My guesses on an Obama cabinet. Please comment and/or add your own

[NewJeffCT]

First off, these are not MY picks for Obama’s cabinet (as if he wanted my recommendation) but these are based on what I have read, heard and (briefly) researched.

If it was up to me, I would have 10 clones of Russ Feingold and 10 of Barbara Boxer in the cabinet.

But, since Obama has said on several occasions he would pick Republicans and/or political opponents for his cabinet, I picked Clinton supporter Wes Clark for the VP slot, Republican Chuck Hagel for Sec. of Defense and independent (former Republican) Michael Bloomberg as Sec. of the Treasury.

I tried to go for diversity when possible, but wish I knew more female candidates and candidates of color. This was a big disappointment to me when we speculated on a Kerry cabinet in 2004 - the speculation was almost always centered on white males... (Please feel free to suggest some! Thanks!)

I did not pick any sitting senators to ensure that when we pick up seats in November, we have enough votes to throw Lieberman out of the caucus. And, I'm not sure where to put John Edwards...

So, here goes:

VP: Wesley Clark

Sec of State: Bill Richardson
Attorney General: Artur Davis
Sec. of Defense: Chuck Hagel
Sec. of the Treasury: Michael Bloomberg

Nat’l Security Adviser: Susan Rice, a big improvement over the old Rice, which is really a rather minor accomplishment…
Homeland Security: Richard Clarke or Bob Graham
Veterans Affairs: Max Cleland
OMB Chief: Austan Goolsbee (will take Bloomberg’s spot when he leaves…)
Sec. of Labor: Linda Chavez-Thompson
Sec. of Health & Human Services: Elizabeth Edwards (or maybe Elizabeth & John together?)
Sec. of the Interior: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Sec of Commerce: Laura Tyson or Indra Nooyi
Sec. of Transportation: Earl Blumenauer
Sec. of Energy: Shirley Jackson
Sec of Education: Inez Tenenbaum or Stephanie Pace Marshall
HUD Secretary: Federico Pena

First appointment to the SCotUS: Kathleen Sullivan

[blonndee]

1. He has to have Hillary in his cabinet.

My guess would be HHS.

[NewJeffCT]

6. I don't think she'll be in there

HHS Secretary might be a step down for a woman that some speculate as a future Senate majority leader.

I also tried to pick no sitting senators, though I realize with a Dem gov in NY, she would be replaced by a Dem appointee.

[blonndee]

7. Really? Hmm.

Maybe you're right. But in his victory speech Tuesday night, he seemed pretty adamant and clear that she would be playing a big role in that regard. I wonder what he has in mind.

[Vincardog]

14. She will be throwing here 18 million vote army in his support. The she will campaign her heart out

to get him and other Democratic candidates elected.
And she will do this with out a single thought of how it might benefit her.
She cares about the party that much.

[CTyankee]

If she does that, and leaves Bill at home, she will be a potent force for Obama

in the GE. But I don't know one person who voted for Hillary in our primary who wouldn't vote for Obama in the GE. Not one. It would be unthinkable.

But I have no idea how the other millions of voters for her in the primaries feel. I would hope the same way and will vote for Obama gladly. We'll see...

[nels25]

32. I keep imagining how a confirmation hearing would be like

I may be wrong but I believe that a lot of GOP senators would be liking their chops to get Hillary under oath in a confirmation hearing.

To a large degree she managed to not be placed under oath during the battles of the 90's, some GOP senators have long memories, both about her and about perceived mistreatment of GOP nominees in the past.

Hillary will be in their option for pay back and IMHO they will be unable to resist the temptation.

And even if they do not use any of the farkels that had her finger prints on it to dirty her up in the hearing for HHS they would shove her 93 health care attempt in her nose.

No I just can not see how nominating Hillary to a initial cabinet post is a positive for Barack, especially when he wants to go a new and less divisive direction.

Not a good idea IMHO.
:shrug:

[blonndee]

34. You guys make some good points.

I was just speculating based on my perception of what he said Tuesday, and you guys are probably right. I hadn't really thought through any of the difficulties you raise.

