Are you happy with Gates as Defense Sec? I'm not

[Ardent15]

Sure, he's better than Rumsfeld, but that's not saying much. He seems to be more of an obstacle than an asset to Obama. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets replaced soon.

Personally, I'd like John Spratt to be Defense Secretary.

[geek tragedy]

1. Better than Geithner.

:shrug:

[Cleita]

8. Agreed. Better than Geitner and some of the Clinton retreads in

this administration.

[geek tragedy]

9. Though Hillary herself is better than expected.

She's certainly the star of that group. Her and Orszag.

[Cleita]

10. Hillary can stay. n/t

[ChairmanAgnostic]

14. The whooping that Israel got last week was perfect.

Low key, no fanfare, no abuse, no threats. And also, no meetings with any cabinet level people. The message was clear. Either deal fairly on Palestine, or else.

Yeah, she's surprisingly good as SecState. Hard to even remember how bad things were under Rice. Of course, the rousing cheer from State, during her first visit, told us exactly what the pros in state thought about the change in management.

[Ardent15]

19. She's very tough and very knowledgeable

I'm glad she's at State. :)

[Ardent15]

12. Some Clinton retreads are fine by me

We need people with past experience in the federal government.

[Pirate Smile]

2. Are you sure? He and Obama are planning on taking on the entire Military and

Industrial Complex along with their attached Congressional and Lobbyist interests.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8268656

I'll give him some credit for that.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. exactly! between that, and the continuity that Gates represents,

Obama is now considered the true Commander in Chief in the military, too. The military industrial complex must be shitting gold plated bricks.

[EFerrari]

16. Gates is an Iran Contra retread. He's a good salesman

but so were they all.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

3. Honestly? his retention has been wonderful.

it provided for continuity while we have two active wars being fought. That defanged the Republicans' efforts to paint him as weak on defense, or on terror. Can you imagine Rush and Sean and the billowous one ranting about the danger to America? Unfortunately, we spent 8 yrs being scared into certain kinds of behavior. those types of lessons are not easily unlearned. WIth Gates there, they cannot make those arguments.

Obama made the right decision.

Also, quietly, and with force, Gates has been cutting the gilded military procurement projects one after another. He can achieve that a hell of a lot faster and easier than a new SecDef. Gates will probably step aside in a year or so, but so far, I think he has been a superb choice.

[Ardent15]

4. I suppose you're right

Obama is so much smarter than me. That's why I'm glad he's President and I'm not. :)

[ChairmanAgnostic]

11. Isn't it refreshing to be able to say that about a president?

For a change?

[Ardent15]

15. Definitely. I hated seeing an "average Joe" as President for the last 8 years

Finally we have someone intellectually curious.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

17. the shrub had an average, below average intellect. Add to that,

an unwillingness to change, learn, or admit mistakes, combined with advisors who twisted his little mind as they chose, and whew, what a recipe for disaster.

Hey, you are selling yourself short. You post here, don't you? Ergo, you are above average! Just like Lake woebegone

[Ardent15]

18. Bush did what Rove and Cheney wanted

The two most evil men in America.

[onehandle]

6. He's a placeholder. General Clark will be available next year. nt

[Old and In the Way]

13. That's what I've been thinking, too.

And, if Gates follows through with cutting some of these unneeded military boondoggles, I'll give him credit for that.

[lib2DaBone]

7. I really would like to see a totally new, progressive cabinet..

No re-cycled Pukes or ex Clintonistas. Just my humble opinion. (Obama is doing a good job on so many things... stem cells, birth control, Gitmo)

If he'd arrest Bush and Cheney for their war crimes .. I would give him a big kiss.