NationStates Jolt Archive

Kerry still has to choose a cabinet - these are my picks (so far)


Secretary of State - Sen. John McCain (I know he decilned position of VP, but did he decilne every cabinet position . . . ?)

Joint Chiefs of Staff - Gen. Wesley Clark

BUMP, I say

Forgive my European ignorance but does a cabinet member need to be a US citizen, I assume so.

I know that the President has to be a natural born American citizen.

But have no idea about the requirements for cabinet members.

I think Cabinet members have to be US Citizens...

Also, I thought that the "Joint Cheifs of Staff" was the acting head commander of each branch of the military...not just one retired general...

Maybe Wesley Clark should be the Secretary of Defense?

But I have no idea about the requirements for cabinet members.

The Pres and VP have to be born in the US. Every1 else just has to be a legal US citizen for (I forget the exact #) years.

I think Cabinet members have to be US Citizens...

Also, I thought that the "Joint Cheifs of Staff" was the acting head commander of each branch of the military...not just one retired general...

Maybe Wesley Clark should be the Secretary of Defense?

IMO he should definitely deal with something military-related

JHohn Mccain has not decline any other position, he said he was considering Sect of Defense but its still gamble whether he will agree.

Swartzenager for Cabinet!

I'm hoping Patsy Madrid (my state's attorney general) would get a spot there somewhere. She was really close to the Edwards campaign and it may tie over enough for Kerry. It would be great for our state, in any case.

Normally I detest speculation, but I'll play along ...

Howard Dean for Sec. of Labour
Dennis Kucinich for Sec. of State
Wes Clark for Sec. of Defense
Al Gore for Sec. of Energy
Hillary Clinton for Sec. of Health and Human Services

I'm still working on possibilities for Treasury, Justice, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Treasury, HUD, Transportation, Veterans' Affairs, and Homeland Security.

I'm sure ideas will come to me ...

Normally I detest speculation, but I'll play along ...

Howard Dean for Sec. of Labour
Dennis Kucinich for Sec. of State
Wes Clark for Sec. of Defense
Al Gore for Sec. of Energy
Hillary Clinton for Sec. of Health and Human Services

I'm still working on possibilities for Treasury, Justice, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Treasury, HUD, Transportation, Veterans' Affairs, and Homeland Security.

I'm sure ideas will come to me ...

Why the picks? Howard Dean for Labor? Howards cool and all but why?

Normally I detest speculation, but I'll play along ...

Howard Dean for Sec. of Labour
Dennis Kucinich for Sec. of State
Wes Clark for Sec. of Defense
Al Gore for Sec. of Energy
Hillary Clinton for Sec. of Health and Human Services

I'm still working on possibilities for Treasury, Justice, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Treasury, HUD, Transportation, Veterans' Affairs, and Homeland Security.

I'm sure ideas will come to me ...

God help America, might as well just give up to the terrorists now.

God help America, might as well just give up to the terrorists now.
And let forums across the nation go down in flames.

And let forums across the nation go down in flames.

Yes, just like kerry zippoing a Vietnamese village.

Where's Gee Dub and his heroic band of firefighters!?! The thread is burning away and they're people trapped inside!! HELP!!

Maybe Wesley Clark should be the Secretary of Defense?
He can't be. SecDefs have to have been out of the military for a certain number of years. I don't remember how many exactly, but more than four.

Why the picks? Howard Dean for Labor? Howards cool and all but why?

Oh ... we gotta have reasons? Damn ...

Mmkay, well, I pick Dean for Labour because he seems genuinely in touch with the needs of working class folks. I think he could make great strides in the welfare of wage earners.

Kucinich for State because I think we need someone who has not only Kucinich's compassion, but his energy when it comes to foreign relations.

Clark for Defense because I believe he understands the military and its use and structure and could advise President Kerry on such matters with wisdom and clarity.

Gore for Energy because of Gore's proven track record of his stance on environmental issues and his push for alternative fuels. Also, the Dept. of Energy acts as the steward for the nation's nuclear weapons and I would like someone with Executive experience in this capacity.

Clinton for HHS because of her strong voice in health care reform and her clear compassion for the medical needs of those who may not be able to afford the $500 per month for limited insurance.

