We're going to change the way Washington does things.  We're going to get rid of the insider mentality.  That's why we're putting the Clinton administration back to work.  Change we can believe in.  

There is a greater problem: Is Hillary a good manager? (Note her primary campaign).  And is she a good negotiator? (Note the failure of her health care plan in Congress).  I am also troubled about this “team of rivals” in another way.  Biden? In President-elect's news conference of December 1, 2008, many others and I were struck by Biden's use of the word "we" as if he and Obama made the decision about who should be in the cabinet.  I find that appalling--because we don't have more than one decider.  It is the President-elect's decision, ultimately.  He has final say!  Biden might have participated and might have suggested names; but it is Obama, as future President who decides who should be in his cabinet.  This important point should be drilled into Biden's empty head--or there could be trouble later.  There are no competing powers; only one President at a time.  Obama is no token President-to-be.  It is time for Obama to put him in his place.  If Biden—an egotistical and apparently insecure man—wants to feel important, that should not be at the President-elect’s expense.

For those who voted against change, Obama is changing only Republican faces for Democrat faces, which is not the change they wanted. For those who voted for change, Obama is not changing fast enough as if he should be move into the oval office now. Never before has so much been expected from a President who was not yet President. In the meantime the current occupant seems to be fading away like a person waiting for a layoff. His minions are still busy gutting government programs while they can and finding new  ways to expand the mess the new President will deal with. As they burn the bridges behind them they prove once again that their loyalty to the Republican party comes first; their loyalty to America comes only when they are in power.

GoSarah...  As a fellow believer and follower of Christ, I am truly shocked by your posting.  I am amazed that you would come on here and say that the only reason people did not like Bush and Palin because they are followers of Christ.  Bush has a pathetic approval rating because of how he has run his administration (on lies, deceit and GREED) and how he has totally diminished our credibility with the international community.  Added to that, have you heard Bush speak?  He can't even put a coherant sentance together!  Now seriously, let's be realistic here.  As for Palin, she has media charisma, but not the know-how to run this country.  If people were supporting Bush because of his faith, he would have MUCH more support...but just because he is a Christian, that doesn't make him right.

Oh, and in case you forgot, Obama is a believer also.  I believe we all need to stand behind our President-Elect and give him an opportunity to turn this turmoil around.  He hasn't even been inaugurated yet and people are already slamming him into the ground.  Give the guy a chance!  And if he picks a bunch of experienced "Clintonites" (operative word experienced), then so be it.  I personally think CLinton was a great president aside from the whole Monica debacle.

It is a proud day for Americans when we stand up and say enough is enough, it is time for change in Washington.  We've done it, and I think we are watching history in the making.  May God Bless the US of A!

To valark:

This long-time liberal Democrat asks, what ‘change’ do you want that is not happening?  A president who puts the interests of our ordinary citizens above those of the powerful and connected looks like big-time change to me.  So far, even to these cynical eyes, President-elect Obama seems sincere in his commitment to do that.

And who do you want running our trillion-dollar superpower?  If I’m going to have heart surgery or get an education or build a house or elect political leadership, I going with people who have some demonstrated competence.  They are the only ones who can change anything.  So far, President-elect Obama seems to be doing pretty well here, too.

No, President-elect Obama seems neither strongly liberal nor Libertarian.  In fact, President-elect Obama has no obvious ideology or imperialist arrogance at all.  Neither does the country.  President-elect Obama really seems interested in finding workable solutions to the mess we're in.  So, I think, is the country.

To me, our president-elect appears to be planning far greater change than I ever expected from him or anyone.  And, to guide this ship of state away from the abyss, he’s choosing the kind of seasoned sailors he's going to need.  We're going to need them, too.

What is even more ridiculous is that this is supposed to be the "change" candidate...supposed to get rid of the "old politics"

Way to pick people who have a huge political job histories!!

GOOD COMMENT NativeNewYorker.

This did NOT begin in 2003...it began when the Clintons forced mortgage banks to loan to people not able to re-pay loans. A home for everyone! Wheeeeeeee! Now look at us! George W. Bush has been an exemplary president but he is a vocal man of faith. The media HATES that. They loved Bill Clinton and they love Obama but they hate Bush and Palin because they are followers of Christ.

forgiven99  "What this piece demonstrates is the media's continuing love affair with Barack Obama.  I don't believe that Bush's cabinet choices were deemed "historic" ever. He appointed Colin Powell and Condeleeza Rice, Alberto Gonzalez and Mel Martinez to his cabinet."

