ANOTHER BUSTED APPOINTMENT: Sanjay Gupta withdraws name for Sugeon General.
But wait, there’s more: Geithner’s choice for deputy secretary withdraws.
UPDATE: Ouch: “That makes … how many appointments to fail in the Greatest Transition Evah?” I’ve lost count. This morning, I forgot Zinni. It’s gotten so you can’t remember all the transition screw-ups without a cheatsheet.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Reader Thomas Prewitt writes: “I am struggling to identify any area in which Obama has demonstrated competence since he became president. Seriously can you name one? Hell, he can’t even speak without using a teleprompter.” Hmm. Ending the medical marijuana raids was a good idea, but that’s not really about competence. Anybody got a suggestion?
MORE: Reader Fred Butzen writes:
Normally, I’d rather damn Obama than praise him. But since you ask, I think he’s shown a degree of competence in managing the war in Iraq. Retaining Gates, and maintaining continuity with the Bush administration policies that were working. He had to make a show of setting a deadline, I guess to keep his supporters happy, but he eased under the bus the “mad dash for the exits” strategy that he had trumpeted during the campaign.
Obama could have shown just a smidgen of grace and made a nod in the direction of his predecessor, who, despite the unwavering opposition of people like Senator Barack Obama, managed to pull victory from the jaws of defeat; but Barry doesn’t do magnanimity.
Nope, that’s the “graciousness deficit.” Born of insecurity, I’d say. But, yeah, he’s been better than I expected on Iraq.