"Obama's Cabinet...The Best Since George Washington's First Cabinet?"

A Presidential historian once said George Washington’s first cabinet of Adams, Vice President; Knox, Secretary of War; Jefferson, Secretary of State; and my personal favorite Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of Treasury and the Father of the Federal Banking system, were the best ever, and all cabinets since were likened to a “pick-up team.”

As I watched with great anticipation of Obama’s assembling of his cabinet, I found it with a mixture of approval and “worried curiosity.” Here is how I grade his choices.

Hillary Clinton (Secretary of State) - This is a wise choice…if not a safe choice. Make no mistake--18 million supporters will always be a deciding factor in the President-elect choosing a cabinet member for this position. Clinton has the experience and is respected by world leaders and will be greatly depended upon in restoring America’s image…which will take at least two terms. Grade: B.

Robert Gates (Secretary of Defense) - Anyone who is/was associated with the Bush administration should not have been chosen for any position in the Obama administration—including the custodial engineer! Although Mr. Gates came much later to the administration and has had differences with Mr. Bush, he still worked for him, and we—America--cannot afford him. Unfortunately, Mr. Gates is guilty by association. America has to clean up its image after a “horrific” Bush administration. Grade: F-

Timothy Geithner (Secretary of Treasury) - Mr. Geithner has an outstanding pedigree as an Economist who gets things done. I would have chosen Paul Krugman, the 2008 Nobel Laureate for Economics, because he thinks “outside the box” of economics. I believe Krugman has a plan that will not only get our country out of the current fiscal crisis--but also provide a “blue print” on how to never repeat the economic mistakes. “Pure Hamilton.” Grade: B+ Arne Duncan (Secretary of Education) - This is a very disappointing pick! Although Mr. Duncan has the experience, he lacks “innovative insight” to repair our country’s inferior schools. My choices would have been Michelle Rhee, Washington, D.C.’s “no nonsense” school superintendent and Linda Darling Hammond whom I believe has the ingenuity, brilliance and capacity that is required to lead the post of Secretary of Education. This post has been occupied by individuals whose knowledge on improving America’s education system is “archaic and slow-witted” at best as attested to by the “No Child Left behind” act. Grade: F

Rick Warren is quite possibly the worst person President-elect Obama could have chosen for the invocation for his inauguration. If Mr. Warren, why not Jeremiah Wright? Father Fleagal? If he is a great supporter of the Gay and Lesbian community, why not invite someone from the religious sector? Grade: F-

President-elect Obama has completed filling his cabinet and he will succeed or fail with them. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt and hope that as the new leader of our country, he will be able to inspire the deficiencies of his cabinet members who need to step up to the plate. For those who are already on the plate, hopefully he can inspire them to reach the ceiling. George Washington’s first cabinet will never be duplicated and how could it be? Several of his staff went on to be successful U.S. Presidents. Yes! Adams had his moments of greatness as President.

At best, Obama’s only cabinet member who might become President is Clinton, but that shouldn’t stop the others from trying to achieve a place in history that can mirror the cabinet of Washington and mark their place in American history for generations to come.