Gates a 'Done Deal'

Why do I feel like I have egg on my face.

quote: "Back during the primaries, Obama explained what he meant by "change,": he wants to get away from the excessively partisan party bickering of recent years in an attempt to find common ground. His appointments show that he meant what he said."

Regarding the "partisan party bickering of recent years"........could be that the MSM isn't picking this guy apart like they did Bush. Do yuh think
that's got something to do with the
lack of "bickering"????? It's helps to have the media backing your every move. It keeps what you are doing right in the public news, instead of everything they can pick on to make you look good. Give Bush some credit. He did a lot of good which the MSM just hasn't published. Guess whose gonna get the credit for "winning" in Iraq....Obama, of course, even thought he's done NOTHING.

I cannot belive people on this blog are blaming Clinton. Folks if Bush did not like what Clinton passed he had 8 years to change the laws. This is Bush and the Republians mess for not having any oversight and not enforcing the regs on the books

How can you see change if you are still in denial. OBAMA TALKED ABOUT CHANGE OF LAST 8 YEARS. For most of us he has replaced almost every single important position, with exception so far of Mr. Gates. I think some folks expected new and unexperienced faces. He talked about change from last administration not from 16 or 30 years ago. I don't think repubs would accept positions anyway because the haters would then call their own party Betrayel, etc, etc, so since they can't be pleased just let them vent as it won't make a difference anyway. Obama is his own man and won on his own merrit. PEACE. By the way, Gates was not kept on during Clinton years and was replaced. But it still doesn't matter does it, because some just can't see the glass past being half full, unfortunatly for them. The rest of us are happy and if you want to joing us, great, if not, you won't me missed anyway. PEACE.

Of all the Bushies in Washington only Gates gets to stay. He must be good or he holds too many top secrets that forces Obama's hand. Anyway Gates seems sensible and not like that Rumhead.

In my view Obama is doing very well so far. He's being pragmatic and getting solid and knowledgeable people on his team. Plus he's neutralizing potential opponents by co-opting them. This is precisely what I hoped for before the election, and the reason I support Obama.

For better or worse there are some people who don't understand that "change" has to start with intentions not people, and seep through to policy from there.

US policy is as nimble as a supertanker given all the constraints and commitments that the US has. Therefore a *sustainable* change in policy needs to start small and needs people in charge with experience.

In addition you cannot expect big policy changes overnight; the changes we are looking for will be visible after 1-2 years, soonest.

Hey Repubs: You have lost elections by landslide. The Republican Party means the old, the retrocession, the reactionary - it is over. Finish, finito, c'est fini.

Anyone thought BHO is keeping Gates so that he & the Dems can blaming Bush for anything that goes wrong in Iraq? Anything that goes wrong will just be an extension of Bush's policy.

There isn't any kind of victory in Iraq. What does it mean victory there? The British Empire was in Iraq for long time and have failed to bring peace for those countless tribes.
Well, Robert Gates was involved - with cel. Oliver North (how the world can forget him?)- on "Iran-Contras" CIA secret operation during the Reagan Administration. They sold weapons to Ayatollah's regime (USA enemies!) and the profits were sending to the "Contras", group of mercenaires who fought against the Nicaragua's government. Led by who? Daniel Ortega, Nicaragua's president at present time. Gates is a very bad choice for a real CHANGE in Washington.

Sweeeet. This is going to be a wonderful Thanksgiving with my Moonbat relatives who actually believed the "Change" nonsense. I will be rubbing this in their face the entire evening.

Mediocrity is its own reward.

All these hawks?

Who is frightening Obama into fielding so many hawks. Last week it was Hillary and this week it is Gate. Perhaps Cheney will be asked to take over energy secretary so that the extremist far right lunatics does not accuse Obama of being weak on energy.

We do not want anything to do with the bush militarism. Gate was a part of the bomb them now and ask question later goons. When bush trashed the bipartisan Iraq Study Group report, Gate did not speak up. When will he speak up?

Will Gate end the violence brought about on our world by the bush neocons?

Neither Hillary nor Gate embodies change that we can believe even though we love Hillary more.

I hope Obama is not succumbing to far right lunatic's false accusation of being weak on national security? Those were hot air and myths and should not be relied upon to place hawks on the cabinet of change.

We need real change and not cosmetics.

To the nay sayers if our president-elect didn't know what he was doing he would not be putting the smartest and best in office. He would put goofs like you in office.

Geez, the negative bloggers re: SoD Gates is ridiculous! It is a smart move to keep him in place until Iraq is stable and we are ready to pullout. Go Pres. Obama!!!

Is this another Bush therm or Clinton third term? What is gate doing in the cabinet of change?

Yes, an Eagle Socut, but unlike Robert McNamara and Don Rumsfeld, a competent Eagle Scout!

Everyone's complaining about Bush and what he's done. Do you realize it's not HIS fault? In 1999, the New York times printed an article which mentions Bill Clinton, (That's right B.C.) was giving Fanny and Freddie Mac, pressure to accept "sub prime lending" which would allow just about anyone to purchase the "American dream." (Ironically, large lenders were also pressuring Fanny and Freddie as well.) Go figure! The crash of the sub prime market is the foundational reason why the economy is in the toilet at this moment. Don't hate on Bush. He inherited that cluster. If you don't believe me, do your freakin' research! September 30, 1999 New York times. Wish I could attach this article cuz I have it right here.

I feel better knowing he was an Eagle Scout ?

Political opportunism at its finest. When things were going badly in Iraq, Obama was the fastest "cutter and runner" of them all.

Now we don't hear a peep about Iraq in the media. Why not? The surge worked, and WE WON, and Iraq is at peace.

So President-Elect Obama makes a pragmatic decision: if it works, don't fix it--keep Gates.

For those who can read between the lines, Obama makes a tacit admission:
McCain was right. Country first.

"President-elect Obama is demonstrating an insightful, carefully considered number of appointments. Even David Brooks, conservative commentator at the New York Times agrees."

ohhh..STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR OBAMA JUST BECAUSE YOU VOTED FOR HIM!!!!

if this was McCain you Obamabots would have howled at the moon about how he had no clue because he was old and had to put up with retreads. Now that the Messiah is in charge, everything is peachy perfect and he can do no wrong.