PERSONNEL NON-NEWS, AT 11:26 A.M. ET:  The White House says there will be no major Cabinet changes come January, despite persistent rumors of a high-level shakeup in the Obama administration.  Eyes, of course, are always focused on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her political future.  From the Washington Times:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Don't look for any big changes in President Obama's Cabinet as the new year gets under way.

The president's press secretary, Robert Gibbs, told CNN's "State of the Union" that he doesn't expect any major shuffling to take place in the Cabinet.

Mr. Gibbs said that there's much work yet to be done at the Treasury Department to implement financial reform and at the Health and Human Services Department to implement health care reform. He calls the president's team "very talented."

COMMENT:  There is a general expectation that Bob Gates will leave his Defense post in 2011, and there is understandable apprehension about his replacement.  Will Mr. Obama appoint a capable, solidly pro-defense administrator?  Or will he try to appeal to the marshmallow wing of his party?  There are some stories circulating that Colin Powell may be appointed, which would be discouraging, and look like a political payoff for Powell's support of Obama in the 2008 election.

Clinton is the star.  A report surfaced this last week that outgoing Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico is being groomed as her successor.  Frankly, I doubt it.  Richardson was to be appointed to the Obama administration when it took office, but his appointment stalled over an ethics investigation.  Also, Richardson is suspected in many circles of being a secret, card-carrying marshmallow, something this bowl-of-Jell-o president doesn't need.

December 26, 2010