Unleash Your Inner Wonk, It's Cabinet Time.

[Barack_America]

Let's take a break from the 24-hour Primary madness and jump into the future. No disrespect to Clinton intended, but let's assume that Obama is the next President.

Who do you want to see as his VP?

Who do you want to see on his Cabinet? (at least the top positions, but feel free to wonk-out and fill the whole damn thing)


Here are the choices that I've come up with. Some may be controversial, others puzzling. I'll reserve my logic for these choices until others have had a chance to weigh-in.

VP: Jim Webb

AG: John Edwards

Defense: Carl Levin

State: Joe Biden

Treasury: Carmen Reinhardt
http://www.wam.umd.edu/~creinhar/
http://www.harpers.org/archive/2008/01/hbc-90002247

What do you think? :shrug:

[Botany]

1. A.G. Rep. Artur Davis of Alabama

[Barack_America]

6. Ok. How about the other positions? n/t

[Botany]

37. stuff

Wes Clark State

Gen Zinni Defense

David Sedaris David Sedaris ... I want the Interior to be FAB!

Ag Tom Daschle

Labor John Edwards

Housing Bill Berry of REM

EPA The best Environmental scientist w/ admin. experience.

Transportation Rachel Maddow .... she studied highways and roads @ Oxford ... she is a roads scholar

Sec. of Cookies Hillary Clinton

Econ. Sen. Boxer

[Maven]

2. People like you have lambasted Clinton for not being liberal enough

and you want WEBB as VP?

[Barack_America]

4. Who do you think Obama should pick?

:shrug:

[MonkeyFunk]

7. And they also lambaste

Clinton's "experience". And they want to run a 2-year Senator with a 4-year Senator.

[gmudem]

130. Webb's experience goes far beyond his time in the Senate.

And I'm sure you know that. That said, I don't know if I like him as Obama's veep. Wes Clark would be great but he's a Clinton supporter so I don't know if he'd do that.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

18. Generally, Harvey...

You want a VP pick who will balance the ticket. Obama's progressive, so you might want a relative conservative for VP.

People with experience know that.

[Maven]

20. "People with experience know that"

Then I suppose there's absolutely no chance Obama will choose Webb, IF he wins the nomination.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

24. You're right, he hasn't got nearly as much experience as Hillary Clinton

...when it comes to losing elections.

[Maven]

36. Indeed.

If she could only have bought herself a few caucuses like your guy she'd be in better shape.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

41. Ooo, and now he's purchasing elections.

Did he plant the bombs in Building 7 too? I'm just asking because if you're going to go off the deep end, you may as well make a big splash.

[Maven]

44. Truth hurts, eh?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

46. Oh, terribly.

I'm broken hearted.

[Maven]

48. Just do some chanting, and get some more Inspiration (TM)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

50. Sounds like a good idea.

And I'll turn on the World Media, which we bought from the Jews for a pretty good deal.

[Maven]

53. Oh dear. The last resort of a cornered Obamaphile

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

55. Satire?

Cornered?

[Maven]

56. Did you really just equate pointing out Obama's massive outspending of Clinton in caucus states

to shepherd voters to his side -- to anti-Semitism?

You know you won't win this election by calling everyone who doesn't support Obama a bigot, right? I mean, I know it worked in SC, but...

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

57. No.

I compared your loony conspiracy theories about Obama controlling the media with loony conspiracy theories about Jews controlling the media.

"You know you won't win this election by calling everyone who doesn't support Obama a bigot, right?"

Obama's going to win regardless of what you or I do.

[Maven]

61. Obama controlling the media?

When did I say that?

I said he basically threw money at caucus states to create the illusion of an enormous advantage in support.

I will say that the media has treated Obama with kid gloves thus far. You can expect that to end shortly.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

66. When you said he bought the caucus.

"I said he basically threw money at caucus states to create the illusion of an enormous advantage in support."

Oh are you saying he bribed election officials? Because that's equally out of touch with reality.

[Maven]

70. No, I'm saying he poured money into ground operations in states where he knew

Clinton had basically no presence (and in states where fewer than, say, 30,000 people total participated)--to sweep up caucus-goers to his side, to both rack up a multiplicity of wins in small states and do so with an artificially high percentage margin.

