A cabinet for Kerry

[T_i_B]

Courtesy of Albert Scardino and John Scardino writing in the UK Guardian. I've only really scratched the surface of the ideas for appointments in this article but you lot can make of this what you will.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/comment/story/0,14259,1165744,00.html

First, the vice-president, even though it is not a Plum assignment. Conventional wisdom says the governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson (Hispanic), or the Florida Senator Bob Graham (a southerner). Evan Bayh, the former governor of Indiana and now a senator, could help bring in the swing states of the midwest. Because the current Indiana governor is also a Democrat, he would appoint a fellow party member to fill Bayh's term and so would not hurt the Democrats in the Senate. So Richardson, Bayh or Graham. Democratic party demographics demand Richardson. Bayh to housing and urban development or another department. Graham retires from the Senate this year and so could fill any number of posts.

Secretary of state: Richard Holbrooke says Richard Holbrooke is the leading candidate. He brokered the Bosnia peace deal and knows his way around a negotiating table and the diplomatic press corps.

The former Senator Gary Hart has stayed clean since his humiliation on the yacht Monkey Business ended his own presidential aspirations 20 years ago. His prescient analysis of American vulnerability to terrorist attack by airliner in 2000 shows he understands how to listen to intelligence: from frisky to wise in a generation. Unless Colin Powell wants to stay on in an administration that would pay attention to him for a change, Hart would be a strong ambassador to the world. Holbrooke could become a newspaper editor, since he knows everything.

Attorney general: Edwards. Trial lawyer, concern for civil rights and human rights. Good holding pen while he awaits appointment to the supreme court. At that point, John Conyers, an African-American congressman from Michigan, could move from his seat as ranking Democrat on the house judiciary committee to the department of justice. That would make him the country's first black chief law enforcement officer, causing heartburn for all those Americans with Confederate flags on their pickups, as one-time leader Howard Dean put it.

[MarianJack]

1. Some Suggestions

Ed Rendell would be a great Atty. Gen., but would probably not want to leave being PA Gov. after such a short time on the job. Especially after wanting it for sooooo long and so many people saying he could never get it.

Possibly Clark for State. Hart for Defense or Homeland Security ( maybe even National Security advisor).

I think Powell's willingness to give up all of the principles he's supposedly always had TOTALLY disqualifies him from ANY spot in the Kerry cabinet!

[JI7]

2. "Richard Holbrooke says Richard Hoolbrook is the leading candidate"

"Richard Holbrooke says Richard Holbrooke is the leading candidate. "

is this for reals ? holbrooke himself is saying he is the leading candidate for sos ? that's kind of funny. although i do agree holbrooke would make a good sos. i just think it's funny he is saying it about himself.

[JI7]

3. John Conyers for attorney general ? i like that

never thought of it myself. but it's a good idea. i remember him during impeachment hearings. he kicked ass.

[Finch]

4. Sounds good...

Posted this before but I'll try and be comprehensive...and I've made one or two changes

President: John F Kerry

Vice President: John Edwards (or Mark Warner, Bill Nelson, Evan Bayh, Mary Landrieu etc…)


Sectary of State: Richard Holbrooke

Why: Exact reasons you’ve already stated plenty of experience, he would have the gravitas that would be need, has a history of supporting multilateralism but is also an exponent of America having a specific role in the world in terms of promoting democracy and challenging undemocratic and repressive regimes.

Sectary of Defence: Bob Graham

Why: Large amount of experience in Washington especially with matters pertaining to defence as he has been for some time a senior member of the senate Select Committee on Intelligence. He’s also a moderate and a hawk who despite this opposed the war on Iraq from the outset.

Sectary of Homeland Security: Gary Hart

Why: Would have been a good pick for SofS, however it is in the area of national security and the prevention of terrorism that he has been most active since leaving politics in 1988, having been actively involved with national security and international policy think tanks -- writing extensively and passionately on those topics. He also served on the US Commission on National Security, which had endorsed creation of a homeland security agency before the 9-11 attacks. He would bring a wealth of knowledge to the post and would be a competent reliable sectary of homeland security.

Sectary of Veterans Affairs: Max Cleland

Why: Because its right…any others reasons?...well he’s a moderate, a veteran and his record on social security (the area which arguably most effects vets) he has consistently supported the rights of older citizens and added to this he has always defended the rights of serving troops.

Sectary of Commerce: Robert Reich

Why: Plenty of experience under Clinton. Populist leanings on economic issues especially protectionism, remember that he left the Clinton Administration in 1998 over Clinton’s swing to the right, so a cabinet member with principles and an early backer of Kerry.

Sectary of Education: John Breaux

Why: Now this will seem unpopular, but if you look at his voting record on eduction…

Voted YES on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
Voted YES on funding student testing instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
Voted YES on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction. (Apr 2001)
Voted YES on Educational Savings Accounts. (Mar 2000)
Voted NO on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules. (Mar 1999)
Voted YES on education savings accounts. (Jun 1998)
Voted YES on school vouchers in DC. (Sep 1997)
Voted NO on $75M for abstinence education. (Jul 1996)
Voted NO on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer. (Jul 1994)
Voted YES on national education standards. (Feb 1994)
Offer every parent Charter Schools and public school choice. (Aug 2000)
Three R’s: $35B for Reinvestment, Reinvention, Responsibility. (Jan 2001)

…added to this he is a moderate would get confirmed by the senate in a heartbeat and would make a high profile education sec and as a result raise the prominence of the area nationally…

