OK, "progressives." Put up or shut up.

[Skidmore]

I'm to death of these labels and am not certain who you all are. I consider myself progressive and liberal--in whatever way you wish to order those two words. I don't have a problem with any of Obama's picks.

So, what the heck would your ideal cabinet picks be? Huh? What would a "progressive" cabinet look like? And make a list of one that could hit the ground running.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. I don't know.

People who didn't support the war in Iraq?

[JVS]

2. That would be nice

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. And people who were against rendition?

Is this that difficult?

[TechBear_Seattle]

6. For some people, it clearly IS that difficult n/t

[dflprincess]

12. And people who are not members of the DLC

or supporters of putting corporations before people.

[PassingFair]

25. That was the straw that broke the progressive's back.

The 133 House Members that KNEW the intel
was "dodgy" and voted appropriately.

The others cynically figured that a
yes vote would be politically expedient.

How'd that work out for them?

Not so well with the voters....

OK with the K street influence peddlers.

[Uzybone]

4. The handwringers wont/cant do it

because they are more interested in whining than providing any solutions.

You'll never see a list of names who should be in, just condemnation of those who Obama has picked.

[PassingFair]

20. There should be a place in Obama's administration for ...

Robert Reich
Richard Clarke
Howard Dean
Scott Ritter
Bobby Muller
John Dean
James Comey

MULTIPLE Generals who stepped down rather than
wage the Chimperor's war.

Bunnatine Greenhouse,
Colleen Rowley and MULTIPLE other
whistleblowers in the Pentagon and
the FBI.

There should be vindication for those who stood up
to the criminals.

Instead, we get a host of Vichy collaborators.

[Kalyke]

26. Wes Clark should be added there...

[Hawkowl]

49. Amen!

I'll add Dennis Kucinich to the list.

Team of rivals my ass. Team of DLC stooges who bear responsibility for the deregulation fiasco and bungled occupation.

[Upton]

5. What was wrong with Kerry for SoS?

At least he has admitted his vote on the IWR was wrong.

[Marrah_G]

7. Perhaps his wisdom and strength are more needed in the Senate

Also now would be a very bad time for him to leave the Senate. Sen Kennedy is very ill and if Kerry resigned from the senate we would be losing not one, but two great and influential Senators.

[Orsino]

8. That would be a start.

I can see an obvious reason to nominate Clinton in his place, though. She is widely loved, and I think that's going to make an important difference in our international affairs.

Neither Kerry nor Clinton is a progressive.

[anonymous171]

11. WTF? I thought Kerry was a progressive?

[Orsino]

29. There are almost no progressives in Congress.

Progressives don't tend to vote for unprovoked war on bogus pretenses, or to keep funding such ventures.

But the "center" in American politics is conservative, a label that could be applied to most Democrats as well as republicans.

[PassingFair]

31. The Progressive Caucus is the single largest partisan caucus in the United States House ...

of Representatives.

They are outnumbered only because the Corporate Sponsored "New Dems"
and the mostly southern "Blue Dogs" usually vote together.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_Progressive_Caucus

[Orsino]

38. Heh.

It's easy to confuse progressive with "Progressive," and that confusion is even partially justified by the rightward tilt of modern American politics. It all depends on where one wants to draw the line.

Neocons can call Kerry a liberal all day long, for example, but IMO that's stupid. He's only "liberal" compared to the proto-fascists across the aisle.

[PassingFair]

39. Did you review the list in the House?

These people are willing to label themselves "Progressives".

They mostly fit the mold, too.

[Orsino]

48. Again, I'm less interested in labels than in voting records...

... impressive as is a willingness to accept the "progressive" label.

I think that some alleged Progressives will surprise us, though, by actually showing a little progressive spine in the coming years. I believe that Obama is pragmatic enough to lead us in that direction, and progressive legislation will become imperative as the economic crisis deepens.

We'll see.

[PassingFair]

53. These people DO show spine.

Unfortunately, they are shouted down
by the unholy alliance of New Dems and
Blue Dogs.

With majorities in both houses, true
colors will show. They will no longer
have the puglicans for cover.

[Orsino]

57. I'm crossing my fingers. n/t

[PassingFair]

58. You and me both, Orsino...

[Raineyb]

28. Loved by whom? Are you talking abroad?

Because in this country as many people can't stand her as love her.

Regards

[Orsino]

36. Yeah, abroad...

...that being particularly relevant to her new post. That love isn't entirely justified, of course, but the Clinton era probably looks pretty damned good to foreigners most familiar with the Bush debacle.

Building up goodwill abroad is an important task, and Clinton will help, even if her effect is mostly nostalgia-based.

[Windy]

9. I've tried this before. They have NO answers.... none.

I have no problem with any of Obama's picks. I can see where he's going and I also know that when he says that the buck stops with him, he means it. Policy also begins with him.

[PassingFair]

15. We DO have answers. You are not listening. n/t

[harun]

16. I don't have any problems with his picks either but one can

get people from a wide range of sources, private industry, academia, etc.

