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Anticipation Builds for Final Cabinet Picks at Trump Tower

by Ken Bredemeier

   WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK --

   Outside Trump Tower, at the cross-section of 5th Avenue and 56th St,
   heated shouting matches warmed an otherwise frosty morning, as
   supporters of a three-state vote recount joined Green Party
   presidential candidate Jill Stein in a rally to ensure an "accurate,
   secure, and fair" vote.

   "We are here to assure Donald Trump that there is nothing to be afraid
   of," said Stein. "If you believe in democracy, if you believe in the
   credibility of your victory, put down your arms, end your bureaucratic
   obstruction, end your intimidation and join we the people of America
   who are calling for a democracy that serves all of us and elections
   that we can trust."

   Protesters interrupted and taunted the group of supporters with shouts
   and signage. "Illegal voting, far left crybabies, Stein will not change
   outcome: President Trump on January 20, 2017!!" read one woman's sign.

   "You're delusional!" yelled a supporter, in response.

   A judge has ordered that a hand recount begin in Michigan, one of three
   battleground states that Stein believes may have been hacked due to
   aging voting machines. Similarly, she is pushing for a federal court
   order to enact a recount in Pennsylvania.

   "As voters, we need to make sure that democracy is not being in any way
   hindered and that our votes are being counted correctly," said Rachel
   Desario, a Clinton supporter who attended Monday's rally.

   Still, others see Stein's effort as a waste of money and time.

   "We all get a chance to vote," said Pim Couch, a tourist from Texas.
   "Everyone did. And now we need to move on."

   FILE - Observers look over test results as a statewide presidential
   election recount begins Dec. 1, 2016, in Milwaukee.

   Cabinet picks continue

   Inside Trump Tower, U.S. president-elect Trump resumed the process of
   forming his government.

   On Monday, Trump picked one of his former Republican rivals, retired
   neurosurgeon Ben Carson, to be his housing and urban development chief.
   Trump said Monday that Carson "has a brilliant mind and is passionate
   about strengthening communities and families within those communities.
   We have talked at length about my urban renewal agenda and our message
   of economic revival, very much including our inner cities."

   The 65-year-old Carson has no expertise in housing policy, but did
   spend part of his childhood living in public housing, which the
   Department of Housing and Urban Development oversees. In the past, he
   has voiced opposition to government programs that encourage what he
   says is "dependency," and has touted the virtues of individual effort
   in becoming successful.

   Carson briefly led Trump in the race for the Republican presidential
   nomination, but support for him waned and he eventually dropped out and
   endorsed Trump. He is the first African-American Trump has named to his
   cabinet.

   Carson's appointment, like those of Trump's other cabinet selections
   for his new administration, must be confirmed by the
   Republican-controlled Senate. Republican Majority Leader Mitch
   McConnell said he is "confident (Carson's) lifelong career of selfless
   service will be a positive addition to the incoming administration."

   But Nancy Pelosi, leader of the minority Democrats in the House of
   Representatives, called Carson's appointment a "disconcerting and
   disturbingly unqualified choice," saying there was "no evidence" that
   he has "the necessary credentials" to lead the housing agency.

   Carson's appointment came as the president-elect continued to meet in
   New York with other possible cabinet members, with a spokesman saying
   more selections will be announced this week.

   FILE - Dr. Ben Carson, former Republican Presidential Candidate, speaks
   during the second day of the Republican National Convention in
   Cleveland.

   Choice for top diplomat widens

   Vice president-elect Mike Pence, who ignored reporters' questions on
   possible picks for secretary of state upon his Monday arrival to Trump
   Tower, instead praised the president-elect for his "speed and
   decisiveness" in formulating his cabinet, adding that the American
   people "are rightfully encouraged and impressed."

   Trump is still weighing his choice for secretary of state, the
   country's top foreign affairs post, but aides said that choice may not
   come until next week. Trump appeared last week to have narrowed his
   list to four names: former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, losing 2012
   Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, former Central
   Intelligence Agency chief David Petraeus and Tennessee Senator Bob
   Corker. But he also interviewed former United Nations Ambassador John
   Bolton and is talking to several others as well, including retired Navy
   Admiral James Stavridis, ExxonMobil chief executive Rex Tillerson, and
   former U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman.

   Huntsman, who has an adopted Chinese daughter and is fluent in
   Mandarin, is a significant and timely prospect by the president-elect,
   who received criticism over the weekend for accepting a congratulatory
   call from the president of Taiwan -- a move widely considered a snub to
   China and a risk to Sino-U.S. relations.

   Trump talks climate change

   Trump also met with former Democratic Vice President Al Gore, who said
   he had a "lengthy and very productive" meeting with the
   president-elect. Gore, a leading global advocate for controlling the
   effects of man-made climate change, called the discussions a "sincere
   search for common ground."

   "I found it an extremely interesting conversation, and to be continued,
   and I'm just going to leave it at that," Gore said.

   Former Vice President Al Gore speaks to members of the media after
   meeting with Ivanka Trump and President-elect Donald Trump at Trump
   Tower in New York, Dec. 5, 2016.

   Trump has called man-made climate change a hoax, but said recently that
   he has an open mind on continued U.S. compliance with the worldwide
   Paris climate pact that took effect a month ago.

   Meanwhile, Trump continued his attacks Monday on one of his favorite
   targets, the U.S. news media, although he did not say what story had
   drawn his ire.

   "If the press would cover me accurately & honorably," he tweeted, "I
   would have far less reason to 'tweet.' Sadly, I don't know if that will
   ever happen!"

   White House correspondent Mary Alice Salinas contributed to this
   report.