The Powers of the Potomac

The Plank's Michael Crowley, with a dime from Ben Smith at Poltico, points out that a big chunk of Obama's likely cabinet know how to handle the rock.

Jones played forward at Georgetown. Geithner reportedly likes himself a good pickup game. And the Times says Eric Holder was once known, impressively, for his 'easy dunk.' Susan Rice, too!

With Obama, that's a solid starting five. Still, they'd do well to recruit Mayor-elect Kevin Johnson to help run the floor at their local YMCA. I doubt, though, Obama's keeping open a spot for Sarah Barracuda.   

(Via Yglesias)

HRC as Secretary of State?

The rumors persist. Obama is a shrewd politician, and everything he touches, with a few exceptions, seemingly turns to gold. He clearly knows what he’s doing and he has certainly earned our trust. My preference would be for Clinton, a preternatural wonk, to take a second crack at fixing health care, but Obama seems to like Max Baucus for that particular gig. 

If Obama thinks Clinton, who famously voted to authorize the use of force in Iraq, is the right person for this particular job at this particular moment in time, I'll gladly yield to his experience and judgment. I trust him to make sound decisions. That is, after all, one of the primary reasons I voted for him. 

Still, this particular decision requires an even greater leap of faith than I've previously taken.