http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/21/opinion/21brooks.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Even conservatives are impressed by Obama's cabinet appointments:

" This truly will be an administration that looks like America, or at least that slice of America that got double 800s on their SATs. Even more than past administrations, this will be a valedictocracy — rule by those who graduate first in their high school classes. If a foreign enemy attacks the United States during the Harvard-Yale game any time over the next four years, we’re screwed.

Already the culture of the Obama administration is coming into focus. Its members are twice as smart as the poor reporters who have to cover them, three times if you include the columnists. They typically served in the Clinton administration and then, like Cincinnatus, retreated to the comforts of private life — that is, if Cincinnatus had worked at Goldman Sachs, Williams & Connolly or the Brookings Institution. So many of them send their kids to Georgetown Day School, the posh leftish private school in D.C., that they’ll be able to hold White House staff meetings in the carpool line.

***

" As a result, the team he has announced so far is more impressive than any other in recent memory. One may not agree with them on everything or even most things, but a few things are indisputably true.

First, these are open-minded individuals who are persuadable by evidence. Orszag, who will probably be budget director, is trusted by Republicans and Democrats for his honest presentation of the facts.

Second, they are admired professionals. Conservative legal experts have a high regard for the probable attorney general, Eric Holder, despite the business over the Marc Rich pardon.

Third, they are not excessively partisan. Obama signaled that he means to live up to his postpartisan rhetoric by letting Joe Lieberman keep his committee chairmanship.

Fourth, they are not ideological. The economic advisers, Furman and Goolsbee, are moderate and thoughtful Democrats. Hillary Clinton at State is problematic, mostly because nobody has a role for her husband. But, as she has demonstrated in the Senate, her foreign-policy views are hardheaded and pragmatic. (It would be great to see her set of interests complemented by Samantha Power’s set of interests at the U.N.)

Finally, there are many people on this team with practical creativity. Any think tanker can come up with broad doctrines, but it is rare to find people who can give the president a list of concrete steps he can do day by day to advance American interests. Dennis Ross, who advised Obama during the campaign, is the best I’ve ever seen at this, but Rahm Emanuel also has this capacity, as does Craig and legislative liaison Phil Schiliro.

Believe me, I’m trying not to join in the vast, heaving O-phoria now sweeping the coastal haute bourgeoisie. But the personnel decisions have been superb. The events of the past two weeks should be reassuring to anybody who feared that Obama would veer to the left or would suffer self-inflicted wounds because of his inexperience. He’s off to a start that nearly justifies the hype."

I for one, welcome our new, smart, educated, experienced, open-minded (i.e. not locked in to a rigid ideology), ant-overlords!!!

I was amused by the articles today about how the extensive vetting process and "invasive" background checks by the Obama transition team are scaring potential candidates for cabinet positions away. I say who gives a shit - they shouldn't apply for the position if they have stuff to hide. These people are only going to be running the country, for god's sake - so yeah no shit they should receive even more scrutiny than people applying for the FBI.

Seems pretty smart to me that they turn over every stone in someone's past, given the insane microscope Obama is under going in to the presidency, there are those just waiting and hoping he stumbles on even the smallest thing like some cabinet appointee with even the smallest skeleton in the closet.

I feel bad for Obama. I wouldn't wish this upon anybody:

Obama’s Mother-in-Law to Move Into the White House

It’s official: Marian Robinson, the 71-year-old mother-in-law of President-elect Barack Obama, will be moving into the White House, transition officials said on Friday.

In fact, Mrs. Robinson is already in town, helping to smooth the family’s personal transition as Mr. Obama, his wife, Michelle, and their two daughters prepare for new lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

“She is here to help them get up and running,’’ said Katie McCormick Lelyveld, a spokeswoman for Mrs. Obama. “She will determine in the coming months whether or not she wants to stay in D.C. permanently.”

In some ways, Mrs. Robinson’s decision to move – at least temporarily — is no real surprise. During the presidential campaign, Mrs. Robinson was a family mainstay, caring for the Obama girls, Sasha and Malia, while their parents were on the road.

She took them to school, to piano lesson and dance lessons, cooked their meals, ran their baths and got them to bed on time. She was a critical part of the family’s effort to keep the girls’ lives as normal as possible in the midst of extraordinary times.

But Mrs. Robinson is also deeply rooted in Chicago. She still lives in the house where Michelle Obama grew up. And she has often expressed ambivalence about the notion of moving to Washington.

“I’ve never lived outside of Chicago, so I don’t know,’’ said Mrs. Robinson, hesitating a bit as she considered last year whether she was willing to move into the White House. “In the end, in the end, I’ll do whatever. I might fuss a little, but I’ll be there.”






SOURCE

She looks like a real pest, but maybe it's her daughter that she "rides".

After my mom got ill and my grandmother had a small stroke, my mom's mom moved in with us at my dad's insistence. She and my dad got along great. My mom and her mom ... not so great.

When she died, friends would give me condolences on my dad's mom. I guess that's how it looked to them.

Could anyone please check with Mr. Obama how much he is charging for this mother/daughter team? And how far they're willing to go (anal, fisting, A2M, etc.)?

Thanks.

Marian and I get along fine, she has been a great help with our daughters. And Michelle is a very passionate lover, I'll just leave it at that.

I'm more concerned about them taking my Blackberry, Marian hates the thing. I won't be able to peek at the forum or post if they get it.

Kool-aid, cornbread mix, jambalaya zatarain's mix, cocoa puffs... and cream of wheat.

Sounds like there is a position available for duckduckgoose in Obama's cabinet.