Sen. Kerry for Sec.Defense, Susan Rice for Sec. of State?

[babylonsister]

Per Rachel Maddow via WaPo. Any thoughts?

[Coexist]

1. I adore them both

so I'm good

[Marsala]

2. Kerry's seat isn't safe in a special election with Scott Brown waiting to grab it

I suspect that he'd be 1st choice for a Cabinet post if it wasn't for that.

[babylonsister]

4. This might be more important. He'd be brilliant as the Sec. of Defense.

He's not a warmonger, for starters, and he's very well versed in foreign policy.

[JeffHead]

3. Take Kerry out of the senate and you're asking for....

Scott friggin Brown to weasel his way back in. Kerry's good where he's at.

[babylonsister]

6. Kerry deserves to have his talents utilized in better ways. nt

[JeffHead]

9. Maybe So

But maybe I look at this as a turf war. You gotta keep what you got. Just don't want to leave the seat vulnerable that's all.

[kaiserhog]

5. Democrats need to keep that seat.

[Anthony McCarthy]

7. Kerry would be a bad idea to leave the Senate

Not unless they've got a sure replacement with a D after their name. I've heard rumors that Coakley would try again, which would ensure that Brown would take it again.

If they could ensure that it could go to a good Democrat it would be OK.

[Tx4obama]

8. And they said rumors of John O. Brennan to be head of C.I.A.

I do not think that will happen.

He worked for Bush. See the details on the right side of the page on the link below.

=========

John O. Brennan (born September 22, 1955) is chief counterterrorism advisor to U.S. President Barack Obama; officially his title is Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, and Assistant to the President.[1][2][3] His responsibilities include overseeing plans to protect the country from terrorism and respond to natural disasters, and he meets with the President daily.[4][5] Previously, he advised Obama on foreign policy and intelligence issues during the 2008 presidential campaign and transition.[6] Brennan withdrew his name from consideration for Director of the CIA in the new Obama administration over concerns about his support for the use of "enhanced interrogation" techniques by the CIA under President George W. Bush.[2][4] Instead, Brennan was appointed Deputy National Security Advisor, a position which did not require Senate confirmation.[2][4][7]

After leaving government service in 2005, Brennan became CEO of The Analysis Corporation, a security consulting business, and served as chairman of the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, an association of intelligence professionals.[8] Brennan's 25 years with the CIA included work as a Near East and South Asia analyst, as station chief in Saudi Arabia, and as director of the National Counterterrorism Center.[2][4][9]

-snip-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_O._Brennan

[Thrill]

11. I know he worked with Bush. But he's appeared to be close to Pres Obama

since the 08 campaign

[Thrill]

10. If Kerry leaves. Scott Brown will be back in the Senate

But I get the feeling Kerry wants to be Sec of State

[Tx4obama]

12. If Kerry leaves the Senate then the DEMOCRATIC Governor of MA will appoint a new Senator.

You can bet that the appointee will NOT be Republican Scott Brown.

Gov Deval Patrick can actually appoint himself if he want to.

[WallaceRitchie]

18. Special Election

Patrick would appoint an interim but then a Special Election would take place "no fewer than 145 days, nor more than 160 days from the date of office vacancy". Brown would be eligible to run for this office, and would likely win.

[Tx4obama]

21. I was just going by what they said on TV a couple of days ago. I guess they got it wrong.

[WI_DEM]

33. There will be a special election and we know how well that went the last time

for democrats (I'm talking about special elections). Brown has a lot of supporters in MA who will vote for him. He still managed to get 47% against a very strong candidate this time.

[democrattotheend]

28. Why do people assume that?

Are you telling me that there are no good Democrats in a heavily Democratic state who could beat him? Out of 10 Congresspeople and a Democratic governor and Lieutenant Governor, you are saying none of them could beat Scott Brown, who couldn't win reelection as an incumbent? I find that hard to believe.

If Kerry were from a red or even purple state, this would be a reason not to pick him, but I can't believe we couldn't hold a seat in Massachusetts. The only reason we didn't in 2010 is because nobody saw it coming until too late, the candidate barely campaigned until the end, and the national mood was against Democrats at that time. None of those factors would be present this time around.

