Obama's Cabinet top choice

By deliberate vetting of prospective appointees, President-elect Barack Obama has been very choosy in picking his Cabinet and inner circle. Well, it's only proper considering the multifarious problems that the neophyte president will face as his baptism under fire.

The rigors and ordeals in the campaign for party nomination from the state primaries up to the final party countdown against strong rival in NY Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton - with Bill Clinton thrown in - was a real test to Obama's political mettle. And he passed it with flying colors.

That Obama's short senatorial experience appears inadequate as the crux issue against him as of no effect during the Democratic nomination campaign and in the electoral faceoff with Senator John McCain, is nevertheless more relevant now upon his presidential victory.

The foremost issue, "It's the economy, stupid" that hounded then Pres. Bill Clinton in his reelection bid, is what Barack Obama has to address pronto. His "economy team" has to be chosen most carefully considering, inter alia, that multi-billion dollars in bailouts and similar credit rescue remedies have so far not been able to stem the fiscal crisis.

Other titanic problems, just to name at random, are the worsening effects and continuing inevitability of the earth's climate change; the volatile supply and demand ramifications, particularly on crude oil pricing; the necessity of alternative sources of energy; the delicate world peace and security, such as, the touchy and tacky situations in many global fronts; and the continuing threats of terrorism everywhere. There are still many more universal concerns that America has to get involved in, not just to act as policeman of the world.

He has made good his word that should he make it through, he'd tap talents and experts from all sides regardless of political leanings. Hence, except for a few remaining slots, Obama has just finalized what the media dubbed as the "rivals" lineup.

Obama crossed party lines in calling on his nomination rival, 2-termer US Senator Hillary Clinton representing New York State for the premier Cabinet post of Secretary of the State, now occupied by Condoleezza Rice. And Obama's transition team has vetted a lot from the "rivals" side for appointment; hence, the "rival's" lineup coinage.

There's no question that Hillary Clinton is the gem appointee based on her sterling qualifications and experience. She's a competent and brilliant lawyer, 2-termer US Senator, former First Lady who didn't just spend 8 years in the White House ruling the social roost, but on actual governance and hands-on national and international relations, and on-the-job experience on Washington affairs including legislation, among others.

Hillary is prepared to face stupendous issues on diplomacy and foreign relations. At random now… Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a perennial nuclear thorny threat; ailing Kim Jong Il of North Korea is a psycho trigger-happy case; the abusive Somalian pirates have long needed to walk the long plank; Israel and her neighbors esp. the Palestinians are a hair-breadth apart in choking one another; Russia is poised for an excuse to resurrect its lost hegemony; the Afghanistan-Pakistan-India-Kashmir frequent skirmishes are getting worse; giant China has long been aroused from its slumber and, thumbing down its neighbors, like Tibet and Nepal, etc., ad infinitum, ad nauseam…

These are just examples that the "ne plus ultra" - the highest degree - in diplomacy and foreign relations expertise may even be inadequate due to sheer numbers and gravity. The past exploits and experience that Hillary has gone through, including those she graphically memoired in her autobio "Living History" could be just a collective prequel of what is required of her while heading the State Department under Barack Obama. One thing in Hillary's favor is the assurance of Obama that she will have a direct access to him.