Daily Kos

Who Will Obama Choose?

by jpgod

Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 10:22:09 AM PDT

A lot has been discussed lately regarding Senator Obama's experience and ability to govern "from day one". The pool of Presidential candidates from both parties has offered the voters mostly U.S. Senators or State's Governors, past or present, for the past 50 years.
Some people believe that the Senate is the natural stepping stone to the Presidency. Others say that since the President is an executive first and not a law maker, per se, that a Governor's experience is more relevant to the job of running the country. And that point of view has been borne out, since JFK was the last sitting Senator to be elected President.

Well, this time it's already been decided that our next President will come from the Senate. And I'm hoping that it will be Senator Obama that is sitting in the oval office on "day one" next January.

It's true that Senator Obama hasn't had decades in the Senate, and I think that's a good thing. He hasn't been worn down into a "Senator Foghorn" by all the years of compromise, constantly raising re-election money, and playing the other Senatorial games.

What's going to be most important in shaping an Obama administration will be who he chooses for the key positions in his administration.
I'm hoping he will bring in experienced, capable people from both parties to help him take our country out of the dangerous swamp that Bush & Company created.

I wish I knew who all those talented advisers, Cabinet Members, and diplomats will be. I hope they are people like Bill Richardson for VP or Secretary of State, Sam Nunn or Joe Biden for Secretary of Defense, and Jennifer Granholm, Tom Vilsak, Russ Feingold, George Mitchell and others for key positions.

Those are just some names that I can think of, for starters.

Who do you think should play a key role in President Obama's administration?

Tags: Cabinet, Vice President, advisers, Obama (all tags) :: Previous Tag Versions

Permalink | 77 comments

  •  Sorry,... (2+ / 0-)

    Recommended by:
    Night Runner, Hey BB

    ...Cheney sez that he is VP for life.

    Fear will keep the local systems in line. -Grand Moff Tarkin -SLB-

    by boran2 on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 10:24:39 AM PDT

  •  Based on who his advisors are... (0+ / 0-)

    I'd say Richard Danzig (Clinton's Sec. of the Navy) is likely for SecDef or Chief of Staff.

    Susan Rice at maybe State or National Security Advisor.

    Gen. Scott Gration maybe at USAID.

    Austan Goolsbee on the Council of Economic Advisors.

    Beyond that it's hard to say.

    I know who Obama's veep will be. You can too!

    by slaney black on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 10:25:54 AM PDT

  •  No F'n Clue (0+ / 0-)

    Is my choice.

    'I am pissed' follow-up diary.

    by droogie6655321 on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 10:26:35 AM PDT

  •  Win Texas as VP (14+ / 0-)

    Recommended by:
    dansac, cotterperson, ThirstyGator, ptmflbcs, madame defarge, brocktunestudios, serrano, esquimaux, PointGuard, djbender, kilgore2345, Pegasus, Hope08, Shep001

    Win Ohio as Secretary of Not Counting Chickens
    Win Rhode Island as Secretary of Taking Care of Bizness
    Win Vermont as Secretary of Closing the Deal

    by insects8mybrain on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 10:28:40 AM PDT

  •  If only (1+ / 0-)

    Recommended by:
    DrWolfy

    Al Gore for Sec. State or
    UN Ambassador

    Edwards for Labor

    Hillary for Health and Human Services

    Biden for Defense

    Feingold for Treasury

    Or would that be too much like the Justice League?

    by aurthordenu on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 10:30:34 AM PDT

  •  John Edwards ! (1+ / 0-)

    Recommended by:
    cotterperson

    Maybe attorney general or the lead on getting universal health care rolling...probably many other posts where he would be excellent.

    "Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind." Rudyard Kipling

    by BillieJohn on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 10:30:39 AM PDT

  •  Edwards Edwards Edwards for VP (3+ / 0-)

    Recommended by:
    Gordon20024, esquimaux, DrWolfy

    And why do people keep bring up Sam Nunn. He is not the man he used to be. He is almost a Zell Miller.

    And we can't take ANY Democratic Senators out of the Senate. We need more of those critters, not less.

    I want Wesley Clark for National Security Advisor. Then maybe we will have some actual security.

    We need to dismantle Homeland Security. It was created as the full employment act for the Bushies. And CLEAN house at Justice. We have ferret out the weasels that have infiltrated the department while the crooks were in charge. Patrick Fitzgerald would be a good AG. Would he take it?

    Obama/Gore

    by Village expects idiot home soon on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 10:33:11 AM PDT

  •  Personally... (7+ / 0-)

    Recommended by:
    dansac, cotterperson, Village expects idiot home soon, serrano, esquimaux, DrWolfy, Democrat

    I'd like to see him get the nomination before speculating.  I lived through the Red Sox in 1986 and I just can't go there.

