A Bumpy Start

The media, whether print, radio and above all tv think their raison d'etre is to critcize, be negative and sow doubt in the mind of the public. When there is really not much to criticize they start nitpicking. It is a minor thing that the Obama people underestimated the NM investigation. It does not reflect on Obama that the governor of Illinois has alledgedly engaged in crooked politics.
I am glad that the new Democratic Congress is not rubberstamping the Democratic President-ELECT "s programs without analyzing it and voicing a different opinion on some items. That is what they are here for.
I am sure Obama will make some real mistakes once he is President. Why don't you hold your fire until then? Constantly looking for and harping on small mnatters makes all you commentators look petty and irrelevant.

You could try an inspirational article based on reality how everyone has been getting along so well on both side.
Read team of rivals for some excitement...I am still at it, its a long book.

No problem, Fineman this is just the beginning, I am sure he can handle it.I am worried about the economy not the petty little politics game..that will stay with us for ever.
Look at the president response...I think the only people in a frenzy are the pundits and writers of magazine articles.

Petty-picking. Give him TIME! Obama has said things will get worse before they get better, so back off for awhile awready!

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Rocky start???? C'mon....this is pretty petty! If this is rocky, I'd have to say that i hope his whole Presidency goes this bad!!! Nothing is ever completely smooth. In this time of global upheaval and unprecedented problems, can we really hope for a more smooth transition. Folks, its gonna get worse before it gets better. Let's focus on what needs to get done and not get caught up in all the drama.

Yes We Can!!!

technically the start doesn't officially occure until the inaugural oath is taken. So to be correct your article would have to be called "a bumpy pre-start!"

Obama should expect the same support and respectful treatment that the demmies gave President Bush, no more, no less.

Scary isn't it?

Now Harley calls me an idiot.....that's what happens when you don't see eye to eye with a radical left wing liberal like Harley.

Are you really saying it's Phil Gramm? Really? Come on Harley, get off the chopper and read some current reports (within the last 6 months or so would be good) Look up Barney Frank and subprime loans alone-WSJ and NYT both reported his culpability.

And all you can say is Gramm?

I totally disagree with your comments. I think Obama has done a tremendous job during this transition period.. He has picked smart, centrist people for his cabinet and has shown good wisdom.. I'm not the only one saying this since 80% of the American people approve of the job he's doing.. and of those 61% of Republicans themselves. We need to start focusing on solving the tremendous problems that he has inherited and not criticize evey minutiae ... So let Burris in .. he has to get reelected in 2 years.. so good luck on that one.. as fat as Panetta well at keast he's not tainted like those "intelligence professionals" .. remember the CIA prisons in Europe? oh too far ago.. ahhh what about Guantanoma still existing?Continue the good job Barack... we should all be there as Americans to stop the bickering and to get something done for once

I totally disagree with your comments. I think Obama has done a tremendous job during this transition period.. He has picked smart, centrist people for his cabinet and has shown good wisdom.. I'm not the only one saying this since 80% of the American people approve of the job he's doing.. and of those 61% of Republicans themselves. We need to start focusing on solving the tremendous problems that he has inherited and not criticize evey minutiae ... So let Burris in .. he has to get reelected in 2 years.. so good luck on that one.. as fat as Panetta well at keast he's not tainted like those "intelligence professionals" .. remember the CIA prisons in Europe? oh too far ago.. ahhh what about Guantanoma still existing?Continue the good job Barack... we should all be there as Americans to stop the bickering and to get something done for once

Obama should eliminate the intelligence communities.. Or at least most of them. There are some 12 to 16 intelligence gathering agencies with an unknown number of employees, who make an untold amount of money that continues to add onto the federal defecit. And perhaps all of these unknowns would be worth it, if 9/11 had been stopped, or Osama Bin Laden had been captured, or if the army soldiers who pulled Saddam Huissein out of his hole, had been CIA officials instead!

But lets be real here. The intelligence agencies have now become a threat from within! Meaning they are acting less and less in the interests of the American people and more in the interest of themselves in perserving their own once respected agencies! My proof of this is the mere fact that they engaged in illegal data mining of American citizens! Such agencies should have realized the true threat to national security is a shadow government that reports to few and is held accountable to none!

Obama should eliminate the intelligence communities.. Or at least most of them. There are some 12 to 16 intelligence gathering agencies with an unknown number of employees, who make an untold amount of money that continues to add onto the federal defecit. And perhaps all of these unknowns would be worth it, if 9/11 had been stopped, or Osama Bin Laden had been captured, or if the army soldiers who pulled Saddam Huissein out of his hole, had been CIA officials instead!

But lets be real here. The intelligence agencies have now become a threat from within! Meaning they are acting less and less in the interests of the American people and more in the interest of themselves in perserving their own once respected agencies! My proof of this is the mere fact that they engaged in illegal data mining of American citizens! Such agencies should have realized the true threat to national security is a shadow government that reports to few and is held accountable to none!

I totally disagree with your comments about Barack Obama.. I think he has done a tremendous jo during this transition period.. and I'm not alone in thinking that way.. 80 % of the American people think he's doing a good job .. and 61% of Republicans themselves.. I think it's about time that we try to criticize every move someone makes that is inheriting tremendous problem and looking at minutiae to have something to write... so let Burris have a seat in the Senate... He's going to have to get re-elected anyways.. so good luck then.. and at least Panetta is not tainted with the supposedly experienced intelligence professionals.. Do we all remember the prisons in Europe and yes .. oh yes still there Guantanamo.. Keep up the good work Barack!

Howard, I note with amusement that people who write in caps and talk about BIBLE PROPHECY!!!, and people who sign off, "red-neck from Iowa" seem to agree with you.

There is another thread here to which you should pay closer attention. Seems a lot of the brighter (perhaps younger?) bulbs commenting today think you are getting old and sloppy.

I, too, resent a slobbering old dude who pees on my shoes and claims it is raining.

Retire and write a memoir while you still can.

Give me a break. Obama said that appointing Burris was a "Senate matter", and it is. This does not make him look weak. Your estimation of Dianne Feinstein is also incorrect. As everyone already knows, the appointment has to stand because Blagojevich made it before he could be impeached. Don't be such a drama queen, Fineman! Give the man a chance to get some things done.

ah the rhetoric now ends. Lets see some action to back up all the big talk and flowery promises. so far it doesnt seem to be a fullfillment of the 'change" promise only more of the same. The panetta pick does not seem wise at this time. This is a job which seems to require experience unlike the office of the President which needs none it appears.