Senator Kerry deserves to be appointed to whatever cabinet post he wants

[Politics_Guy25]

As many of you may know, Senator Kerry is rumored to strongly want the secretary of state position in the incoming Obama administration. I have reservations but Senator Kerry had the wisdom to give our president-elect the keynote address in 2004 which allowed President-Elect Obama to take off and when Senator Clinton could have run away with the nomination after her stunning come from behind victory in New Hampshire, Senator Kerry stepped in and helped reverse the momentum by delivering a key endorsement of our president-elect just at the right time. He also built up support within the party establishment at a time when Senator Clinton seemed inevitable for our president-elect. Not to mention, on a personal level, becoming a cabinet secretary will help erase the painful memories of 2004.

He's not my top choice but loyalty and support need to be rewarded, espeially the level of support and loyalty that he gave to the president-elect.

[Olney Blue]

1. He is qualified. That should be the only reason he is appointed.

[LittleClarkie]

2. I would not give anyone anything out of loyalty

He IS my top pick, but I would only give it to him if he is the best man for the job. I know he wants SoS, and I think he'd be a good and tireless worker in whatever position he was given.

But giving people positions out of loyalty smacks of "Heck of a job, Brownie".

[kerry-is-my-prez]

11. That's what Bush did - hire loyalists and cronies.

n.t

[stray cat]

3. I don't want rewards for support - Bush did that. I want the most competent!

All of the rest of us get judged on competence -why not for the people who lead the entire country?

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

4. Except for

Secretary Of Awesomeness. I'm hoping to get that one.

[racaulk]

5. We've just had 8 years where loyalty and support have been rewarded.

Please, no more of that. I admire and appreciate Kerry's ardent support of Obama during his campaign, but give the position to Kerry if he's the best man for the job--that should be the only qualification.

[stray cat]

6. Rewards for services = Harriet Miers for supreme court by Bush

[blm]

7. Baloney - First off, Kerry ISN'T pushing for it. Second, he's considered because he's unmatched

when it comes to across the board knowledge on all the most pressing matters the next SoS will be dealing with - Global terrorism, global financial crisis, global water issues and climate change, AND he has earned the respect for his integrity in world affairs for DECADES and earned the closeness of his relationships with other world leaders.

Kerry was a most qualified lawmaker for President....the rest of the world knows that....and they would be honored that a man of his qualifications and depth of knowledge would be chosen to oversee the relationships the US has with the rest of the world.

[Sebass1271]

8. Bravo!.. Well Said

[ProSense]

16. This is the same tactic the MSM is using,

claim Sen. Kerry is pushing for it so that if Obama appoints him, it smacks of cronyism.

Kerry is highly qualified, and the decision is Obama's.

The one thing about all the noise is that they don't consider that Kerry may well want to stay in the Senate.

[politicasista]

19. That's right n/t

[AtomicKitten]

9. Loyalty schmoyalty. Kerry is eminently qualified for a number of cabinet positions.

He nudged Obama into the limelight and for that I will forever be grateful.

[Occam Bandage]

10. If Bush taught us anything, it should be that loyalty is a horrible reason to appoint someone

to any post--even for backwater posts that nobody particularly notices but once or twice a decade (such as, say, FEMA).

Kerry should be appointed to a cabinet post if and only if he is the most qualified willing person in the nation for that particular post.

[TeamJordan23]

12. We need someone new and different or nothing is going to get done. nm

[Lumpsum]

13. The only person that deserves a spot is Dean.

Everyone else should be hired on their credentials, not loyalty.

[karynnj]

17. That's an insult to Dean - why not say that he should get a position

because of what he did - just as all the real Kerry people are saying for Kerry. On SOS threads, I've argued for Kerry because he is an exceptional candidate. I personally almost hope that he will stay in the Senate as SFRC chair. There he will retain his independence and will be a voice for change in foreign policy - one I hope Obama's is similar to. He has been a voice for changing fp since 1971 and his father was his main influence. There will be many fearing real change - and there are many in the Democratic party that have always supported the types of policies that led to funding the Contras against left leaning governments, arming OBL to fight the USSR etc Kerry is one of the few high profile politicians who always fought that.