Thus, manufacturing the "momentum" that has proven so important in this race.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

72. So you're saying...

he stole the caucus states by winning fair and square.

What a despicable human being.

:rofl:

[Maven]

73. If that's how you see it.

I see it as an underhanded yet fitting tactic for a man whose handlers manufactured a grandiose political reputation out of thin air.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

74. How do you explain Iowa?

How many millions of dollars did Clinton throw away there?

[Maven]

75. How do you explain NH?

Oh, right, it was "fraud." Only, it wasn't.

Another shameful episode for your team.

BTW, Obama outspent Clinton 3 to 1 in Iowa, and more than any other candidate nationally.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aqGXaoBQMGdw&refer=us

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

78. Shameful episode?

NH was the last time Clinton had a successful day in the polls.

That was the time Clinton pulled a Guiliani and threatened terrorism if you didn't vote for her.

[Maven]

80. LOL. And winning CA?

Oh, that was the Latino vote, so it doesn't matter. :eyes:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

83. Ah, Super Tuesday.

That was the day Clinton was supposed to take the nomination. It ended up being a good day for Obama.

"Oh, that was the Latino vote, so it doesn't matter."

That's a little ironic coming from a Clinton supporter, considering their campaign says caucus states don't count, open primaries don't count, states with closed primaries and bad weather don't count, people from red states (i.e. second class citizens) don't count. And now that latinos and white women are voting Obama, I suppose they don't count anymore either.

[Maven]

86. Link to back up any of those assertions?

By the way, it turned out to be such a "good day" for Obama largely because of his little caucus-state game.

Clinton won the big prize that day. Fair and square.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

89. Geez, Harvey, pay attention much?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_democratic_primaries#Super_Tuesday

http://news.google.com/news?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=s&hl=en&q=wisconsin+exit+polls&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=news_result&resnum=1&ct=title

http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/cecil_andrus_hillary_should_apologize_to_red_state_democrats/C68/L37/

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0208/Blaming_the_weather.html

[Maven]

90. Yeah, I am paying attention. Are you?

Look at your wikipedia link.

With the exception of IL and GA, the states he won by the most considerable delegate margin are caucus states where Clinton spent almost nothing by comparison.

By the way, Obama deserves an apology on such meaningless remarks as the "second-class delegates" when he apologizes for his shameful homophobic pandering. Until then, he and his followers don't have a fucking leg to stand on.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

91. LOL

Clinton spent almost nothing anywhere compared to Iowa, a caucus state, which she lost.

But you're proving my point about how there's always some excuse about why she loses.

"By the way, Obama deserves an apology on such meaningless remarks as the "second-class delegates" when he apologizes for his shameful homophobic pandering. Until then, he and his followers don't have a fucking leg to stand"

Speaking of having no leg to stand on, weren't you just accusing me of playing the bigot card?

:rofl:

[Maven]

93. The distinction: you pulled your ludicrous statement straight out of your ass.

Obama deserves the ridicule he gets for his absolutely CONTEMPTIBLE pandering via McClurkin, Caldwell et al, and his followers deserve nearly as much for defending it.

And by the way, I POSTED A LINK showing you that Obama outspent Clinton by 3 to 1 in Iowa. READ before making yourself look silly again.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

95. Well, maybe.

But if you're going to ridicule Obama for his pandering to homophobes and not ridicule Clinton who has pandered to the exact same voters, then you'd be a hypocrite. And I'd have to assume that you care more about scoring cheap political points then the homosexual community.

[Maven]

99. Really? Clinton has paid for a platform for someone to attack gays and lesbians?

Clinton has been on notice by the GLBT community that someone she hired to represent her campaign publicly is outrageous and offensive, and has said, "well, that's all well and good but fuck you, Sister Souljah, he's going on anyway?"

When did that happen?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

100. Paid for? Hell.

She married him.

[Maven]

101. Oh, c'mon now.

Really?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

102. Yes, RLY.

DOMA, Don't Ask Don't Tell.

Bill Clinton's hurt the gay community far more than McClurkin ever could.

