Team of rivals, my arse.

I want to kick every writer who calls Obama's emerging cabinet a "team of rivals"

in the shin...

hard...

...but I won't...

I promise...

This simply is not the case so far.

I am not an expert on Lincoln's Presidency - though I probably know more than most voters, which is hardly bragging - or hard. Nor have I read Doris Kearns Goodwin's book about Lincoln called "Team of Rivals". That said the "rivals" Obama has appointed include much of the previous Democratic administration, Senator Clinton, who is hardly an ideological opponent, Governor Napolitano, a vocal supporter all year, A Carter appointee, and one Republican. Whoop Dee Do. Reagan made his main primary opponent Vice President - no one said he had a "team of rivals". Nixon had a Democrat in his cabinet, as did Reagan and Bush 2.

The desperate need to graft past icons onto Obama is silly and pathetic. My take so far is that Obama is not inviting spirited debate so he can see all sides and then "stop the buck" with a decision. He is hiring a bunch of folks who will make him look good.

Finally dancing between Lincoln, JFK, and Jesus as apt comparisons to BHO is stupid. I see no civil war breaking out before the inauguration. I find no place in Obama's life in which he demonstrated the courage that comes from having one's life threatened in war - google JFK/PT 109 for background here. As for Jesus...these little verbal and visual (see Time) allusions that elevate Obama to messiah like status should be met with revulsion by the religious and the secular humanists alike. Choose your reasons: You are a Christian and find it offensive or you are a small r republican and believe kings, queens, figureheads, and cult leaders have no business being head of state. In the United States, we don't DO kings.

Yet.

P.S. The Lincoln/JFK/Jesus comparisons are also sick - for reasons that should be apparent. Barring impeachment and removal (or revelations about his birthplace) I want Mr. Obama around for 4 years. We might actually have the pleasure of seeing the media challenge him.