GALLINGTON: The Clinton coup

A very clear-eyed, but cynical view of the next Administration's potential for Byzantine office politics. Let's all hope that Mr. Gallington is wrong on this, but, if he's called it right, then this is not change. It would be the same behind-the-throne palace politics that's been the toxic Washington drama/tragicomedy for decades now. The good news is that Bob Woodward would have plenty to right about in his next expose' book. I'll be praying for Obama --- given his experience level, the world's problems, the economy, and the nature of some of these personalities like the Clintons, he's going to need all the help he can get.

Mr. Gallington, Either your mother dropped you on your head as a baby or you just make this stuff up to entertain yourself. Joe Biden had his chance to be Obama's SOS, and turned it down in favor of being a VP with the understanding that he would be able to help in setting policy. Joe and Hillary have been friends for quite some time. It may well have been his idea to choose her for SOS, so there is not the rivalry you so luridly project. They will, in fact, make a great team! Perhaps you should take up writing cheap novels. They would be well suited to your style.

It's hard to perceive Obama acting unilaterally after stating he is a citizen of the world to Germany, committing to Clinton's internationalism and a weakened terrorism security advisor (Jones only served in Europe, never in the Middle East). Bill Clinton didn't even commit after the WTC, Khobar Towers, Embassies and USS Cole bombings. Afghanistan is not a unilateral arena even though the U.S. is carrying most of the load. Gates will keep his job long enough to maintain stability in Afghanistan and withdraw from both Iraq and Afghanistan, just like Somalia and Black Hawk Down (depends on how much political capital Obama is willing to expend on withdrawal). Obama only promised to remove the threat of terrorism, not terrorism itself. His focus in the "multipolar" world will be in protecting European and the U.S. interests while maintaining a legal U.N. perspective on terrorism. Clinton promised 100,000 new police officers on the street and nearly half were laptop computers. Beware of relative solutions to promises, masked by the need to see Obama succeed media.

Danie boy: Ok about the 'Clinton coup' joke! We can laugh! What about the Gates 20000 military force to keep the peace at home. DID YOU READ THE EDITORIAL OF YOUR NEWSPAPER...THE WASHINGTON TIMES!!!! The 'GATES COUP' is no joke man! This a threat to the freedom of the American People. CATO is smelling something fishy. And with all rotten mega-companies in Wall street and absence of punishment things will turn nasty. The streets will be dangerous for the 'financial thugs'. They will need protection. Read the editorial and tell us about your conclusions!