My Take: Obama's Centrist Moves

As Obama stopped campaigning, and started getting down to the business of running the country (I mean, someone has to...) it's become somewhat obvious he's not quite the socialist, nationalizing commie he's been made out to be by the right wing.

Likewise, he's not quite the champion of the progressive movement who will bring peace and happiness to all, as the left wing has promised.

To me, that's a damned good thing. My rule of thumb is when the extreme ends of the spectrum are BOTH mad at you, you're smack dab where you want to be.

I've been watching the nominations and the leaks of nominations. I've listened to the news conferences, and the analysis of those conferences. And all this seems to be adding up to is the man is making some calculated steps in the direction of sound governance.

I know, it's been such a foreign concept for the last decade. While it's a little annoying ("What do you mean, he's not promising to shut down Gitmo by February???") it's also the sign of a mature mind. You can't argue very well against the desire to have something in place before knocking down the old regime.

Really, I think all we can expect from Obama right now is to set up a solid, well rounded team...and to tackle this pesky economic crisis. Really, that's all we should have on our minds right now, because unless our house is in order...we can't even think about landscaping the lawn.

I can wait for Gitmo to be closed. I can wait for education reform. I can wait for taxes to be made sensible again. I can wait for healthcare and social security to be worked out. Because you need the little things, before the bigger things. Obama seems to understand that very clearly, and is setting up people who think the same way.

And really, that's how a moderate works. That's how someone who thinks about the issues operates. So all in all, I feel quite good.

And that's more than enough rambling for this Tuesday. You folks have fun.