In terms of progressives most people here have differing opinions of what one is. For me I would like him to give preference to those who support real health care reform, did not support the Iraq war, do not support U.S. Imperialism, do not support a unitary executive, do not support the B*sh doctrine, a little interventionism is ok but the less the better. Also to pick those who do not support oppression of the middle and lower classes (like Republicans). Of course most Democrats do not fall in to that last category. And lastly but most importantly none that are anything even close to a neo-conservative.

I think he is doing fine with his picks. I would like to see Dennis Kucinich as the new health care reform tzar and Juan Cole as SoS but know that might asking too much at this time.

[PassingFair]

10. Progressives:

Disapprove of the Iraq War and those who voted to authorize it.
(Especially the unrepentant ones)
Approve of Impeachment proceedings against Bush and Cheney
Approve of National Health Care
Disapprove of the "Bankruptcy Bill" as passed
Approve of a distinct Separation of Church and State
Approve of Unions
Disapprove of UNREGULATED corporate greed

Some Progressives:

Russ Feingold
Dennis Kucinich
Barbara Boxer
Jan Schakowsky
Pete Stark
Paul Wellstone (R.I.P.)
Henry Waxman
Bernie Sanders
Jerrold Nadler
Patrick Leahy
Dick Durbin
Bob Graham
Jim Jeffords (Progressive Independent Republican)
and both Levins

I'd include Ted Kennedy, but he walks the line
between Progressive and Old-School Liberal, really
in a class by himself.

There are more, and before you start citing individual votes
that don't meet the criteria, they don't ALL get it right ALL
the time, but for the most part, THESE are the democrats that
should be rewarded and LISTENED TO.

The bravest and the smartest. The ones with INTEGRITY.

Edited to include Dennis Kucinich.

[polichick]

13. Excellent post - progressives lead the way toward liberty and justice for all...

...while other Dems drag ass behind ~ and Republicans stand in the way.

[Skidmore]

30. And you just assume that Obama does not have

the goals of liberty and justice for all at heart? That he is determined to obstruct pursuit of either of those?

[PassingFair]

33. I am saying he doesn't seem to care to promote them.

Strong-arm, war-loving Rahm Emanuel sent a BAD
signal to most alert progressives.

[polichick]

37. Actually, the assumption is yours - I consider Obama a progressive.

[PassingFair]

41. He asks a direct question in the OP, a DARE....

and then puts words in our mouths and
ignores the answers and suggestions....

:crazy:

I considered that Obama was our
best chance at "progressive progress"
if you will, but his cabinet picks
have left me cold.

[polichick]

43. I've explained my take by saying that this cabinet would be frightening...

...if not for Obama.

I think he's choosing this way for two reasons ~ to give him political cover as he moves the country in a new direction (slightly left, but he wants to get away from labels), and to provide the insider experience to get it done as quickly as possible.

[Skidmore]

44. I'm glad to see that

and apologize for not understanding the direction you were taking in your comments. I also believe that Obama is a progressive and that he is a smart one who knows that he needs to rein in those who would work against him. I think he has a number of people in his orbit who are in the position of needing to implement whatever agenda he puts out there--one, I think, which will generally have strong progressive ideas running through it. I don't think it is in his nature to be anything other than progressive.

[PassingFair]

45. I hope you are right.

:)

I REALLY do.

[polichick]

46. "I don't think it is in his nature to be anything other than progressive."

I agree with you!

[mvd]

14. Those are some good names

And my cabinet would look like that - not sure I would want to remove Kucinich from Congress, though. But the names chosen by PE Obama are capable and will improve the U.S.'s reputation. I feel a lot better in their hands.

[PassingFair]

17. I can't BELIEVE I left Kucinich off the list!!!

:wow:

What an omission!

[Milo_Bloom]

21. For me it isn't about "rewarding"

It should be about having the best THINKERS around the table.

Your list includes some incredible thinkers, who have shown independent thought, even when it bucked their party or popular opinion.

I want to know in my heart that the advice Obama is getting is the advice the cabinet person believes is best for the country, not best for the cabinet person's personal career or the good of the party.

[PassingFair]

23. By "rewarded" I mean...

they should be called upon for their expertise,
intelligence and their integrity.

[Skidmore]

32. Do you think that Obama will not independently seek the

advice of as wide a range of people as possible and that he is so myopic as to limit the input he receives to just a handful of people? I think he has already demonstrated that he is willing to receive and use input from many, including us.

[PassingFair]

35. I don't hear him talking about it, no. n/t

[Skidmore]

47. Realistically, Obama is constrained now from saying much at all.

He has not yet been installed in office and * is still in control. I definitely have a problem with all of the handwringing going on now and believe that the man should be given a chance to at least do something actively in office before the backstabbing begins.

[PassingFair]

50. And I don't believe that it is "backstabbing" to vocalize the creeping alarm...

Progressives feel when they see a bunch of
war hawks and torture proponents included
in Obama's inner circle.

The "secret vote" to keep Lieberman in his
position was not helpful, either.

