CQ Politics' Web Picks

New York Times: National Security Pick - From a Marine to a Mediator

A 6-foot-5 Marine Corps commandant with the looks of John Wayne, General Jones is not given to talking about his political bent, be it Republican or Democrat. And yet, he is Mr. Obama's choice for national security adviser, a job that will make him the main foreign policy sounding board and sage to a president with relatively little foreign policy experience.

Wall Street Journal: Hillary of State

One rule of employee relations? Never hire someone you can't afford to fire. Barack Obama's offer to let Hillary Clinton be secretary of state has already been marked down as a brilliant co-option of his former rival. But nothing comes for free, and the question is just how big a price Mr. Obama will pay in the end.

Los Angeles Times: Liberal Groups See Welcome Mat in Washington

For years, progressive groups and their causes have been in the political wilderness. Now, with Barack Obama preparing to take the White House and Democrats tightening their hold on Congress, the party's liberal constituencies can see their way to a promised land.

Daily Beast: Grandma-in-Chief

Marian Robinson, Michelle Obama's 71-year-old mother, is moving to Washington to help make the transition smoother for her grandchildren. The timing seems right for an iconic American family that depends on a granny rather than a nanny. In the last few years of exhaustion and economic downturn, there has been a shift away from thinking that floors will mop themselves or that moms can really effortlessly whip up 30-minute gourmet meals after a long day at the office.

Harrisburg Patriot -News: 'Hardball' Host Still Testing Waters for 2010 Senate Run

Chris Matthews, the host of MSNBC's "Hardball," isn't ready to say he's running for the U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania, but he continues to talk with top Democrats about the possibility.

Chicago Tribune: Some See God's Will in Obama Win

The mere fact that he won the presidency against the odds has caused some Christians, particularly African-Americans, to see the hand of God in his victory after so many years of struggle. The civil rights movement, born in the churches, was disrupted with the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. Many have found a spiritual cause in Obama. In their view, he is a unifying figure who will further King's dream by uniting the world and restoring economic security during a time of financial distress.

New Republic: Barack H.W. Obama

In electing Barack Obama, the country traded the foreign policy of the second President Bush for the foreign policy of the first President Bush.

Weekly Standard: The Obama Jolt - Is He a Secret Centrist?

It's not that Obama, despite his unswervingly liberal record in the Senate, turns out to be a pragmatist. The point is he's pragmatic (so far) in one direction-rightward. Who knew?