[Maven]

103. Please review the actual history behind both of those (admittedly bad) policies.

And no, I disagree with you. There is no COMPARISON between people like McClurkin and Caldwell, who target vulnerable GLBT youth and whose actions result in the disproportionately high rates of teen suicide and homelessness in that group, and a reversible policy like DOMA which arguably staved off a more permanent Constitutional amendment at the time. There is no comparison to those who spread homophobia, who indoctrinate people to believe that gays are "cursed," that we victimize children and need to be "cured," and who thereby contribute to the (also disproportionately high) rate of hate crimes against GLBT people.

Arguably, Clinton took far greater risks in 1992 in acknowledging and addressing GLBT issues than Obama is taking in 2008. Clinton was far from our best friend but your statement is out of line with history.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

104. Apologist bullshit.

You don't see anybody making excuses for McClurkin.

There was never a chance of a constitutional amendment.

[Maven]

105. Are you kidding?

I've seen TONS of people here making excuses for McClurkin, and for Obama for hiring him.

And there actually WAS a strong push for an amendment at the time, just as the Republicans (and many Democrats - most notably Sam Nunn) in Congress were threatening to enact a much stronger and more permanent legislative ban against gays and lesbians in the military, hence the bad compromise that was DADT. Were you a GLBT activist at the time?

[progressive_realist]

107. All that money spent on advisors...

And no one was able to tell her that Democratic primaries are not winner-take-all? :shrug:

[Neshanic]

3. Fantasy for the never happening Presidency of Obama.

The Obamists have alienated pretty much a wide swath of people, juding from some of the other boards, and at least half on a very liberal gay board are voting McCain over Obama.

[Barack_America]

5. Any input on cabinet choices?

Your input would be appreciated.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. Sure they are.

And I'm an astronaut.

[northernsoul]

54. How's that Tang?

:evilgrin:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

60. It's better up here in zero G.

[LSK]

13. people who make decisions based on actions of supporters on websites

Are not very smart.

Whatever happened to looking at issues and the actual candidate?

[Alexander]

64. Just like a Shillbot, you take something positive and shit all over it.

[scheming daemons]

94. Yeah...sure... Liberal Gays will vote for McCain.....

:eyes:

[NMMatt]

110. I know

Crazy. I suppose there may be some people resentful enough to say that now, but anyone remotely liberal or who cares at all about gay rights will never vote for McCain over Obama come November. 100 years of war and his inevitable pandering to the Theocrats on issues such as the Gay Marriage Ammendment will make people come to their senses well before November.

[Duncan Grant]

98. Where is this "very liberal gay board"?

I'm more than simply pissed at Obama but I don't know any liberal gay people who are planning to vote for John McCain.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

8. My dream cabinet.

VP: Wes Clark. People say he can't be VP because he's a Clinton supporter. But they fail to realize that he won't be for long.

Attorney General: John Edwards. VP is a position is mostly about sitting there and looking pretty. This is where the action is. Edwards was a hell of a trial lawyer and seems a shoe-in.

Secretary of Defense: Dennis Kucinich. I know, I must be completely insane. But the more I think about Frodo Baggins as Secretary of Defense, the more I like the idea. It'd be a perfect platform to start his Department of Peace.

Secretary of State: Rocky Anderson. I'm just throwing that out there for consideration.

Surgeon General: I don't know, but I wish we could clone Howard Dean.

OK, that's it. I want a really diverse cabinet, and I've already toploaded it with too many white males. I want a cabinet filled with new faces that I've never heard of. I want new democrats with backbone who, like Obama, will rise from obscurity to be movers and shakers in four years.

[MonkeyFunk]

14. Surgeon-General is a very low-level position

nothing close to being Cabinet-level.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

15. It's also a high profile position in the administration...

that's been completely abused and overlooked over the last 8 years.

[MonkeyFunk]

29. It depends who it is

We've had a couple high-profile S-G's. Most of them are entirely forgettable. We remember C. Everett Koop and Joycelyn Elders, but Audrey Manley? Kenneth Moritsugu? Steven Galson? Edward Brandt? Julius Richmond?

