PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA, WHAT IS GOING ON?

Icheokudotcom is a fan and an avid supporter of Obama 08. We are continually following your leadership with the same fired-up enthusiasm as were mobilized to catapult you to the presidency of America; and we are not backing down, at least not yet. However, Icheokudotcom is not very comfortable at your attempted wholesale resurrection of the Bill Clinton's presidency through the appointments you have so far made. The 2008 mandate was given to the then Senator Barack Obama and not to the Clintons, after-all a Clinton ran in that primaries but was rejected in preference to your candidacy. You must therefore own up and manage your presidency fully and totally.

What we are saying is that the incoming administration should be a President Barack Obama's administration both in form and substance. It should not in anyway be suggestive of a co-presidency with the Clintons or lean towards that necessary implication. Admitted that you are deferring to them for their effort at securing your victory at the polls but deference must not be so emphasized to become a caving-in. Enough of the Clinton's staff or does it mean that when you stepped out into the arena, you did not have your own people marshaled out and ready to go? The trajectory of your current transition should not be seen or interpreted as a deal with the devil which you now found yourself obliged to perform like by technically sub-contracting your presidency to the Clintons. Your primary obligor is the American people who overwhelmingly rallied you to victory; and to them and them alone should you absolutely defer to. Icheokudotcom asks, is the present direction of your government, as could be garnered from your so-far made appointments, the change we can believe in? We just hope that you have not settled for the change that is available or possible; or are you that trusting to believe that these particular Clintonian clique have a special magic wand they can easily wave, to bring about the change we can believe in? What about their loyalty to you juxtaposed with the Clintons? We hope you are still in charge of what is transpiring before our eyes.

Furthermore, Icheokudotcom asks, are you getting the wise counselling of Uncle Senator Ted Kennedy, Oprah Winfrey, Senator John Kerry, Collin Powel as well as Governor Bill Richardson with this your transition? Vice Presidential-elect, Senator Joe Biden, the first American to publicly attest to your stellar qualities has been compensated with the vice presidential slot, we love Joe and hope he participates in your transitional decisions so far. These people were the real warriors of your campaign as they threw their hats into the ring when it was not politically savvy to do so with Bill and Hillary Clinton still so much covetous of the presidency. Senator John Kerry introduced you to America at Boston 2004 and supported your campaign throughout. Senator Edward Kennedy's endorsement and support was humongous and Bill Richardson even went up against his former mentor the Clintons to support you. Our own lady Oprah's weighty support of your candidacy was spectacular. BO, please be mindful of these priceless supporters as they love you more than you can imagine! As for the Clinton's switch-overs, always remember that you were not their first choice and hence courtesy is all that you owe them.

Also, remember the change you promised America should reflect in your cabinet - we need to see more Blacks, Latinos, Asians and Native Americans in important places, too. Like your chief of staff, Rahm Emmanuel's father said, his son is not going to the White-house to clean floors and we hope that will not be the case with minorities in your White-house? The change cannot be restricted to the top of the cabinet, just you; no, we need to see America in the broader spectrum truly reflected in your cabinet and not just more of the same faces. If we wanted the Clintons we would have nominated/elected Hillary Clinton instead. If you are not comfortable with or fear that minorities are not "qualified enough" for these positions, then make them the deputy/under-study of the helmsman/woman for their eventual elevation to the top post someday down the road of your administration.

In conclusion therefore, Icheokudotcom says that you should make this administration, an Obama administration and then reflect minorities in top positions in your cabinet to really manifest the change we all fought tirelessly to bring about. Good-luck, Mr. President-elect.