*whew*

God help America, might as well just give up to the terrorists now.

Oy gevalt. Nothing like a constructive discussion on the issues.

Shouldn't you be busy working on your "Kerry was never in Vietnam, it's all a liberal conspiracy!" website?

Secretary of State - Sen. John McCain

Kerry will never give him a cabinet position, especially SecState or SecDef. If McCain became Kerry's Secretary of Defense, it would just lend credibility to the Republicans on National Security.

Kerry will never give him a cabinet position, especially SecState or SecDef. If McCain became Kerry's Secretary of Defense, it would just lend credibility to the Republicans on National Security.

Or possibly create a two-party ticket effective enough to easily trounce Bush

Oy gevalt. Nothing like a constructive discussion on the issues.

Shouldn't you be busy working on your "Kerry was never in Vietnam, it's all a liberal conspiracy!" website?

Shouldn't you be busy smoking that bong, and believing in your Utopian paradise. Kerry was in Vietnam, haven't you heard him say that at every campaign stop.

Kucinich for sec of state, I quess you are smoking that bong. He'd be funnier then Albright ever was. Well maybe if that little elf shows us his underground realm, and brings us gold, then maybe we should let him be sec of state. I'm sorry but when I see Kucinich, it's reminds me of the oompa loompa's. Yeah he'd be a really good sec of state. I'd be intimidated by him.

Or possibly create a two-party ticket effective enough to easily trounce Bush
Or turn off the Democratic base enough that a large percentage doesn't go to the polls. McCain in the Cabinet will be bad for Dems long-term. In future elections, Repubs will just point to that and say that the Democrats are so bad on security, they need a Republican to help them with it.
Bob Kerrey is my guess for SecDef.

Shouldn't you be busy smoking that bong, and believing in your Utopian paradise. Kerry was in Vietnam, haven't you heard him say that at every campaign stop.

Kucinich for sec of state, I quess you are smoking that bong. He'd be funnier then Albright ever was. Well maybe if that little elf shows us his underground realm, and brings us gold, then maybe we should let him be sec of state. I'm sorry but when I see Kucinich, it's reminds me of the oompa loompa's. Yeah he'd be a really good sec of state. I'd be intimidated by him.
I think that it is reasonable to request you leave this thread. You're not doing anything but flaming it. Please start adding something worth reading or find a Right-wing thread to counter-flame the liberal, pot-smoking liars of the Democratic party (since apparantly that is what they all are...)

Forgive my European ignorance but does a cabinet member need to be a US citizen, I assume so.

I know that the President has to be a natural born American citizen.

But have no idea about the requirements for cabinet members.
I believe a cabinet member does have to be a US citizen, but not necessarily a natural born US citizen. Example: Henry Kissinger was born a citizen of Germany, not the US, but he became Nixon's Secretary of State.

Kerry still has to choose a cabinet - these are my picks (so far)


Secretary of State - Sen. John McCain (I know he decilned position of VP, but did he decilne every cabinet position . . . ?)

Joint Chiefs of Staff - Gen. Wesley Clark
I do like those picks, although I would choose Secretary of Defense for Wesley Clark.

Secretary of State: Bill Clinton.

I think that it is reasonable to request you leave this thread. You're not doing anything but flaming it. Please start adding something worth reading or find a Right-wing thread to counter-flame the liberal, pot-smoking liars of the Democratic party (since apparantly that is what they all are...)

Well, now, you know as well as anyone, Opal, that neocon republicans cannot form coherent thoughts but can only bash, slam, and flame.

Example point: The only thing he could say about Kucinich was to compare him to an elf (mythical creature) which shows he knows nothing about the man himself.

Republicans do not research, they merely bandwagon. Just pat him on the head, give him some warm milk, and send him to bed.

I do like those picks, although I would choose Secretary of Defense for Wesley Clark.

Secretary of Defense has to be out of the military for a number of years. I don't remember exactly how many, but more than four. It's to assert civilian control over the military.

Well, now, you know as well as anyone, Opal, that neocon republicans cannot form coherent thoughts but can only bash, slam, and flame.

Example point: The only thing he could say about Kucinich was to compare him to an elf (mythical creature) which shows he knows nothing about the man himself.

