In its weekly PollTrack survey of Washington insiders, National Journal revealed some interesting opinions in both political parties:

Q: How would you grade each of the following Obama Cabinet nominations?

Democrats (72 votes)
Hillary Rodham Clinton (secretary of State) A-
Robert Gates (Defense secretary) B+
Timothy Geithner (Treasury secretary) B+
Eric Holder (attorney general) B+

Hillary Rodham Clinton
A. “Her detractors will be pleasantly surprised at how well she works in his and our behalf: A shrewd, global-view appointment.”
A. “Better to have your chief rival on your team, supporting your policies.”
B. “She’ll do a fine job, but it could act as a distraction, and I’m not convinced that Clinton will do a better job than some others, such as [Bill] Richardson.”

Robert Gates
A. “He is seen as a nonpartisan figure, and is a mature figure with a philosophy consistent with Obama’s plans for the next few years.”
B. “As long as he executes the wishes of the commander-in-chief.”
D. “If you want a Republican, name a Republican, just not this one. This guy is part of the team that America so overwhelmingly rejected on November 4.”

Timothy Geithner
A. “Broad bipartisan support, very bright, but with real-world experience — comes from the Bob Rubin school of economics, which is a plus.”
B. “Time will tell whether the Geithner-Paulson approach has been the correct one, but the economic crisis needed someone that insiders respect and support, and the Geithner pick has sent the right signals to the Hill, Wall Street, and the boardrooms.”
C. “Why pick a guy who was knee-deep in the banker bailout debacle?”

Eric Holder
A. “Knows the territory and won’t need on-the-job training.”
B. “Solid, honest, and knows how Washington works; an AG who will honor the Constitution.”
C. “Is this really the best we have out there? The pardon may have been overblown, but is this really change? ‘Yes, we can,’ but ‘No, we didn’t’ on some of these early picks.”

Q: How would you grade each of the following Obama Cabinet nominations?

Republicans (78 votes)
Hillary Rodham Clinton (secretary of State) B
Robert Gates (Defense secretary) A-
Timothy Geithner (Treasury secretary) B+
Eric Holder (attorney general) C+

Hillary Rodham Clinton
A. “He just won renomination — brilliant.”
B. “Surprisingly, this gives me some comfort. I trust that she will look out for the country’s best interests — something I couldn’t have said before the primary with Obama.”
C. “Obama ran on change, and this is not change from the old ways of Washington. I’m certain the Democrat Party has some new blood somewhere.”

Robert Gates
A. “This tells me Obama is a realist, and won’t buckle at the knees each time the Far Left comes calling.”
A. “Gates will do what needs to be done, i.e., get the Obama administration out of Iraq gracefully and with honor.”
B. “It’s too close to an admission that the Bush Iraq strategy, though flawed, is about as good as it gets.”

Timothy Geithner
A. “Markets loved him, and the Fed is a great training ground for macroeconomic professionals.”
A. “He knows where the bodies are buried on this financial crisis, which will come in handy for Obama as they start pulling the strings on it.”
C. “A student of Rubinomics? That’s like bragging about being mentored by Ken Lay.”

Eric Holder
A. “Well respected across the aisle.”
C. “Well qualified, but much political baggage that will bruise him in the confirmation process.”
F. “Handed out pardons like chewing gum during the last hours of Clinton.”