Obama promised change but picking insiders

Nothing to say?    All the writer did was present the facts that all the appointees so far have been Washington insiders.

Tom, You said it.  There are none so blind.......

Barbara 

I agree with you too....nice Posts.

So yeah, I do leadership and management training as a career, and I can't ever remember telling a single leader that any time they took on a new position replacing anothe rmanager that they needed to fire their whole staff and select a new one.

Are we really collectively this stupid?  Do people really believe that 'change' comes only in the form of new faces?  The "change" I voted for Obama to bring is a change in tone, a change in leadership style, a change in how we are governed and a change in how we hold our elected leadership responsible.

To say, when Obama hasn't even served a frackin' DAY in office that it's 'politics as usual' is really just the trappings and whinings of a bitter electorate.  The dude hasn't even been sworn in and you're already calling him a failure (which I guess he can add to socialist, communist, marxist, terrorist, etc etc) for the choices he is making - though nobody can claim that he isn't picking smart people, he's just picking people that (god forbid) have experience, something you RAILED *him* for not having back in the primaries and in the general campaign.

The hypocrisy/irony in these comments is just absolutely astounding.  Does anyone actually bother to think anymore or are we just so used to being in "respond-as-expert-even-when-we-clearly-are-not" mode that no other type of actual thought is possible?

Ugh.

Michael, it's just the repugs crying in their beer.  Ignore their irrational posts.  I always do.  It keeps me from getting a migraine and it will work for you, too.

Very nice Michael...Since the naming of cabinet members has begun, the one thing that has stuck most in my mind is the "bipolar comments" from Obama opposition. "he doesn't have the experience", "he's surrounding himself with insiders(code word for experienced people)", "He's Muslim" "He's Socialist" (two completely oppositional governing theories), etc etc ad nauseum....

The fact is this, no matter what Obama does, he will be derided most by the very people he helps the most, because for them to admit they are better off under his administration will be for them to admit they have been WRONG for 8 years, and god forbid that ever happen...They will sit at the kitchen tables they still have in the houses they still have with their now bigger due to lesser taxes taken out paycheck and STILL manage to find something to @!$%# about....glass half empty/glass half full...

Thats a very sad analogy, why is the administration full of old Washington hacks, MR NOCHANGE should have been more interested in bringing change to Washington, there is many more capable people in the USA, than just those people in Washington. The voters got shortchanged in the least, just political payback, pure and simple.

You see freedom, in "the vine" BO can do no wrong.  His every move is brilliant.  It doesn't matter who he picks for his cabinet the CULTERS will tell us how great his pick is.  I mean it doesn't surprise me at all that BO picked Hill to be his Sec. of State.  WOW way to think out of the box.  Oh, that's right "team of rivals."  Big freakin deal.  He is the same old same old.  There will be NO change coming to the middle class.  He won't even answer the question about middle class tax cuts when asked in his press conference.  He went right back into election mode.  He will go down in history as the worst President ever.  That's right even than Carter. 

Uh, bold proclamations considering we're about to usher out the guy who historians, politicians and even his own party members agree has truly been the worst president we've ever had on just about every level. But I can call him that with facts behind me, as he's given me 8 years of ample ammunition.

To call someone the worst president ever before he's ever even started the job and when he is willingly taking on what is quite possibly the worst of the worst (no president has ever inherited a disastrous economy, massive unemployment and two concurrent wars) and doing so willingly and with great poise is just patently un-American of you.

You don't have to like him. I didn't like Bush from the beginning, and despite a brief period of time after 9/11, I never liked him afterward. I never once, however, wished for him to fail. To do so would have been to wish failure upon myself and my country. And by the tone of your post, you would clearly derive satisfaction from his failure. Why? So you can elect Palin?

I just can't see how the unwillingness to even give our future president a chance is anything other than completely unpatriotic. It puts your own selfish dogma over the needs of our country and its leadership. He's your president, whether you voted for him or not - and since you apparently haven't learned from the last 8 years of Bush, the president and congress' failure = our collective failure. He fails, we fail. Bush failed, we failed.

So yeah, if you want to call him a failure after he's actually done something to deserve it (other than the main thing he's done thus far - run what many on both sides of the aisle have called one of the best and most effective campaigns in the history of presidential politics) I'll happily cede the column space for you to have your rant. In the meantime, let the dude get to work and spend your time doing something other than tearing him down, because your petty pretending to have a crystal ball is accomplishing exactly nothing to move this country forward.