Republicans do not research, they merely bandwagon. Just pat him on the head, give him some warm milk, and send him to bed.

Speaking of irony...

I think that it is reasonable to request you leave this thread. You're not doing anything but flaming it. Please start adding something worth reading or find a Right-wing thread to counter-flame the liberal, pot-smoking liars of the Democratic party (since apparantly that is what they all are...)

I guess you told me! Right wing thread, hmm, but I'm not voting for Bush. Sorry for being a waste of your time. I hope you enjoy the future bombings of our nation once Kerry wins and begins his new, sensitive war on terror.

BTW nice amount of posts since you've been since june. I guess there isn't much to do in Arkansas besides "entertaining" your kin folk.

Speaking of irony...

Big difference between a flame and a fact.

Republicans do *not* research, they merely bandwagon - that is a proven fact.

Or are you saying that HS's assertion of my use of a bong and Kucinich's underground elven kingdom are researched fact? I sure would love to see the sources.

Bill Clinton should be S. of the Treasury. As far as S. of Defense goes I dont think Clark matches Kerry's agenda. Consider Kosovo when Bill Clinton was pushing a "no body bags" policy and basically just bombing the hell out of it. Clark wanted a full scale ground war which would have created big time casualties in comparison. As far as I know Kerry would never do anything like that or at least his speech hints to the same kind of overt direction in war that Clinton had minus Somalia.

Dean should not be S. of anything. He doesen't have the intelligence for any sort of position in the federal government. Kerry has been deteching himself away from Dean because Dean could potentially embaress him or ruin his run at the Whitehouse. Gephardt should be S. of labor he has had support of labor for many years now and he looks out for their interests. And Kerry really likes Gephardt I think he would've picked him for Vp if Edwards had not been so good at evening the ticket.

Gore should be Sec. of the Interior. I see your points on Energy earlier in the thread. But if Gore is all about the enviroment Sec. of the Interior makes more sense.

No one needs to make up a conservative site on how Kerry didn't serve in Nam. His service in Nam is no commendable and has nothing to do with the presidency. I admire military service but Kerry has shown himself on public documents shaming the service. He was scared like any other person would've and could've been at the time. He inflicted his own wounds for two of his purple hearts. Hell I probly would've done the same thing but saluting us like hes the next Eisenhower at his convention speech was just shameless. I fail to see how grunt work in a war that he did everything to stop proves he is a war time president.

Do something smart Kerry talk about todays issues.

Well, now, you know as well as anyone, Opal, that neocon republicans cannot form coherent thoughts but can only bash, slam, and flame.

Example point: The only thing he could say about Kucinich was to compare him to an elf (mythical creature) which shows he knows nothing about the man himself.

Republicans do not research, they merely bandwagon. Just pat him on the head, give him some warm milk, and send him to bed.

Yeah Kucinich is a great man. Even though he was the mayor of America's armpit. If he isn't an elf then maybe a troll or at least a midget. But in any case I'd like to see all of the booty he has in his magical underground kingdom.

Big difference between a flame and a fact.

Republicans do *not* research, they merely bandwagon - that is a proven fact.

Or are you saying that HS's assertion of my use of a bong and Kucinich's underground elven kingdom are researched fact? I sure would love to see the sources.

Come on man this is just shameless. Stereotyping a entire party is just ludicrous. I believe there are intelligent people in both parties. Don't become the next Coulter, Moore, or Al Franken. The sad truth is that most people do not know what their party stands for or has done for 30 years. You can say all you want about all democrats/republicans being geniuses but reality should take precendence over fanciful dreams in my book. I hate political parties because it chokes the market place of ideas into grouped party planks.

Kerry will never give him a cabinet position, especially SecState or SecDef. If McCain became Kerry's Secretary of Defense, it would just lend credibility to the Republicans on National Security.
Is the POTUS allowed to change his cabinet during is term? Or is it fixed (provide nothing bad happens, like death or bereavement or anything)?

No it isn't fixed. Bush has changed his cabinet many times this year. Then again the Sec. decided to leave on their own. But his Sex. of Press, Sec. of Interior, and Sec of Agriculture (I think) all jumped ship. He can fire/hire cabinet officers at his descression.

