NONE... NONE of these appointments are official until someone is sworn in as president on January 21st. If you were McCain and the presidency was about to miraculously fall into your lap would YOU argue about appointments? Maybe a few but he keeps Gage and other key Republican appointees. He's philosophically not all that far away from moderate Democrats and these people are smart. Everyone is lining up. If Barry wins, they have a job. If McCain rises from the dead... they have a job!
Yes, exactly. It's a wonder that any of the people's business ever gets done. Our government is at war with itself.
As to your statement that "the establishment knows that Barry is going down"... it's disheartening to know that Washington insiders are so detached from the people, and their sworn oaths, that they're perfectly willing to conduct a secret order of political gamesmanship. These people are engaged in a game which affects the fate of millions, yet they feel no obligation whatsoever to inform us of the battle at hand.
It's not just Obama who is arrogant. They all are. This is the level of their disdain for us, that some in their number know the full truth of current events, yet use that information only to advance themselves. It's just jaw-dropping.
You're right about the political positioning frenzy, though. I'm sure this goes on at every changing of the guard.
All it would take would be for one unfaithful/rogue elector to vote for She Who Must Be Obeyed. Then if Obama were adjudicated to be ineligible, if after the electors vote, the House would be able to pick her. If before, then the electors could pick her.
One reason for such a gambit would be the fear, or political judgment, that Hillary had too many negatives to beat McCain, or whomever. But once the electors are chosen on the Basis of Hope and Change, I'm not Bush, and very little else.. well, time to pull the switch part of "bait and switch".
But that of course is pure speculation. Informed speculation perhaps, but still just speculation.