I wonder if having advisors cabinet members and othes of differing views, (i.e Robt. Gates and Hillary Clinton )will have a positive or negative effect in the long run. Certainly those two have different views.
I can easily envision friction vying for the president's ear. Administration infighting isn't good. Certainly, from his selections, he seems to have a balanced, centrist focus to where he's headed. (Daschle a notable exception imo. Query: Will Daschle's lobbyist wife suspend her govt. lobbying while he directs health reform?))

Yes he has positive global karma now. But he has to do things, and each decision he makes will have supporters and detractors. Hence, his approval rating has one way to go.

Take for instance, the (as of today) suspended Gitmo trial of the Canadian accused of killing a US soldier in IRAQ. What become of this guy? Send him to Canada. Or what happens to the rest of the detainees. US prisons? Outright release? What?