications during the transition process. We will initially be focused on the most senior positions in the Administration. If you do not hear from us for several weeks or months, please do not think we have lost your information. If at any time you wish to update your application, please log in again and modify the information accordingly. Thank you again for your interest.

Sincerely,

The Obama-Biden Transition Project

Please note that replies to this email will not be answered."
posted by nickyskye at 6:56 AM on November 15, 2008