Now, not everyone that President Obama has nominated to his cabinet have been terrible people, but it appears that the new President seems to be lax with his personal judgment. He is picking the cadre that will guide executive policy for at least four years.
But for some reason, some of these people are just... off. Geithner, Richardson, and now Daschle are all ethically challenged. Only one of them (Geithner) really has the competence to make up for this flaw. And Nancy Killefer is also withdrawing. And Governor Napolitano of Arizona is unfit for the position of Head of the Department of Homeland Security.
Is President Obama an idiot? Or is his staff incompetent?
Far from it.
President Obama is nominating a bunch of people with checkered pasts. His staff is very good at finding out information and keeping it secret. What may be happening is that President Obama knows that these people, if chosen, would owe him for their position. In turn, they would be subservient to him personally, and not as much to their positions.
Much of his cabinet is now subservient to the President, solidifying his power base. No longer is the executive branch the President advised and assisted by his cabinet, but appears to be transforming into a chamber of nepotism and incompetence.
Even Hillary Clinton factors in. Obama sees her as enemy number one and took her out of her influential position in the Senate. Now, she can't work on her signature issues: health care and women's issues. President Obama is expecting some failures in foreign policy over the next few years. Expect Secretary of State Clinton to be blamed for these. Any successes will be due to 'President Obama's foresight.'
Pay attention, this guy is smarter than you want to believe.