***Choose Obama's VP/Cabinet***

[JohnnyCougar]

If you were presumptive Democratic Party nominee Barack Obama, who would you choose for your cabinet?

This is what I would do:

President: Obama, obviously :)
Vice President: Joe Biden
Secretary of State: Bill Richardson
Secretary of Defense: Jim Webb
EPA Administrator: Al Gore

I don't know about any others. I know some will find fault with my Biden choice for VEEP, but Biden supplements Obama's weaknesses. He is old and white, which may help alleviate old people's fears of voting for a young black person on the ticket. Biden also has a lot of experience, especially in the area of foreign policy. I admire Richardson as a diplomat. This is the only position that I feel 100% on. There are a few other VEEP (Schweitzer, Webb) or DOD (Wes Clark) choices that I would consider, but Richardson for SOS would be a lock with me.

[MadBadger]

1. VP: Webb, Sec of State: Richardson, Sec of Labor/AG: Edwards, Sed Def: Hagel

Environmental Advisor: Al Gore.

[sonias]

6. John Edwards for Attorney General for sure

We need some women in that circle too, but I can't think right now.

Sonia

[Johnny__Motown]

13. I am still saying Edwards for Labor. (a better way to fight poverty than AG)

[JohnnyCougar]

38. I'd like to see the next Supreme Court justice be a woman.

I think the supreme court should be much more balanced.

[gristy]

2. Spitzer for AG

I hear he's available! :D

[gristy]

3. More seriously, Patrick Fitzgerald for AG

From Illinois, no less!

[JohnnyCougar]

9. Wow....Great choice!!!

I mean it. I didn't even think of that. I like Edwards a lot, but I would be really wary of putting a politician in the AG spot.

[Johnny__Motown]

15. I can get behind that too, and he is even a Repug. Looks great for the Unity thing

[MadBadger]

22. How bout Hagel for Sec Def?

[JohnnyCougar]

25. Another very good suggestion.

I would do that in a second.

[MadBadger]

28. Great show of Unity, and we like the guy on foreign policy

[JohnnyCougar]

23. I think Fitzgerald doesn't even deserve an R by his name.

He is fair and unbiased.

And I am partial to him because he got a Jesuit education just like me. There's a lot to admire about the Jesuits.

[Muttocracy]

34. good idea! he's already a step ahead on the big cases! nt

[Muttocracy]

4. Gore might be better as Sec. of Energy or UN Ambassador

EPA isn't even technically a cabinet position, though I would LOVE it if Obama elevated it.

Biden can be VP as long as he's given a big role in foreign policy. Bush/Cheney/Rice/Rumsfeld have certainly left enough of a mess that there is plenty of work for those folks on your list to do - no minor jobs there.

Edwards as Attorney General?

Clinton on Supreme Court? I don't like her as a politician, but I do think she is very bright and analytical, and would shine on the Court.

[Muttocracy]

5. Here's the list of current cabinet occupants:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/cabinet.html

[NewHampshireDem]

7. I like it

But I don't see it.

I know a lot of people really, really like Biden, but I don't think he has enough name recognition as a big-time FP guy. (Does that make sense?)

I also think it would be a mistake to pull Webb from the Senate for SecDef. I really like Webb and would consider pulling him for VP, though he may be a little tainted--but we need him in the Senate, too.

I'd like to see Clark as VP or as SecDef.

Richardson? Looks good in that slot.

But ... how about Hillary for State?

I like what you've done with Gore, but I doubt he would accept. I'd like to see him head up a special project--an Apollo-mission style energy initiative.

If Obama wanted to throw a bone to the Republicans, I think EPA would be a good place, if he could find a conservation-minded former senator (I am embarassed to say that I cannot recall the name of the one we had in New Hampshire ... it will come to me).

[saltpoint]

8. Some good folks ya got on that list.

I'd like to see John Edwards as Attorney General of the United States.

While Biden has said he doesn't want the veep slot or the Sec. of State slot, he's wildly qualified for either and I hope he will reconsider his position. The country's foreign policy has taken a catastrophic hit the last 8 years and I think of Biden as the person I'd most want in charge of mending that many foreign policy fences.

Bill Richardson is the very next person I'd think of, but Gov. Richardson is on my short list for veeps. I like this guy.