[Barack_America]

17. Some interesting and unique choices there.

Anderson almost looks like a stronger AG or HHS choice though. :shrug:

[LSparkle]

23. I like Dennis K. for Labor (not Defense)

Webb would be a good choice for Defense (imho).

[Barack_America]

30. He would be.

If I hadn't selected him as VP.

I really like Levin as Defense. He's been on the Armed Services Committee forever. He is brilliant.

[LSK]

10. AG - Edwards, State - Biden, Def - Clark

VP Im not sure.

[Tatiana]

11. I oppose removing Webb from the Senate. We need a Dem. Congress and we need his seat.

You have 3 senators in that list. We need to look at governors, state's attys, Representatives.

I like Bob Graham for VP. I also like Edwards for AG, but I like Pat Fitzgerald better.

[LSparkle]

25. But VA governor Tim Kaine (D) could appoint a Dem ...

to replace Webb.

[Barack_America]

38. That's a good point.

I think we need to risk it. We need Webb's experience in the Executive branch right now, I think.

[jgraz]

129. Patrick Fitzgerald? No thanks.

His timid handling of Plame Gate should disqualify him from any position in an Obama administration. Rove, Addington, Armitage and probably Cheney should have been indicted as well.

[weezie1317]

12. Energy - Richardson or Gore ()

[XemaSab]

33. I picked Gore

:thumbsup:

[Barack_America]

42. For energy I was leaning Sebelius.

:shrug:

I don't believe she can run for Governor again, so we've got to fit her in somewhere.

[Alexander]

97. I think Gore ruled out a Cabinet position.

And Richardson was partially responsible for the Wen Ho Lee scandal in the late 90s, and the voting problems in New Mexico the past few years.

[mythyc]

136. Gore did say that, I saw him say it in an interview

Can't find the link but was following very closely. too bad, though I understand his reasons

[seafan]

16. VP/Cabinet possibilities for Obama

VP Bob Graham


Secretary of Defense ----Richard Clarke

Attorney General ----Patrick Fitzgerald

Secretary of State ---Al Gore

Secretary of Labor ----Dennis Kucinich

Secretary of Treasury ---Alex Sink (currently CFO in Florida Cabinet)

Secretary of Interior ----Robert Kennedy, Jr.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs ----Max Cleland


Still mulling over the rest...



More suggestions:


Dissolve the bloated Department of Homeland Security forever.

Reinstate FEMA as a stand-alone entity and name as director ----James Lee Witt.

[Tatiana]

19. I agree with this. Especially dismantling the Dept. Homeland Security.

I've always hated that title, anyway.

FEMA should be a stand-alone agency.

And so should the INS.

[Barack_America]

27. If the DHS must stay, here's my guy.

Brian Schweitzer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Schweitzer

also sounds like he would be an excellent Interior guy, though I doubt he'd take it.

Energy: Sebelius (?)
Education: Napolitano (?)

[SKKY]

21. Here's what I would like to see...

VP: Evan Bayh
AG: John Edwards
Defense: Wes Clark
State: Joe Biden

[Barack_America]

63. Not that I...

...carry a grudge against people who have supported Hillary, but I just wonder if Obama sees eye-to-eye with and better trusts those who have endorsed him.

Just a thought. :shrug:

[SKKY]

128. And it's a good point...

...but I think Obama will not make the same mistakes that GW has made, which is just that- only appoint people who see his point of view.

[LisaM]

22. Geeze Louise, no one has named a single woman on their list.

Just sayin'.

[Barack_America]

28. My list has Carmen Reinhardt.

She would be the first female Secretary of the Treasury.

:hi:

[LSparkle]

31. The best women are Senators -- and we need them there

I'd put Barbara Boxer or Hillary in any cabinet position, but they can do more good in the Senate. Janet Napolitano (AZ gov.) would be a good choice, though -- maybe at Interior?

[Barack_America]

32. I like Napolitano as Education.

Reforming education has been a big part of her policy as Governor.

But would she take it?

[TheWraith]

62. There's also Kathleen Sebelius, but we need her where she is too.

That's the problem with picking Senators and Governors for cabinet positions. They're damn hard to replace.

[Barack_America]

67. She's on her second term, I believe.

Thus not eligible for reelection. So we actually need to include her.

