Drunk, Naked and On Fire: My Morning Browse

The Morning Browse begins somewhat foggier than usual, the consequence of sleepus interuptus. Coffee, God, more coffee.

I'm trying to sort through my disquiet and ambivalence about this interegnum from Bush to Barack. It's so weird on so many levels. The financial collapse, Israel in Gaza, Blago, the cabinet picks (Panneta at CIA, Gupta? Crazy genius or bad dream?), the cabinet surprises (Richardson out), the whole "war on terror", the Blair House snub - it goes on and on.....

Let's take them one at a time, in bite sized chunks, shall we? First, I have many more questions about the financial crisis than I have answers - this is always a difficult situation for me. Answers are imperative and, in this case, I have few. So let's sort through the key questions:

1) Treasury Secretary Paulsen tells the country on a Tuesday that the world ends the following Monday without $700 billion and NO ONE in the Bush junta saw this coming - are you shitting me?

2) Bush's team wanted to do this all on the basis of a two page memo that demanded no intervention, questions or second guessing....again, are you shitting me?

3) And then, of course, there was McCain's campaign "suspension", the Republicans scotching the first attempt to pass the package, everybody eventually jumping onboard when some fresh pork was thrown into the deal, then the buyer's remorse/second guessing/recrimination syndrome that followed. Question? What the hell does it all that mean and who's driving?

Next, Israel's attack on Hamas. This is so rich irony and impossibilities that it's hard to know where to begin. See my post from a couple of days ago, "Welcome to Gaza, Now Go Home", for a general flavor of where I'm at, but suffice it to say the response (and there should have been one) appears so disproportional as to approach the criminal. The bombing of a school WITH KIDS IN IT yesterday is a capper for me. This is nuts - the whole issue is nuts - and there are no, repeat NO clear answers. But there is a tiny path out of the morass, should anyone choose it...

Third, and very important to me, is Obama's governance. In fairness to Barack, with this incredible swirl around him, he has maintained beautifully. Unflappable, dignified and keeping his nose out of Bush's dirty business. He's none-t0-anxious to jump into this cauldron til it's his responsibility, and this is the wise course. But, for me, there is the question of the "move to the center" in his policies and cabinet picks. His surprising decision around the FISA bill was my first tip off that he was going to trade politics for principle without hesitation when he felt the necessity. That was a very unpleasant surprise. Hillary for Secretary of State - nice plum for her, hope it's right for the country. As time passes, I've grown more comfortable with it.

Some of the other cabinet and staff picks have been surprising (Rahm for Chief of Staff? Gupta for Surgeon General?), though a theme seems to be emerging: Barack understands that sometimes really smart generalists usually trump so-so careerists.

Might a public health expert be more appropriate for Surgeon General, or a real live spook at CIA? Only if their title means they are doing the work of the agency and, frankly, they won't be. They will lead these agencies and that is a very different kettle of fish.

The "progressive agenda" - health care, the environment, peace, education? We shall see.