Who would you pick for Obama's Attorney General?

[Sewsojm]

At first I wanted John Edwards but now I'm hoping for, Vincent Bugliosi

[Metta]

1. Johnathan Turley or Ralph Nadar.

Although, I'd like to see Turley on the supreme court.

[elizfeelinggreat]

11. Turley!

And I would like Edwards for the Supreme Court. Longevity :D

[Metta]

16. Turley is my man. Edwards is a good pick.

longevity - we have to look at that.

[notadmblnd]

2. Fitzgerald, Patrick

[Kermitt Gribble]

3. I'm hoping for

Alberto Gonzales.











Seriously, though, I'd be tickled to see either of those 2 as AG!

[elocs]

4. Recently, Democrats have not proven that they can prevent a presidential election from being stolen.

I think I would rather wait until Obama actually wins before I get cocky and start to plan his cabinet for him.

[jmowreader]

5. Bugliosi would be entertaining

He might be even MORE entertaining as Solicitor General with Fitz as AG.

There are two problems, though: Republicans steal elections, and Bush has a stack of toner cartridges and a boilerplate Pardon file. If we don't impeach the fucker just to suspend his ability to pardon, he WILL pardon his entire administration.

[Lex]

6. John Edwards

nt

[karynnj]

10. Why? He investigated nothing as a Senator

and never chose to be a prosecutor. He also has no experience from an organization - other than his campaign. He actually seems more interested in Labor issues. Edwards did say he wanted to work on poverty. That is not something the DA doea.

The skills he used as a lawyer, rested as much on skillfully convincing a jury in addition to building a case. I suspect that there are DAs across the country - that none of us have heard of - who are respected within their field for their skill as prosecutors and running good organizations.

It seems that the DU fill in the cabinet exercises have a tendency to try to slot all the 2008 contenders. Look back at 1992 - did Harkin, Tsongus, Kerrey, Brown or Sharpton end up in Clinton's cabinet?

[Lex]

18. So you're saying he's not qualified to be AG?

Interesting viewpoint.

[karynnj]

27. I don't think that there are any specific qualifications

The AG does not even have to be a lawyer. My point is that while Edwards could be AG, his best qualities (convincing people) are lost in that job. Add to that, that it is not his interest area now (I think) and that the key features of the job are things he never did - my question is Why?

My points were that there is way too much a tendency to fill the entire cabinet with former opponents. I gave the Clinton example to show that it didn't happen then. I could do the same with 1976, but fewer people would see the names and know they were not in the cabinet.

What I have seen is that I often have never heard of most of the appointees when they are named. In general, when their biographies are put out - they make sense. (I am excluding Bush's appointees - for obvious reasons). So, in the earlier post I listed where a candidate could come from.

It just seems to me that what Edwards has said he wants to work on is poverty - and I think he is sincere. That is not something done as AQ. Whether as part of the cabinet or as an advocate, I would expect that Edwards would be involved in that area.

While I think a very strong man, intelligent, principled and a good lawyer is needed, I do not think that he/she needs to be a politician. My favorite Senator is Kerry. Though he was an excellent prosecutor and the best investigator in the Senate in the last several decades, I would hope that he would NOT take this position. Why? Because there are people out in the country who have the characteristics needed, who could do an excellent job. This leaves Kerry in the Senate - as one of the most powerful Senators to write legislation and push the party in a good direction - where he is more needed for Massachusetts and the country. Obama needs good Seantors to pass legislation. (For those questioning "powerful", he was ranked by a Congressional paper as 12th - that would likely go up - first because both Obama, Clinton and McCain were all placed higher due to the Presidential race. Kerry's place was because of seniority and his ability to speak to the issues.)

[Faygo Kid]

7. John Edwards.

Perfect choice.

[rusty_parts2001]

8. Henry Waxman or Dennis Kucinich (even if he's not a lawyer)

[TomInTib]

9. David Van Os

He would go after these criminals like a pit bull.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vanosfortexasag.com%2F&ei=KodVSOShIJrOtQOW2dGEAw&usg=AFQjCNGx3YXbfVqa5F3BObg_cWDCsXo3rg&sig2=0ukBpDyJ1oBRMSm95UtzkA

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=3&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FDavid_Van_Os&ei=KodVSOShIJrOtQOW2dGEAw&usg=AFQjCNF9qqPvRZa223_pz7lYhC-UsMJnvw&sig2=OKMzJqLXU4Vh3JnyHhpT5A

[babylonsister]

23. Wow! I really like him. Good choice! nt

[TomInTib]

25. Have you ever heard him speak?

I met him through Molly Ivins and I have had dinner with David and Rachel on several occasions.

