Three positions yet to be filled. Tom Dashle for Health & Health Services and Dr. Chu for Energy sounds really good to me. As far as Education goes, I would like to see him reach out as well. So far – excellent choices.

no,no we need someone with a great smile and connections to "push things through". . . what does a N. L. Physicist know about bringing our country into unknown future technologies?! No, we need a slick talking politician who cares more about poll numbers that physics.

An inspired choice.

Way to undercut the choice with anonymous sources that have no accountability for the smear. Why do you always have to push the idea that Democrats fight amongst themselves?

Some CNN.com readers say that CNN has crappy reporting.

It's a great pick. Too bad you can't report it well.

Chu won a Nobel Prize in Physics in 1997 for trapping atoms with lasers. I'm not exactly sure how this qualifies him to be the front man on energy research, since some of the ideas he suggests are sort of concerning. For instance, in one talk on alternative forms of energy the nuclear physicist not once mentioned type IV nuclear reactors. He's also been a strong proponent of CORN-based ethanol, which basically every energy scientist agrees is a bad idea (ethanol is a good idea, but CORN is too water and energy intensive to grow).

There's this idea that just because someone is a scientist, they are knowledgeable in all areas of science. However, at the top the knowledge-base is actually remarkably narrow. There are some great energy scientists out there (mostly chemists, biochemists, and materials engineers), but Chu did not make his name in this field. He made his name in nuclear and particle physics, which USES lots of energy, but is not energy science.

I will agree that he is a better choice than, say, the CEO of Exxon or maybe even some of the politicians out there. But I don't think he's the best choice if he was only picked because he was a scientist.

We need the smartest, most able people to do these jobs, and we need FEWER Washington insiders on both sides of the aisle. Keep in mind that these insiders will be threatened BIG TIME by the outsiders and will do whatever they can to keep their power. Any guesses as to WHO had the "concern" about Chu? Insiders.

We need Chu and others like him. With few exceptions (mostly party hacks) the vast vast majority of Americans want to do what's right for the country, NOT just what's right for their political party and power. We need many more people like Chu, not less.

If you'll reflect back on previous blogs from the past year (and even going forward) I think you'll find plenty of pissiness, bile and venom on both sides of the political aisle. There are just as many juvenile, mean-spirited Dems as there are Repubs. We need to bury the hatchet and start working together.

So far, I like what he's doing. He should pick a few more Republicans as well, but think about it...he's picking the best people, not just political hacks.

I personally don't like his stance on some issues (e.g., gun control, etc.) but if you think about it, isn't what he's doing what most of us always envisioned a President as doing? Picking the best people for the jobs, governing from the middle, recognizing that we all have to work together, etc.

It's easy to be jaded, but think about this. What would people's reactions be if the "ideal" President came along? Most people are so cynical that we'd never give the person a chance. I think we need to a) work together and stop being so pissy, b) recognize we can't always get our way–that America needs to be about compromise vs. always getting "our way", and c) give Obama a chance.

If you've read Tom Clancy's "Executive Decision" (I think that's the one), you'll note that when Jack Ryan became President, the Washington insiders on both sides couldn't stand it when he was just being a high integrity guy, and they tried to barbeque him for it. Let's not let the same thing happen in real life.

Thus far, I couldn't ask him to be doing anything better than what he is.

Dr. Chu is a brilliant man, and will serve with honour and distinction.

Perhaps BP understands climate change and peak oil makes it a good idea to diversify into alternatives. Hopefully Exxon/Mobil will get it as well.

Thank you, Pres Elect

On the biology side: Folks, evolution is nothing to be afraid of. It has nothing to do with religion or God. Nothing in biology makes sense without evolution as a core concept. No cures for cancer without being guided by the central concepts of evolution. God bless science, God bless evolution.