Wow, I'm stunned. I'm just catching it as 'breaking news' on local TV. I can't help but be a little disappointed. I was hoping for someone a little more conservative (or conservative at all) for Washington. Wow.
I remember when McCarrick was appointed from Newark, where he actually had a reputation as being fairly conservative. However, that was years ago, when "conservative" practically just meant that the bishop drew the line at clown masses and did not let clergy sign their names to pro-abortion petitions. I think perhaps our definition of conservative has evolved to something a little more demanding!
Bp. Wuerl sounds rather moderate, all told, but Freepers who live in Pittsburgh seem to like him. Maybe the Vatican was looking for someone who was solid but not very conflict-oriented; in addition, several people have posted that he is very adept at handling the media, which would certainly be necessary for DC.
I think the trend has been to appoint the more orthodox Bishops to smaller sees in the beginning to avoid to obvious a shift. It'll be awhile before you see a Buskewitz in someplace like LA, Boston, NY or Philly.
Though Albany is kind of backwater (no offense meant) so maybe when the time comes Hubbard's replacement will upset the right people (or should I have said "left people"?)