McCain Being Offered Cabinet position?

[cayuga]

McCain is on the docket tomorrow to meet with Obama. Will he be offered a position and, if so, which one? Obama is a big propenent of bringing former running mates into the fold, ala Abraham Lincoln.

[mtnester]

1. No

McCain is not a Democratic rival, he was the opposing party rival

My guess is to just have a test the waters session about things upcoming in the Senate when he takes office, and who wants to meet with Boehner or McConnel? Maybe he thinks McCain will end up senate minority leader...but it certainly has nothing to do with a cabinet appointment.

[cayuga]

6. Opposing party rivals are what makes the 'team of rivals'

Obama has referenced the book Team of Rivals for his ideal Cabinet. This means McCain could be offered a position.

Here's an article about Obama's philosophy:

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/05/obama-proposes.html

It appears that we may have to steel ourselves for this possibility and understand that Obama has a good reason for what he does in this respect.

[cali]

8. you haven't read the book, have you?

No, there is no chance that Obama would appoint McCain to his cabinet and even less of a chance that McCain would accept it.

[cayuga]

11. Since you HAVE read the book, explain why this is not a possiblity:

"That has to be the approach that one takes," Obama said, "whether it's vice president or cabinet, whoever. And by the way that does not exclude Republicans either. You know my attitude is that whoever is the best person for the job is the person I want. ... You know, if I really thought that John McCain was the absolute best person for the Department of the Homeland Security, I would put him in there."

[mtnester]

17. Andrew Johnson was a Dem who broke from the party over secessions

and was an open and ugly racist. He was for emancipation, but not for the state of Tennessee, nor for applying any rights to former slaves. He survived an impeachment vote by 1 vote after Lincoln was killed and retained his seat as resident since the Republican party did not want the other guy who was angling for it to run.

There was one other Dem who was Sec of War. EVERY other "rival" was from within his own party...the Republicans.

Here is a bio on all of them:

http://www.mrlincolnswhitehouse.org/inside.asp?ID=9&subjectID=2

So plopping down a bunch of OUTSIDE rivals is not how Lincoln approached it at all, and no way does McCain get a cabinet post.

[LiberalFighter]

15. At this point I doubt that McCain would be minority leader.

I'm sure the Republicans consider McCain washed up.

[Egalitariat]

2. I think it's just to gloat***

nm

[rurallib]

10. I think Obama's trying to line up some beer for the inaugural bash

figures John could maybe give him a discount.

[onenote]

3. highly unlikely

and mccain wouldn't take it anyway.

[peace frog]

4. Nope

No place for McCain in Obama's Cabinet.

[NewJeffCT]

9. How about Secretary of Plumbing?

he could supervise Joe the Plumber and make sure he got his license.

[peace frog]

24. Oh hell, Joe doesn't want a plumbing license

because then he would have to go out and WORK for a living! Getting his hands dirty in the plumbing trade, HORRORS!

Nah, old JTP will take the easy money, signing a C&W contract and finding a decent ghostwriter to script his memoirs (like he has any).

[thunder rising]

5. The one above the stove. HRC gets one side and Mc gets the other.

[tekisui]

7. It's not gonna happen.

There is nothing that he could be trusted with. Nothing.

[WinkyDink]

12. No. Way. No. How. Never. These "speculations" are now officially ridiculous.

[cali]

13. yep. how can anyone seriously think that McCain might be in Obama's cabinet?

[cayuga]

14. Obama seriously thinks that McCain might be in his cabinet.

"That has to be the approach that one takes," Obama said, "whether it's vice president or cabinet, whoever. And by the way that does not exclude Republicans either. You know my attitude is that whoever is the best person for the job is the person I want. ... You know, if I really thought that John McCain was the absolute best person for the Department of the Homeland Security, I would put him in there."

[onenote]

16. key word: "if"

And one can safely assume that Obama doesn't think John McCain is "the absolute best person" for Homeland Security.

[cali]

18. no, that quote demonstrates nothing vis a vis McCain as a serious candidate

for a cabinet position in Obama's adminsitration. In any case, no way would McCain endanger a repub senate seat by resigning.

[thesquanderer]

19. Special Position for McCain

Obama will put McCain on a special mission to hunt down Osama Bin Laden and follow him to the gates of Hell.

"From each according to his ability"

[book_worm]

20. no, not every meeting is about a cabinet. It's not unusual for a defeated rival to meet after

the election with the victor to help bring the country together.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

21. WHAT has he distinguished himself on exactly?

He's publicly stated that he's o.k. with troops staying in Iraq for the next 100 years.

His record on Veteran's Affairs are awful.

He ultimately caved to Bush on torture.

He demonstrated absolutely NO leadership on economic issues.

Despite being a supposed "paragon of virtue" on campaign finance reform, he stocked his campaign with lobbyists.

He now likes the religious right or at least doesn't see them as "agents of intolerance" anymore.

He backed off on pushing meaningful immigration reform.

So, WHAT post/position would he be good for?

:shrug:

Maybe, Obama just wants to have him over so that he can drink his milkshake?

[Honeycombe8]

22. I doubt it. Can't think of anything McCain would be interested in. Probably a talk to see about...

getting support from McCain in the senate on issues that they have in common, like torture, Guant. Bay closing, global warming initiatives, etc.

[saltpoint]

23. Were one offered and were McCain to accept, Democratic Gov. Napolitano

could replace a red senator with a blue one.

Is that the set-up in Arizona, or is a special election required?

[BlooInBloo]

25. That's just stupid.

[paulk]

26. I doubt it

but McCain was one of the more moderate Republicans, especially before he decided to run for President and had to cater to the whackjob right. He doesn't need to do that anymore and it's not out of the question that he could be a strong ally on certain legislation.

Also, meeting him helps drive the wedge deeper between the moderate Republicans and the fundie right...