Hey, the jobs are already gone. The jobs are gone due to the viciuos attack against the middle class conducted for the last 40years by the right wing.

"Too important to be stalled by senate protocal?" Translate: bypass the normal process.shove it down the people's throats - and surprize - it will take 80% of your paycheck to pay for it. People, enjoy the dictatorship.

Paul Tenny

you said it right..Mr I'm a uniter not a divider Lying GW stepped into the White House

as a Dictator and 9/11 sealed the deal for him and his Henchmen....no the Dictator

thing does bode well with most Americans and the Voting This Month proved it.

So what other agenda would a democrat use? Thats like saying how can a republican be so republican.

AC....ah, the bitter smell and taste of sour grapes! 

Barack Hussein Obama is filling his administration with longtime Washington insiders.

Absolutely Clueless Robertson is demonstrating bigotry by using Obama's middle name as if it were meant to be negative.

Mr. Tenney!  We certainly have had a dictorship for the last 8 years!  If you watched the joyous celebration at Grant Park in Chicago... what you saw was tears of joy.  It was amazing!

God Bless America-- If you really want to live up to your name... try getting over the election results and standing behind our new Pres... he needs the whole country behind him, not just the ones who voted for him.

I agree with you however, (as to standing behind our new President) it would have been nice had you done the same thing 8 years ago.  You are very correct in mentioning that he needs all Americans behind him, not just the ones who voted for him, as that is almost 45% of Americans.  Let's hope that he governs this country wisely and does not allow congress to bully him with ridiculous political agendas.  Try to remember that our Democratically controlled congress has a lower approval rating than our current President.

Sqrtnegone,

What if your hero had run for president as Barry or Hussein??????  We would be looking at another Clinton in office.  The Mutt is ashamed of his heritage and like all politicians is willing to throw his Arab & white relatives under the bus, to get another vote.

I use my real name and do not hide behind some preppie call sign.  I have no problem with Muslims, Christians, or other cults, I'm Buddhist.  I have lived over 18 months in the far east during the last two years and I'm leaving again next month.  You can have your PC attitudes, idiot politicians, and riots coming to the streets of the USA. 

I pray that your God protects Obama and our country.  I lived through the 1960's in the USA and I do not need the experance again.  Ha! Ha!

OMG, now some of these mouth breathers are saying that Obama will bring back the draft! What's next, Obama is causing global warming?

Paul I hardly think the GOPS were kicked out, Mr NOCHANGE likely would have lost the election if the credit crisis would not have happenned. Those are the facts.

Bee Bobby,

If you give everyone free education and medical care, the majority of people volunteering now would have not joined.  How are you going to get people to join, the Repugs will not join because who wants to do the bidding of a CiC like Mr Mutt???

He has already stated that he wants people to serve the country.  But you do not have to worry, even the military does not want drug users.

Semper Fi 

Paul, I agree with your opening comment. This is ridiculous. It's too early to say he is not making a change. For one these people that Obama is picking are still under him. He is not in office yet, come on people. not to mention regardless of who you voted for the job of heading this crazy country of ours is not going to change by snapping fingers. I think it's fine for him to select Washington insiders. I'd rather have him pick experienced people than some random person off the streets. Anyone he picks will have to have experience. If you can't find that in Washington then that's even more of a scary thought than anything.

People have to be reasonable and understand that this man has stepped into a dark hole of the Bush Administration's trash, the economic crisis, and many many more things that we aren't even aware of. The only way we can help with this is to govern ourselves, no one is going to swoop down and help someone if they aren't helping themselves.

But guess what, no matter what the opinion is on how fast he needs to make changes or who he picks...this man is still going to be our President. So deal.

Very good point.

Unlike McCain, Obama referred to "us" and "we" when he spoke.  McCain was "I". 

I did notice McCain "changed" his mind a lot as well as his slogan at the end of the campaign.. maybe that was the change he kept talking about?  lol

President elect Obama has already demonstrated how he is not going to spread his wealth, by allowing his (I didn't know she was illegal) aunt to live in public housing in Boston. So this is the change he touts for "us." "We" must embrace change, not "he" and "his." Just watch and see.

FDR's policies were pork, and corrected the economy in a bandaid sort of way. The government must get out of the way, and let the market correct itself.

Market repairing itself NOW????????? How long willl that take? Put another way, how long did it take the Repubs to get us into this mess especially GW?