If Gore wants the EPA job, I don't see grounds for objection to his qualifications to fill it.

I'm warming to Gov. Sebelius as Obama's running mate. I liked her quite a bit. I liked her old man quite a bit, too.

Tom Daschle was a stand-up ally for Barack Obama from the very very early seconds of the race and would be of assistance to Obama in shepherding legacy-defining legislation through the 111th Congress and forward. He is also a major Democratic name west of the Mississippi and would likely not freak out establishmentarian voters. Or as Obama's chief of staff.

I would like to see Bill Bradley make Obama's shortlist for veep. Absent that option, Bradley would serve beautifully as Health & Human Services Secretary.

Bush has screwed our veterans start to finish, high to low, and then some. We need a person with bedrock decency to reverse that policy and restore dignity and just benefits to our soldiers and their families. Max Cleland's name comes to mind immediately.

I think Robert F. Kennedy, Jr is owed fair and deep consideration as vice president.

A politically strategic move for Obama might be to choose Nancy Pelosi as his running mate. Supporters of Hillary Clinton would have a female on the ticket after all, and one who has a national profile. A grandmother, no less. I had overlooked Pelosi as a possibility until a DUer or two mentioned her, and as I shuffle the cards at the Big Poker Table, I think she brings a lot.

Other DUers have listed Bob Graham for veep. If we're going to fight for Florida versus McCain, we'd need at least Graham to do it. It would still be tough, but not impossible.

Vilsack, Rendell, Clark and Bayh all supported Clinton in the primary, which is not to say they would decline service if asked and not to suggest they might each bring something to bear toward a blue victory. At first glance pro-Obama loyalists might deserve higher consideration, but if the landscape requires an unblinking political strategy, we should go with what will help us.

I think in the longshot category is Jim Webb, but only because he's so desperately needed to keep Virginia in Democratic hands. Kaine is a consideration. Also a longshot is Lincoln Chafee, who would normally not make a list of considerations except that he bolted from the Republicans to be an independent. An Obama/Chafee ticket would be historic in more than one way and would give many moderate Republicans ample reason to reject McCain. We here don't NEED reasons to reject McCain, as we already know those reasons by heart. But we want to fight for votes in the purple states, and independents may decide those states' outcomes.

[MadBadger]

14. I'm willing to bet Nancy likes her speaker position.

[saltpoint]

16. Probably you're right.

Or, maybe she wants to be the veep.

This is going to get interesting.

[MadBadger]

27. Ive always thought that Nancy doesnt like Hillary very much, for one reason

I think she likes being arguably the most powerful woman in the nation (Condi Rice is up there too). So I dont see her leaving anyway.

[JohnnyCougar]

17. Sebelius is a great choice for VEEP

I didn't think of her, either. Someone also mentioned Napolitano. Would that make Arizona competitive versus McCain? I wonder, but Napolitano could help us out in Nevada/New Mexico.

[saltpoint]

21. Hi, JohnnyCougar -- yes, I think you're right on both counts.

Gov. Napolitano would force McCain to work for his home state.

It's her home state, too, and I think she's a fighter.

Two strong, very capable, tough, smart women governors from red states.

[splat]

10. Only boys allowed in the fantasy Obamacrat cabinet? Why am I not surprised?

[MadBadger]

11. Thats cuz we're all part of the he-man women hater's club

[JohnnyCougar]

30. There's plenty of room for women.

And there are plenty of good alternatives that are women for VEEP. Why don't you suggest someone instead of complaining? There's plenty of cabinet positions I didn't mention.

[carpediem]

12. Adding on. Elizabeth Edwards as HHS n/t

.

[JohnnyCougar]

19. How is she doing?

I haven't heard any news on her in a while. Is she in remission?

[carpediem]

29. I was very impressed with her testimony this morning.

I thought she would make a great HHS because she is tough and also sympathetic. She is quite compelling and I think she has crossover appeal.

