I saw on TV yesterday when Obama came out to the Rose Garden to make the announcement. He was flanked by General Petarus, Sec. Gates, Adm. Mullen, and of course, Vice President Biteme. (Okay, I included that last sentence just so I'd have an excuse to say, "Vice President Biteme"...I admit it.)
Overall, I think Obama handled this just about as well as it could be handled. As I've said from the outset, I don't think he had any choice but to fire McChrystal after what came out publicly...I think any President would have had to do so, regardless of whether the comments were justified, (they very well may have been) or how effective a field commander McChrystal may be. (By all accounts McChrystal is superb)
And in persuading Petraus to take the assignment, the most widely respected General in active service, (which technically is a step
down for him...He's been serving as the head of The Central Command...I think it speaks volumes about what a great patriot Petraus is to be willing to make that sacrifice and take this assignment) Obama has launched an effective pre-emptive strike politically to avoid any divisive debate about McChrystal's successor, so he should have this episode behind him pretty quickly. (And sense Petraus is also just the right guy for the job from a policy stand point, this is one of those rare instances where the demands of the politics and the demands of the policy actually coincide).
The only ones likely to be unhappy about this are some on the left in his own party, who would
dearly have loved to have been able to use this unfortunate incident as an excuse to re-open the whole debate over our Afghan strategy. (Gee, that's a damn
shame...
Not happenin'. (If anything, under Petraus, our strategy is likely to be even
more vigorous and robust.)
Now, with
this personnel episode behind him, Obama only has to worry about the Gulf Oil Spill, 9.7% unemployment, the Iranians, the North Koreans, two wars, and potential new terrorist attacks....
Life is
goooood.... 
