I thought it was time I got out the 'ol crystal ball once again and took a look at what a potential Clinton or Obama cabinet might look like. I tried to take into account whose been endorsing whom, the atmosphere each White House would likely have, and who'd be appropiate for the job.
Fantasy Clinton Cabinet
A Clinton cabinet would likely be a very diverse, well-connected group. It would likely include some figures from her husband's administration and Washington insiders who've helped her along the way. It would also likely feature more women and minorities than has been the historical average.
Sec. of State: Joe Biden (DE Senator, '08 candidate)
Sec. of Treasury: Erskine Bowles (fmr. Clinton Chief of Staff, Senate candidate)
Sec. of Defense: Gen.Wesley Clark (fmr. NATO cmdr, '04 candidate)
Attorney General: Jennifer Granholm (MI Gov, fmr. MI Atty. Gen, '08 endorser)
Sec.of the Interior: Gray Davis (fmr. Calif. Gov, '08 endorser)
Sec. of Agriculture: Bob Kerrey (fmr. NE Senator, NE Gov., '08 endorser)
Sec. of Commerce: Indra Nooyi (CEO, PepsiCo.)
Sec. of Labor: Alexis Herman (Sec. of Labor, 1997-2001)
Sec. of HHS: Dr. Atul Gawande (senior health policy advisor 1992-1993)
Sec. of HUD: Michael Thurmond (GA Labor Commissioner, '08 endorser)
Sec .of Transportation: Gary Locke (fmr. WA gov. '08 endorser)
Sec. of Energy: Dick Gephardt (fmr. MO Sen, fmr.pres candidate, '08 endorser)
Sec. of Education: Tom Vilsack (fmr. IA gov, '08 endorser)
Sec. of Veterans Affairs: John Dalton (fmr. Sec. of the Navy, '08 advisor)
Sec. of Homeland Security: Richard Holbrooke (fmr. ambassador, '08 advisor)
I think she will definitly try to bring in Joe Biden in some form, since it would show party unity and he is likely the only one of her fellow '08 candidates still in anything close to good standing with the Clintons. I fully expect her to appoint Tom Vilsack to a cabinet post, even if she didn't win Iowa and Wes Clark if he's not tapped for the vice-precidency.
Fantasy Obama Cabinet
An Obama cabinet would likely be an interesting one. I believe he would likely draw from a variety of sources, including his own well-qualified advisors. It would be a mix of younger idealists and older, experienced professionals–and would comprise a “brain trust” from which Obama could draw from.
Sec. of State: Bill Richardson (fmr. Amb, NM Gov, '08 candidate)
Sec. of Treasury: Austan Goolsbee (prof. U of Chicago, economist, chief economic advisor)
Sec. of Defense: Gen. Merill McPeak (fmr. Air Force Chief of Staff, '08 advisor)
Attorney General: Gary Hart (fmr. CO Sen, pres candidate, '08 endorser/advisor)
Sec. of the Interior: Tony Knowles (fmr. AK governor, '08 endorser)
Sec. of Agriculture: Patty Judge (fmr. IA Sec. of Ag, IA Lt. Gov)
Sec. of Commerce: Gary Hirshberg (CEO, Stoneyfield Farm, '08 endorser)
Sec. of Labor: William M. Daley (Sec. of Commerce 1997-2000, '08 advisor)
Sec. of HHS: David Cutler (Harvard health economist, '08 advisor)
Sec. of HUD: Sheila Dixon (Baltimore mayor, '08 endorser)
Sec. of Transportation: Jim Hodges (fmr. SC Gov, '08 endorser)
Sec. of Energy: Jason Grumet (Dir. National Com. on Energy Policy, '08 advisor)
Sec. of Education: Tom Daschle (fmr. SD Sen, '08 endorser)
Sec. of Veterans Affairs: Tammy Duckworth (IL Dir of Veterans Affairs, Iraq War veteran)
Sec of Homeland Security: Richard Clarke (fmr. Counter-Terrorism head, '08 advisor)
Obama's cabinet is harder to predict. I think it will be more eclectic than Hillary's, for sure. I think he will bring in some unconventional appointees, such as Tammy Duckworth (no better nominee, IMO) and some of his inner circle of advisors. I'm going out on a limb with Patty Judge, but I think Obama will find some way of rewarding Iowa for jumpstarting his race for the presidency.
Who do you think would be the key figures in a Clinton or Obama cabinet?
7 Comments
I would like to see Richardson as Sec. of Transportation
No matter who wins. He has the best grasp of those issues.
Biden would be a great secretary of state.
I see Vilsack in Clinton’s cabinet for sure. I think she might tap Wes Clark as a VP, so would need a different secretary of defense.
I don’t think Obama would tap Patty Judge. She didn’t get involved in his campaign, as far as I’m aware.
Of course, I would love to see John Edwards in the cabinet. There are several positions where I think he would excel. I don’t think Clinton would pick him, though, and I kind of doubt Obama would pick him either.
desmoinesdem Wed 23 Jan 2:05 PM
Edwards
I was thinking Edwards would make an excellent Sec. of Labor, but I’m not sure he’d be willing to “play ball” like cabinet members sometimes have to do.
No, Patty Judge didn’t get involved at all with Obama. But if he was looking for an Ag Secretary–he could do worse. 🙂
american007 Wed 23 Jan 2:13 PM
I would hope that our ag secretary
would have deeper roots in the sustainable agriculture community. Agri-business has a big enough megaphone as it is.
Edwards would be good as AG, Sec of Labor, Sec of HHS, or at HUD. I don’t know whether he would want to serve in the cabinet, but I would like to see him involved.
desmoinesdem Wed 23 Jan 2:23 PM
Please, no
Patty Judge!? With all due respect, Bill Northey would make a much better SOA than Patty. I worked hard for Denise O’Brien in the ’06 Iowa SOA race, but I always knew we would get an improvement at IDALS even with Northey winning.
rf Wed 23 Jan 9:59 PM
someone else told me the same thing
about Northey shortly before the 2006 election.
We’ve still got the O’Brien sticker on one of our cars. She would have been a tremendous advocate for family farmers and sustainable agriculture.
desmoinesdem Wed 23 Jan 10:10 PM
Biden
He would only work in an Obama administration I think. He wouldn’t want to be overshadowed by Bill Clinton.
I want him for VP under Obama.
Worst case would be Sect. of State.
rpritchard Fri 25 Jan 4:29 PM
he would be a great VP candidate
It’s ridiculous that the MSM doesn’t recognize what a good communicator he is. In my view, better than Obama. But then, I prefer a more aggressive speaking style.
desmoinesdem Fri 25 Jan 4:33 PM