Please remember that Obama's mantra throughout the campaign was change, change, change. But without, at that point, a lot of specificity as to what was to be changed, in what manner. And I think it would have been counterproductive for the campaign to be too specific.

But ONE of the things that was referred to was the patent necessity to tone down the endemic polarization of our national life and political thought and action.

It is clear to me that he's emphatically engaged in that activity. His choices for the cabinet plainly have that in mind, finding an effective and appropriate individual for each office, but with an eye toward displaying that important decisions are to be made on merit, on what (and who) works, rather than combative parochial ideological bases.

The choice of Warren for this function seems to be a part of that picture. The religious far right aren't likely to provide very many effectives for his policy purposes, but where it is possible to extend an olive branch he does so, and no one is harmed thereby. And I say Hooray!

Dave Oesterreich