[TheWraith]

81. I didn't know they had term limits in Kansas. Cool.

Either Education or HHS for her, then, those being her big issues IIRC.

[Barack_America]

87. Yep. I double-checked just to be sure. It's the same for Granholm.

I was thinking Energy for Sebelius (assuming Gore wouldn't accept it).

Schweitzer is also outspoken on energy-dependence, but I worry about his focus on coal.
http://www.business.mt.gov/govsenergypage.asp

[eShirl]

34. feel free to add your suggestions, then

seriously


I'm liking a lot of the names I've read so far; a lot of people I hadn't thought of yet on my own.

[XemaSab]

40. I picked two!

:bounce:

[Beausoir]

43. Of course not. No women allowed in Obama fantasy land.

[Barack_America]

47. Funny that you just skip over all the posts above you...

...that point out the women they've included in their cabinets.

:eyes:

[Beausoir]

51. Carry on with your little Obama "fantasy". I mean no disrespect, much like you.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

68. Ah.

The "I know you are but what am I" gambit.

Truly you are a worthy adversary.

[Beausoir]

117. Oprah for Veep!

Child.

[XemaSab]

26. Cabinet:

Department of Agriculture: Jim Hightower

Department of the Interior: Bruce Babbitt

Department of Commerce: ?

Department of Justice: Eliot Spitzer

Department of Defense: Wes Clark

Department of Labor: Dolores Huerta

Department of Education: ?

Department of State: Joe Biden

Department of Energy: Al Gore

Department of Transportation: ?

Department of Health & Human Services: Sheila Kuehl

Department of the Treasury: ?

Department of Homeland Security: ?

Department of Veterans Affairs: Max Cleland

Department of Housing & Urban Development: Jerry Brown

The Vice President: Bill Richardson

White House Chief of Staff: ?

Office of Management and Budget: Whoever Howard Dean likes :)

United States Trade Representative: ?

Environmental Protection Agency: Kurt Gottfried

Office of National Drug Control Policy: George Clinton

[Barack_America]

45. That's an interesting list.

Let me think about it a bit. :think:

[AtomicKitten]

35. John Kerry AG -- John Edwards Sect'y of Labor -- VP ??????

[Recursion]

39. Thad Allen in charge of Dept. of Homeland Security

I'd like to see that.

[Barack_America]

49. That makes sense. n/t

[northernsoul]

52. Bill Clintion as U.N. Ambassador

I'm an Obama supporter, but I think that would be a great fit for the Big Dog (even though I'm pretty annoyed with him right now).

[Barack_America]

58. I used to think so...

But he has so tarnished his reputation in this election.

Also, I think we need to know more about his dealings with Dubai, etc.

[mythyc]

137. Didn't you get the memo?

Bubba's out ...

[TheWraith]

59. VP Wes Clark, AG John Edwards...

Either Richardson or Biden for State. I'd suggest Al Gore for either Interior or Energy, but I doubt he really wants to get back into politics. Maybe Shirley Franklin for HUD or HHS.

Part of the problem with this is that some of the most qualified people are probably unknown to us, them being ultra-qualified policy wonks rather than national political figures.

[Barack_America]

69. Yeah, I ran into that issue...

When I was searching for my Treasury pick.

I don't know anything about the economics scene, but I think I came up with a good on in Carmen Reinhardt.

[tishaLA]

65. VP has to be someone with executive experience

and, preferably with foreign relations gravitas. Richardson seems like the best candidate for this, but he was just terrible during the debates. I don't think running two senators is good...it gets too inside the beltway and inside baseball.

I'm cool with Edwards as AG. State is Clark if he would do it, but that's a place one could more reasonably plug in Richardson. Susan Rice and Samantha Power should also have high level positions in the administration.

[Barack_America]

71. Do you count Secretary of the Navy as executive experience?

Or are you specifically looking at governors?

[tishaLA]

79. It's difficult. I think a governor would be best

but then it depends what we think the election will be about: the economy or foreign affairs. If it is about foreign affairs, he has good people around him already; I know less about his economic advisers. I have a feeling this will be about the economy, so that's why someone who has to look at a budget might be better...but the chimp has the power to push the foreign policy thing by making another series of disastrous decisions that will bring foreign policy to the fore, and he can do it after the VP candidate is chosen.