[Thrill]

30. Yes

There isn't anyone that will have to money or Popularity in the state to beat Brown

[WI_DEM]

34. Consider the fact that we had our strongest candidate against him this year with Obama at head of

the ticket and he still got 47%. It is possible had Obama not been running and received 61% that the result could have been closer. It's about time we stop taking our people out of the senate when we need them there.

[Cosmocat]

43. For fucks sake

spot on.

I think Kerry would be GREAT at the job.

No denying that.

But, there HAS to be other good, viable options to fill these spots.

You are dead right that Brown would win.

Name recognition is HUGE in politics.

While he made an arse of himself, you are right he drew 47% of the vote, and he just had a year and a half campaign leading into a special election.

They might as well just appoint him and get it over with if they put Kerry into SOD or SOS.

[Ztolkins]

13. I'm not down with Mass. politics..Why is Brown a shoe in?

He just got beat decisively. Why would the vote for him now?

[tarheelsunc]

14. Elizabeth Warren handily beat Brown. Others can do it too.

Scott Brown now has the stigma of being a loser around him, because he is one. Massachusetts knows who he is and see past the "independent" claims. (If he is going to call himself an independent, why doesn't he run as one?)

[WI_DEM]

37. Warren was our strongest candidate and he still got 47% in a presidential year when turnout is high

President Obama got 61% and had coattails to help her to victory. He won't be there to help next time. I'd say that if Kerry retired and there is a special election and Brown were the GOP nominee that the outcome would be in doubt. I think there is a 50-50 chance that Brown would win. He would still have an active organization for one thing and a big ability to organize and raise money quickly.

[Gargoyle22]

42. Brown is well liked (no clue why) and will win a special election.

I do not want to be stuck with this arrogant jackass as my senator for the next ten years.

[Thrill]

46. Name on candidate there

That will beat him. He had a ton of Obama voters vote for him Twice

[tarheelsunc]

49. Deval Patrick, Mike Capuano, Rachel Maddow

(just kidding about Rachel - maybe)

[cilla4progress]

15. I don't think we can afford

to lose Kerry in the Senate!

[budkin]

16. Sorry Kerry but we can't afford to lose Senate seats

[John2]

17. On

Susan Rice, I think she should face her accusers in open session, especially Senator Graham of South Carolina. The only thing she did was follow what the CIA told her. Senator Graham act like this is a major offense. I'm looking forward to her defending her honor against his accusations. I wish it was me confronting him in front of the whole nation.

[Fawke Em]

19. Why Kerry?

Damn... Michigan elected both Romney and Brown and it's supposed to be liberal heroes.

[Cha]

39. You mean Massachusetts.. :)

romney showed his ass in Mass and they wouldn't have elected him for a 2nd term. Brown showed his ass too when he ran against Elizabeth and LOST.

[progressiveforever]

20. Obama! Take no senators!

We need them!

[JCMach1]

22. Any Kennedy's in the bullpen for the seat?

[WI_DEM]

35. Why do you automatically assume a Kennedy will win?

the younger generation isn't the same as JFK, Bobby and Teddy.

[Arkana]

44. You really don't know how much weight that name carries here.

Joe Kennedy III got elected in a landslide in Barney Frank's old district, and this state would gladly elect another Kennedy to a Senate seat.

[JCMach1]

45. That was who I was thinking of... I would really hate the seat

to go back to Scott Brown

[wisteria]

23. Personally, I think he is more suited for SOS.

And, why Rice? I haven't been impressed with her at all. I think we need someone tough in that postion right now.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

24. thanks for saying what I wanted to say, but didn't feel like getting flamed.

[EmilyAnne]

36. I really don't know anything about her.

Do you mind telling me what you don't like about her?

Thanks!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

50. It's more of an intangible. She's way too serious and strikes me more as a very learned and

accomplished person lacking social and political savvy. This is just my opinion. Plus, she's kind of a lightning rod at this point because it was because of her statements (however technically true) that the right went ballistic over. Personally, I don't think she should have brought up anything about the cause of Benghazi attack since our side promoted the "Be calm, wait for all the facts" point of view (opposite of Romney's rashness). Maybe she was told to, I don't know...it just lack savvy to me. And, we surely don't need confirmation hearings where Beghazi's rehashed....hearings will be bad enough. It was a supremely unfortunate tragedy.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

25. what about Jim Webb for something?

