It’s safe to say that watching NBC’s Meet The Press with a warm cup of joe and an open mind is a Sunday morning tradition for many Washingtonians. But the program now deserves even more local attention with the announcement of D.C. resident David Gregory as permanent moderator. The story of Gregory’s appointment to the highly respected post — left open after Tim Russert’s untimely passing in June — broke on Monday, but was not confirmed by NBC. Interim moderator Tom Brokaw made it official during this morning’s big broadcast, which also featured a lengthy interview with President-elect Barack Obama.

The newly coined moderator, aptly dubbing the show a “treasured platform,” called it “an incredible honor.” Gregory added that “I’m not Tim [Russert], but along with this great team, I can just work real hard to make him proud.”

Gregory, an alum of American University, will likely enjoy the commute to the Meet The Press studio on Nebraska Avenue NW in Upper Northwest more than the trip to New York City for the Today show, where he has been recently toiling. But shorter commutes aside — if the commentariat is any indication, many have serious doubts about Gregory’s chops, even though his resume is fairly impressive. What do you think — will Gregory ask the tough questions of the day’s movers and shakers and do D.C. proud?