[Barack_America]

85. So my opinion is that...

Iraq and the economy are hopelessly intertwined. I selected Webb because of his strong military credentials (at the nitty gritty level) and his commitment to Veteran's Rights. I think those issues are going to be huge.

I too am not so certain of Obama's economic team though. I spent much of the afternoon trying to pick a Secretary of the Treasury for him. ;)

[Jack Bone]

76. Homeland Security : Gary Hart

:patriot:

[XemaSab]

115. Good call

n/t

[terrya]

77. Obama, IF he's elected, will choose Richard Lugar as Secretary of State.

I'm absolutely serious. You heard it here first.

Obama considers Lugar a mentor.

[Jack Bone]

84. I could see that

[mb7588a]

82. my picks:

VP:
Edwards

Defense:
Clark (regardless of the clinton support, he's still the best man for the job)

State:
Biden

Veterans:
Max Cleland

AG:
Jim Doyle (Gov. of WI)

DHS:
Richard Clarke

Education or HHS:
Tom Daschle

[Alexander]

88. VP: Russ Feingold. State: John Kerry. The rest are below. I included the full Cabinet.

Attorney General: Janet Napolitano

Defense: Joe Biden

Treasury: Robert Reich

National Security: Gary Hart (if it isn't abolished altogether)

Education: Kathleen Sebelius

Commerce: Carmen Reinhardt

Labor: Richard Gephardt

Energy: Jerry McNerney

Interior: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Health & Human Services: John Edwards

Housing & Urban Development: Patty Murray

Transportation: Federico Peña

Veterans Affairs: Max Cleland

Let me know what you think. :shrug:

[Barack_America]

92. I'll be honest.

I was really pushing for a woman to hold one of the top Cabinet positions, hence my selection of Reinhardt for Treasury (although she seems pretty freaking cool).

I find your selection of Napolitano as AG really intriguing. Particularly considering you've bumped Edwards down to HHS, which I had never thought of, but does make sense.

I'm still partial to Levin as Defense, however, assuming he'd take it.

[Alexander]

96. Napolitano was a good AG for Arizona. Edwards' poverty work would be good for HHS.

After reading your links on Reinhardt, I think she'd make a good secretary of Commerce or Treasury, with Robert Reich taking the other position.

I wouldn't mind Levin as Secretary of Defense, but lately his push to seat the Florida and Michigan delegates without so much as a re-vote has left a bad taste in my mouth. I imagine Obama must feel the same way.

I feel Biden's foreign policy and defense experience are both valuable, and we should have him in a position where he deals with either the military or foreign policy. Since Biden's rather gaffe-prone, I figured it would be best to have him in a defense-related role.

I previously thought Wesley Clark would be a good Defense Secretary, but some of what he did during Kosovo - and the rule saying ex-military officials have to be retired for 10 years - make me lean more towards Biden in that role.

Overall I tried to find the people best qualified for those positions, and your Cabinet proposals are just as good.

[progressive_realist]

106. I'll have some fun with this.

VP: Joe Biden (maybe they can plagiarize each other... :hide: I keed. I keed. Put away those pitchforks.)

State: General Wesley Clark

AG: Patrick Fitzgerald

Defense: Hillary Clinton (she does already have very close ties to the military-industrial complex :shrug: )

Treasury: Paul Volcker

Labor: John Edwards



OK, I'm going to go hide in my bunker now. :hide:

[Barack_America]

108. Well, at least you're an equal opportunity provoker.

;)

[armodem08]

109. Finally, some civility and reason in GDP...

VP: Sebellius (Not enough people have seen this woman, and when they do, they'll love her. I think she is a natural candidate, very personable and very knowledgeable. Her exec experience is a major plus)

AG: John Edwards (I also considered him for Labor and HHS, but I think he could get more done at the DOJ)

Defense: Jack Reed (A former Army Ranger and paratrooper, on the Senate Armed Forces Committee, from a blue state that will elect another Dem. I also considered Webb, but we need him in the Senate)

State: Bill Richardson or Joe Biden (while not great in the debates or campaigning, Bill has good foreign policy experience, having negotiated tense situations in Darfur and other places; Biden is my second choice)

Energy: Al Gore (I also considered him for EPA, but again, I think he can get more done at DOE)

Interior: Napolitano

VA: Max Cleland (A great idea from Xemasab!)