Do you support all your family members?  Aunts?  Cousins? 

Besides... I thought you anti-Obama people were also anti-socialist?  And you now appear to be complaining because it is evident he is not? 

It is my opinion that those who didn't support Obama will complain no matter what he does.  If had chosen new people with not enough experience he'd get it for that, he chose people with experience he is getting it for that. 

I'd say the guy can't win.. but he did win that election didn't he.

Unless something has changed there was speculation he would keep Robert Gates on as Defense Secretary and the possibility of Hagel was also once thrown out there.

Appointing people outside of Washington would be a great way to make some real change.

Appointing people who KNOW what they are doing and how to resuscitate the Economy 

No matter who they are will work for America.

The only reason Obama is choosing old insiders with experience, is because he himself has NONE.

You are absolutely right Arctic.  BO is a total empty suit.  He is showing his inexperience by not choosing new people to assist in his administration.  I thought we were going to get a new package with this guy.  Why are the American people so easy?  We fell for it again.  I really wanted him to get some new faces in his administration and he has really disappointed me and my family.  I hope he keeps his promise about a middle class tax cut.  We could really use it.

By fresh young minds, do you mean empty heads like mainstream media and Hollywood, and also the Democratic establishment who are about to manipulate his position to suit their ages old agenda?

8 Years?  Last time I checked, he's only been voted in for 4.  If he doesn't do anything right the first 4, why would anyone be stupid enough to vote him in for a second term?

Oh, there will be change, but probably not what we, as citizens, will appreciate when it's all said and done.   Everyone that voted for BO because they want "change" didn't necessarily stop to consider that there are two kinds of change.  One is for the better and the other for the worse.

Everyone keeps saying wait and see.... well, like we have a choice now?  It's just more of the same Washington politics.  I'm sure that now that BO has managed to get himself elected that he has to repay all the favors he received on his way to get there.  He will do that in part by selecting certain individuals for his cabinet.  Then he will repay others by pushing certain agendas that he promised to make his priority.

The people he's appointed are Young, relative to the age of Republicans on Capitol Hill.  Choosing people who are extremely young means choosing people who don't have enough experience to help lead this great nation.  It's the same principle that coaches use to pick a starting five in basketball.  Or football's starting eleven......HELLO??? That's why he's chosen young people with experience.  I'd say that hillary will be one of the oldest, provided she accepts the position.

By fresh young minds, do you mean empty heads like mainstream media and Hollywood, and also the Democratic establishment who are about to manipulate his position to suit their ages old agenda?

No, we mean people who aren't angry, bitter and like to chew old soup.  We need to avoid sad, pathetic people who are so narrow minded that they can only see the world in terms of party affiliation.  I guess that rules you out.

ditto sqrtnegone

It is the first of many. True change would be energy independence, the government getting out of the private sector and letting it succeed or fail, a reduction in taxes including capital gains, so that businesses can thrive and jobs be created.  The beginnings of the financial crisis were established during the Clinton years, when banks were pressured to make bad loans to people who couldn't afford them, were ignored by Barney "everything's okay,we're working on the problems"Frank and Christopher "sweet mortgage deal" Dodd.And when George Bush and John McCain called for an oversight into these companies, they were over ridden by a chorus of Democratic voices, all of whom were probably benefitting from these poorly run mortgage companies.

President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore tried to get us off of oil in a big way, to the point where Clinton really dissed and made some middle east leaders really mad at us.  Read the history and you will find that the Republican held congress totally stonewalled any change.  We had a democratic President, but it was the Republican Congress who did not move the changes forward.

Clara the issue here is that we are stuck to oil for the time being. There are limited, but increasing, choices coming along. Now would be a very good time to seriously commit to some of the alternatives available, both for job creation and future self-reliance.

I absolutely agree with Obama on this that we need to get rid of our dependence on foreign oil.  He repeatedly expounded on that during his campaign.  Unfortunately, we can't produce enough in our own country to get the job done.  We are already headed towards new technology.  Just think how different this country would be right now if the 2000 election had gone to Gore as it should have, instead of being stolen from Gore by the Supreme Court.  Gore has been all about "going green" for decades, and that would have been his top priority.  See what happens when an opportunity is missed?  It sets us back a decade.  Oh yes, we will definitely be turning away from that dependence, and I can't wait to see those quarterly profits by big oil start heading south in a big way!

