SCOOP: Tony Blinken will be Joe Biden's SoS - announcement is expected to be made on Tues

[Dennis Donovan]

Link to tweet

Tyler Pager @tylerpager

SCOOP: It's official. Tony Blinken will be Joe Biden's secretary of state, and the announcement is expected to be made on Tuesday, sources tell me, @jeneps and @SalehaMohsin

7:48 PM · Nov 22, 2020

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Blinken



Antony John Blinken (born April 16, 1962) is an American government official who served as United States Deputy Secretary of State from 2015 to 2017 and Deputy National Security Advisor from 2013 to 2015 under President Barack Obama. He previously served as a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Democratic Staff Director of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (2002–2008), and a member of the Obama–Biden presidential transition, active from November 2008 to January 2009, among other positions.

From 2009 to 2013 Blinken served as Deputy Assistant to the President and National Security Advisor to the Vice President. From 2002 to 2008 he served as the Democratic Staff Director for the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. From 2001 to 2002 Blinken was a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. During the Clinton Administration, Blinken served in the State Department and in senior positions on the National Security Council Staff.

On November 7, 2014, President Obama announced that he would nominate Blinken for the Deputy Secretary post, replacing the retiring William Joseph Burns. On December 16, 2014 Blinken was confirmed as Deputy Secretary of State by the Senate by a vote of 55 to 38. He is now a Global Affairs Analyst for CNN.

-/snip-

[msongs]

1. who is he one might ask..tyler pager i mean nt

[leftieNanner]

2. Who the heck is Tony Blinken??

OK - I just looked him up. Deputy SOS under Obama.

Not exactly a household name.

[Dem4Life1102]

7. Doesn't need to be a household name

but is probably well known and respected within the State department. That’s is what’s need to rebuild these institutions in the government.

[SMC22307]

13. It's government, not the movies or a reality show.

I want educated, serious, qualified people in these positions and couldn't care less whether or not they're a "household name."

[moonscape]

17. And not lightning rods for the right. We

want confirmations.

[SMC22307]

23. Exactly.

That rules out Susan Rice, qualified as she may be.

[Polly Hennessey]

31. Exactly. We don't need showy names.

We need someone who can rebuild the State Department and someone that foreign governments respect.

[SMC22307]

41. I can't wait to see who he chooses as Secretary of Education.

Bye, Betsy!

[karynnj]

21. He was a long time Biden foreign policy person, who became SOS deputy in 2015

He was considered the Biden "voice" in the State Department.

[StarfishSaver]

30. We're done with the "household name" fame standard for government positions

Hoping we're back to competence, not ratings.

[BannonsLiver]

34. So what?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. I'd forgotten about him.

He was the Deputy Secretary of State from 2015 to 2017, and Deputy National Security Advisor from 2013 to 2015 under Obama, so he's certainly qualified. I'm guessing that he was chosen at least in part because the GOP senators would have a hell of a time credibly objecting to him (although they probably will anyhow, just because).

[karynnj]

24. I would guess it might also be that there will be tremendous work rebuilding the State Department

His experience there will be an asset. I wonder if they will try to entice many people will decades of experience who were forced out to return.

[crickets]

42. Agreed.

He sounds like a great candidate for the job. I hope the State Dept will try to hire some of the lost talent back, though many have likely settled into something else by now. It's such a good feeling to see Biden proposing sensible, qualified people. We knew he would, but it's still a relief after the circus we've been though.

[mcar]

4. Seems like a good choice

We need to regain our cred in the world.

[First Speaker]

5. Where will Winken and Nod go...?

...hey--somebody had to say it...

[Walleye]

29. 😆

[lillypaddle]

32. You're a card, ya know?

[Midnight Writer]

38. They're gonna keep running the law firm.

[WhiteTara]

40. They went off in a wooden shoe!

[drray23]

6. reading his credentials he seems to be a solid choice.

tons of experience in both foreign policy and national security as well as having worked at senior levels in the obama-biden administration before. Its reassuring to see that amateur hour is over, we are going to have real professionals in key positions again.

