Reply #19: Obama has had to build a bench

[nbsmom]

Notice how he's really sticking all of these "Clinton leftovers" in right now?

It is arguable that any of them would have been first choice in a less turbulent environment. Nobody could possibly be lovin' them some Summers or Geithner. But they are, to some extent, battle tested and for that reason alone I think we should cut the Administration some slack. Can you think of one single initiative that the Bush administration had pulled off at Day 60 in office?

And, pray tell, why should Obama put an untested person (like, say, Goolsbee) in a high-profile spot right now? WHOEVER is in the job is going to crash and burn to some extent. Summer and Geithner, on the other hand, have actually done this before, and may even still remember where (some of) the bodies are buried. Meanwhile, Goolsbee and the like can learn and watch and be ready to step up when this crowd says, "Screw it. There is no amount of money you can pay me to keep taking this crap."