Kerry Administrations
Any thoughts on what a Kerry Administration would look like and how it might operate? here's some suggestions...
Sectary of State:
GARY HART - Early on in the primary season Gary Hart flirted with a run for the nomination however he eventually abandoned the idea and endorsed Kerry, he has from what I hear been providing national security advice to the Kerry camp ever since … Hart also served on the US Commission on National Security, which had endorsed creation of a homeland security agency before the 9-11 attacks and has been involved with national security think tanks since he left the Senate in the 1980’s… the only potential draw back for Hart would be 1.) If he runs for the Senate in Colorado as he has been urged to do and 2.) The Donna Brazil affair, but essentially I think it’s a non issue now and cannot be held against him…
JAMES RUBIN – Was Albrights deputy and has since then been a foreign policy commentator on both sides of the Atlantic, probably too young for the post but a possibility non the less, but more than likely a potential National Security Advisor or perhaps UN ambassador.
Sectary of Defence:
WES CLARK – In my view an obvious choice, with a mass of military experience and an authority on military issues respected around the world. Republicans on this board may well disagree with this assessment…his bi-partisan past may also be an advantage in taking on such an important position (post 9-11) and inspiring confidence from voters.
BOB GRAHAM – A long and distinguished legislative career in both the senate and the governor’s mansion in Tallahassee. A prominent member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence he has a great deal of authority on the issue and has a breadth of knowledge on the subject that only Clark could be expected to rival. Graham also has a history of being a moderate Centrist Dem as a former leader of the DLC this would also help with his confirmation by congress in any Administration. However Graham exudes zero charisma and as a result might lake the sense of presence that after 9-11 the sectary of defence should really have…but a strong contender never the less.
Treasury Sectary:
ROBERT REICH – Clinton’s Sectary of Labour who left the administration over what he saw as Clinton’s conservatism in his second term. A well informed and experienced figure who endorsed Kerry early on in the race for the nomination (will he be rewarded?). However with a massive budget deficit an incoming Democratic administration would be perhaps better served with a more conservative Democrat with a better reputation for fiscal conservatism. But Reich is experienced and very much in tune with Kerry’s economic instincts and is not so liberal as to be unsuitable for the post.
JEANNE SHAHEEN – The former Governor of New Hampshire has had experience managing a budget and has been shown to be keen on fiscal restraint and has been a democratic governor of a famously frugal state with fairly limited state provided services… another Kerry backer and a very important one in New Hampshire… lost her re-election bid and that could be a draw back however in a cabinet post that should not matter so much.
Health and Human Services;
EVA CLAYTON (former Congresswoman, NC)
JOHN CONYERS (Congressman MI)
BILL BRADLEY (former Senator NJ)
Housing and Urban Development:
JOHN CONYERS (Congressman MI)
LEON PANETTA (former Clinton Chief of Staff)
JOHN LEWIS (Congressman GA)
RICHARD GEPHARDT (former (well he will be soon) Congressman MO)
Veterans Affairs:
MAX CLELAND (former Senator GA)
BOB KERREY (former Senator NE)
Homeland Security:
BOB GRAHAM (former Governor and Senator FL)
WES CLARK (former NATO supreme commander)
LEON PANETTA (former Clinton Chief of Staff)
Attorney General:
ELIOT SPITZER (NY Attorney General)
JOHN CONYERS (Congressman MI)
Environment:
ROBERT KENNEDY jr (NY Environmental Lawyer)
JOHN CONYERS (Congressman MI)
JOHN KITZHABER (former Oregon Governor)
Agriculture:
JOHN KITZHABER (former Oregon Governor)
EVA CLAYTON (former Congresswoman, NC)
That’s all I can be arsed to do for now…but just some suggestions… Any thoughts?
He will most likely lose, so this is really premature...
