How about Lincoln Chafee for Commerce?

[question everything]

That is, if Obama still wants a Republican in his cabinet.

Chafee was one of those moderate Republican Senator that I was sorry to see go, while the likes of Mitch McConnell are still there.

[wyldwolf]

1. IF Obama is insistant on a Republican (which I doubt now), I'd support Chafee

[SCantiGOP]

2. i agree

Good man. Defeated because he had that toxic R after his name.

[SoxFan]

3. Are we just throwing names out at random now?

What has Lincoln Chaffee ever done that warrants his being considered for Commerce Secretary? Nothing that I can think of.

Go with Bill Bradley. He's extremely intelligent, knows the Wall Street players and process, has worked extensively on international trade and finance issues, and is a man of unquestioned integrity.

[question everything]

7. Oh, I did not realize people just throwing names

The sooner Obama finishes his cabinet - we still have to fill HHS post - the better he will be able to move forward.

And.. I think it will be better not to select a sitting member of the House or Senate as not to start a musical chairs process.

[SoxFan]

8. Bradley's not a sitting senator

Neither is Robert Reich, for that matter

[Captain Hilts]

4. This would reward Chafee for remaining a Republican. Like Snowe, he should have crossed over. nt

[question everything]

5. I think that we should be interested in having moderate Republicans

among all the rabid ones. Especially as Obama running against the polarization that we have had since Reagan's Watts was there to reverse every single New Deal achievement, we can show the nation that when good people want to really work for the good of the country, this can be achieved.

[TwilightGardener]

6. Chafee is an independent--no longer a GOPer.

That's what I remember, anyway.

[SoxFan]

9. I'll ask again...what has Chaffee done to warrant the position?

To my knowledge, he has no real experience on international trade, workforce development, the regulatory process, technology policy, etc. His main qualification seems to be that he was once a Republican who irritated george W. Bush.

I'd rather have someone who is versed in the issues that the department handles. Someone like Bill Bradley, Robert Reich, Lester Thurow, or Rob Atkinson would be far superior to a lightweight like Chaffee.