Who do you think should be Obama's Secretary of State?

[Guaranteed]

Powell's made a good case for himself today- and I think giving him the position would go a long way toward creating a reasoned and well-rounded cabinet.

But, of course- there are qualified DEMOCRATS, as well.

Who do you think would make the best Secretary of State?

[Oceansaway]

1. Kerry......n/t

[carnie_sf]

80. Olympia Snowe

She's a moderate Republican and Maine has a Dem governor so we could flip her seat

[Gidney N Cloyd]

2. Hoping for Wes Clark.

[City Lights]

25. Seconded. nt

[TygrBright]

3. Bill Richardson. He's got awesome chops for the job and he's very well liked...

...in the international diplomatic community.

Plus, his dimples are so cute it's hard not to smile back when he grins.

frivolously,
Bright

[Essene]

17. richardson belond in the cabinet, but im not sure about this spot...

obama needs a heavy hitter and perhaps even a moderate republican with some credibility.

i really, really like richardson but i think he'd be better in another position for now.

[deadparrot]

65. I'm thinking Richardson for Secretary of Education.

I've got a family full of teachers, and they all adored him during the primaries.

[Essene]

73. actually... he's been ambassador to the UN... he really should be the SoS

[qwlauren35]

84. Another Vote for Richardson Here

He was my presidential pick, especially when it came to experience.

[book_worm]

4. No, not Powell again. I think somebody like Gore or Kerry--or Richardson!

[Guaranteed]

Well I doubt Gore would do it, but why would Kerry make

a good Secretary of State?

I mean, as opposed to a generic cabinet position that you just fill in with someone you like?

[book_worm]

27. Kerry has a great deal of experience on the world stage, has met many foreign leaders

and dealt with security and foreign issues in the US Senate. Gore, if he was interested, obviouly would command respect in such a position. As a former Vice President he is surely qualified. I don't know if he wants it or not, but he should be considered.

[Essene]

45. and a senate foreign relations committee partner

i could see it.

[Essene]

23. as brokaw hinted... powell should be the point guy for middle east peace process

i think nobody would be better suited and respected.

and in spite of what the diehard haters around here say, the man STILL is admired around the world.

[trumad]

5. God fucking damn it!

You're suggesting a fucking war criminal? Colin Powell---are you fucking serious?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. Clark or Richardson

Either would be great!

[jonnyblitz]

7. oh hell , I don't know, if Powell doesn't want it, lets ask Condi if

she wants to stay on. :sarcasm:

seriously some of you are batshit FUCKING NUTS!!! :crazy:

[soothsayer]

60. took the words right out of my mouth, right down to the condi thing.

why not cheney for that matter.

[Matariki]

8. Just because he gave an endorsement, he should be Secretary of State?

that's crazy. He seriously botched it LAST time he was SOS.

It's great he endorsed Obama - he doesn't need to be rewarded for it.

What about Clinton and other's who have been campaigning for Obama?

[billyoc]

9. Powell is a pariah on the world stage.

ANY Democrat, but never Powell. :thumbsdown:

[Essene]

13. sorry, but that's just... a delusion

[applexcore]

10. Kerry! Maybe Richardson

I like Kerry a little better for the job, but Bill wouldn't be bad.

[PolNewf]

11. I would not be surprised if he asked Richard Lugar

Obama has a serious man crush on Lugar

[terrya]

24. Obama considers Lugar a mentor on foreign policy, I believe.

I wouldn't be surprised about that.

[daninthemoon]

12. powell is out of the question. his endorsement today goes a long way

toward restoring his honor, but his hands are still covered with blood by his presentation to the u.n..

[Guaranteed]

21. But people know what happened and I think they're willing

to give him another chance. In fact, having dealt with the Bush Administration, been inside it, been so close to its filth might even work to Powell's advantage. He knows what not to do.

I don't know if you saw the press conference Powell gave, but it was excellent. He sees exactly what is wrong with politics today.

