From The Hotline for Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009

And He Shall Be Leon

Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009


It's the story everyone has been waiting for: Team Obama, impervious to serious mistakes, finds life more difficult in the real world. No matter how long the questionnaire, or transparent the process, or disciplined the staff, mistakes will be made and controversies will erupt. But, the true test for Pres.-elect Obama's momentum is not whether he will avoid any more pitfalls, but how effectively he responds when they occur.

-- Given the reception Obama got 1/5 at the Capitol, this is a guy who doesn't beg anyone to be his friend. Won't any early bumps be smoothed over if he can pass a stimulus bill after just a couple weeks in office by a big margin.

-- Meanwhile, who'd have thought that Leon Panetta could end up as the most controversial pick? The netroots, who spent much of last summer criticizing Obama's vote on warrantless wiretapping, like the choice, but Feinstein and Rockefeller want someone with some more intel experience. Obama's been quick to back down from other fights. Just how uncomfortable will he let the Panetta situation get?

-- Speaking of controversy, just how much longer can the Burris sideshow continue? That Reid backed away from seating Franken -- and thus avoided the "double standard" argument made by GOPers -- suggests he's willing to dig in on Burris, at least for now.

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