Daschle to HHS

Some may say, "Oh no, not another Senator," but to me, all this legislative heft (coupled with more malleable rookie replacements) makes it far more likely that the agendas get through with as little Congressional dilution as possible.

Former Senator Majority leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) will be secretary of Health and Human Services in the Obama administration, with the delicate mission of shepherding a health-care bill through Congress at a time of punishing budget constraints, two senior Democratic officials said.

Daschle's very real Washington experience makes significant healthcare legislation more likely, rather than even the best intentioned outsider.