Sectary of Health and Human Services: Jeanne Shaheen

Why: Plenty to boast about in the area when she was gov in NH… and added to this she is a moderate and would be confirmed by congress…

Sectary of Housing and Urban Development: Jennifer Mann

Sectary of Labour:? 2005-06, after that Tom Vilsack

Sectary of the Treasury: Robert Rubin

Why: Clinton’s economic chief, excellent record with the deficit heading to be even worse than it was in 1992 he’s the best man for the job…

Sectary of Transportation: Michael Coleman

Sectary of Environment: John Kitzhaber

Why: Great record when he was gov in OR, a big proponent of renewable energy and with experience of building bipartisan coalitions over certain issues especially ones pertaining to the environment. In addition his folksy manner is great almost Bush like and would make him a very likeable and affable national figure while not brash or uncouth.

Attorney General: John Conyers

Why: Conyers has fought long and hard for the solidification of civil rights on Capitol Hill, while gaining the admiration and respect of Democrats and Republicans alike. He has been a forerunner in bringing public attention to the necessity of election reform. Along with Connecticut senator Christopher Dodd, he co-authored the Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act of 2001, which outlines equal protection standards for voting rights and methods in federal, state, and local jurisdictions, and supports those standards with a grant program and a voting rights commission to prevent disenfranchisement in regard to ballots and voting procedures. He has been a major force in legislative efforts in many different areas including terrorism and immigration both important contemporary issues that as AG he would have to tackle.

National Security Adviser: James Rubin



And that’s my rather long winded analysis….

[JI7]

5. john breaux's support for vouchers disqualify him

the support for vouchers alone disqualify him for education secretary. i think a former governor or other local or state official would be good for education sec because they know the issues of how states or local govt deal with education in terms of funding and requirements and how the federal gov can help out.

[janx]

7. Oy! You are right--please, no voucher supporting person

for education secretary!

[Name removed]

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[janx]

14. Thanks but no thanks!

;-)

[Name removed]

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[janx]

6. It's fascinating (and flattering) that the Guardian is publishing

this, isn't it?

[spooky3]

8. Why not take their good Edwards idea one step further?

Edwards should be Kerry's first appointee to the SOTUS.

[Name removed]

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[janx]

9. Richardson keeps saying that he will have none of the vice

presidency, but I still think he'd be great. Someone from the southwest would make for some balance.

[Finch]

10. Southwest is...

...not where this election will be won or lost in total the votes up for grabs from AZ, NV and NM total 20 electoral votes...while when it comes to the Midwest and the states which could go either way Ohio, West Virginia, Minnesota and Iowa (I'd bet that WI will go Dem and MO will go to the GOP)total 42 electoral votes...Richardson would have added gravitas to a ticket headed by Edwards but with Kerry he brings little other than a Hispanic who might be able to offset the damage from Bush's immigration polices....In the Midwest you are looking for a candidate who can appeal to those who have suffered economically under Bush particularly those in the "steel belt" (PA. WV and OH) many of whom voted GOP in 2000 and moderate independents and swing voters... interestingly (and partly because of real lack of talent in the Midwest, Feingold, Bayh and Gramholm being the exceptions and Rendell and Harkin if you include IA and PA) most of the potential VP who would help there are southern Edwards and Warner are the best candidates to appeal to the Midwest while despite his lack of charisma Bayh would also help in central and western Ohio other candidates like Graham, Landrieu and Nelson might also help but in a less direct way...

[Name removed]

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[Finch]

16. Oh come on any one know what the deleted message was?

[DaveSZ]

17. Finch

If Kerry can't even carry Missouri, then we're in trouble.

Missouri is pretty much THE bellwether state.

[Finch]

18. Gore could have won without Missouri...

... out of Ohio and Missouri which Bush won last time and we need to win this time in order to win the electoral colledge... Ohio is our best bet high unemployment and an unpopular republican governor as well as the steel tariff issue, the same factors could also help us in WV having said that both states are socially conservative and any trumpeting of socially liberal views could cost us dearly in both states and possibly PA (which we will probably win any way)...

[T_i_B]

19. Some more from the article

Secretary of the treasury: the Maine senator Olympia Snowe is the obvious choice, a double winner as a woman and a Republican from a seat where a Democrat could be appointed or elected to fill an unexpired term. And she is very good at making everyone feel a competent person is in charge.

Secretary of defence: Lt Gen Claudia Kennedy. Would be the first woman to head the Pentagon. Might bring in her home state of Virginia, too. She is already a Kerry adviser.

Secretary of health and human services: Jeanne Shaheen, former governor of New Hampshire, just the sort of fireball Kerry will need to reform a health care system currently controlled by insurance companies, doctors and hospital operators.

Secretary of homeland security: Max Cleland, former Senator from Georgia, war veteran, lost several limbs in Vietnam, defeated for re-election two years ago because he opposed Cheney's demand that Congress waive civil service rules for 60,000 new employees of the department. "He put support for organised labour ahead of the security of the people," said the Republican right in its campaign literature. Actually, his crime was to stand up for fair employment practices against a Republican attempt to roll back the clock to the 19th century, for which he was branded unpatriotic.

[sir_captain]

20. How about Eliot Spitzer for AG?

Spitzer is great, and you could be sure that Enron and company would start shuddering with him in charge. There are a lot of rumors in NY that Spitzer would love to be AG for two years and then make a run at Pataki next time around. Lord knows I'm all for that. I think I have it in for Pataki nearly as much as Bush.