Everyone's talking about Obama's running mate. But who would you like to see in an Obama cabinet?
Today you can vote on the next White House Chief of Staff. Also, the previous rounds are still open for voting. More below the fold.
For all of you have been following these polls, I just wanted to let you know that I changed the system of the polls. The problem is that up to Sec. of Labor all polls were won by white men. It is as unrealistic as can be that we'd actually have a cabinet in which all the top positions were held by white men. It's not the 60s anymore. So the Obama Cabinet polls will have to change a little.
What I will do from now on:
I will still poll all positions and the initial polls for all positions are reopened. So you can still vote for State, AG, etc. In the end, I will look at all poll results and will compile five different cabinets including your favorite candidates from each poll (plus a wildcard where necessary). The diversity of the US population will be reflected in each cabinet. And you then get to vote on each cabinet as a whole.
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You can still vote in the following polls. Here are the links:
Please note: candidates who had won earlier polls were not included in subsequent polls. Those candidates (Richardson, Edwards) may now get wildcards.
Secretary of State (Bill Richardson will get a wildcard)
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Defense
Attorney General
Secretary of the Interior (Les AuCoin's vote total will not count due to ridiculously obvious and stupid poll stuffing)
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Labor (Robert Reich and John Edwards will receive a wildcard)
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Secretary of Housing and Urband Development
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Secretary of Homeland Security
You can vote in one or all of these polls. I just ask you to please only vote once.
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Here's the list of current cabinet positions and cabinet level administration offices that will be polled in the coming weeks:
White House Chief of Staff
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Director of the Office of Management and Budget
United States Trade Representative
Who will be included: a maximum of 15 candidates (max number of positions in Dkos polls), I'll try to make each round as diverse as possible, always keeping in mind competence and knowledge required for the respective position. Therefore, I'll include men and women, minorities, sitting and former elected officials, appointed officials, academics, people from the non-profit and private sectors, Obama as well as Clinton supporters, and, yes, also Republicans and Independents.
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Today's candidates for White House Chief of Staff are (in alphabetical order, links lead to bio):
David Axelrod (IL) - fmr. chief political advisor for the DCCC, chief strategist of Obama for America
fmr. Rep. David Bonior (MI) - fmr. House Democratic Whip, fmr. campaign manager of Edwards for President, Chair of American Rights at Work
Donna Brazile (DC) - fmr. Chief of Staff of Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, fmr. Gore for President campaign manager
Cassandra Butts - fmr. senior advisor to Rep. Dick Gephardt, fmr. policy director of Gephardt for President, fmr. senior advisor to Sen. Obama, Senior Vice President at the Center for American Progress, Classmate of Obama at Harvard Law School
Mary Beth Cahill - fmr. White House official, fmr. Chief of Staff of Sen. Ted Kennedy, fmr. Kerry for President campaign manager
fmr. Sen. Tom Daschle (SD) - fmr. Senate Majority Leader, Co-Chair of Obama for America
Maria Echaveste (DC) - fmr. White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress
Rep. Rahm Emanuel (IL) - fmr. White House official, fmr. Chair of the DCCC
Alexis Herman - fmr. DNC vice-chair, fmr. White House official, fmr. Sec. of Labor,
Valarie Jarrett (IL) - fmr. Dep. Chief of Staff of mayor Richard Daley, fmr. Chair of the Chicago Transit Authority, Senior Advisor to Barack Obama
Betsy Myers (MA) - fmr. White House official, COO of Obama for America
Roy Neel - fmr. Chief of Staff of Vice President Al Gore, fmr. White House Deputy Chief of Staff, fmr. campaign manager of Dean for President
David Plouffe - fmr. executive director of the DSCC, fmr. Deputy Chief of Staff of Rep. Dick Gephardt, Obama for America campaign manager
John Podesta (DC) - fmr. White House Chief of Staff, President of the Center for American Progress
Pete Rouse (DC) - fmr. Chief of Staff of Sen. Tom Daschle, Chief of Staff of Sen. Obama
I would also like to ask you to nominate candidates for all cabinet positions not yet polled, for several of them I'm still well short of 15 candidates.
Enjoy voting!