One hell of a guy, one heck of a couple.

I did some fundraising for him out here on the Left Coast.

[babylonsister]

26. No. He wrote some articles for DU when he was running in 06, and

I was mightily impressed.

[jobycom]

12. I don't know, but I wouldn't pick Edwards or any other political appointee.

I'd find someone who was qualified and whose integrity was above reproach. Not saying Edwards isn't, just saying if we really want what Obama keeps promising--a new kind of politics, an honest government, etc--it's time we started treating cabinet posts like the professional positions they are, rather than the entourage rewards we've seen the last few years. I want someone who owes nothing to Obama and who would be as likely to prosecute him for crimes he might (but won't) committ as to go after Bush.

I wish Barbara Jordan were still alive. Someone like that. Patrick Fitzgerald, as mentioned above, has some merit. Someone who values the law more than any party or candidate. That's my wish list.

I'm not holding my breath, though,

[lpbk2713]

13. John or Elizabeth Edwards

Either one as AG would please the hell out of me.

[barbtries]

14. john edwards maybe

i know i want joe biden for sec of state

[bluesmail]

15. RFK Jr. (naturally)

[Radical Activist]

29. I'd like to see him be EPA director and sue the shit out of polluters.

[bluesmail]

33. He'd make a huge difference in any post!

[kentuck]

17. John Edwards...

Unless there was some volunteer that would be willing to take on the big corporate interests.

[Disturbed]

19. Vincent Bugliosi & Turley for the SC.

Probably won't happen but it would be grand.

[Arkham House]

20. John Kerry...if he'd leave the Senate...

...he's shown he can get to the bottom of all sorts of weird shit...

[karynnj]

31. Kerry is my favorite politician of all times - but no

He is needed in the Senate to write the legislation for things that he and Obama want passed. His investigative expertise could be used in the Senate. Remember that Kerry has never had a President and Justice department on his side when he has investigated things. The really remarkable thing about his accomplishments in this area is that with both the Contras and BCCI, he had a stone walling Justice department and little or no support. Imagine, Kerry able to get Obama's ear and his trust and a Justice department willing to give him documents that he has a right to get.

The AG does set the tome for the department and it would be as incorruptible as possible under Kerry, but that is mostly an administrative job. There are others - though they are not abundant - with Kerry's integrity. I would hope that some DA somewhere has the desired personality, abilities, and skill to do the job.

Leaving Kerry as Senator to his beloved Massachusetts. (Only for SoS could you make the argument that Kerry's unique combination of talents and interests makes him sufficiently better that it would be worth considering leaving the Senate.

[Bozita]

21. How about David Iglesias, the fired US Attorney from New Mexico?

He sure didn't go quietly into that dark night.

[IDemo]

30. Agreed with you on Iglesias

The repubs would shriek that he was selected only for political payback, but then they have little to argue with when it comes to politics and AG's.

[seasat]

32. That was one of my thoughts too. He certainly showed integrity.

He refused to drum up charges against Democrats that he knew were phony despite being appointed as a Republican.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

22. The nation's foremost Constitutional law expert - Harvard Professor Lawrence Tribe

who has called Barack Obama "the best student I ever had". But I agree that Bugliosi would be a good choice for AG. Tribe and his colleague Kathleen Sullivan would also make outstanding U.S. Supreme Court appointees. Tribe made a lot of enemies in the Senate when he testified against Robert Bork but hopefully a solid Democratic majority in our legislature could allow such an outstanding legal mind to serve the country.

[Vinca]

24. John Edwards. I think he'd be a pitbull. nt

[Radical Activist]

28. He'll probably pick someone from Harvard. Maybe John Kerry.

I'm not sure who I'd like.

[monmouth]

34. Patrick Fitzgerald. He's already familiar with the pending criminal cases

and would be ready on Day One!!