He said he would be foolish, at such a “critical time in our history”, to pick people who “had no experience in Washington whatsoever”? Yet he was just elected President by asking the American people to do just that. Please note how much time he spent in Washington B4 running 4 office. 6 months?

Gene, Keosauqua, US

To coin a new phrase: The more things "Change", the more they stay the same.

Who was the "We" in "Yes We Can", I don't think it was the American People.

Michael, Adelaide, Australia

Obama is going to try his best to "protect" our country, but in doing so, he's going to put us into a deeper recession and political nightmare.

We need to keep hoping that he's not powerful enough to do what he really promised... and vote him out in 4 years...

Matt, Littleton, USA

Clinton DID NOT give the US a balanced budget. The Republican Congress that we elected two years afer he came into ofice did. The President cannot balance the budget, Congress can.

That said, Clinton DID sign into laws several bills that have contributed HEAVILY to the current Economic meltdown.

Carla, San Diego, CA , USA

I think perhaps he may have bit off way more than he can chew. Liberals should only be in charge of singing and dancing, you know, the arts! He's over his head folks...

Stacie, Colorado, USA

The choice of Volcker is, all by itself, proof that Obama is simply another tool of the Oligarchy. So those on the right can at least take comfort that nothing much has changed, while those on the left can watch their leftist revolutionary hopes just get folded in to the same old rule by money.

Gian Paolo, Sakura,

To Deborah in London, England. Clinton never gave us a balanced buget. The media told us it was balanced, but the Office of Budget and Management reported just the opposite at the close of Mr. Clinton's regime.

A.L. Umphfres, Portland, OR, USA

Good to see there are other folks who see what is about happen-America has been "hood"winked by the stupid generation!

Viktor, Huntsville,

"Clinton gave us a balanced budget. That is something we could use again. "
Not true. The budget was only "balanced" with funds from Social Security which is the next catastrophe that will hit us.

Robert, NYC, USA

President Elect Obama is a smooth talker - and that is about it. We The People have to take what we get right now - and what we are getting is a mixed bag of strong personalities all proven to be power hungry politicians. Obama has no idea - he is way in over his head.

RAltiere, North Kingstown, RI, USA

There have been mounting concerns, particularly from the liberal wing of his Democratic Party, that Mr Obama has pivoted sharply to the centre-right with his choice of top Cabinet posts-

These people are "centre-right"? Good Grief!

Patrick , ny, usa

"Clinton gave us a balanced budget."-Deborah, london, england

I didn't know England was part of the U.S. What party was controlling the budgets in Congress during Clinton's balanced budget. Also look into the way the budget was reported. It was a different method used than usual.

Fabio, Milton,

How bout a president with no experience

Chris, fresh meadows,ny, usa

It's not whether or not you say that you say that you have not abandoned "Change". It's what the voters think or perceive of you, not what you tell us to think! We are the judge of what you do as to what you promised to do! We are keeping score.

Jon Pau, Geelong, Australia

Clinton gave us a balanced budget. That is something we could use again. If it takes listening to the advisors that gave that to the US then I say use them. Obama will make up his own mind I have no doubt..

Deborah, london, england

I think its a little disingenuous though for a guy who said "he wouldn't shuffle chairs" is now doing exactly that. Sure seems to me that both parties deserve a bunch of the blame for how things are currently going - people who haven't been poisoned by Washington are what we need there now.

Jeff, Gurnee, IL,

The same people who caused the US financial and political crisis are back in power - thanks to Obama, the figleaf.
Next? Deficit, inflation, hyperinflation, killed dollar, martial law, FEMA camps and coffins under Naopilitano/Arpaio and a war against Russia to "deal" with impoverished Americans.

pat, london,

What should we expect. Mr Obama had no idea beyond great promises on how to run a government. No wonder he picked those who had goverend before. some one has to guide him.

