Pre-Inauguration Hysteria

Bob Gates.

Lawrence Summers.

Rick Warren.

Obama's picks for various positions within his administration have created much to-do among the politically active, especially online, much of it of the hand-wringing variety. The most sympathetic summary of these Jeremiads that I can dredge up is that, given the size of Obama's victory, it's all well and good to meet the other guys half-way--but where is the proof that the other guys have any intention of meeting us half-way?

In principle, I agree that these picks (and a few others--these are just three that stand out) are disappointing in some way. Gates looks like an admission that only Republicans can handle national defense; Summers hasn't given any indication that he understands how the policies he heped craft are part of the problem; Rick Warren is a bigot.

But to cavil about these things--and yes, I'm intentionally demeaning the complainers here--is to be not only short-sighted, but to miss the whole point of Obama's campaign and subsequent election.

He's not going to do stuff we all agree with. Philosophically, he's not nearly as liberal as most progressives wish him to be, he's a bit moralistic, and above all, a shrewd and pragmatic politician.

There are 18 days left until Obama's Inauguration, followed by at least four years of sane governance by competent people. Regardless of what you think or fear about his appointments, you can take comfort that at the very least, a culture of competence will be returned to government, as well as a belief in the benefits of government activity.