[blm]

9. It's Daschle's if he wants it.

And he does.

Daschle, Durbin and Kerry were the three wise men behind the plan to break the grip of the Clintons on the party. Jan 2005 - the beginning.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

22. I'd like to see Daschle back in the mix.

He was the wrong pick for Majority Leader because of the tenuousness of his position, and he got rather pinned down in some bad spots on IWR (contrary to popular revisionist DU history, we needed our leadership to be on board with the bill because it was rather popular at the time.) I think he'd be great somewhere.

[blm]

42. I think the problem was more the same one most Dems had in leadership positions at that time -

they were stuck with Bill Clinton being the face of the party and he was solidly supporting Bush on terrorism and Iraq war the entire time. And I have no doubt Bill used that position advising DC Dems to exaggerate about Iraq's capabilities as far as the evidence he claimed to see as president and helped sell that war FOR Bush.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

58. You make a very good and valid point.

Either way, I think we can agree that Daschle got pinned down by shitty circumstances. Otherwise, I really had a pretty high regard for him, and I think he'd have been a great Majority Leader in today's climate.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

21. Why?

Emotionally charged, short-term reasoning notwithstanding, there's no good reason why he'd be forced to do anything with Hillary Clinton.

[sutz12]

37. I disagree...she should stay in the Senate...

She could be the next Teddy Kennedy, terrorizing conservatives for the next 15-20 years.

:)

[Phred42]

74. BS - She has burned her bridges

Make her and Bill co-Ambassadors to Guam

[jmowreader]

91. What's wrong with Guam?

I want Hillary as Senate Majority Leader. We need someone who will stick to her guns, and the campaign we just saw proves she'll do that.

[Vincardog]

101. WE need someone who will fight FOR us not treat liberals as a condition that must be treated

[Vincardog]

2. AG ralf nader First SCOTUS AL GORE Second Edwards

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

23. Nader can be sent to oversee Guantanamo Bay...

after we close the prison camps there, that is.

[karynnj]

64. I seriously doubt that this is Gore's passion

I kind of think that he would prefer the things he is doing already. In his case, I don't think he has interest in Law and was never a lawyer. (I know that is technically not needed - but where is the fit.)

As to Edwards, he was a trial lawyer - never a prosecutor, never a judge, and did not opt to head investigations in the Senate. What shows his interest of knowledge of constitutional law.

[jmowreader]

92. RALPH NADER? Are you fucking HIGH?

Ralph Nader holds a hell of a lot of responsibility for how fucked we are. If that Son Of A Bitch wouldn't have decided to destroy the Democratic Party to save it, we'd be sitting in the last year of the Gore Presidency.

Al Gore can't be on the Supreme Court because he doesn't have a law degree. He went to Vanderbilt Law School but never graduated.

Edwards? Ehh...a civil litigator as a judge? Not sure about that. I've proposed he be made Secretary of HHS, but maybe lead counsel at the EPA, handling environmental cases. He is an exceptional litigator, so let's find a job for him that will let him do a lot of it.

[babylonsister]

3. I still don't get Wes Clark for VP. Why? And before

anyone attacks, I know he's well-liked here, but I just don't see it. Sure he has military experience, but does he lend anything else to this ticket? As I've said before, I'm trusting Obama's instincts, so this is just idle speculation on my part.

[NewJeffCT]

8. I think

because he's very sharp, will offset some of McCain's military experience and has spent time debating on TV, so is more used to TV and delivering soundbites than he was in 2004.

[babylonsister]

11. Thanks. That's very logical. I guess we'll soon see. nt

[Mz Pip]

30. I read that Clark

has accepted a Board position with publicly traded Canadian company, Bankers Petroleum.

Bankers Petroleum Ltd. is a Canadian-based oil and gas exploration and production company focused on maximizing the value of its heavy oil assets in Albania and shale gas assets the United States. The Company is targeting growth in production and reserves through application of new and proven technologies by a strong experienced technical team. Bankers operates in two distinct international areas, Albania (located northwest of Greece in South Eastern Europe) and the United States through its subsidiaries, Bankers Petroleum Albania Ltd. and Bankers Petroleum (US) Inc. The majority of the Company's revenue is currently generated from its operations in Albania.

