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Discussion Post: Dream Cabinets
Now, I'm not taking the presidency for granted - really Slate, I'm not - but IF your candidate of choice happens to get elected, who do you hope is in his (or her) cabinet? And who do you think will be?
You can C&P the list (with some key non-Cabinet members) here:
Secretary of State
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Defense
National Security Adviser
Attorney General
Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Secretary of Homeland Security
White House Chief of Staff
Press Secretary
Ambassador to the UN
Here's mine, best guesses with some wishful thinking:
(I didn't include anybody who seemed completely implausible, like Dennis Kucinich or Ron Paul or Raul Castro.)
I also didn't use an sitting Democratic congressmen because we need to get as close to a majority as possible.
Secretary of State - Bill Richardson OR Chuck Hagel OR Susan Rice
I love Richardson as much as everyone else does but I also like the idea of Hagel as SoS because he isn't afraid to take unpopular positions like being the only guy standing against Iran sanctions. Susan Rice is my longshot choice. I bet people overseas would confuse her with Condi though.
Overall though I think the position is Bill's to lose because he's maintained close ties with the Obama camp.
Secretary of the Treasury - Warren Buffet
I think people would feel a little better having the richest dude in the world running things instead of Bernanke and Baldy McPedosmile.
Secretary of Defense - Wes Clark OR Chuck Hagel OR Sam Nunn OR Sarah Sewall
I like Jim Webb but 1. he says he never wants to work in an administration again and 2. he's a sitting Senator. Wes Clark isn't technically eligible until 2011 I think, so Hagel or Nunn would be alright to tide things over.
Longshot pick: Sarah Sewall, an Obama adviser & national security expert who specializes in reconciling antiterrorism tactics with humanitarian goals. She wrote the intro to Petraeus's Counterinsurgency Field Manual.
National Security Adviser - Samantha Power.
Technically not part of the cabinet but still important. Power is hella smart, has a special interest in Darfur (which Biden has said will be a priority) and has major foreign policy and human rights cred. Otherwise, my choice is Susan Rice.
Attorney General - Tim Kaine
I know Edwards is our ~sentimental~ pick but Kaine is a good bet for this because Obama lurves him, Kaine is a longtime lawyer who can't run for reelection, and the power of his legendary eyebrow will bring Rove and Bolten and Miers to their knees. The only problem is that VA's Lt. governor is a Republican. blah. :/
Secretary of the Interior - idk but I would like it to be someone in tune to Native American issues for once
Secretary of Agriculture - Ranch hand turned PhD and future failed Senate candidate Scott Kleeb.
Dream cabinet, moar like DREAMBOAT cabinet. And look, he's standing in a bunch of agriculture! He knows the business!
Secretary of Commerce - idk
Secretary of Labor - John Edwards
yeah, yeah, it's not happening I know :(
Secretary of Health and Human Services - Tom Daschle
Has stated interest in taking the role due to his interest in universal health care. Sounds ok to me!
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development - Mike Easley
Idek if he would want the job. I just assigned it to him.
Secretary of Transportation - Olympia Snowe
She's a sane Republican (builds bipartisan cred), sits on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and comes from a state with a Democratic governor, which means another Dem Senator... tee-hee, ain't I a stinker
Secretary of Energy - AL MOTHERFUCKING GORE~.
idk if he wants it and idc. Who would pick anyone else?
Secretary of Education - Janet Napolitano
If she doesn't plan a Senate run. (ahh, taking McCain's seat... so wonderful)
Secretary of Veterans Affairs - JOHN MCCAIN. jk. Max Cleland is my pick.
Secretary of Homeland Security - Richard Clark
Goes without saying. I believe he's advising the Obama campaign.
White House Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff - Davids Plouffe and Axelrod.
This is where that straight-up sneaky Karl Rove shit happens.
Press Secretary - Campbell Brown. Or Chris Matthews. Or Tina Fey.
Ideally, all three taking questions at once. Seriously, Bush set the bar pretty low here by hiring his buddies and random Fox News radio show guys (RIP) so my pick relies solely on 1. Amount of lulz and 2. Possibility that s/he will spend entire press conference goofing off with Helen Thomas.
Ambassadors to Siberia Sweden - Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham.
A twist on the old classic. Let's have them far away from the rest of us, surrounded by liberalism and ABBA tunes and sexy Nordic men.
UN Ambassador - Bill Clinton
oh yeah and....
Senate Majority Leader - Hillary Clinton
Speaker of the House - Rahm Emanuel
Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations - John Kerry
Now post yours!