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Dd you at least check the archives before you whined? I recall that Bush's appointment of the three people you mentioned were very well-received in the media. Unfortunately, Gonzalez turned out to be one of the worst Attorneys General in history and both Powell and Rice's reputations were severely damaged by their association with the Iraq debacle. I think minority appointees  will have better luck this time under Obama.

What this piece demonstrates is the media's continuing love affair with Barack Obama.  I don't believe that Bush's cabinet choices were deemed "historic" ever.  He appointed Colin Powell and Condeleeza Rice, Alberto Gonzalez and Mel Martinez to his cabinet.  Were these not "historic"?  Of course, Powell and Rice were not "black enough" for the left wing media, or as Harry Belefonte stated, they were "Uncle Toms".  

Hypocrisy at it's best always comes from Newsweek.

Eight years of this administration and Native New Yorker blames Obama for this financial crisis?!!?  Wow.  Short memory.

While this story most certainly looks like a puff piece, I think people need to calm down a little.  I don't think every news story on Obama needs to be a platform for hatred or "Shame on Obama" comments.  I don't think the president-elect has done anything that deserves shame as of yet.

"....Obama will also blow through a racial barrier when, ...  he plans to announce Eric Holder, Jr. as ... the first African American named to the country's top law enforcement post."  

Note to MSM writers: PLEASE stop making a big deal about skin color!  The ultimate racial barrier was broken on Nov 4; to reference race NOW is just tiresome at best  (photos pretty much identify that anyway), and perpetuate the notion that it has ANYTHING to do with the person's qualifications and character.  Move up and move on!

Please.  Would you media people quit with the Obamanation kool aid.  There is no brilliance in the Empty Suit's selection for his cabinet posts.  It is a Clinton rerun gone wrong.  There is no change here, just a scary, inexperienced politician with no credibility trying to make headlines.  Obama will severely damage the US internationally, nationally, and economically.  He has no clue or leadership abilities and so many advisors, there is no way he will send a clear message to anyone.  Hillary Clinton is a selection he will live to regret and another lackluster, inexperienced politician.  Oh, I forgot, she got shot at in Iraq and restored peace in Ireland!!!!  When all of you people have lost your jobs, life savings and homes, I can't wait to hear what you say about him then.  I am sure you will find someone else to blame.  How about blaming the MSM which failed to expose Obama for the fraud he truly is.  Shame on you all.

Some real idiots here.

RIght, Obama is "rewarding those who endoersed (sic) him or helped him become POTUS."  Like Hillary Clinton.  Big Obama supporter there.  Or treasury secretary Timothy Geithner, a non-political career public servant.  Or Chief of Staff Rhamm Emmanual, who was studiously neutral between Obama and Hillary.

Returning to old worn-out liberalism is hardly to be considered progressive change.  Reactionary change, maybe.

President-elect Obama promised "change" in his campaign rhetoric. With his choice of cabinet post, old pilitics game played a role. "Reward" those who endoersed or helped him to become POTUS.

Isn't Robert Rubin along with ex Senator Phil Gram R-TX partly responsible for this ungodly mess we are in now.  Didn't Phil Gram sponsor the "Moderazation of the Commercial Banking and Investment Industries in 1999, deregulate the banking industry,  and along with Robert Rubin repealed the last obstacle prohibiting the Investment Industry from raiding the Federal Reserve.  Henry B. Gonzalea D-TX  talked for hours in a special orders speech on c-span one night while he was the chairman of the house banking committee, about the perils of repealing the Glass/Steagal Act of 1931 which prohibited the Investment Industry from ever raiding the Fed. Reserve for a bailout.

Now remember Bear Sterns, AIG, Washington Mutual, Wachovia, Lehman Brothers and how CitiGroup got the toxic debt of Wachovia and Well Fargo got the Washington Mutual. Wasn't this the agenda of the Republican party that wanted free trade with no govt. restrictions, they called it "DEREGULATION".  Well deregulation as was explained to Ted Kennedy, Air Lines, Trucking industries, Ron Reagan and Jimmy Carter by Alfred Khan that to get big govt out of big business you must "DEREGULATE" but before deregulation to suceed you must have two things and they are "Honest People dealing with Honest People."  Some how these people never found those two things. This downward slide took off when the Reagan Adminisdtration was bent on Military superiority and set about out spending the Soviet Union. Remember what IKE said about the Military Industrial Complex? That in it self caused the statement of it's the Economy Stupid that sank G.H. W. Bush for reelection in '92.

