Gore/Feingold should run with the following slate of other pre-filled positions

[welshTerrier2]

It's taken me considerable time to catch up with the Gore supporters on DU. Some of Al's biggest fans suggest we should respect the role he's currently playing and shouldn't push him to run. I have deep respect for his current role but there can be no question his influence and power would be far greater in the White House. I don't know whether he'll decide to run but the closing paragraphs of his book, The Assault on Reason, certainly left the door wide open to the possibility. BTW, if you haven't read Gore's book, it's a must read.

If Gore decides to run, I think it would greatly enhance his chances if he ran as part of a pre-announced slate. My recommendation is that he should fill as many of the key cabinet positions as soon as possible so that the American people could see the kind of people he would choose to help him lead the country out of the darkness we now face. In my view, he should announce these selections as part of his campaign. Having said that, here are some of my selections. I would love to hear which ones you agree with and which ones you would change. My most obvious omission is that I haven't chosen an Attorney General yet. I know some talked about RFK Jr. for that position but I have a different role for him to play.

Here's my list:

President: Al Gore
Vice President: Russ Feingold
Secretary of State: General Wesley Clark
Secretary of Defense: Gary Hart
Secretary of Treasury: Paul Krugman
Secretary of Labor: Dennis Kucinich
Secretary of Health and Human Services: Howard Dean
Secretary of Energy: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs: John Murtha

The unfilled cabinet positions are: Attorney General, Commerce, Interior, Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Education and Homeland Security.

OK. What say you?

[jgraz]

1. Good slate...

Nothing against DK, but I'd like to see Robert Reich back at labor. I'd consider Kerry for AG, but Gore may want someone a bit more aggressive there.

You also forgot Commerce and Treasury.

[welshTerrier2]

3. I like Reich too

i voted for him when he ran for Governor in Massachusetts.

I guess I'd be OK with Kerry for AG. I started with the premise that I didn't want to pull too many Senators out of the Senate but Kerry's seat in Massachusetts is very safe. I also considered Schumer but dismissed him for that reason.

I'll edit my post for the other two positions. Thanks. I meant to pick Krugman for Treasury.

[onewholaughsatfools]

5. no one wants a Treasury

A Treasure is just a person, who will just say, you owe,you owe, debt, debt, or one who will say go shopping, shop some more, use that credit, everything is good as long as you are making it. Now who in the world will want that job. I think not!

[onewholaughsatfools]

2. I say Hell ya!

I can see it.....let's do this

[jgraz]

4. You should find some hard-core tree huggers for Commerce, Ag and Transportation

[welshTerrier2]

6. re: transportation

i want someone who will push mass transit for all urban areas and find creative ways to reduce auto use. we need to find creative ways to help Detroit transition to building planet-friendly products.

my agriculture platform would be dedicated to trying to grow as much food locally to reduce transportation and refrigeration costs.

[arcos]

7. Men only administration? nt

[welshTerrier2]

8. yeah, and white only too.

propose away. there are still lots of open positions.

[calimary]

9. I'd give the AG position to John Edwards and put Wesley Clark in as

Defense Secretary. Secretary of Veterans Affairs would be Max Cleland. I'd try to leave as many Senators and Congresspeople on Capitol Hill to protect our majorities.

Yes to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Energy Secretary and Dean for Health & Human Services.
DEFINITELY Krugman for Treasury.
Maybe Warren Buffett or some such person for Commerce Secretary - or maybe Lee Iacocca.
Jaime Escalante as Education Secretary - or perhaps Barbara Morgan (teacher in space).
Richard Clarke as head of Homeland Security, or maybe Gary Hart - I'd put one of 'em in there and make the other one National Security Advisor.
I might jazz things up a little and ask Robert Redford to become Interior Secretary.
Commerce? Maybe Peter Ueberroth. Maybe.
Jesse Jackson for Housing and Urban Development.

I'd ask Al Sharpton to be press secretary.

At the moment, ideas for State, Agriculture, and Transportation evade me. For UN Ambassador, let's really shake 'em up and nominate Valerie Plame. She's got a LOT of international experience, charm and charisma, and it would be a nice vindication.

And frankly, I might want to coax Olympia Snowe or Susan Collins out of the Senate for something. Maybe Transportation. Might be a sneaky way to cut the GOP numbers there by one. Maybe liddy dole would do it. I think she's held that job before. And, again, it'd peal another republi-CON out of the Senate. Plus, my list doesn't have enough women in it yet. I'd definitely want Laura Tyson back as chair of the Council of Economic Advisors, plus Robert Reich in there somewhere, too.

Maybe for State - Bill Clinton?