Sounds like a fine choice, but the rationale is a little strained - unusual for Obama.

We as a nation must do better for our Veterans. Let us hope and pray this is a step in the right direction.

This is a great pick. Shinseki was right and Obama's decisions (through out the war) would have been wrong (to pull out). But I'm impressed that he's willing to pick someone who is his opposite on Iraq.

As the vociferous Progressive Ed Schultz pointed out during the primaries, since 2004, there were 23 pieces of legislation presented before Congress and the Bush Administration benefiting our Veterans. McCain voted against or didn't even bother to show up to vote on 17 out of the 23 bills or amendments, six of which were authored by Veterans Affairs committee member and soon to be President, Barack Obama. The few that did make it to the President were vetoed with the exception of the revised GI bill. Now with the appointment of Gen. Shinseki and the obvious support of our soon to be President, our Veterans may finally get the attention they so deserve.

Being a lifetime member of the DAV(that's the Disabled America Veterans), this would be a big improvement over what we've had over the last 8 years!

No more VA claims going to the shredder that haven't been properly adjudicated!

There is a desperate need for the VA to update the claim process and the rating structure desperately needs updating(it hasn't been touched since the Vietnam War!

I've have a current disability that needs to be increased due to a bi-lateral rating, but, I continue to live with it because of the troops coming home from Afghan and Irag that are injured, they need the attention more than I do.

Another brilliant appointment by our next Commander-In-Chief. Shinseki, like Obama, has a great deal of intelligence, foresight, and (GASP!) common sense. He is the anti-Rumsfeld, which is exactly what we need. Great job team Obama, and congratulations to General Shinseki!

It's about time someone thought of the veterans. It fine to send them to war but no one seems to care how they came back and what were their needs, emotionally, physically and financially. Many returning soldiers are losing their houses just like others but this should not happen to a person who served in our armed forces. Their families have not been taken care of while the one or sometimes both parents are at war. Finally, someone is paying attention. Thank you Mr. Obama.

Donald Rumsfeld and George Bush owe this man Shinseki a public apology. He was right. They were wrong. And they fired him (despite all their blather about "listening to the commanders"). Among the many disgraces that was the reign of Rumsefeld, this heads toward the top. Good to see Obama righting a wrong.

Once again Obama makes a good balanced decision. This is the change.. He is not politically motivated by all his decisions and definitely puts alot of thought into what he is doing.

Nice pick Obama. I thought I would have more objections to the cabinet; but so far, so good.

BUSH and the DEMOCRATS are all failures!!!! Bush had our boys and some girls in an insame Iraq war and Bush allowed hundreds of innocent Americans to be killed the last eight years by illegals that he, McCain and the democrats allowed to come over the border with their horrible crime and drugs. The end of the U.S will happen if all these illegal thugs are allowed to stay here but Obama is sure not going to do anything but allow them here and pay off his union buddies who make $75/hr by taxing that little Miss or N.C. worker who makes less than $20/hr. Look, Bush stole from the taxpayers to payoff his rich banker buddies and the Democrats will pay off the unions while the little America suffers and has no representatives in Washington----some change, HUH!!!!

A person is a NATURAL BORN CITIZEN IF ONLY ONE PARENT IS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN!

It does NOT MATTER WHERE/the location.

The OTHER parent does NOT have to be American for the child to be considered 100% American with natural born rights and privilidges.

THAT'S OUR LAW/CONSTITUTION.

IT'S NOT MY OPINION.

Obama's mother was CLEARLY AMERICAN, one from Kansas and with American born parents.

That means, ANY CHILD she had was/is an American citizen with ALL THE RIGHTS/PRIVILEGES of an American citizen.

There is ONLY ONE KIND Citizen within the borders of the USA.

So you Obama haters, get over it. He could have been born in a mosque in Sudan, and he'd still be an American 100%.

I'll believe it when I see it. I have yet to see any single person placed in that post actually change ANYTHING.

Good move the genaral he tried to tell the truth about the war in Iraq but was fired from his job by Bush good move Obama:)

Bush and buddy Rummy did not want to hear the truth what if they had listened
how different this war could have been

i agree with jonathan steer. people really need to do their homework. google U.S. citizenship if need be. Borak Obama is 100% American because his mother is and was an American; regardless of where Borak Obama was born, it is irrelevant. i have a coworker who was born in europe but was still considered an American simply because his parents were Americans. bottom line, if at least one of your parents is an American and you were born outside the United States, you are an American. this is the U.S. Constitution. Keep in mind, unlike most countries, the UNITED STATES, is a country of immigrants. native americans exempt of course. thus, our fore fathers realize that we need to protect the offsprings of "Americans" despite their ancestry originated from another country like France, England, Spain, etc. therefore, if a baby of one American parent was born in another country, that baby had the same rights as an American and the protection of the American government. understand the logic behind this constitution.

Obama will go down in history as the best president that we have ever had..why? because he cares for people..that's why! he wants to see people's lives change based on commonsense governmental policies..Obama is a good man who don't harbor grudges and hate..he forgave Lieberman, and all the others who tried to slander his name.."What a Man". Obama is a listener and he listens to people who are experts in areas of government and then he makes his decisions..smart guy! Obama loves his country and what is interesting is that he does not consider himself the black president and as a black person myself I say "Right on". He is president of these United States for everyone and Obama cares about everyone...he really wants to make a difference in people's lives and that's the hallmark of a great president..If the Republicans don't try to muddy his water as they would try to do and if he receives the support..this country will turn around domestically,internationally and otherwise..The guy is smart,intelligent, articulate,brilliant,cares about people, wants to make a difference in people's lives and will be the next president of this our blessed country..America will once again be the beacon to the world and will be respected once more. If we want our country to be great again..then support President Barack Hussein Obama and you would not be disappointed. God bless President Obama and his cabinet and God bless the United States of America!

The choice facing the Supreme Court boils down to civil unrest to protect the Constitution or civil war to proceed to ‘inaugurate’ a non-”natural born citizen”.

In general, I've been pleased by Obama's appointments, and his appointment of Shinseki is certainly one of the better ones. Shinseki himself is a good choice, and I love the ## it gives the Bush administration.

Simply saying that more troops are needed isn't enough. It's what you do with them if you get them that's important. For example, McClellan far outnumbered Lee in Virginia during the Civil War, but was always asking Lincoln for more men. Grant, years later, had a comparable number or less and used them to aggressively batter the Confederate Army and break it apart. Lee was constantly effective with fewer troops earlier in the war. The leadership, planning and implementation is what counts, not the numbers.

Beware of generals. They are political animals. But it is good to have a former military officer in charge of the VA rather than a civilian...I hope.