I think Clark's political aspirations are pretty much over.

[Clark2008]

98. He sits on several boards.

It's not a big deal.

BTW, he also sits on this board: http://www.markle.org/ with Eric Holder (who is on Obama's VP selection committee). This organzation is looking at energy alternatives.

His dealings with sitting on many energy boards is research.

[tridim]

10. No kidding, Nice guy, but I bet he's not even on Obama's long list.

I don't get it either.

[Virginia Dare]

28. Gives him military and national security cred...n/t

[Clark2008]

99. Oh, but I bet he's on Eric Holder's short list

And Eric's doing a lot of the vetting.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

17. He's an older southern white male general.

Which means he adds just about everything Obama needs to the ticket. I doubt he'll get the nod as well, but it'd be a great pick.

[blm]

4. Gary Hart wrote the Hart-Rudman Report on Global Terror and is the one who came up

with a structured Homeland Security plan at the time.

You know - the report Bush deep-sixed when he took office and refused to read it.

Richard Clarke or Gary Hart would be solid picks with the edge to Gary Hart.

[NewJeffCT]

13. Hart is a good choice as well

Obama will have an abundance of very good choices to make for this role - unlike the Republicans.

[CTyankee]

25. Remember, tho, that Gary Hart had his "woman problem" and that

would create a distraction we don't need.

Great list, Jeff. Lots to mull over on that list. Isn't it fun just thinking about it?

[NewJeffCT]

26. Thanks

Hart's woman problem was a long time ago, though Republicans still bring up Chappaquiddick for Ted Kennedy when it was 40 years ago and the fact that Bob Byrd was in the KKK 60 years ago.

Of course, for Republicans, anything bad that happened before today is either a youthful indiscretion or the fault of Bill Clinton.

[blm]

44. That's over. No stopping his nomination with a heavy Dem majority and Vitter

and Craig in their seats. heh

I also see no opposition from Rs like Snowe.

[CTyankee]

76. Don't get me wrong; I think he's great. I just don't want a distraction

from the Obama ticket and cabinet.

[CTyankee]

31. I heard Clarke say on Morning Joe last week that he was not interested in a

Cabinet post. I think he makes far more money in the private sector. I sincerely thank him for his service to our country, tho!

[nels25]

35. Probably a smart comment on his part

the GOP would make his confirmation process pure hell, they would want to give him a little pay back and would be in a position to do so.

:dem:

[Deliphus]

5. Don't know about the rest, but...

> VP: Wesley Clark

I'm 100% with you on that!!! I think he'd make an EXCELLENT choice, and would pretty much deflate McCain's "war experience." Here's a guy who made GENERAL, Johnnie boy!

[elocs]

12. I'd rather not be presumptuous and prefer to wait until after he actually wins.

Crow is not my favorite dish. I bet many of the New England Patriots were celebrating their undefeated year before their Super Bowl loss.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

15. Not a bad list at all!

Very in-depth with some sensible choices there. Some constructive criticism:

Personally, I love the VP selection. I think Clark hits just about everything we'd want paired with Obama - older Southern white male General. Can't think of many people that would be better, but I don't think he'll get selected, for reasons unbeknownst to me.

I'm not sure he'd want a Republican as Sec'y of Defense, simply because it reinforces the idea that Republicans are better at it than we are. Still, Hagel would be a good choice if he did, otherwise, why not Cleland there instead of at VA? I like Bloomberg in the Treasury though.

I might also recommend swapping Graham and Richardson, and announce it early in the season for a boost in FL. Not that I have huge problems with your plan though as it is.

Finally, I'd go with Gov. Bob Wise (D-WV) for Sec'y of Education. He's already doing some great work in the field and he'd be a powerful force with pre-existing buy-in from the education organizations.