[fujiyama]

27. I think he should be considered for SoDef

I think there are some moderate republicans worth considering for SoSt or SoDef as well - maybe Lugar or Hagel. I think Lugar has a decent working relationship with Obama that too.

I like Kerry for one of these positions, but I don't think Obama should pick any sitting Dem. Senators. I seriously doubt he would do that. He knows how vital it is to keep those seats where they are.

[Sgent]

40. Huntsman

has also been mentioned for SecState -- given his Ambassadorship to China its not a bad pick other than the fact he's a republican (though a moderate one).

[Laura PourMeADrink]

51. agree. hey, how about Wesley Clark?

[NewJeffCT]

55. good choice

him or Gen. Clark. Lugar might not be bad, either.

[Gargoyle22]

26. Scott Brown will take Kerry's seat. I hope JFK stays where he is.*

[LadyBirdJohnson]

29. Governor Patrick at the White House for dinner

Maybe that is why President Obama invited Governor Patrick to dinner. What if...... Senator Kerry leaves his Senate seat who will take it

[WI_DEM]

32. We need all the Senators we have and Kerry should remain in the Senate

[Cha]

38. "Reshuffle" Pic of Prez, Big Dog, And Susan Rice..

Washington Post: President Obama is considering asking Sen. John F. Kerry to serve as his next defense secretary, part of an extensive rearrangement of his national security team that will include a permanent replacement for former CIA director David H. Petraeus.

Although Kerry is thought to covet the job of secretary of state, senior administration officials familiar with the transition planning said that nomination will almost certainly go to Susan E. Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

John O. Brennan, Obama’s chief counterterrorism adviser, is a leading contender for the CIA job if he wants it, officials said. If Brennan goes ahead with his plan to leave government, Michael J. Morell, the agency’s acting director, is the prohibitive favorite to take over permanently. Officials cautioned that the White House discussions are still in the early stages and that no decisions have been made….

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/obama-considers-john-kerry-for-job-of-defense-secretary/2012/11/12/8a0e973a-2d02-11e2-a99d-5c4203af7b7a_story.html

h/t http://theobamadiary.com/2012/11/12/reshuffle-2/#comments

Still speculation but I think I would like to see Senator Kerry as SOD.. Especially, if there were a Dem with an Excellent chance to win the Senate Seat he would leave vacant

Wondering how these new necessary appointments would get past the Plutocratic House, though?

[Hutzpa]

47. I sure hope Susan Rice gets the SOS job

Last edited Tue Nov 13, 2012, 06:23 PM - Edit history (1)

she has earned it, imo she should have gotten it the first time if Hillary had turn it down, she is of the same mold as Hillary and I believe will do a smashing job too. There is another person I hope the president can consider; Stephanie Powers. She needs to be considered as well maybe as under secretary of state or head of some department, another tenacious undeterred individual.

Speaking of the perfect guy for the job, John Brennan I think will be a perfect match, he is intense, awkward, intelligent and extremely savvy, the perfect mix for the CIA job imo.




FORWARD!

[forest4qt]

41. Don't take away Democratic senators

We will need every Dem in senate to fought off Republican obstructionists.

[Thrill]

53. While thats true. Kerry appears to be ready to do something else

He apparently wanted to be the SOS in 08

[Sunlei]

48. General Colin Powell? for one of those open national security positions.

[Hutzpa]

52. Powell credibility was tarnished

during Bush's years, it's unfortunate, but true. Not sure if it will matter this time though, without his record of helping to take us to war, he would have been a very good choice.

[NewJeffCT]

54. Powell is still the most popular political figure out there

Not a fan of his, but I'm pretty sure that's still true like it was in 2008.

[Sunlei]

56. Powell was loyal to the admin and did his duty as a General. He wrote a lot about those years.

Powell is someone Obama speaks with on a regular basis, I think they would work well together.

[Hutzpa]

57. Oh I'm not denying that

It will be wonderful to have him on board if they can overcome his past mistakes which some might find questionable.