Regardless of whether you were elated, irritated, or apathetic, you can agree that this election was epic.
With the drama of the Republican primaries and President-elect Barack Obama's crushing electoral victory, this election had something for everybody and was electrifying to watch.
As the U.S. and the world turn their collective attention to issues such as the slumping global economy and worldwide terrorist attacks, they are putting the most crucial part of the transition from President George W. Bush to Obama on the back burner: the appointment of White House staff and Cabinet positions.
The real legwork of any administration comes in these appointments. President Ronald Reagan was noted for his effective use of White House advisers and staff positions, while President Abraham Lincoln surrounded himself with rivals and political outsiders. So far, Obama has been extremely effective across the board with his appointments.
To begin, Obama announced Illinois Rep. Rahm Emmanuel as his choice for White House chief of staff. A cutthroat and experienced politician, Emmanuel will not only be able to rally the legislative branch to work effectively with an Obama administration, but he has political experience as a U.S. representative and is a former adviser to President Bill Clinton.
When it comes to national defense, Obama has decided to shake things up by not changing anything. Obama is sticking with Bush-appointed Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
Not only does this show that Obama is willing to cross the aisle, it also shows he believes in Gates' handling of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Regarding the economic crisis, Timothy Geithner, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, will lead the recovery team as he has been officially nominated treasury secretary.
Politicians across the spectrum have acknowledged Geithner for his experience and steady hand. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is reported to have accepted the position of commerce secretary, a position where Richardson's experience would be hard to rival.
The secretary of state office will be filled by another high-profile name. Obama and his top presidential primary rival, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, have reached an agreement to have Clinton serve as the country's international ambassador, or secretary of state.
Although she is perceived as more hawkish than Obama, Clinton's international stature should help restore America's goodwill and shore up relations with key allies around the world.
The only potential weak link in Obama's appointments lies with Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano for the Department of Homeland Security director. Although Napolitano has law enforcement experience as a state attorney general, she has little counter-terrorism experience.
Even though his staff choices have been solid thus far, Obama will need more than the right personnel to follow through on his guarantee of change. If he combines the right people with the right policy choices, Obama just might get us out of the red.
On the whole, Obama's Cabinet and White House staff should increase the effectiveness of his administration as he navigates the U.S. through a hostile world and a devastating financial crisis.
Kyle Robisch is a political science and economics sopho