On edit: I'd love to see Dick Gephardt as Secretary of Labor.

[NewJeffCT]

24. Thanks

I had originally picked Stephanie Pace Marshall at Education, but saw somewhere else that speculated Tenenbaum, so I put an either/or. I did consider Wise as well, though.

[nels25]

36. Had not rememberd Gephardt

shame on me.

An excellent choice for Secretary of Labor, confirmation in a breeze.

:dem:

[NewJeffCT]

43. I originally had Gephardt at Labor

in yesterday's cabinet speculation thread, but I got criticized for it because he was too centrist/DLC.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

51. Eh, that's bullshit.

It's based on one vote (IWR) that he had pretty much no choice on.

on edit: I'm not directing my ire at you, just the concept. Apologies for not being clearer.

[Qutzupalotl]

16. John Edwards for Attorney General

VP Biden, Webb or Warner (Clark has trashed Obama too much)

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

19. Edwards would be a sound pick there - you're right.

I'd steer clear of all your VP picks because we wouldn't be able to guarantee their replacements in the Senate. I do like Biden a lot, however. I was unaware Clark bashed Obama...

[Fleshdancer]

60. NOOOO!!!!

Edwards wants to be a spy. A spy with jetskis! :D

[Qutzupalotl]

62. That would be so cool!

:D

[Alter Ego]

18. Abolish fucking Homeland Security.

This is not 1930s Germany--there is no need for this department.

[Virginia Dare]

27. That was just a big union busting scheme anyway..

so I'm sure you will see something happening with that if Obama wins. At the very least, FEMA needs to be extricated from it again.

[VP505]

20. I would MUCH prefer a

Iraq/Afghanistan veteran for Veterans Affairs, someone a little closer to what is happening in the Military of today. Nothing wrong with Max Cleland but the issues for todays Veteran are different than what Max experienced, so IMO, maybe Admiral Fallon or one of the Generals that Booo$h brushed aside.

[nels25]

38. Tammy Duckworth for Dept of VA

Just asking??

[VP505]

59. I kind of forgot about her

she definately would be an Excellent choice.

[NewJeffCT]

61. agreed

another excellent choice.

[nels25]

29. Some Comments on your choices and some of my own

I would go with Biden for Secretary of State instead of Richardson.

In fact I think either Richardson or Governor Napolitano would be a good choice for Veep, though I can see your reasoning for Clark, make it harder to beat up Barack over Iraq and the not able to be CIC issue,

Hagel as Sec Def, I like it a lot
Bloomberg at Treasury sound good to me (I am lost when it comes to economic theory and how to run an economy, still he seems to have done at least an acceptable job in NYC).

Some of your choices are going to look and be perceived as quite to the left of where a majority of the people are politically, and you can be sure the MSM will play it that way. (Not to mention the GOP echo chamber of radio etc which will still exist even though the GOP gets a thumping.)

Remember how we reacted to some of Bush's choices say Gonzalez or his predecessor.

Trying to get RFK Jr, Richard Clarke (that one alone will be toxic to a large majority of what is left of the GOP in the senate, you will see a filibuster on that one for sure).

Some of your choices I am not as familiar as I should be with.

For instance Pena, Tenenbaum or Pace-Marshall, Jackson etc.

Would Cleland accept VA again??

How about Patrick Fitzgerald for AG??

Gov Switzer from Montana for Interior??

Last thought: Know matter how much some may want it. Hillary should not be nominated for an initial cabinet post. The hearings would be a free for all, and there is no guarantee that she could get confirmed, Barack would have to use a lot of political capital to get her confirmed. As for a appointment for the SCOUS, 2 words, never happen. She would absolutely not get past a hostile GOP filibuster, no way, no how, can not be done.

Again My 2 cents.


:loveya:

[Mz Pip]

33. I like the idea

of Fitzgerald for AG. We are supposed to have an independent judiciary and Fitzgerald seems to fit that bill.

I agree about Biden for Sec of State.

Jim Webb for VP would be my first pick.