One good start to green would be having more people on an individual level becoming more active in monitoring their own eco-imprint. If a high % of citizens would buy high mpg cars, and use them for most of their driving needs that would be the quickest way to reduce oil needs.

Rob, he hasn't taken office yet, so how can you judge his CHANGE?  It's in the future, for Pete's sake.  Obama hasn't been sworn in yet"!!"!"  What about that do you not understand?  Time means past, present and future (at least right now) and Obama hasn't become President just yet. 

God Bless America

Bush and the Republicans had 6 years before the Dems ever got in there and as you said this mess started well before all this.  So what is their excuse for not doing anything about it during those 6 years? 

Keep blaming the other party when it is glaringly obvious both parties are at fault.

LOL funny you blame Clinton skip 6 years and go straight to the Dems...

I think there has been plenty of blame to go around.  I am personally very disappointed in my democratic congress the past 2 years.  They didn't do a damn thing.  They rolled over for Bush without so much as a fight.

Agreed but the point is.. GBA seems to want to pass on the fact that his party could have done something and didn't. 

They waited to yelled the sky is falling until it was too late when they were aware it was falling long before.  By 2007 it was already too late.

Both parties are to blame.

I seem to remember even the media  (mostly PBS)saying mentioning that the housing bubble couldn't possibly  continue for several YEARS before the collapse. Since FEW of the boneheaded repugNUTs bother to watch, they remained clueless and propagated the problem by getting their greedy fingers in the mess hoping to flip houses and make big profits! HOPE every one of those greedy AHs loose big.......even if that sics Karma on me.

He is not making changes. He is bowing to the manipulation of the Democratic establishment, which hand picked him to lead their party.

GBA....you continue to show yourself to be a repugNUT! Key is the last 3 letters. Do YOU need me to spell it out for you?

Remember that under Clinton, the economic gains were false, and pressure was put on loan companies to offer low/no interest loans to people who couldn't afford a home, so their could be more minority and low income first time home owners. Prosperity was an illusion, and we are paying for it now, as we are seeing.  Obama does not equal experienced leadership. His appointmens gauruntee more social engineering, to see if you give away stuff to people, will they somehow become more motivated. There are always times of correction in a free society. Success is not gaurunteed, and failure may occur. Failure tells us that we need to change our practices, and find a new way to innovate if we want to be successful. It is not the government's responsibility to bail out failed enterprises. It is the government's job to trim itself to a minimum, to keep taxes low, and premit free enterprise to surge.

Oh, that's right.  The last eight years were actually Clinton's fault.  Amazing how you God bless America types can't face the fact that you're actually anti-American.

The Clinton era was based on false hope. The Tech and Dot.Com bubbles and a false sense of security. What did it get us? A recession and 9-11. You can keep your Clinton years.

What did it get us

I'd say it got us sour grapes from Newt Gingrich, Rush Limbaugh, Dobson, Robertson, Hannity and the rest. It got us a lot of right-wing brainwashing that put an idiot in the White House. This, in turn, gave us two undeclared and possibly unconstitutional wars, a real estate bubble, fear of everything, and much, much more. I'm with nanameaof5.

McCain lost big electorally, but remember that 46% of the population supports smaller government anc conservative economic policies. He did not lose big in the popular vote. Surprizing, since he was outspent 4:1, that Obama's message did not resonate with more people. We can now expect years like the last two, only less rancor, as a nearly completely Democratic government, representing only 52% of the total population, shoves it's liberal agenda down the throats of the other half of the population.

I agree, William.  I cannot understand WHY people think President-elect Obama should hire inexperienced people to keep with his message of change.  He is doing what he should do:  surrounding himself with the best people possible.  People who, at his direction, can get things done.

I think McCain might have made it except for his choice of Palin.

goldminor, you have hit the nail on the head. McCain's choice for VP showed exceptionally bad judgement and he totally misread the electorate's reaction,   indicating he could have been an inadequate president.

Well, for the past 4 years, no one bothered to support or get slong with the administration. Why should we now all get along? Because the Democrats have been vote d into office? Can they only get along when they hold the majority? What a bunch of children. Only 52% of the population voted for the socialist from Chicago, under whom the middle class will continue to bear the brunt of a too big government and special interests, the east coast Harvard educated elites will flourish (after all,they know best, right?) ,and you expect us all to get along? Why now? Is this what you stood for during the years when Bush bashing became a popular media and Hollywood hobby? Did you stand and say "love him, or hate him, he's our president and let's all get along?" Did you see Pelosi stand in front of congress demonstrate her partisan attitudes to her peers by bashing George Bush and the Republicans? And she is supposed to be a leader - she ibehaved like a middle school child, who didn't get her way. Nothing can ever justify that speech. It was representative, in a big way, of the way the "adults" in Washington povoke discord, and impede the civilized debate and decision making process.

