Government in Waiting - Love it!

[Oilwellian]

The Kerry Campaign started the general election with a bang, leaking that the search for a VP had commenced. Terrific, I'd be ecstatic to see the ticket whole as soon as possible. But I want them to go beyond that. I want to match George Bush's visible cabinet with the one John Kerry would bring. I want the American people to see, soon, exactly what our government would look like. As soon as that's done, they can begin mentally comparing Kerry's potential government with Bush's, a comparison that should come out in our favor. Let's say John Kerry holds a press conference in early June announcing that he'll reveal his VP in one week. Seven days later, he announces his Vice-President. He then reveals that the ticket will retire for a week to name the cabinet (keep the press coverage on). After two weeks of non-stop coverage, this is what the American people see:

President: John Kerry
Vice-President: Bill Richardson
Sec. of State: Sam Nunn
Sec. of Defense: Wesley Clark
Sec. of Homeland Security: Gary Hart
National Security Advisor: Rand Beers
Sec. of Veterans Affairs: Max Cleland
Attorney General: John Edwards
Sec. of Labor: Dick Gephardt

More, of course, would follow. But let's form a real shadow government. Let's have Edwards release statements every time Ashcroft abrogates liberties, let's watch Gephardt give press conferences every time the RNC outsources campaign calling to India, let's see Rand Beers expose the inept counter-terrorism team he left because they weren't making us safer, let's see Rumsfeld's policy of oppositional engagement with "old" Europe and his love of "new" Europe criticized by the man who led Old Europe in freeing New Europe. And at the top, let's see John Kerry making Bush look like less and less of a President by the day. I want to see these Democratic luminaries criss-crossing the nation, stumping in their states and making the news. Let's show the American people that we'll give them a Government they can not only be comfortable with, but that they can be proud of.

http://www.pandagon.net/mtarchives/001364.html

[Point_n_click]

1. Great idea.

You should email this to Kerry.

Of course he may have other folks in mind for those jobs, but the idea for each person in a position taking action and holding counter-press conferences is brilliant and he should definitely make use of it to help his campaign.

[Stephanie]

2. Better mix up your Cabinet a little bit

Try to come up with a cabinet that looks like America. We're Democrats.

[prolesunited]

4. Didn't look closely enough

to see who was named. I concur. And how about getting a qualified female somewhere in there?

[Oilwellian]

9. I definitely agree

I think the names listed are the blogger's personal preference. Wanna bet it's a male? :D :hi:

[prolesunited]

3. That is a fantastic idea

It would be a perfect counter to the allegation that Dems have no ideas and solutions. We would be seeing them consistently.

[bain_sidhe]

5. It has been noted here many, many times

that Clark isn't eligible for Sec'y of Defense (has to have been out of the military for at least ten years). He'd make a GREAT Sec'y of State though - far better than Nunn, IMHO. And, I think that's where his skills and experience would be of the best service to the country. Many of the people he'd have to deal with already know him, have dealt with him before, and trust him... and they LIKE him too.

[Don Claybrook]

6. I also think it's a great idea, with caveats

I love the idea of giving people hope, showing them the REAL grownups who will be in charge after the election. But it would need to be done in such a way as to not be too presumptive. Somehow the strategy would need to show confidence but not take the election for granted. If the general public were to see Kerry viewing himself as heir apparent, it would surely turn off lots of folks. And it is certain that the Bush people would do their utmost to magnify this all out of proportion.

But still, it would be wonderful to see the nominees for the cabinet positions announced, and publicize some of their plans to untangle the mess that Bush has made of this country and of our relations with the rest of the world.

[Don Claybrook]

10. A kick and a request

I love the idea behind this thread. There seems to be a lot of commentary on specific names matched with cabinet positions. Aside from those specifics, what does everyone think about the underlying idea. What are the pros and cons, the pitfalls, and so on?

Would this sort of move benefit the Kerry campaign? Would the American people respond positively? How would the Chimpministration respond? How should such a notion be executed?

Penny for your thoughts. Thanks.

[Stephanie]

14. It's too soon.

Those people should be out speaking on his behalf, but it's way too soon to be playing with a team. Kerry needs to beat the smirk out of Junior first.