[nels25]

41. Webb is an intriguing choice

he would neutralize McCain in the hero status to even/steven.

My guess he would come across better than who ever McCain chooses for veep (he really has a atrocious selection to choose from doesn't he).

I could live with Webb.

still I honestly believe this is a year for thinking outside the box.

He can help his Hillary problem and any hispanic problem with Napolitano.

Just my 2 cents:loveya:

[CTyankee]

40. Heh, Napolitano for VP would be a stick poked in McLame's eye!

But I worry about what the freeps will do re her unmarried status. I can just hear it now...

[nels25]

45. I had not considered the fact

that she was from Arizona, just that she is a popular and well regarded Democratic governor from a red state that brings several things to the table if Barack chooses her.

But you are right being from Arizona would make a little more of a delicious selection.

As for being single BFD. What is the problem??:hi:
:dem:

[CTyankee]

77. I don't have a problem. I just worry that the RW has their knives

out for her. I don't put ANYTHING past these crazies...

[blondeatlast]

63. Her "unmarriedstatus" is pretty much assumed here in AZ and she's still very popular.

The state Rs don't raise the issue because a large part of the most active politicos in Phoenix are gay and have money--and a great many of them happen to be Republican.

They don't dare raise the issue; many of those gay Rs will cross over to vote for gay-friendly Dems if they feel they are being ignored.

AZ politics is not nearly as cut-and-dried as outsiders think it is.

[CTyankee]

78. Good to know! I was on a trip to northern Italy and a lesbian couple from AZ and I spoke about

Napolitano over lunch one day. They were very happy with her as governor and spoke highly of her accomplishments. I was thrilled to hear she was so well accepted (not that I felt she wouldn't be, but only because it is a red state).

Is there any chance that AZ could go Dem in the GE this election?

[NewJeffCT]

49. I don't think Hillary would have a huge problem

being confirmed by the Senate. I don't think she's as hated by the Republics in the Senate as she is by the RW base.

[nels25]

55. I could be wrong

I was thinking of Mitch McConnel when I wrote it.

Still my SCOUS comments were made with regard that the GOP will look at here nomination to be a pain like Senator Kennedy and Biden (in their view) were a pain.

Her history might make them think they have a clean shot and getting even for the borking of Bork 20 years ago.

[NewJeffCT]

50. I don't think Hillary would have a huge problem

being confirmed by the Senate. I don't think she's as hated by the Republics in the Senate as she is by the RW base.

and, since the governor of NY is a Dem, he would appoint a Dem replacement for her.

But, I don't think she'd settle for anything less than Sec. of State or Attorney General.

[DCKit]

39. All Politicians? Are there no capable Academics? n/t

[NewJeffCT]

46. There were a few

Jackson at Energy and Sullivan for SCotUS.

[nels25]

47. Academics almost never get chosen for high political office

the last one I can really think of is Stevenson in the 50's and Wilson in 1912.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

54. A bunch of Assistant Secretaries have been academics.

And they've been consumed whole. They think they can come in and run studies, but their job as Secretary is almost entirely a political one. Academics make GREAT career folks, but horrible appointees.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

52. No - that's why they're academics.

Beyond that, running a branch of the government and studying it are entirely different animals. Academics have rarely, if ever faired well in the position.

[fishwax]

48. Roy Romer is another possibility for Secretary of Education

He would likely have been the pick in a Gore administration, had the 2000 election not been stolen. :(

[AZ Criminal JD]

53. Kathleen Sullivan flunked the bar exam in CA just a couple years ago.

Would that be the best choice for the Supreme Court?

[NewJeffCT]

57. I guess not

didn't realize that - somebody mentioned her on yesterday's SCotUS thread and her CV looked very impressive.

Thanks for bringing it up, though. Do you have an alternate.

[AZ Criminal JD]

84. Don't get me wrong

I think Sullivan is a great Constitutional scholar. I used her case book when I was in law school. But she took the exam after many years of being out of law school. (She passed the exam in Mass. when she graduated but had to take the exam again in CA when she decided to formally practice law there). I just think it would be used against her in a confirmation hearing and it would be embarrassing since most people would not understand the circumstances. I don't have a specific suggestion but I think it should be a woman because we only have one on the court right now and she is not in good health.