[Skidmore]

55. I'm liking it that Lieberman is out there trying to figure out

if he is relevant or not. That was a masterful move made more telling by ole Joe commiserating ruefully that Obama hasn't returned any of his calls. Joe was given a short rope, just enough to hang himself with and short enough to jerk when need be.

As for hawks and torture proponents, it will be a pleasure to watch them be forced to fix all the harm they've done, and I believe Obama will do just that.

[PassingFair]

56. He hung himself a LONG time ago. He smells bad now and should be taken down.

The Democrats of Connecticut spoke
on this point in 04.

I hope you are right about the hawks
choking on Prometheus's liver though...

:hi:

[Milo_Bloom]

54. I am not sure anymore.

I was a big Obama supporter throughout the primaries.

BUT I lost a lot of confidence in Obama throughout the general election.

His FISA vote disturbed me. (People told me not to worry, it was just strategy)

His VP pick disturbed me greatly. (People told me not to worry, it was just strategy)

The reason I was against Clinton, Edwards, Biden, Dodd, etc.. during the primaries is that they had a history of putting politics first. They did things politically expedient, consequences be damned. (Iraq war, bankruptcy bill, No child left behind, patriot act, etc...etc..)

I HOPED throughout the primaries that Obama could be different. He might do things that are smart, instead of things that are purely political.

His cabinet so far is very disturbing as well.

Can Clinton do the job? Yeah, but is the BEST PERSON for the job? I don't think so. The Secretary of State should be someone a little above petty partisan politics, but Clinton exemplifies it. When I look at it, I see a purely political decision... give her the post to get the CLinton supporters on board.

I don't see the best people getting the jobs. I see political appointments for political reasons. Is Gates the best guy for SOD or this just a poor attempt at an olive branch to the GOP?

I honestly don't understand Howard Dean not being HHS. Here is a guy who actually brought universal health care to his state. Doesn't that make him the most qualified to help enact a nationwide plan?

When I look at the group of people he is surrounding himself with, I fear another Clinton administration (and I am not talking about it being RUN by Clinton). I am talking about 8 years of equivocation, where someone tries to govern from the mythical "center" by giving a little of everything bad just to appease the squeaky wheels.

[Skidmore]

24. Like I said,

I consider myself a liberal and a progressive and admire all the people you have listed. I'm wondering if people haven't considered the idea that perhaps we need progressives in the congress and senate to legislate??? Just a thought.

[PassingFair]

27. There are plenty others that are NOT in Congress.

I listed a few upthread.


"perhaps we need progressives in the congress and senate to legislate??? Just a thought."

The same argument could be made for Clinton and Richardson, et. al.

It is the almost complete absence of patriots who
put their principles in front of their self-interest
that worries me.

[fadedrose]

18. Anybody Obama picks is fine...

I have so much faith in his judgment and his ability to be the boss no matter who's in the cabinet.

I would like to see Howard Dean in some position that puts him where he can access the president . . . .

[Milo_Bloom]

19. So far there is one GLARING omission in his security cabinet.

Richard Clarke.

Richard Clarke has been one of Obama's top advisors throughout the campaign. He was on most of the national security conference calls. It was his being around that gave me confidence in Obama.

This is the only guy in the entire government who seemed to see 9/11 coming, tried to do something about it and spoke up after, telling the truth. If I know nothing else, I know one thing about Richard Clarke... he is going to tell it like it is, without political considerations.

My concern with Obama current cabinet. These are people who are, first and formost POLITICIANS.

What I want to see in a cabinet is people who think about facts first.

[Sebastian Doyle]

22. I would have rather seen Clarke at Homeland Security. Or Gary Hart

And leave Janet Napolitano in Arizona. Not that she can't do the job, but that Jan Brewer can't do hers.

And I still believe Bill Richardson was the best candidate for Secretary of State :(

The Gates thing is extremely troubling. If this is NOT a way of "saving" the job for Wes Clark once he clears the ridiculous "have to be retired from the military for 10 years" hurdle, I would be very shocked.

[Milo_Bloom]

40. Homeland Security would have been fine by me.

I just wanted his voice in the process in a major way.

[PassingFair]

42. Me too.

His book was like a candle in the dark after
9/11.

[Bucky]

34. My progressive cabinet: SecDef Noam Chomsky; AttyGenl Brad Pitt; SecTransp Lassie

Secretary of Awesome: Sigourney Weaver

[Skidmore]

51. Well, Lassie always could travel faster

than any human and she always knew where home was. Besides, she might even be able to save the railroads.

[Fearless]

52. Put up or shut up? That sounds very anti-American to me...

I thought this nation was born on the ideas of freedom of speech and whatnot... Well don'cha know, I'll continue to follow that guidin' star. you betcha.

:eyes:

[Capt. America]

59. Sec of Peace -- Dennis Kucinich

[Skidmore]

60. I would endorse that but

if the Secretary of State is doing his/her job, there is no need for such a post.

[PassingFair]

61. I think it would be a strong signal to the world ...

that we are serious about peace.

As opposed to obliteration.