Bill Clinton should be S. of the Treasury. As far as S. of Defense goes I dont think Clark matches Kerry's agenda. Consider Kosovo when Bill Clinton was pushing a "no body bags" policy and basically just bombing the hell out of it. Clark wanted a full scale ground war which would have created big time casualties in comparison. As far as I know Kerry would never do anything like that or at least his speech hints to the same kind of overt direction in war that Clinton had minus Somalia.

Dean should not be S. of anything. He doesen't have the intelligence for any sort of position in the federal government. Kerry has been deteching himself away from Dean because Dean could potentially embaress him or ruin his run at the Whitehouse. Gephardt should be S. of labor he has had support of labor for many years now and he looks out for their interests. And Kerry really likes Gephardt I think he would've picked him for Vp if Edwards had not been so good at evening the ticket.

Gore should be Sec. of the Interior. I see your points on Energy earlier in the thread. But if Gore is all about the enviroment Sec. of the Interior makes more sense.

No one needs to make up a conservative site on how Kerry didn't serve in Nam. His service in Nam is no commendable and has nothing to do with the presidency. I admire military service but Kerry has shown himself on public documents shaming the service. He was scared like any other person would've and could've been at the time. He inflicted his own wounds for two of his purple hearts. Hell I probly would've done the same thing but saluting us like hes the next Eisenhower at his convention speech was just shameless. I fail to see how grunt work in a war that he did everything to stop proves he is a war time president.

Do something smart Kerry talk about todays issues.

Where is your proof he hurt himself?

Big difference between a flame and a fact.

Republicans do *not* research, they merely bandwagon - that is a proven fact.

Or are you saying that HS's assertion of my use of a bong and Kucinich's underground elven kingdom are researched fact? I sure would love to see the sources.

I'm not saying that HS's assertions are true. Speaking of sources, got any for your claim?

A couple of names come to mind for me..

Sec of State - Richard Holbrooke

Sec of Def - Joe Biden

NSA - Wes Clark

Thinking of other positions..lol

Chief of Staff -- Mary Beth Cahill
SecState -- Richard Holbrooke
SecDefense -- Sam Nunn
NSA -- Rand Beers
CIA -- Bob Kerrey
Homeland Security -- Bob Graham
Attorney General -- Dennis Archer
Treasury -- Jim Johnson
Health and Human Services -- Jeanne Shaheen
Labor -- Gephardt
Veterans Affairs -- Max Cleland
The other cabinet positions will probably be filled by deputies from the Clinton Administration

I don't believe that Hillary will agree to any positions, either in the campaign season or if Kerry get elected. 2 items factor in this:
1. She has promised not to abandon her senate post, if she does so to join the Kerry campaign, that is immediate cannon fodder. That kind of bad publicity will be bad for her, because she is a polarizing figure and cannot afford to lose any potential votes for factor #2...
2. Hillary wants to run for president. If she takes a position in the Kerry adminstration, then she will have a hard time running against him 4 years later - it will split the party and give her too steep a hill to climb for electoral win. Another fact of the matter is that appearances does matter, and she is not getting any younger. If she has to wait 8 years instead of 4 her soccer mom/Martha Stewart appeal gets diminished very quickly with every new wrinkle that shows up in the 24hr new cycle.

For this reason, I don't think Bill will help Kerry either, it would lead to the same intra-party conflict. So wish all you want, I really don't think the Clintons will lend a hand. Depending on how cynical you want to be, but a Kerry loss is almost a gauranteed Hillary nomination 4 years later without any primary season opposition to tar and feather her.

Chief of Staff -- Mary Beth Cahill
SecState -- Richard Holbrooke
SecDefense -- Sam Nunn
NSA -- Rand Beers
CIA -- Bob Kerrey
Homeland Security -- Bob Graham
Attorney General -- Dennis Archer
Treasury -- Jim Johnson
Health and Human Services -- Jeanne Shaheen
Labor -- Gephardt
Veterans Affairs -- Max Cleland
The other cabinet positions will probably be filled by deputies from the Clinton Administration
That's a pretty solid list--I especially like Graham at Homeland Security, and I'd move Bob Kerrey to the new National Director of Intelligence if it becomes a real position. (Whether I think it's a good idea to have a NDI is another matter and another thread.)
I'll throw another one in there for your consideration--Howard Dean as FCC Chairman. I'd like to see media consolidation handled by a man who got royally fucked by a consolidated media.