[yellerpup]

56. I'd like to see John Edwards as AG.

Also for clarification, Mike Bloomberg was a Democrat until a few months before he decided to run for Mayor of NYC. The Democratic field had (I think) almost 20 or so contenders, so he switched parties to get the nomination. He would be great, IMO. Good slate!

[NewJeffCT]

65. I like Edwards but

I am not sure about him for AG...

[yellerpup]

66. Do you see him in the cabinet in another position?

He's so ethical and a true patriot--just hate to see all that talent under utilized.

[NewJeffCT]

70. maybe Labor or HHS

not sure

[yellerpup]

72. Clark for VP would bring huge benefits

in the Red to Purple areas. He could possibly deliver Arkansas, WVA (even OK which he won in the 2004 primary) and some other states with heavy military presence. Edwards may have his own ideas about what to do next.

[Seabiscuit]

67. Wow interesting guesses and some look like a great fit .. especially the Sec. of Health & Human Serv

I think Hillary will be in there somewhere, otherwise I think she will be appointed for the Supreme court.

[KamaAina]

68. Linda Chavez-Thompson?!

:wtf:

He's gonna regret saying he'd pick repukes, 'cause he'll actually have to find a few who aren't vile. One by one they keep leaving the party: Chafee, Bloomberg, etc.

But surely there must be someone left out there with an (R) after his/her name who walks upright? It would be even sweeter if they were in the Senate (Snowe or Collins, maybe, though not for Labor) and we could engineer another pickup!

[NewJeffCT]

69. The Linda Chavez-Thompson who is vice-chair of the DNC

and an executive VP with the AFL-CIO, lifelong labor activist and Democrat. Seems pretty good to me, no?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Chavez-Thompson

Not Linda Chavez, the RW author

[KamaAina]

71. Oh. I thought that the vile Linda Chavez had gotten married

to a particularly unfortunate soul named Thompson.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Chavez#Career_in_Republican_administrations

In 2001, President George W. Bush nominated Chavez for Secretary of Labor. She was the first Hispanic female nominated to a United States cabinet. She withdrew the nomination after it was revealed, through her neighbor Peggy Zwisler, that she had allegedly given money to an illegal immigrant from Guatemala who lived in her home a decade earlier.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Chavez#Columnist_and_commentator

Chavez is a syndicated columnist and a Fox News political commentator.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Chavez#Political_Action_Committees_and_non-profit_foundations

Linda Chavez is the chairman and founder of the Center for Equal Opportunity, a conservative think tank devoted to issues of race and ethnicity. The Center is the leading conservative organization fighting against race-based public policies, known as "affirmative action" in contracting, employment, higher education, and K-12.

If I were Ms. Chavez-Thompson, I'd be inclined to put feminism aside and go by just "Linda Thompson", so as to avoid any confusion with the Reagan-Bush lapdog.

[Phred42]

73. Hagel? Thats a sick joke

take a CLOSE look at that bastards voting record. You would REWARD an SOB like that with a position in the Administration

Please - This country will not survive with ANY further Conservative control of anything in the Government.

He can find someone better that Clark also - someone NEWER Clark is old school

Time for a change

[NewJeffCT]

75. Hagel has been an outspoken critic of the war since the beginning

and, his far right views on social matters won't come into play as Sec of Defense

[Phred42]

82. Even a broken CLock is Correct twice per day!

TAKE A CLOSE PHUCKING LOOK AT THE REST OF HIS VOTING RECORD!

thats still no reason to allow him on the inside - there will be better choices
WAKE UP!

You might as well put Ron Paul in there

This is just Brain-dead

PHUCK Republicans

:banghead:

[NewJeffCT]

86. So, when Obama promises to appoint Republicans & political opponents

to his cabinet, you don't believe him, or you think he's brain dead?