In addition, there are many many issues that Kerry has worked on where he is well positioned because of his committee assignments. He listed many in his victory speech and his spokeswoman has said he wants to stay in the Senate and is not lobbying for a position. Kennedy's health does complicate his moving. What is clear is that Obama trusted him enough that his convention speech was unvetted - if it were his heart's desire, I can't imagine that he wouldn't get SOS.

[ecstatic]

14. Right message, wrong delivery

He is qualified enough for a position, but he isn't owed anything.

[Shakespeare]

15. Cabinet positions are not doled out because someone "deserves" something.

Or they shouldn't be, at any rate, and thank GOD it appears that's the Obama team's take on the matter, too.

Whomever is appointed to the various cabinet spots will be because they are the best, most qualified individual for the job.

We've just finished a nightmare administration where people who "deserved" positions were given them over people infinitely more qualified. You need to think very hard about that as it regards your OP.

[PVnRT]

18. You know, a president got assassinated for trying to bring an end to that

Loyalty is not a qualification for a cabinet post, period.

[beachmom]

20. John Kerry official statement. He is NOT interested in SoS job:

http://www.politickerma.com/jeremyjacobs/1889/kerry-camp-reports-interest-sec-state-job-are-ridiculous

Kerry's name has been frequently mentioned as a possibility for secretary of state and some reports have gone so far as to say he is interested in the post.

Brigid O'Rourke, the Boston Democrat's spokeswoman, called those reports "ridiculous."

"This is the political silly season when media speculation is rampant about the new administration," she said. "John Kerry just won an overwhelming victory for his 5th term in the United States Senate and he's not looking for any job other than the one he already has. Any assertion otherwise is simply ridiculous and flat out untrue."

[politicasista]

21. Looks like the bashers and chronic Kerry haters will be happy

They got their wish.



Yep. He'll be cool as SFRC Chair though.

[blm]

22. The constant lies of Kerry's enemies - claiming he's PRESSING for the job and traded his endorsement

for the job are all the same enemies he picked up over the years for daring to uncover and expose massive government corruption that reached into the establishment powerstructure of most of DC and even in the Dem party.

NONE of these people want Kerry in any position to obtain access to documents from foreign governments.

[Sensitivity]

23. Shared vision and loyalty are important in key Cabinet positions for smooth working of Gov. Kerry's

unmatched qualifications and international profile is the reason for speculation about and support for his appointment in that position.

[PresidentObama]

24. Kerry for SOS n/t

[Laura PourMeADrink]

25. plus - having his own chance stolen away

[Thrill]

26. If Kerry wants to be Secretary of State. He will likely get it

He's more than qualified, shares Obama's views on Foreign Policy, and has a safe Senate seat

[PresidentObama]

29. Absolutely, I agree n/t

[ibegurpard]

27. Support and loyalty rewarded?

Uh, no. How about competence, qualifications, and integrity?
I'm not saying Kerry doesn't have these things but I've had quite enough of government by cronyism thanks.

[Sensitivity]

28. That is the specific argument for and against Richardson -- w Clinton first now w Obama

The Clintonites called Richardson a Judas because he was previously rewarded with Ambassadorships and a Cabinet position based on his loyalty -- which he betrayed in his Obama endorsement.

Sources in the Lationo community told me prior to his endorsement of Obama that the deal would be the SOS position -- simple as that.

There have been no such rumors re Kerry who is quite clearly best positioned in terms of international reputation and expertize to take the SOS role if Barack wants him to do it.

[Beacool]

30. I got no problem with that.

Better him than Richardson.

[Sensitivity]

31. Probably the senator most qualified for governance

[Mass]

32. Only reason to be considered and chosen is because he is eminently qualified for that.

No other reason is valid.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[gmoney]

34. Secretary of windsurfing

I hear he's getting pretty good...