    "We're all working for the Pharaoh" - Richard Thompson

    by mayan on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 10:33:49 AM PDT

  •  Sebelius? (0+ / 0-)

    She would be a great choice.

    Kaine?

    Napolitano?

    Spitzer?

    I go forth to make new demands on life. Do something that is worthy of it and me. May I dare as I have never done! May I persevere as I have never done!-HDT

    by Democrat on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 10:35:58 AM PDT

  •  I'd start with these folks: (0+ / 0-)

    I think John Edwards should NOT be a cabinet secretary, but United States Trade Representative. I think labor would love him in that position and he would be a forceful advocate. It would also put a lot of the corporations on notice that there is a new sheriff in town.

    I'd like to see Hillary as Secretary of Defense. Seriously. I think she'd take the job. They need somebody over there who can knock heads and exercise some intricately detailed governance over that huge beauracracy. She'd be a real ball buster and thats exactly what they need.

    In foriegn policy, id like to see a Republican statesman like Dick Lugar as Secretary of State. Why? We need to get back to "politics stopping at the waters edge" in our foreign policy and Republicans have a great deal of respect for Dick Lugar. They wont go after him. Furthermore, he and Obama seem to work together very well. He should appoint his own trusted advisors to his white house squad with Susan Rice as National Security Advisor.

    At Treasury, I'd want to put a blue dog with some budget stature like Congressman Jim Marshall. It's a smart thing to do politically, and he can keep his own advisory team with Goolsby leading the National Economic Council.

    I haven't thought about the lesser departments, but as a general philosophy, he should bring Congressmen and Senators into the executive branch. This will assist in restoring some Congressional oversight as to what is going on in the executive branch.

    I also recommend that Obama infuse every single department and agency with an Inspectors-General that come right out of state government. These should also be Obama loyalists who are willing to keep watch over everything and report any kind of misconduct directly to the big boss.

    This government needs to be completely taken over.

    With him from the beginning, with him until the end.

    by brooklynbadboy on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 10:38:12 AM PDT

  •  Moulitsas for Press Secretary :-) (4+ / 0-)

    Recommended by:
    cotterperson, Village expects idiot home soon, jimraff, DrWolfy

    - What happens on DailyKos, stays on Google.

    by Jon Meltzer on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 10:40:35 AM PDT

  •  let's get ohio/texas first.... (1+ / 0-)

    Recommended by:
    dansac

    but if we must.....

    the more ive been reading about webb, the more i have questions about him.  ill tell u something, right after new hampshire (two days later) when everyone in  the obama world was really down.  out stepped ONE politician to put his arms around senator obama and give him a big boost---john kerry.

    i say john f. kerry for vice president

    by maxnyc on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 10:40:52 AM PDT

  •  Need some moderate republicans & independents (0+ / 0-)

    Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle will be either in the cabinet or maybe chief of staff.  I agree about Austan Goolsbee for economics, Susan Rice National Security Advisor.  Samantha Power at state or security advisor.  Chuck Hagel for defense, treasurery, look for a Rubin type on Wallstreet. For attorney general, maybe Eric Holder (he was assistant AG under Reno). Would be first african american attorney general. Gen. Clark really disappointed me when he endorsed Hillary.  I'm sure she promised him defense or something. If not Hagel for defense, maybe Clark. But need a couple of moderate republicans in the cabinet.  

    For VP, I would go with Gen. Anthony Zinni. From Virginia and Senator Obama will need someone with the military experience to go after McCain.  

    by CGrace on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 10:49:38 AM PDT

  •  daschle for VP (0+ / 0-)

    richardson for Secretary of State
    edwards for AG
    hagel for Sec. of Defense

    by Colonel Forbin2044 on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 10:52:17 AM PDT

  •  Be careful about pulling to many current (4+ / 0-)

    Recommended by:
    cotterperson, jpgod, esquimaux, DrWolfy

    congress critters out of congress.  We need them there, especially the good ones with experience like Fiengold.

    Edwards needs a good place to go, like AG or Secy of Health.  Keep Hillary in the senate as a trusted go to person and leader.  Keep Webb there as well.

    Use some more recent retirees, govs, and professionals in the cabinet.

    To a tapeworm, man exists for the tapeworm. - Edward Abbey

    by jimraff on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 10:54:23 AM PDT

  •  Gen. Anthony Zinni (0+ / 0-)

    I my pick.  Or Batiste

    Today Ain't Yesterday

    by GB1437a on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 10:54:50 AM PDT

  •  John Edwards (0+ / 0-)

    Given the experience charges, he'll likely want a VP who both inspires and who people believe is ready to be President.  Edwards fits that bill (and helps with the blue collar swing voters Obama needs, but without sacrificing the change/inspiration message).

