For political junkies, the fun is just beginning — President-elect Barack Obama’s transition to power, his first few months in office and the future of the Republican Party hold the potential for excitement.

College sophomore Jeff Weinstein said he’s closely watching the Minnesota Senate race between Norm Coleman and Al Franken.

Weinstein added that he was interested in politics before the election and plans to continue to follow the actions of the new administration and Congress.

"It’s kind of my thing," he said.

For Penn students who became interested in politics later on, the interest level seems to have subsided.

Before Nov. 4, "there was definitely election fever around here," Weinstein said. But he said excitement among his friends "has definitely died down."

Randall Miller, a St. Joseph’s University History professor and political analyst, said there will likely be a "big falloff" in interest like there is after every major election.

But the extent of that falloff, he said, will depend on the early actions of the Obama administration.

"Do they squander the moment? Do they help to realize some of people’s expectations?"

Miller added that the level of communication the Obama campaign had with its supporters — largely through an extensive e-mail and text-message database — allows Obama to "organize enthusiasm post-election, rather than organizing just for the election."

According to College junior Lauren Burdette, the president of Penn Democrats, interest in the organization has continued even though the election is over.

"I’ve actually seen a lot of interest in people who just joined on and are interested in continuing in some sort of board position," she said.

As a result, Burdette said, the organization is considering restructuring its board to involve more people.

And for students who don’t want to stop following politics, there are plenty of ways to stay involved.

College Republicans President and College junior Zac Byer said those interested in politics should follow the new administration and consider getting an internship in Washington next summer.

Despite the lower interest level among some of his friends, Weinstein said he thinks Obama’s victory will keep many young people excited about the political process.

"I think that people are more interested in politics than before the election took place because they’re more optimistic about where the country’s going," he said.

Emily Schultheis reports for The Daily Pennsylvanian, a student publication at the University of Pennsylvania. The Daily Pennsylvanian is partnering with Campus Politico for the 2008 elections.

Earlier this year, Black wrote a biography of Richard Nixon, so he probably understands the pardon process.

Stern visiting assistant professor of management Aviad Pe’er, along with Oliver Gottschalg of HEC School of Management in Paris, found that companies in red states have better results in buyouts, which is when companies buy other firms, rearrange and streamline the management then sell them for a profit.

Pe’er and Gottschalg’s research analyzed 5,870 different buyouts by private equity firms from 1980 to 2003. They used the presidential election results between 1988 and 2004 to average the political tendencies of the state.

Their studies concluded that companies in the red states are 10 percent more likely to be bought out.

Pe’er believes this is because companies in red states generally have a fewer people in charge, which makes them more streamlined.

Pe’er does not believe that President-elect Barack Obama’s presidency will have a big effect on the number of buyouts but said that the financial crisis creates greatly profitable opportunities for buyouts, Pe’er said.

“We are in a situation with something else that hasn’t happened for 20 to 30 years. We believe that the financial crisis by itself creates huge opportunities,” Pe’er said.

But these opportunities will not include increased job opportunities for Stern graduates, he said.

“Buyout funds are very, very small. They are not hiring people, generally speaking, right after business school. They are looking for specific experiences or specific contacts a person might have,” Pe’er said.

With the economic crisis, many Stern students are concerned this will mean even fewer job opportunities, which will be compounded with rising school costs.

“I’m a finance major; I’m extremely worried about jobs. There [are] going to be more mergers and acquisitions soon,” Stern graduate student Amanda Chen said. “I’m worried that, by the time I graduate, there’s not going to be enough banks left out there to hire me.”

While political views are not the only factor in successful buyouts, Pe’er predicts that continued economic troubles will lead to even greater buyout activity in red states in the coming years.

Kelly Roberts reports for the Washington Square News, a student publication at New York University. The Washington Square News is partnering with Campus Politico for the 2008 elections.

On Wednesday, I was asked about the reinstatement of the fairness doctrine on a radio show and couldn’t think of any leading Democrats that are actually pushing for it. Neither could the New Republic.

Responses from the offices of most of the Democrats who have been pegged as fairness-doctrine proponents–Schumer, Dick Durbin, Dianne Feinstein, and others–have ranged from a firm denial that the issue is a priority at all to disbelief at finding themselves at the center of a manufactured controversy. "Somebody plucked this out of the clear blue sky," says the press secretary for New Mexico Senator Jeff Bingaman, a Democrat who was questioned about the issue by a conservative radio-show host a few weeks ago. "This is a completely made- up issue." Senator Durbin’s press secretary says that Durbin has "no plans, no language, no nothing. He was asked in a hallway last year, he gave his personal view"–that the American people were served well under the doctrine–"and it’s all been blown out of proportion." In fact, as recently as last year, the House voted by an overwhelming three-to-one margin to temporarily prohibit the FCC from imposing the dead policy; 113 Democrats voted to support the move.

Meanwhile, the president-elect himself has said in no uncertain terms that he does "not support reimposing the fairness doctrine on broadcasters."

