good call DVA.

Hope he doesn't get fired for accurately stating how much money is needed for Veteran care.

Excellent. Was hoping for Tammy Duckworth, but this is a good pick as well. With all the IL politicians joining the administration, I have a feeling Duckworth will wind up in Congress anyway, taking either Obama or Emanuel's seat.

MyOur President is doing a fine job with his selections.

Excellent pick.

Anyone get the feeling that Obama would have put him in as SecDef if it wasn't illegal(there's a minimum number of years out of military service for the position) to do so?

Blackbird: Hope he doesn't get fired for accurately stating how much money is needed for Veteran care.


Amen.

At the local VA hospital that was recently built, they put in tile flooring with large grooves between the tiles and doorways with sills that stick up about 1/2" above the floor.

That is not helpful to old guys in walkers and wheelchairs.

Blues_X: At the local VA hospital that was recently built, they put in tile flooring with large grooves between the tiles and doorways with sills that stick up about 1/2" above the floor.

That is not helpful to old guys in walkers and wheelchairs.

Not really good for ease of disinfection/cleanup either.

seems like a good choice.

Everyone should go back and read Shinseki's testimony about the troop needs in Iraq, then read the followup testimony by people like Wolfowitz who treated the guy like he was a whacko piece of shiat.

These people need to be in jail.

Brilliant pick. Shaka, brah!

Blackbird: Hope he doesn't get fired for accurately stating how much money is needed for Veteran care.

Heh.

Seriously though, yeah.

What's wrong here? He's picking... qualified... people... I'm feeling lightheaded... and having shortness of breath... and it's not a heart attack.
It... feels... so... refreshing...

Blues_X: At the local VA hospital that was recently built, they put in tile flooring with large grooves between the tiles and doorways with sills that stick up about 1/2" above the floor.

That is not helpful to old guys in walkers and wheelchairs.

There's plenty of young guys in walkers and wheelchairs these days, too.

Paris1127: What's wrong here? He's picking... qualified... people... I'm feeling lightheaded... and having shortness of breath... and it's not a heart attack.
It... feels... so... refreshing...

So this is what having some bit of confidence in one's elected officials must feel like.

Excellent choice, Mr. Obama.

BooBoo23: Paris1127: What's wrong here? He's picking... qualified... people... I'm feeling lightheaded... and having shortness of breath... and it's not a heart attack.
It... feels... so... refreshing...

So this is what having some bit of confidence in one's elected officials must feel like.

Excellent choice, Mr. Obama.

Waiting for the right wing articles to say "Someone from the Bush Administration? Is this change?"

DamnYankees: Everyone should go back and read Shinseki's testimony about the troop needs in Iraq, then read the followup testimony by people like Wolfowitz who treated the guy like he was a whacko piece of shiat.

These people need to be in jail.

Yes. Send Bush, Cheney, Wolfie, et al to The Hague.

DamnYankees: Everyone should go back and read Shinseki's testimony about the troop needs in Iraq, then read the followup testimony by people like Wolfowitz who treated the guy like he was a whacko piece of shiat.

These people need to be in jail.

I'm too busy being shocked and awed by what passes for leadership from corporate america right now.

I don't know anything about the guy, but it sounds like poetic justice at first glance.

saintstryfe: Someone from the Bush Administration? Is this change?

My thoughts exactly. This guy wasn't against the war at all at the time, he was just a little smarter tactically. Not only that, but what the fark does a general know about managing what's essentially a healthcare, benefits, and social network?

(read the article) Sounds even better.

Shaggy_C: saintstryfe: Someone from the Bush Administration? Is this change?

My thoughts exactly. This guy wasn't against the war at all at the time, he was just a little smarter tactically. Not only that, but what the fark does a general know about managing what's essentially a healthcare, benefits, and social network?

Not all generals are in the business of war. Some are in the business of management and logistics.

RedLeg1525: good call DVA.

What's this about DVDA?

Shaggy_C: saintstryfe: Someone from the Bush Administration? Is this change?

My thoughts exactly. This guy wasn't against the war at all at the time, he was just a little smarter tactically. Not only that, but what the fark does a general know about managing what's essentially a healthcare, benefits, and social network?

What does a lawyer know about economics?

Nothing. But if he displays good judgment, then why not? He'll probably have a staff to help him out or something

John Dewey: Shaggy_C: saintstryfe: Someone from the Bush Administration? Is this change?