Actually, you must remember that President Bush had a pretty cooperative electorate for the first years of his presidency.  Congress gave him the powers  he sought.  The majority of people, even foreigners, were behind him after 9/11.  The country began turning against him after he began acting unilaterally--rushing into a war that many people were unsure about.  Also, it became clear that the tax cuts benefitted just a small portion of Americans, the richest among us.  Middle class Americans saw their incomes diminish while prices went up.  Yet more and more at the top were becoming billionaires.  Clearly government had chosen sides, and it wasn't the working man who got chosen.

The real disillusionment started after it became aparent that much of what Bush said was off the mark.  People started seeing that the talk coming out of the White House didn't match what was actually happening across America.  People didn't just all of a sudden decide they didn't like Bush because of his shoes or his haircut: they didn't like what was happening to their lives.

Mary E

Nice post well put...I truly agree with you.

Mary: Agree  People can gripe until the cows come home about "Democrats" and "Liberals"...The Democratic party may be in now but it was put there across all party lines. People "gripers" should remember that. 

You ain't seen us in action yet.  You gonna hide forever behind the Republicans and Bush who have totally run us into the ditch and beyond here.  Then we don't need your kind of support for our cause in getting us back to where we should be.  Continue your sulking in some other corner please.

that is a cute little blog but it makes no sense. there will be change jan 20. 2008 and 52% of the population has hope that the next four years will not be like the last 8. thanks president bush and neo-con handlers.

Be assure we will most definitely live through it.  Americans will always survive because we are strong.

It would just be nice if we could all get on the same page.  Obama pledged change in government!  Well he has failed!  He also said we would get out of this slump...he is back pedling because the economy has changed (agreed)...it is now delayed.  However, how does one get out of an economy slump with the same officials in office?

We need smart people (like Obama)...not puppets as Obama seem to be at the moment! 

One thing...why would smart people want to serve in a government that is so corrupt with oppointees such as being appointed currently by O.B.!  My point!

How much experience in none? 10 YEARS OF SENATE EXPERIENCE (8 state senate 2 federal)with much aisle crossing bi-partisan solutions. In state senate, sponsored 780 bills, 280 were signed into law. If you are talking about presidential experience, NO ONE has any until they have been president.

How has Obama failed???  Good grief, he still has 62 days until his freakin' INAUGURATION!  Onr ptrdi

This country didn't get into the mess we're in overnight -- and we won't get out of it overnight.  We all all know that things may get worse before we see improvement, but I have no doubt that an Obama administration will definately be an improvement over what the Bush administration has been -- or what a McCain administration would have been. 

Funny how people are so quick to call "Failure!"  Give the man a chance.

Zach, you are on track...many people that voted for O.B. will see that his intentions was to surround himself with powerful people...not change for government!  Oh, sure there will be changes with the economy, foreign affairs, etc... it inevitable!  It would happen regardless who is in office.

The problem here is that most Americans were hoping to clean up government with new faces, new ideas, etc...

The fact shows that the American people will be faced with stronger and more government!  Eventually, with this direction the American people will be faced with harder times within the next four years.

It is amazing that I see (my opinion) the continual mistakes made and/or not made due to indecisiveness!  Or possibly by not working TOGETHER!  We will now continue to have a divided party... DEMs against REPs!  If I was to run my business this way, I would be sure to fail my employees along with my investors!!!!

Zach

Obama has a web page where people can apply for jobs...He is not freezing no one

out. All who think they have a skill to contribute is welcome to try....You can go to his

Web Site for the complete information.

Wilberta...just something to through out at the average American!  Obama would not surround himself if Americans... only Democrats of "power".

Why would the smart Americans work for the government when nothing can get done?  You don't see a Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, etc... people of this caliber sign up.  You know why?  Government is so corrupt and unorganized that the typical American people are able to move forward to at least shore up Government by "lobbyiests".

Go figure...the majority of Americans voted for Obama...and a lot of them are wishing they hadn't. 

Hold on... we all definitely need to give Obama a chance!  He hasn't even been in office yet!  So all we can do is wait and in hopes he does make change by "firing" the idiots that he is putting in charge!

