I’m furious. And, I am hereby abandoning my pledge to give Obama 160 day pass to do his thing without any criticism from me. I justify the change of heart and mind because Obama is already backpeddling on his pledges for change, to change the way things are done in Washington, to bring in a new team. What? Only former Clinton people can run the government? What? There are no new faces out there? What, there is no new talent out there? What? Love your enemies, lobby for Joe Lieberman, and throw your courageous friends–Richardson, Casey, Kerry, the Kennedys–overboard? What? He won the nomination without help from anyone in the Clinton company, and now he can’t govern unless they are from the Clinton company? I don’t get it. 

With the soon to be announced selection of Eric Holder for Attorney General, Clinton’s number two at Justice who, incidently, approved the Marc Rich pardon, and the persistent rumors that Hillary will be Secretary of State, and that Gates will probably stay at Defense, Obama is left with one, just one other major cabinet post, Treasury, to honor his commitment of change to those of us who believed him and voted for him. And there are rumors he will pick another old Washington hand for THAT position. Who gives a shit if a new face runs Commerce or Transportation? Who gives a shit if a new face shows up at the UN?

Now, he may well bring change to the way he governs, and there will be change, a plenty, when it comes time to nominate people to the Supreme Court and other courts, but so far, with all of his appointments, he has gotten anything right so far. It’s all the same old, same old. Business as usual in Washington. He is so busy forgiving Joe Lieberman, and making up with McCain, he has squandered all his major opportunities to do something symbolic and dramatic. Remember, and remember it well, it was George Bush who brought in the old team, the familiar faces.

I can’t believe it.