G. Tait, Houston, TX

You guys are all missing the point. CHANGE, as the president elect continues to prove, is about changing policies and leadership in d.c. Regardless of which GREAT minds he selects for important positions, it is the president elect's policies & vision which are being implemented.

Kyle, New York, USA

I reside outside the US, but as a citizen I elect to vote absentee. I have followed the primary and general election on SKYTV, which gives us CNN, FOX and BBC. All through the campaign we (the voters) kept hearing "no to Bush 3", isn't this starting to look like "Clinton

Dana Norris, Whakatane, New Zealand

Obama thinks it would be foolish at such a “critical time in our history”, to pick people who “had no experience in Washington whatsoever”. Duh! Why are you the exception Obama?

joe, Atlanta, USA

If you didn't laugh when he trotted out Joe Biden under the "Change" banner, you were not paying attention. Now it looks as if Mr. O. had no expectation of winning, and now he's got a bad case of "What do I do now???"

The USA bought a fake Rolex, and think they have a chronometer.

Bill W., Brooklyn, NY , USA

Amazing the same idiots who screwed this up ten years ago are the ones Nobama is adding to his staff and cabinet. Look up Glass-Steagill Act Repeal, that is what started this whole avalanche of economic issues. These "whiz kids" advised Clinton to repeal it and the ball of yarn started to unravel

Jim, Virginia Beach, usa

let me see if I have this correct,Carter Administration,double digit inflation,interest rate,unemployment,the triple double.Clinton Administration,high taxes,big spending,Government intrusion.Way to go Pres Elect

Phil Cares, Boston, Ma

Lets see now,,,, the day after the polls closed good ole NOBOMA took off ALL HIS PROMISES FROM HIS WEBSITE, well,,,,guess that was change one! Now since he has NO EXPERIENCE in anything but running COMMUNITY BAKE SALES he has put in the CLINTON cabinet to cover his lack of experience in defense!

Andrea, St. Augustine, USA

Change? It's looking more like a third Clinton term

RA Babin, Baton Rouge,

Gotta give ol Barry credit he's keeping hisself plastered in the media ,making it seem impossible for him to be rejected after he cannot show proof of natural born citizenship.So were either gonna trash him or the constitution when it all comes out.Now you know what Biden knew.

Donald Biggs, Ft. Myers, U S A soon to be N A U

"He said he would be foolish, at such a 'critical time in our history', to pick people who 'had no experience in Washington whatsoever.'”

Yeah, that's what I said about him during the election, and I'm glad to hear him, and apparently everyone else in the rest of these comments, admitting it.

Matthew, MD, USA

As I said all along , voting for Obama for "change " is like wearing a condom while shooting heroin for "protection"... its a JOKE at least a black man can be top corporate globalist stooge. Also as I said all along the only difference between Obama and Mccain is the set of lies they will give

Gabriel Melancon, New Orleans, LA, USA

You can't improve without changing, but you can surely change without improving...will be fun to watch.

Tom G., Texas, USA

I congratulate Obama on his apparent decision to keep Gates at Secretary of Defense so he can continue President Bush's surge and win in Iraq strategy.

MD, RSM,

There's nothing new here. I'm just waiting for "Well I tried as hard as I could but I just couldn't lower your taxes so I'm going to have to raise them".

John, Grand Rapids, MI, USA

Let the I told you so remarks begin.

Jessica, El Paso, Texas, USA

Obama need to hire insiders to compensate for his inexperience. At the current mess we are in, It is better to have old insider with experience rather new inexperience people who will be making a bigger mess.

Julie, sterling, USA

President Elect Barack Obama is a politician, and a very good one, therefore the only 'change' you are going to get is a 'change' from the promises he made to get elected.
They are all the same, even Lincoln gave different speeches based on how far south he was in Illinois.

Norman , Bristol,

AAaahhhh, the sweet breath of 'change'.....Welcome to the same-o, same-o, Clin-toon era...B.O. is a tele-promp-ter "Nu-Socialist...you know,PM Brown type...He'll sell out the U S of A,the 'draft dodger'......The 52% who voted for B.O....will be whistling a different toon in FEB '09..Chicago thug..