You know what Zack?  I can sing but that does not mean that Andrea Bocelli will select me for his next duet.  Get real.  Please apply, as Wilberta suggested, or your point is moot.

Mike Kerr

Until some Average Citizen who wants a job with Obama actually applies and then  lets

the Country know one way or the other...what you are speculating has no MERIT.

If you think you can HELP MAKE A CHANGE from some SKILL...why don't you Apply

and then get back to us. You don't see Bill Gates for two reasons....One his 

interests were non political and he pursued what worked best for him...That is how

he became filthy rich....Your point is escaping me????...Buffet has rendered some

Economic advise to Obama so again I Ask...what's your Point???

Mike Kerr - I am a democrat... but I did not vote for BO because I did not like what I found when I researched the man. 

The country being divided is not so simple as Dem vs Rep... some Democrats actually cared enough to do a little research before voting.  Some did not feel that BO had our country's best interests at heart.  Some did realize that his version of change would not be the right kind of change.

Zack, I'm sure you are brilliant at what you do. However, outsiders despite their good will.....would be eaten alive in politics. People of your caliber/and position, should of all people know what happens when/if a company runs itself into the ground.  You also should know that even in the private sector, people are hired with experience (Obama is surrounding himself with the brightest) or they will soon be out on their ear. It takes an insider, you know this, to show someone the ropes. The thing with OB is that he may not have the experience but he's way above the curve with intelligence, makes his own decisions and some darn good ones on top of that. Repubs who reach across the isle have all of a sudden crossed their arms in defiance. Their party told them to do as much. What a ruin of good minds.

Zach -

Did you and your wife contribute to and canvass for Obama because you thought he had a better idea, or because you thought that you two would get jobs if he was elected?

I don't know anything about Insurance and Risk Management - but if "overseeing a $66M healthcare spend" gives you the experience and knowledge needed to develop Insurance and Risk Management implementation policy at the SES or Schedule C level - then grab a copy of the Plum Book (http://www.gpoaccess.gov/plumbook/2008/index.html) and apply for a job that fits your capabilities and interests.

If developing overall policy and legislation is more to your liking, you may want to consider applying for a position on the staff of your local Senator or Representative.  If he (or she) is a Democrat - your contributions and canvassing efforts may get you an audience.

By the way - Obama hasn't started 'governing' yet.  Give him a chance.

I did apply for a position at Change.Gov, so I am step ahead of those comments.  In fact, I did so the first day the site went up.  My wife and I did not support Obama because we expected anything.  In fact any position I took in the Govt. would be at a massive pay cut.  I just want to serve my Country.  I also don't believe you need to have a big name to be the best and brightest. 

As an aside, I am not saying I am that best or brightest person, just that I have not seen any appointments thus far that were not big political insiders, millionares/billionares.  Whether it is me or not, I would like to see one person in a key position who is a qualified regular person.  Obama wanted us to take a chance on his unique outsider background, so it seems to me that his Administration should return the favor and appoint a regular, normal, non-beltway, non-rich person. 

Someone asked why would an average American work for the Govt. when nothing gets done.  It seems to me that nothing gets done because average Americans don't work for the Government.  God forbid we have a little practical, common sense experience in there.

Zach -

Good for you - good luck.

If it makes any difference in your view of things - let me say that the press reports only the top-level appointments.  That certainly doesn't mean that the 'lower eschelon' appointments, those that don't attract the same media attention, are not important.  In fact - I think that in some circumstances the lowest 'Schedule C' folks working in concert with the higher career civil servants often have as large, if not larger, and as important, if not more important effects on things as the very upper folks.

The 'upper middle class' managers are the ones that oversee the drafting of regulations, and directly oversee the implementation of policies. That is where you'll find your 'average' Americans making a difference. That is where the rubber really meets the road. I encourage you not to discount the importance of those folks.  Perhaps one of those positions would be best suited to your skills and experience, and would ultimately provide you the greatest satisfaction.

Again - I wish you and your wife the best.

Thanks, I guess we'll see what happens.  Your point about what the media picks up on is also very good.  I just get tired of seeing the rich and powerful as the face of Govt.  That's what attracted me to Obama in the first place.  As an aside, I think Obama will be great and that change will come in the form of new ideas and policies, I just want to see some new faces too.

All the best to you as well.