    I'd love to see Brian Schweitzer on the ticket, too.

    by dcg2 on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 10:56:52 AM PDT

    •  George Mitchell (0+ / 0-)

      I like JRE, too, but I'm thinking the best approach with him -- and others, too -- would be to ask, "What would you like to do?"

      For instance, I think Gore sees he can get a lot more done outside of the WH than inside, and JRE might as well, especially if he has a feeling of confidence in Obama's leadership.  He'd be great in trade or DOJ, but he's had some time to think about alternatives and he might have other ideas.  Oh, to have been a fly on the wall during his chat with Obama ...

      For VP, I'm trying to think eight years down the road, and my crystal ball is on the fritz.   Come to think of it, so's my Magic 8-Ball.  

      Maybe it's because I'm a neo-Mainer, but I like George Mitchell as VP.

      There are 10 kinds of people in the world: those who know binary and those who don't. (-5.25, -4.97)

      by JBL55 on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 11:09:35 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  just being nitpicky (1+ / 0-)

    Recommended by:
    esquimaux

    But LBJ wasn't the last Senator to be elected President.  Nixon was.

    LBJ was the last Democratic Senator to be elected President.

    And Kennedy was the last Senator elected President directly from the Senate.

    Sandra Day O'Connor: "...A state of war is not a blank check for the president when it comes to the rights of the nation's citizens."

    by radical centrist on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 10:57:07 AM PDT

  •  Clark (3+ / 0-)

    Recommended by:
    jpgod, lzyltnin, sarashina nikki

    Wesley Clark for V.P. Terrific support for withdrawal from Iraq and escalation in Afghanistan. Terrific support in a campaign against John McCain. His ties to the Clinton camp signal a reconciliation and unification of the Party.

    John Edwards, A.G. Great job for a fighter.

    From an abomination to an Obama Nation

    by copithorne on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 11:03:00 AM PDT

    •  I was a Clarkie in 2004 and this year. (0+ / 0-)

      His endorsement of HRC really turned me off.

      I do believe he would make a good VP or Sec of State.

      JRE for AG is a clear and easy bet.
      Al Gore would make an excellent Sec of Interior or State.  I don't think he wants to come back to politics.  Being an elder statesman is the role he likes.  Maybe Energy?  

      Don't know of any other obvious choices.  I would be reluctant to pick Senators since we really need them.  Same with Reps.  Let's not eat into our majority.

      State governments and governors would be good.  Sebelius, Richardson, Kaine, etc.

      -6.5, -7.59. Dump Harry Reid. Put in someone who can rid us of Holy Joe Lieberman.

      by DrWolfy on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 11:06:11 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Clark is at the top of my list for VP as well (0+ / 0-)

      He's actually been out on the campaign trail in the past, unlike a lot of other military people. He has a sense of what it takes. Plus, he gives an AWESOME speech -- he's much, much better in front of large crowds than you'd expect from his in-studio demeanor.

      That said, Zinni could also be good. I just don't know anything about his political skills.

      "This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected." - Barack Obama (3.18.08)

      by lapis on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 11:37:50 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Russ Feingold and John Edwards (0+ / 0-)

    John Edwards for Attorney General would be a hoot.  Turn him loose on the Republicans.  Russ Feingold would make a good VP, so would Bill Richardson.

    Richardson would also be good at SoS, Hillary would be good in charge of education or health-care...

    by praenomen on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 11:05:22 AM PDT

  •  John Kerry or Deval Patrick would be excellent (0+ / 0-)

    choices if the race were over, but a lot of Democrats have not voted yet in the primaries.

    by wtu on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 11:09:01 AM PDT

  •  Clinton for VP (0+ / 0-)

    Offered, at least. It will bring the family back together. It shows inclusiveness -- and fearlessness -- as Lincoln did when he put his rivals in the cabinet.

    AG -- Edwards

    Sec of Defense -- McCain (again, offered, maybe not excepted). Note the the SOD does not make foreign policy, but manages the nation's military. McCain is well suited for this.

    Sec of State -- Gore.

    EPA -- Gore. He can wear two hats.

    Health & Human -- John Kitzhaber

    Treasury -- Tough. I'm going to leave that one to the better-informed. Might be a good slot for another independent, or a moderate Republican.

    The guiding principles should be strong leaders, reaching across party lines, highly qualified people who are recognizable to the public and thus accountable.

    Clinton '08, because: [W]e are here as on a darkling plain Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight, Where ignorant armies clash by night.

    by Robert Farrell on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 11:21:36 AM PDT

  •  Other positions (0+ / 0-)

    Some off the cuff thoughts

    Ned Lamont   Sec of Commerce (no Joe in Cabinet)
    RFK Jr.      Sec of Interior
    Wes Clark    NSA
    JRE          Sec of Health
    B Richardson Sec of Labor

    "He was a drinking man with a guitar problem." James McMurtry

    by lzyltnin on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 12:08:05 PM PDT

Permalink | 77 comments