MrTim, san marcos , U S of A

A politician lied during a campaign? I'm shocked.

Eric, park city, usa

ahh nothing like double digit intrest rate numbers in the carter years. Just imagine paying 18% on your $500,000 house now. Change is true, change the republicans for demacrates. What Im suprised so far is that he hasn't picked erik Schmidt(google) for his cabnet. God I hope this lasts four years

josh, grand terrace, CA, USA

Look at the spinmeisters on the left!! McCain said Democrats couldn't be trusted with defense, and Obama agreed by keeping Gates on!!! The left bought the "extreme left characature", and they are coming unglued!!

Change we need!!!

Joe, Chicago, IL, USA

I think it is funny to listen to the democrats try and explain away, or redefine, the whole "change" campaign that Obama ran under.
It's okay to criticize Bush, but apparently not okay to criticize Obama for his picks. He needs all the old insiders. He doesn't know what he is doing yet.

Matt, New Albany, USA

The main point here people is he promiszed change and all we're getting are the same'o faces. Change in my mind is maybe hire some CEO's that have made great capital out of a company that sank, maybe some economic prefessionals out of the beltway. Politics as usual in my mind.

Matt, Mesa,

The elite wins again.
They are very busy destroying the dollar so they can build a one-world government...
O, yes, by the way the elite will want to be in charge of this new world order - they're doing it all for the workers and the children and the poor.

Hanno Kondyke, Amsterdam, NL

I basically like Obama and have confidence in his ability and basic attention to the public interest, however: the very fact he has to respond to this sort of criticism is an indication of a problem.

Neil B, Newport News, USA

Let the Obama back peddling begin. Rationalize it any way you want, Obama spent months preaching to the sheeple that a Hillary win would mean a return to the Clinton White House. Well, that's what you've got. Congress and the White House will give the libs no one to blame but themselves.

Ted, New York, USA

I dont think any reasonable person who voted for Obama is too surprised by these appointments. First off, none of us bought the "extreme-left" characature painted by the the Republicans about Obama. Secondly, who do you expect him to fill his staff with, Albanaian anarchists?

dave, asheville, usa

I can change the way I walk without changing my socks and shoes. I don't get what all the fuss is about. Some people just can't help belly-aching, it's their nature. Give Obama a chance, folks -- if he doesn't know what he's doing, we'll find out. But it's too early now.

Daniel J. Houghton, New York City, USA

To those who are criticizing his choices, should he pick people that have never served under any president? I mean, what is acceptable?

Jeff, Sacramento, California, USA

ah, he's doing a Bliar, no real surprise there-now all he needs is another war

peter c, Devizes, Wessex

Change we need - just not what you need. Anyone really fall for this one? We're all delighted to see the back of the Re$ublican party for the next four years; but does anyone seriously expect to wake up in a free society tomorrow? Not really. Its just better than the wakko 'alternative'.

Chris, Nottingham,

Moveon.org suggested that it was very disappointed that Obama considered the laws of thermodynamics to still be relevant to the modern world. "We thought that this would be a fresh start, and that all the old rules would be torn up. That Obama goes as far as to respect gravity is distressing to us"

Nick, Rotherham, UK

Would be very disappointing if he effectively chose Hilary Clinton as Secretary of Sate... Colin Powell would be a better choice in my view. Same old, same old (where is the change if you appoint yet another Clinton?).

Jacynthe Chagnon, Richelieu, Quebec , Canada

Ummm.... After voting for BO, I'd like to request a do-over. If this is BO's idea of "change," I'd hate to see what "more of the same" looks like.

Tracy, Dallas, TX, USA

Before people start saying he's selling out. We have to consider this, radical new ideas on their own are unlikely to sway either house, but if it comes from respected figures people are more likely to listen. You need to balance new with old so that it doesn't make the old hands feel threatened.

Tim Hamilton, Chatham,