You must not be paying attention to the same media I'm listening to.....PBS and NPR. Seems to me they are mentioning plenty of people with valuable experience from  OUTSIDE Washington.  He has tapped several big names from  inside the beltway but I'm sure there will be plenty from outide finding very powerful positions. He's picking his cabinet......there will be plenty of support staff for those people  needed. Why don't you check that out. Can't hurt......but without some real political savy , you can't expect the top jobs. Doesn't mean you can't get in at a high level. Complaining certainly won't get that job fior you.

This is really to S-63...: I'm an independent (there are many of us as obviously was noted in the nomination). Nobody knew because we were not associated with any party and or never voted a straight ticket. .........Thank you very much, I/we did do our homework and chose a "chance" against a "" McCain (loose canon) /Palin(  rabid) ticket.

 I'm relieved and not a bit sorry as are most...obviously. Noted McCain evoked fear. Is that a good reason to vote for him. Even his own campaign managers told him and Palin to shut up.

A little plain old fashion common sense would do wonders for our nation, but I"m sure it's too much to expect BO to hire anyone with that quality.

S--- HUH? It is commmon sense and pragmatism that is being presented thus those he has chosen.

Before you condemn his choices, please read all of the CVs of the selections, look at the dynamics of the team and remember that when the team is assembled the Leader is still PE Obama.

Barbara...agreed

May I also add who obviously can make excellent decisions because of how well the

PEOPLE he chose to help with his Campaign...Ran It....It escapes me how through all of

the criticizing these folks are dismissing the MOST RELEVANT POINT...OBAMA WON!

Wilberta, Sooooo agreed! 

Hello-goodby people, snap, snap, snap!

sdwalters

Because you donated money to his campaign, you expect BO to actually do things for you or in the way he promised?   Guess him buying this election with all those private donations means he owes those that made the donations?  Don't expect pay back in any form.  Unless your donation was big enough to catch his notice, you are just another fool with a checkbook to him.

sd walters...no personal attack meant here, but the statement you made...and his overly cautious approach to assembling a team is both unnecessary and potentially harmful in view of the enormous, complex problems which must be addressed in the coming year. has to be the most ridiculous thing I have heard of late... would you rather he "haphazardly throws together' a Cabinet and surrounds himself with inexperienced, untested unknowns? If Im going in for major heart surgery, unless it is emergent, I am going to take the time to ask questions and investigate and find the BEST DAMN heart surgeon I can find to do the job....Overly cautious? After the last 8 years, thank god SOMEONE is being cautious with our future.....

Obama won what? He promised change. What we didn't know was that he was going to change back to the Clinton years. I see Wilberta is here along with her sister, Barbara from Houston. What a pair.

Jan,  It is very typical for someone who has little that is constructive or original to say to attack others.  Perhaps you should review the COH.  Courtesy, Please!

Paul,  "What a pair." This was an unwarranted personal afront that I do not appreciate.  I cannot see where I have even addressed this person.  Shame on her!

Scott, Daschle's wife has resigned her job.  She is no longer a lobbyist.  Let's stay on topic people.  I know that we are all worried about the economy, our money, etc. but let us please shelve the hysteria.  Barack Obama will be a very good President, he has the capacity to be a great President.  The best thing to do is throw your support to our country, and the guy who will lead us on January 20.  That is our strength.  A united America cannot be defeated.  Stop this petty stuff and let's get to the real issues we face. 

Thanks Clara. If I ever need advice about rallying around my country you will be the first person I come to for advice.

Poor Christine - Look Barack Obama isn't even in office yet.   Again, we have been driven into the ditch by the Bush and the Republicans.  To forecast Barack Obama's Presidency at this point is ridiculous.  Let's keep our eye on the ball people.  Bush and the Republicans have put us here.  They have gotten richer.  A lot richer.  And so have their friends.  So let's put blame where blame is due here.  Bush and his buddies have really mauled us over here.  So let's get behind who we elected.  As I said previously, a united America cannot be beaten. 

Clara it is so apparent that a lot of the people here need a lesson in word terminology.

they do not understand what the concept of CHANGE MEANS...It's Google Time for them.

WilbertaBerry:  I agree.  But as Barack says, change isn't easy.  It's going to take some people to give extra effort is helping get our country turned around and headed in the right direction.  Anyone can sit back and complain.....change is what is needed.  And it will take a lot of work, but it will be worth it!  I invite everyone to get on board the "change" train!  It's pulling out of the station, and I for one don't want to be left behind!