When Senator Barack Obama officially became the nominee of the party, I cheered. For me, it was a symbolic win for Substance over Strategy. The Clinton Shenanigan Machine® had been bested John Henry style by a man who seemed wise, informed and, in simplest terms, solid.
When Senator Barack Obama officially became President-Elect Barack Obama, I lept to my feet, cheered and walked around for days with my head in the clouds and feeling more like an American than I could ever remember.
My experience with the President-elect's choices for his cabinet has not been even remotely joyous but, as during the primaries and the general, I'm guarded but hopeful. Outside of my Congressman, Steve Cohen, Governor Howard Dean and maybe one or two Memphis City Council members would I say about each of them, "I trust his/her judgment."
At this point, I still trust Barack Obama's judgment. It has to be acknowledged that he is not the only person making these decisions but, in the end, only he can be labeled with that infamous moniker, "The Decider".
Join me after the jump for the point to all this.
When I read online that Obama had asked Rahm Emmanuel to be his Chief of Staff, the first thing that popped into my cabeza was that image of Rahm, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid pumping their joined hands in the air in celebration of their supposed victory in the 2006 primaries. (After Howard Dean's 50 State Strategy was proven to have worked to that motley crew's chagrin.)
But I ate it. I pushed that image out of my head and I said, "Hey, he's Obama's buddy. I trust his judgment." Moving on.
I am sure I don't have to recount the endless stream of DLC'ers and Clintonistas that have been appointed, one after another since. Fine! It's no biggie. It only matters what happens on January 21st and after.
Ok, I'm still on board but I'm guarded. I'm hopeful but I'm guarded especially in light of this little tidbit that is hitting the interwebs at this late hour.
Can anyone here say they are surprised? I know I'm not.
These people are egomaniacal power-hungry bastards. They're one step away from the Rovian devils we've been fighting with and running down and trying to defeat for the last 9 years.
Hopefully, this is just inside baseball bullshit that won't be par for the course anymore. I'm really trying to stay with the program. I'm really trying to not be a wet-blanket. I'm really trying to lower my standards and trust that all will eventually be made clear and it'll all work out.
But I gotta admit, I'm guarded and that's not as fun as the jubilation I've been feeling.