Kerry said John McCain would be his top choice as Defense Sec.

[Quixote1818]

I just heard this on Fox news. I think this is a brilliant move by Kerry. Everyone loves and respects McCain 100 times more than Rumsfeld. If Republicans and Independents start thinking McCain will be the Defense Sec. if Kerry is elected, Kerry's problem of looking weak on the War on terror is solved, and in fact Kerry then has the upper hand over Bush on National Defense. Brilliant move by Kerry!!!! However, I think this makes things more difficult for Clark. With McCain as DS then Clark is no longer needed to shore up Kerry's biggest weakness. I think the nod then goes to Edwards. Too bad as I am a huge Clark fan. Still, a Kerry, Clark ticket with McCain as Sec. of Defense would look about as patriotic as it gets during war time. I think with those three you would have a total of like three silver stars, a bronze star, five or six purple hearts and Clark's medal of honor all running the country! WOW! Could you beat that?

[Caution]

1. arghhhh

again kerry said that McCain would be his top choice to replace Rumsfeld. He did not say that he wanted McCain in his own administration.

[Quixote1818]

5. Not according to Fox news. I heard them say both.

Here is what Fox said:

Fox reported that Kerry said Bush should replace Rumsfeld with McCain and THEN Fox also reported that McCain would be at the top of Kerry's list for Defense Secretary. That's what they said and that can only be interpreted one way.

[Adelante]

2. Bush's SoD, not Kerry's

He said it on Imus this morning about McCain replacing Rumsfeld in the Bush administration.

[RoyGBiv]

3. Ack!

It's bizarre how this story has been twisted. I agree it was a brilliant move, but for a different reason.

On Imus' show this morning, Kerry was railing against the current administration, talking about the absurdity of Shrub's continued support of Rumsfeld in spite of all evidence that he's mangled things badly, and suggesting viable replacements that would not upset the boat, so to speak. He mentioned several people, some Dems, some Repubs.

It was essentially an argument against the notion of not changing the leadership in the midst of a war. It was also, imo, a direct response to those who said Kerry can't be Presidential and could not be trusted with national security issues. He made intelligent suggestions that answered that criticism.

Kerry was not, in fact, directly saying anything about who *his* choices would be, although I'm sure there were some hints as to which way he's thinking.

[taxidriver]

4. hannity and colmes tonight

McCain said, "no, no, no" to questions of whether or not he'd have any part in a kerry administration when Colmes asked him.

[JI7]

6. he said he wants mccain to replace rummy NOW

[mike_c]

7. I believe this is semi-disinformation, but the willingness of dems...

...to embrace it is VERY scary. The "war" is a PNAC smokescreen. Why are there still so many people who don't get this?

[Crunchy Frog]

8. I think it would be a big mistake

for Kerry to put in a Republican as SOD. It's not that there aren't some good and qualified ones, but it really reinforces the prevalent notion that Democrats are weak on defense. I really believe that there are qualified Democrats out there and that this public perception needs to be put to rest once and for all.

[DrFunkenstein]

9. McCain Is Pure Political Theater, And Clark Won't Get The Nod

Kerry already has a few people on his campaign that will get the cabinet position. A few (minor) cabinet positions are appointed for good PR, but I doubt that Kerry will go with (the admittedly very capable) Clark because he had a high profile campaign. Clark is, ironically, closer to the (traditionally cosmetic) position of VP than the Sec. of Defense.



They do look pretty good together, though!

[teryang]

10. The twisting of this story is interesting

...because it damages Kerry. It elevates McCain to a position of authority he doesn't deserve in Democratic eyes. In any case, Perry, and Clark are far better candidates and I'm sure there are others for a Democratic secretary of defense.

[Jersey Devil]

11. He meant now, not in a Kerry Admin

Recognizing the reality that any Rummy replacement would have to be a Republican his first choice would be McCain. I am not surprised that the press was so sloppy in its reporting as to leave the impression that he might be Kerry's choice for his own administration but clearly that is not what he said.

[dolstein]

12. No Republican senator from a state with a Dem governor

will join Kerry's cabinet. Period.