President Elect Obama's Sec of Defense? How about either Jack Reed or Wes Clark?

[RiverStone]

Chuck Hagel --- BIG NO! Good on the war, standard issue Republican in just about every other way.

Robert Gates --- NO! That's not change.

I like Jack Reed from Rhode Island; I believe he currently sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee. He is a veteran and seems to have appeal both on the left and the right.

I have heard little about Wes Clark these days. It may be that his ties to the Clintons are too well established to even ponder the possibility, although he is light years better than Gates (staying) or inviting Hagel.

Any other recommendations?

[Avalux]

1. Wes Clark is ineligible; not enough time elapsed since AD.

I would be OK with Jack Reed - I keep wondering where Obama will place him; the man definitely needs a position.

[BOSSHOG]

6. However

My suggestion if the Obama folks are reading DU (of course they are), keep Gates until 2010 (one year) when Clark will be eligible to be SECDEF. Smooth transition.

Actually I think General Clark is the best choice for SECSTATE.

[Sebastian Doyle]

9. That would be the ONLY justification for keeping Gates on.

And even then, I can't say I'm comfortable with it.

Gates, that is. Not Clark. If the "leadership" of Rumsfeld/Wolfoshithead/Feith/etc doesn't kill the "Pentagon must have civilian leadership" argument, I don't know what will.

[Parche]

11. Hey Boss

BOSSHOG For Secretree of Defense!!!!!!!


:woohoo: :hi: :patriot:

[BOSSHOG]

13. Parche for Secretary of Transportation

[Better Believe It]

16. What's Wrong With Keeping Dubya's Secretary of Defense?

Are you proposing changes we can believe in?

How dare you!

[Posteritatis]

17. What's the rule on that anyway?

I've heard several times that he can't be a cabinet secretary yet, but no background as to why. What's up with that? Is it just Defense?

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. Would Colin Powell fit in?

I could live with Hagel in some cabinet position.

[WI_DEM]

3. I believe RI has a GOP governor, and Clark is ineligible.

[dysfunctional press]

4. how about john mccain? repug senator from a state with a dem governor?

...swee-et.

[liberal texan]

5. john McCain's foreign policies and militarism is unacceptable for the job.

I hope that was a joke

[Rosa Luxemburg]

7. We need someone who actually knows something about defense

[BOSSHOG]

10. If nominated I will not run, If elected I will not serve

[BOSSHOG]

8. "Ties to the Clintons?"

That hasn't held a lot of folks from being hired by the Obama team.

I patiently wait for General Clark to be named SECDEF in 2010 when he is eligible (10 years retired from active duty.)

[deaniac21]

12. I'm guessing Obama is too smart to want to deal with Wes

Clark. He doesn't think before he speaks and would generate so much bad press that he would make things more difficult for the President.

[fla nocount]

15. You might have that exactly backwards. Wes Clark might be thinking

of his reputation. Given the effed upped choices of the first two weeks, it's hard to imagine what four years in the same milieu might look like. I give him one term barring a BJ as he's alienated both the left and the right already. The only ones left are the nose pickers walking down the middle of the road waiting to get run over. With the coming economic crises, the loss of constitutional rights, unemployment, homelessness...the middle of the road won't be the place to be.

My hope lies with Michelle, I hope she is what she appears to be.

[deaniac21]

19. He has a reputation of being a very odd ball.

[Mnemosyne]

14. Dennis Kucinich. n/t

[boomerbust]

18. Chuck Norris

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