Today's Democratic Cabinet Nomination: Attorney General

[tsipple]

I thought it would be fun here at DU to nominate candidates for key Cabinet posts in a Democratic administration, starting today with Attorney General. You can post additional nominees in message replies to this thread. I may repost the poll, with additional nominees, at some point in the future.

There's only one rule. If you do pick one of the ten Democratic candidates currently running, you must also pick an alternate. (That candidate could win the presidency and thus be ineligible.)

About the Attorney General: The Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer in the United States, with supervision over the Department of Justice and FBI. The current Attorney General, John Ashcroft, is widely derided for abuse of civil liberties. He is currently campaigning for "Patriot II." The next Attorney General should be a strong leader capable of undoing Ashcroft's damage, even when unpopular (such as releasing so-called "enemy combatants" or curtailing use of the federal death penalty). The Attorney General should also be deeply ethical, as was tested during the Nixon years. And the Attorney General should have legal experience. Criminal legal experience a plus.

[emad]

1. As things really stand (ok, somewhat tongue in cheek), it has to be

Salem Saberhagen, lovable failed dictator and fount of wisdom for the stickiest situations...who knows how to urinate on bushes.....

On a serious note, I'd go for Bob Morgenthau, if he was 20 years younger and still had the old zest for busting the cosa nostra....

[knight_of_the_star]

22. Good idea

We should actually try to find an AG or even a DA who has considerable and quality experience in prosecuting organized crime, we will need it for taking down the BFEE. Experience in investigating Iran Contra would also be a plus. Whoever it is that is picked, they should NOT be for political assocations.

[Rowdyboy]

2. Mike Moore, 4 term Attorney General of Mississippi...

filed first state lawsuit against big tobacco that led to the settlements giving all 50 states MILLIONS of dollars. He was on tap to serve in the Gore Cabinet and is still available.

[dusty64]

3. I'd like to pick whomever

would piss off the rightwing the most, paybacks a bitch. However Edwards has nowhere to go, so I guess he'd be a good choice in order to keep him in the public eye. Not Spitzer, I want him as my Governor in 2006 please.

[Frances]

9. I don't blame you for wanting him as your governor

But if he isn't governor, I would like to see a Democratic president appoint him to investigate the financial transactions of the present administration and the military. I think an honest examination of those transactions would send people to jail and hopefully recover some of their illl-gotten gain.

[Brucey]

4. Mike Hatch,

current attorney general of Minnesota. Goes after corporations.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. I'll go with Spitzer

He has done work bringing some of the Wall Street crooks into line.

Another possibility not named here would be Bill Lockyer, state Attorney General in California. Lockyer filed suit against Enron and other energy pirates in California and began a criminal investigation. However, the federal Justice Department opened an investigation of their own in order to pre-empt Lockyer's. The feds really aren't doing anything; their investigation only has the effect of shielding Bush's cronies from the law.

[WillyBrandt]

10. No Spitzer

. . . We need him to unseat the slimeball Pataki in Albany. If Edwards doesn't get the VP nod, he should get the Atty General nod. This way he gets to become a Democratic bigwig, and we add to our pool of potentially very good Presidential candidates in the future.

[Jack Rabbit]

20. That would be why Spitzer would turn it down

On the other hand, is there no one else in New York who can defeat Pataki? I would hope there is.

Electoral politics is also why Edwards should not be considered. His presidential campaign is going nowhere. He should seek re-election to the Senate. We're going to need every vote in the House and the Senate we can get.

[knight_of_the_star]

23. Lockyer would be a good one

He had the guts to take on Enron when they raped our state and left us on the roadside. I'm sure he would LOVE a second bite at the apple with a bigger set of teeth.

[MariMayans]

6. Anthony Romero

head of the ACLU

[TheUnknownPoster]

7. Good one!

The head of the ACLU as the nation's top cop would REALLY piss off some on the Ashcroft right. I'd also go with John Edwards or Eliot Spitzer as my alternate.

[Hubert Flottz]

8. Ralph Nader to head OSHA and the EPA!

Bill Clinton special prosecutor in 'Bushco Grand Theft/Lying in SOTU speech to America to incite mass murder Case'!

Senator Jon Corzine to take mister Snows job!

[tsipple]

11. Secretary of Treasury Poll Also Open

Click here to vote.

[tsipple]

21. Secretary of State Poll Also Open

Click here to vote.

[tsipple]

26. National Endowment for the Arts Poll Open

Click here to vote.

[clar]

12. I'm partial

to David Bois, Gore's attny.

[tsipple]

14. Boies Now SCO's Attorney

Not exactly his best client pick, IMHO.

[mpsteve]

13. Spitzer for AG and Bill Clinton for Sec of State

[zeemike]

18. Actually

Bill Clinton as secretary of state is not a bad idea. He is well known, and liked in much of the world and could do a lot to tell Europe that we are back in control of the country.

[zeemike]

15. OK I said Edwards

Because I like the guy and agree he would make a good attorney general, but my first choice would be Ralph Nader That I think would be real justice and a clear signal that things are going to change.

[gristy]

16. Elliot Spitzer, hands down

The guy has just done an awesome job in NY. I have so much respect for him. Why is Edwards getting such a vote? What's his track record fighting corruption? How's his intellect measure up to Spitzer's?

[legin]

17. Moseley Braun (sp?)

time for a sensible lady in the job after an idealogical, testosterone fuelled idiot.

[tsipple]

19. Braun Did Serve as Assistant U.S. Attorney

She's definitely qualified. Good catch! She's my top pick for Secretary of Health and Human Services if she doesn't win the Democratic nomination, but I like that AG idea, too.

[knight_of_the_star]

25. Still

We need someone with fire in their belly and a desire to take down the BFEE. I wish RFK was still alive. He would be a good man for this job.

[drb]

24. Hey! You forgot the best one!!!

Patricia Madrid!!! http://www.ago.state.nm.us/

"Some are speculating this request from the Texas Governor's office concerns an effort to locate missing Texas House Democrats," Madrid wrote. "If so, Texas should understand that since ski season is over, the Santa Fe Opera has not begun and President Bush was just in town, I don't think they are in Santa Fe now. Nevertheless, I have put out an all-points bulletin for law enforcement to be on the look out for politicians in favor of health care for the needy and against tax cuts for the wealthy."

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"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed." --Dwight D. Eisenhower, April 16, 1953, "The Chance for Peace"