Wes Clark or Joe Sestak for Sec. of Defense

[jaysunb]

I like them both !

Gates is gone come spring. The field seems open. Can we influence? (they read these threads, ya know.)

[Cleita]

1. You know Obama will appoint a Republican.

I wouldn't be surprised if Colin Powell is on his short list.

[babylonsister]

2. How do you know that? Thanks for sharing your answer. nt

[Cleita]

7. Why would he be inconsistent considering his

appointments up to date?

[Freddie Stubbs]

19. The vast majority of President Obama's cabinet are Democrats:

Hillary Rodham Clinton - Democrat
Timothy Geithner - Independent
Robert M. Gates - Republican
Eric Holder - Democrat
Kenneth L. Salazar - Democrat
Thomas J. Vilsack - Democrat
Gary F. Locke - Democrat
Hilda L. Solis - Democrat
Kathleen Sebelius - Democrat
Shaun Donovan - Democrat
Steven Chu - Democrat
Arne Duncan - Democrat
Eric Shinseki - Unknown
Janet A. Napolitano - Democrat
Bill Daley - Democrat
Jacob Lew - Democrat
Ron Kirk - Democrat
Susan Rice - Democrat
Austan Goolsbee - Democrat

[kentuck]

3. Joe Lieberman?

Would be a very possible pick, imo.

On second thought, maybe not?

[tishaLA]

6. Not a team player and incapable of sublimating his ego

I was going to say there's no way Pres Obama would pick him, but....there is always that chance.

[Ken Burch]

8. That's the point: It'd be just like HolyWarJoe to DEMAND SoD as the price for not running again

(C'mon now...you didn't REALLY think The Lieb would just leave, didya?)

It's like his getting to keep the Homeland Security chairmanship in exchange for deigning to stay in the Democratic caucus.

[pa28]

4. Wes Clark is eligible now.

I think he'd be great. He's campaigned tirelessly for Democrats and he might be the kind of guy (like Ike) who is smart enough and who knows the MID well enough to "just say no".

Also; he's spent his military retirement in mostly profit-free public minded pursuits rather than collecting a fortune by milking the revolving door. IMO that gives him a great deal of credibility.

Wes is great and I'd love to see him in that post.

[old mark]

5. Me, too, and for mostly the same reasons....nt

[pa28]

11. I noticed something interesting.

Originally I typed out a response and posted without much thought. I re-read what I posted and I used the word "great" three times. I've got a really high opinion of him and I had to laugh at my own post there.

I guess I'm officially a fan.

[elleng]

15. Been a fan since BEFORE he ran for Pres!

His wisdom would be invaluable at times like these, dealing w Egypt and the region etc etc etc.
In fact, White House would have done well this week making use of him.

[Ken Burch]

9. Clark would be easier to confirm.

n/t.

[jaysunb]

17. That's for sure ! n/t

[Kaleva]

10. John Hamre or Michèle Flournoy would be good choices.

"Flournoy is the odds-on favorite for the job. The third-ranking official at the Pentagon now, she represents the Defense Department at deputies meetings at the White House, has led the Pentagon's major policy initiatives, such as the Quadrennial Defense Review, and is well respected across the board, making her a logical choice to be the first woman ever to take the top job at DOD. Working against her is her relatively low political profile in Washington and a lack of the kind of international star power that is often needed to deal with powerful foreign leaders. Some say privately that she needs some more experience before reaching cabinet-level status, although few doubt she could do the work ably."

"Hamre, a former deputy secretary of defense and the current chairman of the Defense Policy Board, is a nonpartisan expert, by all accounts brilliant, whose decades of involvement in the defense establishment have put him on the short list for SecDef multiple times. As the leader of a top think tank, he has stature in Washington, and is close enough to industry to keep the trains running on time while being independent enough to take on the Beltway bandits when necessary. The question about Hamre is whether he would take the job if offered. He took himself out of consideration in 2009 out of loyalty to his CSIS staff. If not Hamre himself, Obama could look for a similar figure, a senior policy leader who shares the quiet confidence and steady demeanor that have made Gates such a success."

http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/07/30/who_will_be_the_next_secretary_of_defense

[elleng]

12. Flournoy would be great. Wes my favorite for years.

Obama seems to have had a thing against Wes for years, and haven't figured out what/why.

[elleng]

So happy to see Wes' name up again! Been waiting for this opportunity forever.

Won't hold my breath, tho; feel an anti-Wes undercurrent among Obama folks for long time.

[elleng]

13. dupe

[renate]

14. Wes!

I'm a bit biased... I've had this avatar picture since 2003. :)

[elleng]

16. I've had his words of wisdom in my profile ever since I've been here!

We enshrined in our Constitution and in our system of government as our values - fairness, tolerance, decency, justice, mutual respect, and personal opportunity - our legitimacy as a nation. Wes Clark

:hi:

[elleng]

18. Interview w Wes, Sat. Jan. 29, re: Egypt

http://www.texansforclark.com/WPVideo/Fox_110129.mov

[karynnj]

21. Interesting interview

Clark actually goes less far than Obama and Clinton did in supporting the people - which kind of disappoints me. He is NOT in the government so he is less constrained by his position in suggesting that change might have to happen quickly. (He was more tepid on the idea of Mubark leaving - and even if he does sees that Mubarak's choice should be in charge.)

His comments on Suliman are more positive than any I have heard. Part of that is that he mostly speaks of what he hopes Suliman could do. As is, it is not clear what his power under Mubarak could be. He also says little of Suliman - other than that he is intelligent. (Clark did say he needs to speak to the people - I assume he misspoke saying American and meant Egyptian.)

[elleng]

22. He was being diplomatic, as they all must be and are criticized for, imo.

And this interview was Saturday, a bit 'late' to be news; things have evolved somewhat.

[karynnj]

23. Thanks for the timing - it makes more sense

I would sat that he is more supportive of Mubarak than Senator Kerry was on Saturday, who brought up the possibility that Mubarak might put country above his and his son's personal interests and leave. (Even behind Kerry's Friday statement that spoke of Ghandi and King as peaceful protesters to emulate. ) Kerry has spoken for years of the potential of the young people in these countries to demand more democracy. Kerry has been about the closest ally Obama has in the Senate - competing only with Durbin - but he, because he is not in the administration had more flexibility than Obama and Clinton did.

As to Clark, I was not criticizing him. His position is a valid position and may well be exactly what Clinton's - and even Obama's might be. I was more still uneasy with Mubarak naming a successor and in particular one who headed something like our CIA. There had to be someone good in the government who would have been more acceptable to the protesters - especially if he were clearly a caretaker until free elections. I have not heard Clinton or Obama specifically speak of Suliman. I do think that if Mubarak or Suliman survive as the leader, the US will continue to support them. This may limit the amount of criticism that any politicians are willing to give.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

20. Bradley Manning?