[JI7]

8. Wish it was Susan Rice but the choice is still good

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

18. Susan Rice would be shot down in the Senate, unfortunately.

GOPers hate her a lot.

[leftieNanner]

19. I was hoping for Susan Rice too

But I think she's become too much of a lightning rod for the right. She would probably have trouble being confirmed by Moscow Mitch, even though she would absolutely be qualified for the job.

[RandySF]

20. Would have been 'Benghazi' for 10 straight hours.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

25. Exactly. Too much of a distraction.

[montanacowboy]

9. Good Choice!

Joe is going to have an amazing Cabinet

[Midnightwalk]

10. This could be a very smart choice

Career diplomat. Serious credentials.

Focus on competence and rebuilding first. We lost a lot of talent over the past four years.

Our allies are tired of drama. The real work is behind the scenes and restoring norms is also a top priority.

[BGBD]

11. Biden isn't making flashy hires.

Probably a good sign. He's getting experts in their fields and departments of government.

[jcgoldie]

12. ...

On June 17, Biden’s top foreign policy adviser, Tony Blinken, declared that Biden “would not tie military assistance to Israel to things like annexation or other decisions by the Israeli government with which we might disagree.” This would be an important statement on any given day, but takes on added weight in the midst of the vigorous debate about Israel’s possible extension of sovereignty to parts of the West Bank.


https://m.jpost.com/american-politics/biden-blasts-bds-why-it-matters-632301

[Kaleva]

14. I shouldn't have put my house up as collateral to bet on John Kerry.

My wife is going to be so pissed.

[karynnj]

27. I doubt Kerry would want to sign on for another 4 years as Secretary of State

He worked his heart out for 4 years and it clearly was a sacrifice for his family and him. I assume that Biden will involve him where his knowledge, skills and talent would make him uniquely qualified to contribute in some way.

[Kaleva]

33. I like the pick. Someone who is qualified but below the radar.

It'd be very hard for Repubs in the Senate to fire flak at him.

[greenjar_01]

15. Looks like a really competent career diplomat

What a breath of fresh air.

[WA-03 Democrat]

16. Why this guy?

He’s clearly qualified and would for sure help rebuild the decimated state department-what’s Biden get out of it?

Oh, we won’t have a President that’s a mobbed up real estate money laundering scamprie.

Joe Biden will build back better.

Come on Georgia!

[MizLibby]

22. If hes good enough for Grover...

Link to tweet

?s=20

[Cha]

26. Great.. We need someone with excellent

experience & qualifications.. to hit the ground running as it were!

Like Joe Biden himself!

[soothsayer]

28. Sort of grateful I haven't heard of him.

Quiet professionals are fine with me.

[frazzled]

35. Tony Blinken talks refugees ... with Grover

[MustLoveBeagles]

44. Grover approves so that's good enough for me

In all seriousness he sounds like a great pick who is qualified for the job. Won't that be a refreshing change?

[docgee]

36. Did you just call me Abe Lincoln?

No, I said hey Blinkin!

[AmericanCanuck]

37. Great choice. He is a consummate international relations wonk

and he will be able to straighten out a lot of bilateral relationships damaged by the orange menace.

[Aristus]

39. He sounds mind-bogglingly well-qualified for the job.

Strange that that is a novelty again after only four years...

[TheBlackAdder]

43. I'm sure when the movie came out, he got a lot of this.

.

Robin Hood: Men in Tights

Note: This is not picking on a Democrat, just making a reference to the 1993 movie scene.

.

[flotsam]

45. The temptation is to name "Big Name Democrats" to the cabinet

Most of whom are already congress members. But that is the wrong song-those people are needed where they are and since they are "big names" they would draw flak. The only big name I can think of as being worth fighting for would be Al Franken whether confirmed or in an "acting" position. He is available, an undeniable asset and likely amenable to the Biden philosophy. Now Al has no law degree, but I suspect he could both have fun and do good as Inspector General of the GSA.