Obama is not choosing senators (unless GOP) for his cabinet

[PretzelWarrior]

it just isn't going to happen. It would be ridiculous to pull senators with seniority out of that legislative body. There are PLENTY of great governors and ex-officials and up and comers who could fill slots. Weakening one Dem stronghold to strengthen another doesn't make a lot of sense.

[Eric J in MN]

1. If John Kerry wants to be Secretary of State (as reported)

...it's not ridiculous to give him the job.

[PretzelWarrior]

2. yeah. I think it is.

[NancyG]

14. I like Richardson nt

[PretzelWarrior]

15. Richardson rocks. As does Holbrooke. And Dean.

many great choices out there.

[slampoet]

3. It has nearly always been that way. i don't know why people aren't up on their history.

Cabinets are made up of Governors and Representatives under Dem administrations.


Under the GOP there are sometimes more people from the business world.

[AllentownJake]

4. I think Obama is picking the best people he can get

where they come from be dammed.

[xochi]

5. I agree. He's emulating Abraham Lincoln in that respect. n/t

[PretzelWarrior]

6. hate to throw this grenade, but most senators don't have executive experience

if the POTUS doesn't have a lot of executive experience but can lead with a vision, he needs to accomplish things through strong executives underneath.

that is another reason I don't see any senators period. Hagel could be an exception because he's had such recent experience as business executive.

[AllentownJake]

7. Totally Agree

However certain senators have experience in their background other than being Senators and it is really the under secretaries that are the day to day managers. That is where you need the strongest people to supervise.

[PretzelWarrior]

8. true dat. I love talking about this stuff

it's wonderful to FINNNALLLLYYY be able to talk about this stuff on Democratic Underground (since it started AFTER the Bush election theft of 2000).

[cali]

9. uh, hate to break this to you but executive experience is not the be all and all

and your OP is wrong. Odds are strong that Obama will pick at least one Senator for his cabinet. oh, and lots of cabinet members in many admins don't have exec experience per say. That's a very repuke idea- that executive experience is required.

[PretzelWarrior]

11. lololol. no it isn't. that's what anyone would charge.

I'm sure Clinton used against Dole in 1996. While the president has many department heads who can administer their departments, those people at the head of departments usually need to have some idea of how to run a chain of command.

[NV Whino]

10. You are absolutely correct

I don't understand why people can't "get it." I've gotten tired of arguing about it.

Kerry, for instance, has just won reelection, not to mention his spokes person has denied the rumor. There is no way he would take a cabinet position even if it were offered, which it won't be.

[JaneQPublic]

12. The reasons senators' names are always mentioned...

...in this amusing little parlor game of picking Obama's cabinet is simply that they are the most famous public officials.

There are many governors, college presidents, and other experts in the private sector who would be excellent choices for cabinet positions, but few of us know their names.

[PretzelWarrior]

13. I think you are right.

it takes too much work to do real research on who would ACTUALLLY be good at 1st response coordination under Homeland Security or who would be an EXPERT on education, etc. etc.

[xochi]

16. Sure is nice to have hope about who Obama will ultimately pick

instead of that awful sinking feeling I had when Bush assumed his horrific, nightmarish dictatorship....