[daninthemoon]

52. he can and should advocate to fix some of the mess, but he was

undeniably part of it. no, he can never againg be trusted in an official government post, least of all the post he already failed at. he should have done better, and I'm sure he knows it. no, he had his chance, he could have been president, but he blew it big time backing the criminal actions of the neocons. too many have died. no second chance for them, no second chance for him.

[Thrill]

14. Hopefully he fills his cabinet with young progressives

[justiceischeap]

15. Obama has talked about CHANGE so much, I'm sick of hearing it

That said, why would you think the man who keeps saying, "We need change" would put a Bush* appointee in his administration?

Not gonna happen.

[Guaranteed]

26. Have a look for yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LbLxja4UHY

That's why.

[justiceischeap]

48. I don't understand why that video refutes my argument about change

Appointing Powell to any position within an Obama administration would not be CHANGE, it would be more of the same.

[daninthemoon]

53. if there was ever a time that a clean sweep was needed, this is it.

[AnnieBW]

16. Someone who can work with Joe Biden

Because you KNOW that Biden will be the foreign policy go-to guy.

Bill Richardson, perhaps?

[jobycom]

18. Richard Holbrooke.

No other position will signal the world our intentions under Obama as SOS. Appointing Powell would be an insult to every nation out there, regardless of whether we believe in Powell's sincerity or not, just because of his connection to BushCo and his role in the invasion of Iraq.

Richard Holbrooke has been an assistant SoS for two presidents (Carter and Clinton), and has a strong reputation for diplomacy and fairness. He'd be an excellent symbol, and an excellent executive.

[Essene]

39. jim webb, chuck hagel, etc

there are a lot of names out there, and i dont know if powell would want to pick up somebody like holbrooke or clark or powell.

he can use them for other stuff.

id see him looking to folks he knows/trusts from the senate foreign relations committee.

a real moderate who knows how to be diplomatic and loyal.

[jobycom]

68. What is it about this desire to appoint a Republican as Obama's SoS?

Powell, Webb, Hagel, Clark... Okay, I'm glad they are on our side now, and three of them I don't doubt in terms of sincerety, but I don't get it. Three of them served in Reagan's cabinet, and the other was a Reagan supporter. I'm into forgiveness, but Obama keeps talking about judgement, and supporting Reagan doesn't indicate judgement to me.

Having said that, I could live with Hagel, and would approve of Powell. I'd approve of Webb, too, though I think he'd be more in line with Secretary of Defense, since that's the department he worked for under Reagan. Also, Webb is a seat we need to hold in the Senate. We've won there recently, but it's not a lock.

I just would rather see someone with a history of diplomacy that shows some understanding of our beliefs, rather than a conversion based on a couple of bad Republican presidents. I want someone who understands that the whole damn philosophy of Reagan and the Bushes was wrong, not just that they were failures on a personal level.

There, got that out of my system. I'll back whomever Obama picks, of course.

[Essene]

71. i think hagel would be a great asset, even as SoS

he's smart.

he's sincere.

he can be completely non-partisan.

he's BORING.

we could use a boring SoS who just maintain's Obama's message.

[jobycom]

78. I'd rather someone more trained for the job.

He is smart. He seems sincere. He's only a Republican because of momentum at this point.

I'd still prefer someone who has been on the side of the light for decades. Democrats have this desire to pass over their own qualified people in favor of rewarding recent converts. I'm happy to see the converts, but I'd prefer someone who has gotten it their entire lives, not just recently.

And I don't want a candidate who "maintains Obama's message." I want someone who can give good advice to Obama in an area where he has weak experience. Obama's judgement needs strong input, so that he'll have enough facts to make good decisions. I just flat-out wouldn't trust a Republican to do that. Something made Hagel a Republican. I don't want to find out under pressure what it was.

[Every Man A King]

62. Ugh. Have you heard him talk about Russia/Georgia

He is a bigtime hawk and unhinged.