[Muttocracy]

39. her testimony from today is up in the Political Videos forum. nt

[K Gardner]

18. Now, THIS thread excites me !!

[Johnny__Motown]

20. I Like Janet Napolitano for Veep

[MadBadger]

24. I wonder if Obama could embrass McCain and win AZ

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MadBadger]

31. Our favorite?

[NewHampshireDem]

33. He's my favorite, too

But I'm too much of a realist to think the money I sent him was ever anything more than symbolic. :(

I do think, though, that we (and by that I mean myself, too) have been wrong to overlook him. He would make an excellent UN Ambassador, Labor Sec, or special envoy to one of our world hotspots.

[MadBadger]

37. What a good little freeper you are.

[Muttocracy]

40. our? how long have you been lurking? nt

[MadBadger]

43. Def not a Lurker. Edwards was the DU darling, not DK

[Muttocracy]

44. yeah, I was just teasing the troll. I'm pretty sure it's the same new one just TS'ed.

[KAZ]

32. Claire McCaskill has been outstanding lately.

[MadBadger]

35. Leave her in the Senate though. She's a great surrogate, but she should remain where she is.

[KAZ]

42. I know, I know! I agree with you and Johnny below. But his woman...

.. should have a big future in our party.

[JohnnyCougar]

36. Yup...but do we need her in the Senate?

To me, that's a Senate seat that would be hard to find an electable replacement. I guess you could make the same argument against Webb. But I have too much faith in the Warner machine. That guy could pull victory out of a top hat if he needed to.

[PoliticalAmazon]

41. I would BEG, BEG, BEG for Al Gore as Sec. of the Interior...

...I know he doesn't want to run for office, but damn he would be a perfect Sec. of the Interior.

[Muttocracy]

45. Gore can be Secretary of Environment (make it cabinet level) and fold in

Interior, EPA, and Energy :)

[PoliticalAmazon]

56. Don't think it would be a good idea for Obama, as one of his first....

efforts in Congress, to change the name of a cabinet position.

I think Gore would be magnificent as either Secretary of the Interior or head of the EPA.

I know he's said he doesn't want to run for office, but this would be different.

He's also said that the reason he won't run for office is because of his Nobel Prize. Don't know if this would, in his mind, preclude him from a cabinet position. I hope not. We need him and his influence working for our country's natural resources and enviornment.

[chknltl]

46. Obama/ Murray '08

VP.: Patty Murray
Sec. Of State: Joe Biden
Sec. Of Defense: Wes Clark
Attorney General: Dennis Kucinich
Presidential Adviser: Rachel Maddow
VP. Adviser: Thom Hartmann
EPA Administrator: Al Gore (of course)
Sec. of Health and Urban Development: Hillary Clinton
White House Press Secretary: John Stewert

[JohnnyCougar]

50. White House Press Sec.: John Stewart...

Now there's a fucking brilliant idea! :)

[chascarrillo]

52. Unfortuantely, Bill Hicks isn't available. Maybe Lewis Black would do in a pinch.

[chknltl]

54. Well they got Tony Snow from Faux

So it's not like they've never used TV news comedians before.

[chascarrillo]

47. VP: Cantwell (D-WA).

Safe Senate seat (unlike Webb). Sharp as a tack. Excellent on interior and energy issues. She is a little bit to the right of our other Senator, but otherwise she's been great. And there's always the possibility that - as a Clinton endorser - she may help to mollify bitter Clinton supporters.

[davidinalameda]

48. I always heard that Cantwell wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed

and with the governor's race in Washington up in the air, I don't want to see any possible repug appointees

[chascarrillo]

51. I'd heard that criticism about Murray, but not Cantwell. Plus, I think Gregoire's seat is safe.

Polls aren't looking good for Rossi. Once a loser, always a loser.

[newmajority]

53. Rossi ain't stealing the election this time either

Not that I want Cantwell as VP. For one thing, she's one of those DLC senators who can't seem to vote with the party nearly enough.

And besides - I honestly can't believe I have to keep repeating this in every VP/cabinet thread, but two senators on a ticket just is not going to happen.

[Exultant Democracy]

49. Call me crazy, but I think Gore sould be Sec of State, Nobel Peace Prize not withstanding

if we are going to make it environmental protection has to become the primary concern of our policy.

[JohnnyCougar]

55. Kick.

[scheming daemons]

57. Labor: Edwards.... Energy: Gore.... DOD: Webb.... VP: Richardson.... HUD: Brazile.... State: Nunn