One last thing: one basic rule for any appointment in my book is that it can't be a sitting Senator from a state with a Republican governor. Senate seats are too hard to come by and even if the Democrats win it back in November, it won't be by a large enough margin to be able to just give away seats, so that means Hillary Clinton will stay in the Senate.

I'll throw another one in there for your consideration--Howard Dean as FCC Chairman. I'd like to see media consolidation handled by a man who got royally fucked by a consolidated media.

That's a great idea. Personally, I was thinking of Dean as DNC Chairman, so he could really revitalize the party. I agree, though, he was screwed by the media.

They've already lost two senators in Kerry and Edwards. They're not going to give up more without a damn good reason (until the 2008 presidential race). If the Dems do well in the House in the election, the same could apply there.

Dean seems to have been placed in a campaign rather than policy role, which seems to be his strength. If he did get a cabinet position I'd expect it to be health.

Hillary won't be joining the cabinets, and I doubt she's invited anyway. She's got a precious Senate seat for one thing. More importantly, I think she wants a big elected position, which is the Senate and possibly the presidency. She also could overshadow Kerry in whatever field she got.

I think Gore would be excellent at whatever, but he seems to be retired. Then again, it's not like I know him.

I have no idea if Kerry is serious about McCain for defense. I think they might get along in that relationship and it might go well, and nonpartisan appointments are always nice. But with McCain I think Kerry would have a serious problem because he's McCain. He would open his mouth. He would disagree with and criticize Kerry's positions. Bush had a problem with that in Powell, and McCain would be worse and harder to tame. MacArthur anyone?

Clark would have been my pick for Defense if not for that military rule. I know Kerrey's someone who was talked about a lot for VP (as was Clark) for similar qualifications.

Gephardt for Labor.

Kucinich might get something, which I'd like, but I don't consider it too likely. If he did it would probably something environmental. He won't be getting anywhere near finances or foreign policy.

Bob Rubin for the Treasury, as he was under Clinton, or something related.

I'm not sure about the others, but I'd expect Kerry to often go with people he knows. That would obviously suggest senators, but since he won't want to lose the Senate (or lose it even more), I'm not sure. Some Clinton people and some little-knowns for sure.

Kerry still has to choose a cabinet - these are my picks (so far)


Secretary of State - Sen. John McCain (I know he decilned position of VP, but did he decilne every cabinet position . . . ?)

Joint Chiefs of Staff - Gen. Wesley Clark

Do you mean people he'd most likely pick, who we'd like him to pick, or which would be the most appropriate choices? If the latter, I'd say:

Vice-President: Abbie Hoffman (were he still alive...)

Secretary of State: Jane Fonda

Secretary of Agriculture: Al Gore

Secretary of Education: Howard Zinn

Secretary of Defense: John McCain

Secretary of the Treasury: Edward Mandell House (were he still alive...)

Kerry's not going to give McCain a Cabinet position, as it would give McCain a leg up to run in 2008.
I think Dean won't get HHS. It seems a bit beneath him, after being favorite for nomination for so long. Chairman of the DNC would be different, though, because it would give him a chance to shape the future of the Democratic Party.
Robert Rubin has been mentioned for Alan Greenspan's job.

And after the Kerry presidency...
Edwards/Obama 2012 !!

Chief of Staff -- Mary Beth Cahill
SecState -- Richard Holbrooke
SecDefense -- Sam Nunn
NSA -- Rand Beers
CIA -- Bob Kerrey
Homeland Security -- Bob Graham
Attorney General -- Dennis Archer
Treasury -- Jim Johnson
Health and Human Services -- Jeanne Shaheen
Labor -- Gephardt
Veterans Affairs -- Max Cleland

Just to add to my list...
Secretary of the Interior -- David J. Hayes
SecTransportation -- Mortimer Downey
SecEnergy -- Elizabeth A. Moler
SecAgriculture -- Rich Rominger
SecHousing and Urban Development -- Roberta Achtenberg
SecCommerce --Robert L. Mallet
SecEducation -- David Boren