My thoughts exactly. This guy wasn't against the war at all at the time, he was just a little smarter tactically. Not only that, but what the fark does a general know about managing what's essentially a healthcare, benefits, and social network?

Not all generals are in the business of war. Some are in the business of management and logistics.

Reminds me of that saying, amatures discuss tactics, the experts discuss logistics.

Day # -44, and Obama's already doing a better job than Bush. I suppose it's great to come in on the heels of one of the top 5 worst presidents. Well, except for the whole country in shambles part.

John Dewey: Not all generals are in the business of war. Some are in the business of management and logistics.

Fair enough...Plus I assume a lot of what he'll end up doing is lobbying instead of managing, which he seems a better fit for.

Gota say, Obama so far is exceeding my expectations, and he's not even in office yet. Judicious additions to his Administration, and he shows a real desire to hit the ground running.

Of course, for the past eight years we've had an Administration that's basically spent its time making paper airplanes and collecting its paychecks, so maybe it's just a matter of contrast.

BooBoo23: Paris1127: What's wrong here? He's picking... qualified... people... I'm feeling lightheaded... and having shortness of breath... and it's not a heart attack.
It... feels... so... refreshing...

So this is what having some bit of confidence in one's elected officials must feel like.

Excellent choice, Mr. Obama.

Well let me throw some cold water on you two. Back in 2000/2001 everybody was saying a lot of positive stuff about GWB's cabinet choices. They were conservative, but they had a history of competency. Colin Powell for example. Everybody loved Colin Powell.

And look what happened to him.

And look what happened to the US.

While it's nice to feel good, (and lord knows we needed this).

While it's nice to be hopeful, (and lord knows we needed this).

I feel good, I feel hopeful.

We ain't out of the woods yet.

I suspect no matter how competent Obama and his appointees are we will soon learn the limits of what even good presidents can do.

Hard times and compromises.

Bush taught us a lot about the harm failed presidents can do but it is much easier break than to build.

Komplex: We ain't out of the woods yet.

Nosir. Good cabinet appointments don't put a halt to food riots and revenge killings.

The difference is that we were hoping that competent cabinet members would compensate for a man who was obviously dumber than a bag of dirt. Turns out, they weren't.

In this case, even with the excellent cabinet choices he's making, Obama will still be the smartest man in the room. So we get the best of everything.

Meanwhile, here's hoping there's an available slot for Scott Ritter. Head of our intelligence services, perhaps? Seriously, the guy made all the right calls.

Finally, an administration that rewards competence and honesty.

The Why Not Guy: Finally, an administration that rewards competence and honesty.

That's downright unRepublican!

Komplex: BooBoo23: Paris1127: What's wrong here? He's picking... qualified... people... I'm feeling lightheaded... and having shortness of breath... and it's not a heart attack.
It... feels... so... refreshing...

So this is what having some bit of confidence in one's elected officials must feel like.

Excellent choice, Mr. Obama.

Well let me throw some cold water on you two. Back in 2000/2001 everybody was saying a lot of positive stuff about GWB's cabinet choices. They were conservative, but they had a history of competency. Colin Powell for example. Everybody loved Colin Powell.

And look what happened to him.

And look what happened to the US.

While it's nice to feel good, (and lord knows we needed this).

While it's nice to be hopeful, (and lord knows we needed this).

I feel good, I feel hopeful.

We ain't out of the woods yet.

Bush had 1 good choice, maybe 2 (Rice being the other). So far, Obama has one that seems bad.

Corn_Fed: That's downright unRepublican!

I've tried to be careful to hold the Bush administration responsible for their failures rather than Republicans and/or Conservatives in general. However, since they "stood the course" in support of their team, dismissing any criticism as Bush Derangement Syndrome, you're right. Competence is downright unRepublican, and a refreshing change from the past 8 years.

Colin Powell got the PMITA from Cheney. Powell was doing an excellent job on everything that Cheney didn't have his hand in; which was very little.

Read McClellan's book "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception" as well as Bob Woodward's "State of Denial" and "Plan of Attack".

Wait, I forgot, Fark prohibits all posters from reading...

RemyDuron: Bush had 1 good choice, maybe 2 (Rice being the other). So far, Obama has one that seems bad.

J/C, which one?

fired for accurately stating how many troops we'd need in Iraq


ZERO?!?!

/kidding...region was going to be a mess in the not-to-distant future anyway after Saudi king and/or Saddam kicked the bucket. Or maybe not.