[Ediacara]

7. Here we go

President:

Vice President:

Secretary of State:

Secretary of Defense:

Secretary of Homeland Security:

National Security Advisor:

Secretary of Veterans Affairs:

Attorney General:

Secretary of Labor:


Ya... I could live with that!

ON EDIT: Although as noted, these are an awful lot of white men, and god knows there's plenty of qualified Democrats that are not white men, so lets see some of them too.

[JDPriestly]

8. What about Carol, Al and Howard?

[orwell]

11. Kick Ass and Take Names

I think its a bad idea. It makes Kerry look overconfident.

I want Kerry to run like he's confindent and ready to kick some ass, but I don't want him to look as arrogant as Shrubie.

BTW: I don't think Wes can be Sec. of Defense. I believe there is some rule about a number of years having to pass from your military service. He could be Nat. Security Advisor however.

O

[OneBlueSky]

12. let's just hope he changes the name of "Homeland Security" . . .

to something a little less Hitlerian . . . like Civil Defense . . . or Domestic Security . . . anything but Homeland! . . .

[Hekate]

15. Oh God, yes. "Homeland" gives me the creeps. It came out of nowhere

I remember Civil Defense, it meant being personally prepared. A gal pal of mine in high school was a pilot in the Civil Air Patrol, although mostly she loved flying gliders. My teenage brother was a ham radio operator and knew that he and other hams could have an important role to play in case of a regional or national disaster, though mostly he tried to catch radio waves from as far away as possible.

All these things sounded like something we citizens could do for ourselves, quite unlike spying on our neighbors and being afraid our own government was spying on us.

The term "homeland" came out of nowhere, as far as I can tell, along with Total Information Awareness and the USA PATRIOT Act. I never, ever, remember hearing my nation called "the homeland" until then. What's that about? :wtf:

Hekate

[I AM SPARTACUS]

16. it's about der fuhrer and der homeland...

...and I'm with ya 100%...

[eleny]

13. Someone posted that Clark can't be Secy Defense

They said that the individual has to be out of the service for 10 years. Does anyone know where we can verify this?

[Dookus]

17. You can verify it right here:

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/10/113.html

TITLE 10 > Subtitle A > PART I > CHAPTER 2 > Sec. 113. Prev | Next
Sec. 113. - Secretary of Defense


(a)

There is a Secretary of Defense, who is the head of the Department of Defense, appointed from civilian life by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. A person may not be appointed as Secretary of Defense within 10 years after relief from active duty as a commissioned officer of a regular component of an armed force.

[Dookus]

18. Even disregarding your specific picks

(far too white, male, and NO president stocks his cabinet with his former opponents)

the idea itself is bad. First, the pool of people to choose from isn't known until after the election. Prominent people who just lost their election are often picked (like Ashcroft). Further, it would be destructive to every one of the candidates if Kerry lost. They'd be known as the Cabinet that Never Served. He also would be unable to pick anybody up for reelection - nobody would vote for someone who's already agreed to leave the job.

Further, it's presumptuous. The senate has to approve all cabinet positions, and having someone run for 8 months then fail confirmation would be disastrous.

Also, vetting candidates takes a lot of time and effort - both of which are better spent by Kerry running his campaign.

I highly doubt there'll be any announcements of cabinet members before the election. There may be some rumors and hints, but nothing official.

[anarchy1999]

19. This is some kind of bad, sick joke, right?

If for real and this is a list of good people, I'm out.

Just google, good 'ole Rand Beers. I believed in him in the beginning, when he quit. Since then, the more I read, the more I know I was wrong to believe he was operating as a good man. It was a sad point in my life. That was just less than a year and a half ago.

My heros, the people that inspire me are, Molly I, GrannyD, Greg Palast, Jim Hightower, Kevin Phillips, Paul Findley, Dennis Kucinich, Jackson T, Will Pitt and RB Ham.

The sisters, the brothers, of all colors, of all faiths. Each and every one of you know who you are. You shame me. If I could only be the saints you are.

The list goes on and on........., BUT if it weren't for all of you, and for all the peacekeepers around this world, I would not want to live this life. For that spark that keeps me going, I believe there are many that feel the same fire. If it were not for all of those before me, I would not be here.

Dear GrannyD, Let me please carry your light forward.