[jobycom]

69. No, I haven't. What's he said?

[Sebastian Doyle]

19. Bill Richardson

Clark would also qualify, but I say he needs to be at Defense. And yeah, I know the "10 year rule". But given the complete failure of the current "civilian leadership" at the Pentagon, could anyone argue that a 4 star general 9 years retired would be any worse?

Powell does not belong in this administration.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

20. State is probably the last position where you bring in someone from the opposing party.

Powell will probably get tapped to chair a commission or something, though.

[1corona4u]

22. I wouldn't object to Kerry...

not sure who else...

[Vincardog]

28. Barbara Boxer

[demokatgurrl]

29. Richard A. Clarke

a genius- read his book if you can. He was onto the 9-11 attacks while Bush and Condi slept.

[Essene]

51. ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE IDEA... but probably wont happen...

i definitely think he belongs in an obama administration tho.

[daninthemoon]

61. interesting idea. not sure if clarke has the personality for sos, but

he should certainly be restored in some kind of position. perhaps scott ritter as well. both were patriots with the guts to expose the neocon corrupt agenda at personal cost, and both should be entrusted and rewarded.

[Guaranteed]

64. Clarke is more hawkish than Powell. n

[Essene]

72. im 100% fine with hawks on terrorism. you know... the actual terrorists

and anybody who cant feel the same... isnt thinking straight in my book.

read his book. his eloquent overall discussion of the foreign policy challenges we face was spot on.

[ananda]

30. not a sitting senator

We need our senators in the chamber.

There are plenty of good SecState candidates
such as Bill Richardson, Wesley Clark, and
dare I say it, JIMMY CARTER!

[Left Is Write]

34. Jimmy Carter is 84 years old.

[Guaranteed]

37. Carter- that's an interesting one. He's not disqualified, as a one-termer.

But he's really, really getting on in years. I actually think he'd do a great job, but I don't think he should be working for us in a way that puts serious responsibility on his shoulders. He's doing great work but needs to be able to step away.

[specialed]

31. Bill Richardson state. Powell Defense.

[lisa58]

32. Richardson - he came out for Obama early - if he wants it, I think he gets it.

[greenbriar]

33. John Kerry

and I still think John Edwards should be a part of the cabinet

[Guaranteed]

96. I really don't think either of those are going to happen.

Kerry's great and a true statesman but I don't see the connection to Secretary of State.

And you know why Edwards won't happen.

[daninthemoon]

35. here's a crazy notion: what about Bill Clinton? or possibly UN ambassador.

[Guaranteed]

42. I think Clinton might be disqualified because SoS is somewhere in the line of succession

for President.

Don't quote me on that though.

[Essene]

44. definitely not, although clinton will certainly be able to be an asset

bill clinton is the ultimate alpha male and would not be a good subordinate whatsoever.

[lisa58]

46. Clinton doesn't need to be SOS to be a great ambassador to the world.

[Guaranteed]

50. Yeah, SoS is actually fourth in the line of succession.

Probably couldn't have Clinton in that position.

But you can be damned sure that he's going to be involved in our foreign policy.

I'd like to see him and Powell get together over coffee.

[Quixote1818]

36. Wes Clark nt

[MarjorieG]

38. Kerry the best, but needed in Senate, and in MA, considering Kennedy's health.

[democrattotheend]

40. Kerry or Richardson

Kerry would be my first choice, but Richardson is not a bad choice either.

[RetroLounge]

41. No way. Not Powell.

Too many qualified Dems...

RL

[Unsane]

43. Richard Holbrooke

and it's not even close

[last1standing]

47. Even excepting the fact that there are more qualified Democrats for the position...

Powell did a good thing today but that doesn't qualify him for returning to a position he failed at previously. The only thing a Powell appointment would do is invite comparisons between the Obama and bush* administrations. It would also send the message to other nations that there is little difference between the two. We don't need that.