The co-host of NPR’s “All Things Considered” spoke Thursday evening at the AT&T Executive Education and Converence Center ballroom about press coverage during the election season. The School of Journalism hosted the event as part of the Mary Alice Davis Distinguished Lectureship in Journalism.

Norris said new communication technology, such as cell phones and the Internet, has revolutionized the reporting process, now a far cry from her old days of searching for pay phones in drug-ridden ganglands. Now, reporters can talk to sources without seeing their faces, and readers find news online before opening newspapers.

“The Internet has changed how we gather information,” Norris said. “But I don’t know if that makes us better informed.”

She said America has entered an era of unfiltered information, or “viral journalism,” in which stories catch fire on the Internet before mainstream news organizations pick them up.

Norris likened the American consumption of free-floating news tidbits, generally from online sources, to “snacking on Cheetos” — saving little appetite for more in-depth analysis.

“The new technology that has arrived will be integrated,” said associate journalism professor Gene Burd. “Print is not going to disappear, but it is being forced to take a secondary role.”

As with journalism, the American political system saw upheavals, with the press often inaccurately forecasting events.

Only two years ago, the media said young voters “talked a good game but never showed up,” Hillary Rodham Clinton was the “inevitable” winner, Obama was “too inexperienced” and McCain was a “maverick” but was facing a tough challenge from Mitt Romney, Norris said.

“Viral journalism shapes people’s political views because it gives them access to stories not found in the mainstream,” Norris said. “YouTube is a powerful tool. Videos by the candidates show people different aspects about the candidate.”

Norris referenced singer will.i.am’s music video “Yes We Can,” which features celebrities singing praise for then-candidate Barack Obama.

With the election, young people were energized, and many who had drifted away from politics returned to the process, Norris said.

Despite the despair felt by many Republicans, she said the party may emerge as an even stronger force after its November defeat. Norris said the first 60 days in Obama’s presidency will set a critical tone as Americans anxiously turn their attention to health care, the foreclosure crisis and government bailouts.

Priscilla Totiyapungprasert reports for the Daily Texan, a student publication at the University of Texas. The Daily Texan is partnering with Campus Politico for the 2008 elections.

Jones is a former Marine Corps commandant and was head of U.S. and NATO forces in Europe, with the “Supreme Allied Commander, Europe.”

The national security adviser heads the National Security Council, the part of the White House structure that deals with foreign policy. It varies in influence from presidency to presidency. Befitting his past, Jones would be given a commanding role, the sources said.

Jones also was considered for Secretary of State and Secretary of Energy. He currently is president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21st Century Energy. From his official biography: “At the request of the U.S. Congress, Jones recently chaired the Independent Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq.”

Others under consideration for the position include Jim Steinberg, the deputy national security adviser under President Bill Clinton, and Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni.

Susan Rice, senior campaign national security adviser and State Department and National Security Council official under Clinton, is also mentioned but may be in line for another position.

Transition spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that Obama no longer uses the cell phone in question. But Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam issued a statement apologizing to Obama. He also said that whether they were authorized or not, the employees who breached the president-elect’s account face possible disciplinary action and were immediately put on leave without pay.

It’s unclear exactly what information the employees got, but a transition official said they did not listen to any of Obama’s voice mails or read any of his emails.

The officials said they expect her to accept. Clinton aides had no comment.

The choice unites the two rivals in the most protracted presidential primary in American history, giving Obama the "Team of Rivals" Cabinet he had promised.

Former President Bill Clinton authorized unprecedented disclosures about his finances to Obama’s vetting team, and transition lawyers are satisfied, officials said.

Details about Mukasey’s condition were not immediately available.

Audience members said they began praying, fearing a stroke.

Mukasey is a former federal prosecutor from New York City who succeeded former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

At 10:30 p.m. Eastern, medical officials were still working on him on the stage, administration witnesses said.

Discussion of the “new leadership role” for Clinton has gone on “for a couple of weeks” – pre-dating this week’s negotiations over the job at State, said one staffer familiar with the situation.

“There was a lot of talk about having to do something for her,” said a Democratic aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “That seemed unnecessary when the State thing popped up.”

Now, some allies see such an appointment as a possible soft landing for the former first lady if she isn’t tapped for Obama’s cabinet — or if she rejects an offer.

The staffer said there’s been no discussion of a specific title for Clinton in the Senate leadership – but that the post being envisioned would be outside the five existing Democratic leadership slots.

The new post would return Clinton to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s leadership circle: She served as chairwoman of the Democratic Steering Committee until stepping aside in 2006 for her presidential bid. She was replaced by Michigan Democrat Debbie Stabenow.

Some Democrats have reportedly been mulling creation of a Clinton-led task force that would have a research budget and staff, according to one Democratic staffer.

No decisions have been made pending resolution of the agonizingly slow – and uncharacteristically public — back-and-forth between Clinton and the transition team.

Politico has reported that a Clinton appointment at State could be announced before Thanksgiving. But some close to the former first lady say she’s torn about taking a role in the new administration at the expense of her Senate seat.

Additional reporting by Martin Kady II