[XemaSab]

116. Thanks for the shoutout!

:hi:

And yeah, I thought about Gore in Ag, Interior and EPA, then decided energy was a good home for him. :)

[Joanne98]

111. Waxman AG! Edwards LABOR!

[Cha]

112. I'd love to see John Edwards in

any position that is near and dear to him and Elizabeth.. to carry on their passion for helping those of us who need it the most.

Al Gore in a specially created Environmental post..or EPA dude..you know like the bushites made up those Orwellian postiions, only ours would be real.

VP's too soon for me to think about yet.

[NMMatt]

113. Richardson VP and Hillary as Senate Majority Leader

VP: Bill Richardson - balances out with the experience thing, and helps Obama win New Mexico, Nevado and Colorado, shores up California, and perhaps even make McCain play some defense in Texas with Latinos siding with Obama/Richardson in high numbers and Conservatives depressed about McCain

AG: John Edwards - Lobbyists and Corporations are on notice that this administration is NOT for sale

Defense: Anthony Zinni - We need a military man who opposed Iraq from the beginning

State: Joe Biden - In some ways I'd prefer a Richardson/Biden swap - I think Biden may be a better VP in office and Richardson would kick ass at State, but Richardson simply brings more to the table as far as winning this Fall than Biden does.


Finally, I want as Senate Majority Leader: Hillary Clinton
I think this is really where she belongs... ramming through Congress all the proposals that she and Obama stole from the Edwards campaign

[Barack_America]

114. Hmm. Very interesting on the Senate Majority thing.

I'm inclined to agree.

Thanks for posting.

[Perky]

118. VP Bob Graham

[Perky]

Homeland Security: Wes Clark

[Perky]

119. AG Janet Napolitano

[Barack_America]

125. Yeah. Alexander also mentioned that upthread. It's intriguing. n/t

[Perky]

127. SHe was a US attorney,, Then state AG before winning Governor

I think she is on her way to SCOTUS.

But were I Obama. I would announce she was the Choice for AG when he accepts the nomination or right after the GOP nominates McCain. The reason is three fold

It puts Arizona in play and undercuts a stte McCain assumes he will win.

It is a high profile woman, a westerner and she is term-limited.

It reminds people of the work that has to be done to heal Justice after Gonzales.

[Beausoir]

120. How telling that a woman Obama supporter would start an Obama fantasy thread and all but omit

any women from his cabinet.

Pathetic.

[Perky]

121. Secretary of State Bill Richardson

[Perky]

122. Domestic Policy czar John Edwards

[Perky]

123. DOD: Gary Hart

[Perky]

124. First SCOTUS nominee: Joe Liebermann

Just to get him out of the Senate. LOL

[Barack_America]

126. Yikes! There are other ways to be rid of him!

Doesn't he have a sex scandal? ;)

[BlooInBloo]

133. Like count on the Connecticut geniuses to vote him out? NOT.

[BlooInBloo]

131. Whatever it takes to get jackass Biden out of elected office...

... Damn war voting, all-bark-no-bite, credit card company whore.

[kristopher]

134. I like Ol' Joe, he's the most entertaining member of the Senate.

And I think he really has a good heart.

[kristopher]

132. I think you nailed it.

How about Patrick Fitzgerald as special prosecutor in the "Investigation of Criminal Wrongdoing By the Bush Administration; G. Bush, D. Cheney, C. Rice, D. Powell, D. Rumsfeld, A. Gonzales and Other Unnamed Parties.

[mythyc]

135. I originally agreed with Edwards as AG

but his silence even still has troubled me. I would have respected him as a principled man with America's interests in mind had he endorsed one of the candidates (even Hillary, hypothetically of course) when he could have actually had an effect. What is he waiting for? Maybe one of you guys can make his silence seem like more than self-interest for me? I'm open to explanation

for Veep I say Colin Powell, hehehehe

Biden is a great State choice btw