Who do you think has been Obama's best and worse appointment/staff pick?

[960]

Out of the entire team Obama has assembled, who do you think is the best pick, worst pick and why?



Best: Van Jones as green jobs Czar
True community activist.... competent. Will get things done. Best choice.

Runner Up: Hillary Clinton as SOS.
Besides Obama, not a bigger star to restore our image. She is thriving, and is such a nice improvement from the last person to hold that job.



Worst: David Axelrod. Too much like Karl Rove. Obama seems to plan to run a permanent campaign (ie. Leno appearance) rather than govern.

Runner Up: Robert Gibbs. I do not think he is very good at his job, and expect he'll soon be replaced. He should work internally rather than be the public face of the administration.

[tekisui]

1. Axelrod?!?! He is worth his wieght in gold.

The Presidency, for better or worse, is a working campaign. They depend on job approval numbers and support from Congress and the People to be effective.

[960]

2. A critique, but no post?

No, I don't like Axelrod and don't think he's half as savvy as most seem to.

He's like Rove: ruthless, lucky and highly overrated.

[tekisui]

25. He is ruthless, effective and rated accurately.

He is nothing like rove. rove is a fucking criminal and a cheat.

[camera obscura]

34. You know Axelrod was pushing for tougher restrictions on bailed-out banks?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/business/economy/10bailout.html

If Obama had taken his advice instead of Geithner's, we might not be in this situation right now.

Axelrod isn't just some Rove style knife fighter, he is there to actually keep the president in touch with what the people want instead of just what DC wants.

[960]

37. He should do a better job of keeping Obama in touch then.

Maybe Obama will listen more closely now.

[firedupdem]

3. Putting Axelrod in the same sentence with that criminal rove is

ridiculous.

[960]

5. Where are your picks?

No, it is not ridiculous. Their management styles are remarkably similar.

[firedupdem]

18. Not playing your game. Go right ahead with it. n/t

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

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[SteppingRazor]

4. Best: Steven Chu. Worst: Geithner

I really have to disagree with your worst picks. Axelrod's current role is as a political adviser. Who better for that role than the man who played a large role in one of the most successful presidential campaigns in recent history? And I think the jury's still out on Gibbs, though I don't knw why you think he shouldn't be "the public face of the administration" when that is the very nature of his job.

[960]

7. Re: Gibbs. He should craft the message, but not deliver it.

He stumbles and mumbles and uses empty phrases and is very awkward.
He is not suited to be press secretary, imo.

[Vinca]

6. Best: Clinton. Worst: Geitner.

[Dappleganger]

36. Good call.

[demo dutch]

8. Worst Summer and Geithner! and it will end up costing Obama

[PopSixSquish]

9. Wow - Do I Disagree with You

I think Axelrod and Gibbs are two of the very best along with Rahm, Peter Orszag, SOS Clinton and Steven Chu.

I'm still making up my mind about Tim Geithner but I think ultimately he'll be fine.

I thought Judd Gregg was a horrible idea and thank heavens that's over with.

I don't really have a worst yet.

[theoldman]

11. I agree with you.

I do not remember her name but the lady on Sunday's talk show was definitely near the bottom

[vaberella]

27. Agreed although I'm not too fond of Geitner. n/t

[Aloha Spirit]

31. Agree on all points. Orszag! I requested, through change.gov, that they hire him.

I did NOT ask them to hire Gregg!

As far as worst choice, not appointing a Secretary of Peace irks me :hi:

[Mz Pip]

10. For Best I like

SOS - Hillary Clinton

Runners Up: Chu. I'm thrilled to have a real scientist heading the Energy Dept.
Austan Goolsbee for Economic Advisor.
Eric Shinseki for Veteran's Affairs

Worst: Lawrence Summers

[amandabeech]

28. You may like Goolsbee, but from what I've read about him,

he worships at the Milton Friedman "free trade and globalism" shrine right next to Summers and Geithner. Gensler looks bad in my book, too.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

12. For best, it's close...I LOVE LOVE LOVE Steven Chu, Hillary Clinton and Eric Shinseki.

Worst...Summers, Geitner and DuBois.

[Raine]

13. Geithner ... WORST

Hillary Clinton ... BEST

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

17. Deleted sub-thread

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[960]

22. So, a personal attack with no contribution, then?

[Dinger]

15. arne duncan

Goddamn, I hope he goes, and goes soon.

[PBS Poll-435]

16. Best - Clinton, Worst - Too Soon to Tell

nt

[mentalsolstice]

19. Best:; Biden & Clinton Worst; Geithner nt

[Louis-Emmanuel]

20. Solis and Geithner nt

[BeyondGeography]

21. I take comfort in Axelrod's presence

He is reliably progressive, politically smart and he understands and cares about Obama.

Hillary is doing a great job, putting a smart and good face on American power, and, as a bonus to her, she appears to be having fun.

Geithner and Summers have botched AIG this week. Low marks for them.

[ohheckyeah]

23. Best - Clinton

Worst - I think it's way too soon to tell.

[debbierlus]

26. Rahm Emanuel & Tim Geithner

[PassingFair]

29. Ditto.

I knew we had been hoodwinked
when Rahm was named COS.

[donheld]

30. I REALLY like Gibbs!

[Politicalboi]

32. Best Clinton and Chu

Worst Geithner and Emanuel

[camera obscura]

33. Best: Axelrod. Worst: Geithner or Salazar.

[Frank Booth]

35. You're way off track on Axelrod. I agree with you on Gibbs though.

Picking a fight with a certifiably insane ex-VP was stupid. It makes the administration look petty.

Best: Chu, Clinton
Worst: Geithner

[quiller4]

38. If team includes VP

then my vote for best pick is Joe Biden. Shinseki comes in a close second followed by Solis.

There are plenty of other good picks on the team. I'm impressed by Napolitano,

I don't believe he has made a bad pick yet. Ray LaHood wouldn't have been my first choice but I don't consider him a bad choice. I'm quite fond of Axelrod and I think of him as being more like Jody Powell or George Stephanopoulos. I think Gibbs does a fine job at the pressers. I actually watch them now.