Chuck Hagel would be the right pick for Defense.

[WCGreen]

For one reason, he would be in a better position to sell the coming downsizing of the Defense Department to Congress...

It's gonna happen simply because of the creeping withdrawal from Afghanistan.

He is the right man to refocus the Pentagon from war status back to protection of the sea ways and peace keeping.

And, he would be a symbol of bi-partisanship on the part of democrats which is what the people want.

Have at it, if you will, but this is a really savvy political move to neutralize a major problem for second term presidents.

[Walk away]

1. Here is what he is up to.....

Current Positions

Hagel currently teaches at Georgetown University in the Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS), as a Distinguished Professor in the Practice of National Governance.[58] He is Chairman of the Atlantic Council, Co-Chairman of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board; a member of the Secretary of Defense’s Policy Board and Secretary of Energy’s Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future; and is a member of Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) board of directors. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Chevron Corporation; the Advisory Boards of Deutsche Bank Americas; Corsair Capital; M.I.C. Industries; is a Director of the Zurich Holding Company of America; and is a Senior Advisor to McCarthy Capital Corporation.

According to Wikki

[spanone]

2. i like hagel, but i'm ready for some bi-partisanship on the part of republicans....just ONCE.

[Bucky]

10. I completely agree. How many Dems were on Bush's cabinet?

One.

[JI7]

14. Hagel supported Obama for President , it's like saying McCain picking Lieberman

for something in his administration was a sign of bipartisanship .

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. I completely agree, and on all counts.

[LiberalAndProud]

4. Whatever.

I'm neutral. I think it might do a lot to defang the obstructionists.

OT: I keep checking your blog for an update. I worry about you.

[hrmjustin]

5. K&R!

[robinlynne]

6. I prefer Wesley Clark. we dont need a symbol of bi-partisanship. bi-partisan ship has done nothing

for us over the past 4 years. I think an end to the bi-partisanship talk would move our country forward.

I don't remember Bush being bi-partisan. And his agenda was passed. by both sides.

[Bucky]

11. I don't think Clark could take the pay cut.

I fought for his nomination. But these days he's more an idea man & consultant rather than an administrator.

[robinlynne]

12. ok. a Democrat.

[leveymg]

7. What happened to Leon Panetta?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

15. He wants to retire,for good this time

[quinnox]

8. Either him or Wes Clark

I like Clark as SoS or this position. IMHO he should be in the Obama admin somewhere.

[Honeycombe8]

9. I like Hagel & think he'd be great in DOD. BUT, Obama has already appointed bipartisan cabinet or

agency heads: Petraeus and Gates come to mind. He tried to hire Judd, but he turned Obama down.

[TwilightGardener]

21. Petraeus obviously didn't work out, but I liked Gates.

I thought he was a good SecDef.

[BlueCaliDem]

13. Hagel would be a good pick for SoD. He has been endorsing Democrats and his wife

has endorsed President Obama. He would be a strong ally to the president. I concur with your choice 100%.

[Odin2005]

16. Fuck "Bipartisanship", I want Wes Clark at Defense!

[robinlynne]

17. Thank-you. Time to stop working for the GOP!!!

[msongs]

18. obama needs to get out and meet more democrats lol nt

[bluestate10]

19. Wesley Clark or Jim Webb would be a better choices, like Hagel, both were high level military

officers. But unlike Hagel, both are loyal democrats.

[TwilightGardener]

20. I think you are right.