With Malice Towards None...

Two items for the day.

First, Hillary Clinton is likely to be (has already been?) offered the job of Secretary of State in Obama's administration. By all accounts, there are no anticipated hiccups in vetting, and she is inclined to accept the offer.

Yes, this is the same First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton who had such a contentious primary battle with Obama. I think it's a very prominent position, and I'm actually pretty excited about the choice.

I think that she can probably do a lot more there than she could've as Vice President, anyhow.

It also means that Obama has a willingness and a personal security to bury the hatchet and bring people on board based on their merits, and not biased by superfluous factors like a past campaign.

Item number two is the reports out that Sen. Lieberman will likely retain his seat in the Democratic Caucus as well as his chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee.

I think it's safe to say that a not-so-small portion of the Democratic Caucus wanted Lieberman's head to roll. The fact that it will not, I think it's also safe to say, is due in large part to the subtle hints dropped by the President-elect and his surrogates.

I can't be certain why the Democrats fell in line. But I think it bodes well for the kind of clout Obama can reasonably expect to wield when he assumes office for real.

More importantly, while it's true that the Democrats don't need Lieberman anymore to pass legislation, they aren't at the fillibuster proof mark yet, so every friendly senator helps. Moreover, if anyone thinks that Lieberman doesn't know that Obama sent an olive branch when he could have by rights had him crucified, they are fooling themselves. I think if Lieberman has half a brain, he knows that he's now more beholden to Obama than 90% of the rest of the Congress. And beyond feeling indebted, I think Lieberman, like myself, will admire the strength of character in a man who reaches out to those who have formerly fought (diligently) against him.

"With malice toward none, with charity for all, ...let us strive on to finish the work we are in, ...to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."

"Yes We Can."