President-elect Barack Obama campaigned on change. Now, he has to deliver. Already, he's focused on pulling together a team that has huge ties to the Clinton administration, including the likelihood of one-time rival Sen. Hillary Clinton as  Secretary of State. 

So, did Obama just use his rhetoric to get elected? Has he already become just another Washington politician who has turned his back on his supporters to do whatever he wants? Or is he just trying to find the right team to clean up the mess that has been handed to him? Politico.com's Ben Smith and Jonathan Martin suggest that Obama may have too many big guns and too many egos.

To be realistic, Obama has set unrealistic expectations. There's no way he's going to accomplish half of all the things he's laid out, but a desperate and disheveled American electorate are hoping he will revitalizes America's future.

Obama's chances of changing how partisan politics operates is going to require many tried and tested inside-the -Beltway veterans to get stuff done. That means to get the "change we believe in",  he's going to have to appoint - and he is nominating -  individuals who are battle tested. The Clintons' Emmanuels', Orczags' do have their baggage, but they do know where the skeletons are and know how to do what Washington politicians know how to do best: Scratch each other's backs and use the cumbersome, procedural-laden system to execute their Commander-in-Chief's agenda.

By choosing such DC veterans, Obama is admitting a key fact: He is not experienced enough to manuever through the Beltway minefields to fulfill his promises.  That's where his more seasoned cabinet members will make him look like a great leader or a great liar.

Obama's judgment has been amazingly on target throughout the campaign.  Within the next year - or sooner - America will see how his game plan will play out.