/my intelligence report tells me to "eat the yellowcake." mmmm CAKE!

Shaggy_C: John Dewey: Not all generals are in the business of war. Some are in the business of management and logistics.

Fair enough...Plus I assume a lot of what he'll end up doing is lobbying instead of managing, which he seems a better fit for.

It's been said that the United States Army is first a gargantuan factory for generating and processing paperwork, second a titanic mechanism that moves stuff and people from place to place, third a method of ensuring ownership of land and last a way to get other people killed.

My understanding is that the VA's main problem is customer service; right now they don't need much of a lobby as getting funding will be a slam-dunk way for Mr. Obama to fulfill a campaign promise and garner some bipartisan support in the first 100 days. Get them to agree to something they all like and it's easier to get them to agree to the next thing. I anticipate at least some money to come through for new facilities--create some well-paying blue collar construction jobs and give the VA a boost, it's a win-win PR coup.

Gen. Shinseki was right about Iraq way back when, because of that he will enjoy the benefit of the doubt on major policy matters at VA for quite some time. I think he's a very good pick; he gets payback for the way he got done by Bush & Co. and the Republicans in Congress get to STFD and STFU during his confirmation. He was considered a good enough manager to rise to Chief of Staff of the Army so I'm not concerned about his management skills.

FTR his quote on force size in Iraq was "something on the order of several hundred thousand soldiers." I'm surprised no one has come in to gainsay subby's headline as we have never had even 200,000 troops in Iraq and not several hundred thousand. I would counter that we have contracted out about 200,000 jobs that in the past were performed by soldiers and that we do have and have had in excess of 300,000 people in Iraq in care of the US military, and that if we'd had another 50,000 combat troops in Iraq 3, 4 and 5 years ago, President Bush would be considered one of the 10 worst presidents rather than one of the 5 worst.

/it has SO been said
//by me
///paraphrasing Neal Stephenson though

Is he also in charge of silly hats?

I wonder how many Farkers can accurately state how many Osama Bin Ladens the Bush administration (and Republicans in general) have caught.

any right wing trolls wanna criticize this one?

PanicMan: Is he also in charge of silly hats?

HA! THIS!

/Outstanding choice

Occam's Chainsaw: RemyDuron: Bush had 1 good choice, maybe 2 (Rice being the other). So far, Obama has one that seems bad.

J/C, which one?

Hillary Clinton, but we'll see.

The Why Not Guy: I've tried to be careful to hold the Bush administration responsible for their failures rather than Republicans and/or Conservatives in general. However, since they "stood the course" in support of their team, dismissing any criticism as Bush Derangement Syndrome, you're right. Competence is downright unRepublican, and a refreshing change from the past 8 years.

Actually, more and more Republicans are coming out and making their voices hear about how they think Bush is an idiot. Maybe not those exact words, but regardless...

One thing we need to remember: Both parties voted for this war. Despite one party having "buyer's remorse" about it, it was still a rushed decision without many questions being answered. Now, despite the downturn our country has made in the last few years, it seems as if Republicans and Democrats are finally coming together to work as a team. This is what is necessary; anyone, regardless of political bias (liberal or conservative) who decided to stay their own course and refuse to work together should be kicked off the proverbial team like the prick in basketball who won't pass the ball or use the same plays as the rest as his teammates.

RemyDuron: Hillary Clinton, but we'll see.

Enh, I can see arguments for and against. She's a conniving biatch who will smile in your face while she knifes you in the kidneys; she'd make a damn good bad cop if you're inclined to play good cop and have a set of 8-lb titanium balls. It also puts Obama's biggest current rival for power under his thumb and where he can keep an eye on her. If Obama shows her the least bit of weakness, though, she'll walk right over top of him.

Weaver95:
I'm too busy being shocked and awed by what passes for leadership from corporate america right now.

You and me both. And I work for one of those huge banks that got lots 'o taxpayer money, more than once. At least now the outrage seems to be directed correctly, meaning, not at us non-finance workers of these banks. It's good to see that everyone is beginning to understand the magnitude of the incompetence of the senior level decision-makers, boards of these corporations AND the current gub'ment folks handing out our money for what they are (no appropriate word comes to mind now, but feel free to play Madlibs here).

And yes, it'll be interesting to see what it finally takes for everyone to take matters into their own hands. I have a feeling that the first couple of violent incidents involving senior level executive bank employees will prompt some serious changes and/or regulation. And not on gun ownership, either.