[knixphan]

49. KERRY!

[El Supremo]

54. Bill Richardson

Defense: Clark
Attorney General: Kucinich
Energy: Gore
Interior: Me

[El Supremo]

55. Dupe

[immoderate]

56. Samantha Power.

--IMM

[rvablue]

57. Me, too! n/t

[Ozma]

58. Bill Richardson...........but there are others. eom

[progressiveforever]

59. Lots of possibilities- wish Jimmy Carter was younger

[Proud Liberal Dem]

63. Rice

The lady (Susan?) he has on his campaign, I believe. She seems to know how to handle herself in regards to foreign policy (and RW idiots).

[always_saturday]

66. First and foremost - a DEMOCRAT.

[LBJDemocrat]

67. Kerry. nt

[Guaranteed]

70. From the responses,

I don't think Kerry or Clark are going to be on the short list, but I do think Richardson and Holbrooke will be. Holbrooke could be a great choice, in fact.

I'd also love to see Gore anywhere in the administration, but anything short of Vice President isn't going to give him enough power.

I think Powell will also be a possibility, but Obama will have to look at whether he wants to keep Robert Gates on as Sec of Defense or Powell. I don't think he can have both in there. If he's going to go the Lincoln, "Team of Rivals" route, he's going to need to pick between them. I'd probably pick Powell over Gates.

But he'd have to pick Powell over a number of very qualified Democrats, people with a real vision of peace.

[Essene]

74. i think richardson is ideal...

he's very charismatic. he's a minority. he's been ambassador to the UN. he has strong executive experience. he wouldnt "steal the show" or undermine diplomacy with his own ego.

as for powell, i think he should be a special envoy for palestinian/israeli negotiations.

if anybody is actually going to get it done, he would. he just needs a president who would seriously support his efforts.

[Vinca]

75. Richardson. We don't want to strip the Senate of our most powerful

representatives. Secretary of State was made for Bill Richardson.

[nam78_two]

76. Not Colin Powell-that much I am sure of

Once was quite enough imo.

[LibDemAlways]

77. Wes Clark. Obama should keep repukes

the hell out of his cabinet.

[BlooInBloo]

79. Having a career military man as your head diplomat is like having an atheist as pope.

[MrSlayer]

81. I would say Wes Clark but he is out of the picture now.

He's been put on a shelf and will have no role in Obama's administration. Sad, really.

Richardson would be a good choice.

[amber_86]

82. Hagel?

Hes a Vet and against the war.

[grasswire]

83. Ambassador Joe Wilson

I've always wanted that.

[democracy1st]

85. can we win the election first ?

[liberalpragmatist]

86. I think Powell would be more likely as DefSec

Although I don't think he'll return to the cabinet at all.

Obama's Secretary of State will probably be one of the following people: Susan Rice, Anthony Lake, Richard Danzig, Richard Holbrooke, John Kerry, Dick Lugar, Chuck Hagel, Bob Gates.

[auburngrad82]

87. Bill Clinton

He's respected all over the world.

[AspenRose]

88. Bill Richardson, Susan Rice, John Kerry

[polichick]

89. Biden....oops, never mind...

...remember when we used to suggest that?! :)

[Guaranteed]

94. Would have been a great pick nt

[Sodan]

90. Wesley Clark /nt

[Neurotica]

91. Susan Eisenhower would be an interesting choice

I heard her speak at a recent forum supporting Obama (along with Melody Barnes and Alice Germond). We were all so impressed by her foreign policy expertise and what she had to say about Obama that we gave her a standing ovation. She said that Obama and his aides began contacting her a year-and-a-half ago to ask for her advice. When she reminded them that she was a Republican, they told her they didn't care. They valued her input. And they kept calling. She came out in support of Obama early in 2008 and withdrew from the Republican party in August.

[ourbluenation]

92. HILLARY CLINTON

duh

[catgirl]

93. Definitely John Kerry

[saltpoint]

95. Kerry, Richardson, or Holbrooke.