The Official Democratic Platform... does it mean anything, and a Dem as Sec. of Defense?

[mirrera]

I know I spent days as a state delegate and people spent countless hours voting on additions and subtractions to the Democratic Party Platform. Some of the Republicans that people mention as potential cabinet members, do not come close to upholding the platform put forward by the Democratic Party (Your Hagels, Gates, etc.). I am all for a president being president to the whole country, but unless I am mistaken, Obama ran as a Democratic Party candidate, taking help from Democratic Party members in all 50 states, and has the right and obligation to appoint people who support those ideals.

Not every Democrat agrees on everything, but we do have a Party Platform that is supposed to outline the things we do agree to stand for—so that voters know what they are voting for.

Republicans NEVER hide their Republicanism, they are embarrassingly proud of their platform. Why must it always be the Democratic Party that has to strive for "bi-partisanship". For Republicans it is always heads I win tales you lose. For Democrats it seems to be tales we lose heads we lose.

We need Democrats for Sec. of Defense (who wants that tired old meme that the GOP is strong on defense, chicken hawks and all!), Sec. of State, head of CIA, AG, etc.

Because... we won.

The people spoke! Republicans, no. Democrats, yes. There is not a single Republican member of congress in New England. That is not a subtle state of affairs. If the Republicans want to be "post-partisan", they can re-register as Independents or Democrats or Greens, etc.

Republicans... no.

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. The platform is nothing more than campaign rhetoric

I have that as the official word of the Washington State Democratic Party.

[MaineDem]

2. Any Cabinet Secretary would carry out Obama's orders

Clinton had a Republican Sec Def and it worked out pretty well.

Cabinet heads do not set the policy. It will still be Obama's administration. I'm not concerned.

[mirrera]

5. It is true that all would follow Obama's orders, but

I am really concerned that we not perpetrate the myth of the 'strong on defense GOP'. This administration brought that to the height of folly with their misbegotten war and their chicken hawk squawkers.

[Hippo_Tron]

3. What Democrat would you suggest for Secretary of Defense?

Keeping in mind that we don't want to take more Democrats out of the Senate and Wesley Clark is legally ineligible for another 2 years.

[mirrera]

4. I am not sure, and I think Kerry would be great...

But I agree stripping our Senate of anymore Democrats would be foolish.

For the last years, the Backbone Campaign has had many people interviewed and nominated for a progressive Cabinet. Their link is:

http://backbonecampaign.com/cabinet/

[Joe Chi Minh]

6. Strange isn't it how the Republicans "con" their less wordly supporters into

thinking he'd need to be a hawk. How about Bill Clinton?

[mmonk]

7. As a delegate who votes on platforms, I can tell you they mean

absolutely nothing. They exist to patronize the base and make it feel useful.