DEFINE A REPUBLICAN

Posted at 7:03 a.m. ET

Mr. Obama announces his intentions regarding his cabinet:

SUNRISE, Florida (Reuters) - U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Wednesday he would include Republicans in his Cabinet if he wins the election.

That's what I was afraid of.  It may sound "bipartisan" to say you want Republicans in your cabinet, but how do you define Republican?  It really depends on the issue.  My fear is that Obama, if elected, will name someone like Chuck Hagel to a key foreign-policy post.   In terms of his views, that's like naming George McGovern.

"I'm not going to get into details," Obama said, but he added that national security policy, in particular, should be nonpartisan.

Other people mentioned as possible defense secretary picks in an Obama administration include former Navy Secretary Richard Danzig and Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Republican senator from Nebraska.

Whoops.  There's the golden name.  Hagel.  Another name floated is Richard Lugar of Indiana.  Lugar, like Hagel is no Republican on foreign policy.  He's one of the Senate's great marshmallows, not someone you send into battle against foreign enemies.

Be careful of "bipartisanship."  Some of the bi's were never Republican partisans.

Some analysts have speculated that during the transition period between November 4 and January 20, when a successor to President George W. Bush will take office, the new president-elect would move quickly to fill key jobs such as Treasury Secretary, Defense Secretary and Secretary of State. 

That will be the first test of the media in covering an Obama presidency.  If Obama names RINOs (Republicans in Name Only), will the media call him on it, or praise his willingness to "cross the aisle" to get talent. 

Also, be wary of the pick for attorney general.  He or she will be a key figure in deciding whether to continue investigations already begun into ACORN, and whether to resist leftist demands to conduct endless probes into the Bush administration.

Let's hope there's an upset next Tuesday, and we don't have to worry about this.

October 30, 2008.