[Phred42]

94. I don't recall Obama stating he would appoint Rpugs to his Cabinet

[NewJeffCT]

96. Here are several articles on it

I barely paid attention to the primaries and even I remember hearing that several times...

>>>
AS Barack Obama enters the final stages of the fight for the Democratic presidential nomination, he is preparing to detach the core voters of John McCain, the likely Republican nominee, with the same ruthless determination with which he has peeled off Hillary Clinton’s supporters.
The scene is set for a tussle between the two candidates for the support of some of the sharpest and most independent minds in politics. Obama is hoping to appoint cross-party figures to his cabinet such as Chuck Hagel, the Republican senator for Nebraska and an opponent of the Iraq war, and Richard Lugar, leader of the Republicans on the Senate foreign relations committee.
Senior advisers confirmed that Hagel, a highly decorated Vietnam war veteran and one of McCain’s closest friends in the Senate, was considered an ideal candidate for defence secretary. Some regard the outspoken Republican as a possible vice-presidential nominee although that might be regarded as a “stretch”.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article3466823.ece

>>>>
ABC's Sunlen Miller Reports: Barack Obama has often said he'd consider putting Republicans in his cabinet and even bandied about names like Sens. Dick Lugar and Chuck Hagel. He's a added a new name to the list of possible Republicans cabinet members - Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Obama regularly says he would look to Republicans to fill out his cabinet if he was elected, but at a town hall event in Manchester, N.H., he was pushed to name names.
“It’s premature for me to start announcing my cabinet. I mean, I’m pretty confident. but I’m not all that confident. We still got a long way to go,” Obama said.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/12/obama-says-hed.html

>>>>>
AS Barack Obama enters the final stages of the fight for the Democratic presidential nomination, he is preparing to detach the core voters of John McCain, the likely Republican nominee, with the same ruthless determination with which he has peeled off Hillary Clinton's supporters.
The scene is set for a tussle between the two candidates for the support of some of the sharpest and most independent minds in politics. Obama is hoping to appoint cross-party figures to his cabinet such as Chuck Hagel, the Republican senator for Nebraska and an opponent of the Iraq war, and Richard Lugar, leader of the Republicans on the Senate foreign relations committee.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/02/obama-plans-to-pick-repub_n_89438.html

[ms liberty]

79. EPA Chief: RFK, Jr. - FEMA Chief: Mike Pappantonio. n/t

[Rosco T.]

83. FEMA: James Lee Witt

Put back the guy that Clinton did and made FEMA work, he knows how to put it back the way it was, and make it a cabinet level position again

[ms liberty]

85. I stand corrected, and agree. Papp should have a place somewhere, though! n/t

[Phred42]

95. YES! and YES!

[lisainmilo]

80. I would love to see Gore and Edwards in there somewhere! n/t

[Rosco T.]

81. close.. but...

Atty Gen - JOHN EDWARDS -- the neo cons worst nightmare

EPA - RFK, Jr. Period. No one else

Health & Human Services - Hillary, let he so what she can do on health care.

UN Ambassador - Big Dawg, say what you want, the world loves him and he can do the best job there to build our rep back.

[foxer]

93. Edwards AG, Fitzgerald FBI.

[JohnLocke]

87. I hope Artur Davis wouldn't be AG!

[NewJeffCT]

88. why not, may i ask?

just curious...

[JohnLocke]

89. Well

He's anti-choice, he supported the Bankruptcy Bill, he voted to make the PATRIOT Act permanent. He'd be much, much better than what we have now, but there are so many better Democratic AG candidates.

[NewJeffCT]

90. that is 3 strikes

so, he'll probably be out of my next list...

I put him on there because he does have connections to Obama from their college days.

I like John Edwards a lot, but I'm not sure about him as AG.

[Clark2008]

97. Very good list.

I agree with most all of it - and I'm happy to see you include Kathleen Sullivan. She could either be SCotUS or Attorney General.

[NewJeffCT]

100. Sullivan won't make my next list

somebody above posted that she flunked the California bar exam...

I was hoping for some other alternates, though.