Hey, remember that time when MSNBC held a love-in about the awesome awesomeness of the Obama transition?

The first topic of discussion was the economy and Matthews anxiously wondered whether Obama could "get a big head of steam to save the American economy and keep that head of steam so he can pass all the bills he needs to do the job?"... John Heileman of New York Magazine gave an emphatic "yes" along with four reasons to support his answer including, "I mean, [Obama] won a clear mandate" and "how well [Obama's] done in this transition and the way it's been received by both parties is having been arguably the best transition that anyone in our lifetime has ever seen." Matthews resoundingly agreed, even going so far to claim, "I don't usually say this on the show but boy, you're smart....He won big, we have a big problem and there is a big consensus, it seems to me, about the need to stimulate this economy through government action." NBC's Andrea Mitchell agreed and gushed over Obama's rhetoric and the competence of his team.

It turns out they may have called that putt a little early:

Without much explanation, CNN announced that their very own Obama administration nominee, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, would decline his appointment as Surgeon General. That makes ... how many appointments to fail in the Greatest Transition Evah? And the countin's not done yet... Also, Obama lost Tim Geithner's choice for Deputy Secretary of the Treasury tonight... As Jazz Shaw noted, John Tyler held the record for Cabinet flops in a transition with four. Obama has three, but Gupta and Nazareth don't quite qualify as Cabinet appointments, so Jazz's count for Obama remains at three.

But at least the appointments that are sticking are solid, professional picks. Like the tax-cheating Treasury Secretary and the intel chief who thinks that Al Qaeda attacked us because of Israel. Totally solid and professional.

References:
* 'Chris Matthews Show' Praises Obama and His Team [NewsBusters]
* Obama loses two more nominees [Hot Air]
* Former Ambassador To Saudi Arabia Chas Freeman To Be Appointed To Top Intelligence Post, Join Obama's Anti-Israel Intel Team (Plus: He Blames US-Israel Ties For 9/11) [MR]

Previously:
* Obama's New Saudi-Funded Spy Chief: "The Lobby" Controls US Publishing, Shuts Down Arguments About How The "Brutal Oppression Of The Palestinians" Caused 9/11
* Marty Peretz: Based On All Available Evidence I Disagree With Susan Rice, Who Is Nonetheless Awesome In Every Way (Plus: Misguided Victim-Complex Paranoia On The Pro-Israel Right)
* Obama's Latest Round Of Deeply Ironic Appointments