Our economy is and has been the drain of creditability of the USA and the action of G.W. has so angered the world that no nation will deal with us except China, thanks to Pat Buchcann opening the doors to trade with China and the loans to fund this war.  The South America has been snubbed and the rest of the world was told we are in charge, get lost.  This illigal invasion has cost the lives of 4,207 military that were just following orders. Now after 2,034 days after "Mission Accomplished" still our troops are still there all 147,000+ of them. Fighting this war on the cheap as to the military use of Reserves and National Guardsman to a very strong test which they accomplished with 30,750 wounded that should make every citizen proud of our troops but, this so-called commander-in-chief refused to ask anyone to sacrifice anything except for one time to conserve fuel as the twin hurricanes hit and disrupted the supply of crude from the Gulf, remember Sept. 25, 2005 asking to the public to conserve.

Now we are asked to bail out those who put us in this mess and caused $1.5 Trillion dollars of debt. How about asking John Paulson hedge fund that bet against the subprime mortgage scam and walked away with a cool Billion + and ask if any of the Goldman Sach men will give back the millions they took out of our pockets.  Fat chance those Auto ex will dig into the millions that caused the prices to go through the roof, they tell you the unions did this but they won't tell you the 431X1 salaried worker were the culpert.  '80s the ex comp was 32X1 workers salary .

Don't let the drop in gasoline prices lull you back to driving more as the price reduction was due to driving less and paying less, Remember the $4.05/gal?  Aug.'08 miles traveled was 15.2 BILLION MILES LESS THAN '07 and year to date we have traveled 79.3 BILLION MILES LESS THAN LAST YEAR. Now you know why the price has dropped by $1.50/gal crude is at $53.51/bbl.  Lets hope that the Saudis and the UAE has to drink oil and eat sand for that oasis they call Dubia.

Again this FUBAR govt. is asking the consumer to bail out these thieves.  They caused this mess by telling everone to buy a house and start a business in 2003 but, they failed to tell you if it fails it is your fault not the govt. fault and one last thing the 1978 Community Reinvestment Act was not responsible for this mess as the head of the Commodities Futrue Trading Bureau, Brooksly S. Born pursued the 12 member including Allen Greenspan, Robert Rubin G.W. Bush the Commerce Dept and Larry Summers, for the commission to put regulation or restriction on trading in future before she retired in '03.

Obama answered the issue of "change" in his last news conference. Given the severity of the economic problems we face, I think it is imperative to have the best talent, the best brains and the most experienced people we can find.  Having said that, I'm not wild about the Rubin pick either.  But, I do believe the other choices are good ones under the circumstances.  Obama islooking for change - change in the policies and the people who have dominated over the past 8 years.  His picks go back to the Clinton Administration.  And which part of that administration didn't you like, the peace or the posperity?

Why is it that Obama gets a nice puff piece for his cabinet selections? George Bush selects Colin Powell as Secretary of State and Condoleezza Rice as National Security Advisor and Secretary of State. But no, it's Obama who credited with blowing through "racial barriers." Give me a break.  Are readers of Newsweek and MSNBC that tuned out? Hate or love Bush (probably hate), crediting Obama, a black man, with blowing through barriers in cabinet appointees is humorous, and not newsworthy. Obama himself has blown through a barrier thanks to the American people. I am not an Obama fan, but I can give him credit for what is simple history, and I recognize its significance. Give Bush the same credit for his achievements in this area.

http://www.usefulopinions.blogspot.com

We shouldn't forget some of Obama's closest team are proteges of Robert Rubin.  Wow. Rubin, the one who led Goldman Sachs into

'lending" billions to Mexico, but didn't see default coming? Rubin, as Treasury Secretary getting more billions sent to Mexico to save Goldman Sachs investments? Rubin, the one who was named Chairman at Citigroup one year ago, after a number of years employed by Citigroup? Citigroup, which was just bailed out by the US government, without Congress telling THEM to go away and come back when they had a plan?   Can we not see a 'wink, wink' here?  Rubin, the one who was paid $17,000,000 the year before becoming Chairman? This is the guy held in such esteem by the ones Obama has picked to "fix" the financial system?  Are these choices 'history-making' as well?  Maybe we'd better hope not.  

If Obama wanted change the way he has said all through the election, why put in office people who are responsible for the way it is now?  It seems to me that he only said what the American people wanted to hear to get into office and now is going against everything he has said he is against.  I for one am tired of people saying we need change and then not do anything about it.  If you are making a change. make a change,  Don't shuffle the same people around and expect us to be fooled by this.  Obama promised change and he is going to lie to the Citizens of the United States as well.  Shame on Obama