obama's sec of state?

[Lunar]

John Kerry, Bill Clinton, Chris Dodd, Bill Richardson, Dick Lugar, and Chuck Hagel are the frontrunners.  Let's wait, obviously Obama has a few options in his mind and hasn't made a decision yet.

Wait until next week.

[Mr. Morden]

Richard Lugar is clearly Obama's top choice.  The only question is if Lugar would want the job.

Should Lugar decline...

Sam Nunn is a strong possibility.

I'd be elated if it were John Kerry.

Chuck Hagel may well have a place in the cabinet, but I doubt it will be at State.  I think the smart place to put him would be Veterans' Affairs.  But Defense is also a possibility.

I doubt Obama puts both Hagel *and* Lugar in his cabinet.  Isn't it more useful to leave at least some of your potential GOP foreign policy allies in the Senate?

[CultureKing]

I went to a Richardson/Gregoire/Cantwell rally and they introduced Richardson as "the next Secretary of State", it sounds like he wants it bad. Personally I like him and I think he would do a great job as Secretary of State.

[Hyperfast]

I think Jimmy Carter would be an excellent Secretary of State.

[True Democrat]

I've heard people mention Fareed Zakaria, but I think that's unlikely.

[paul718]

Richard Lugar is clearly Obama's top choice.  The only question is if Lugar would want the job.

Should Lugar decline...

Sam Nunn is a strong possibility.

I'd be elated if it were John Kerry.

Chuck Hagel may well have a place in the cabinet, but I doubt it will be at State.  I think the smart place to put him would be Veterans' Affairs.  But Defense is also a possibility.

I doubt Obama puts both Hagel *and* Lugar in his cabinet.  Isn't it more useful to leave at least some of your potential GOP foreign policy allies in the Senate?

Hagel is retiring from the Senate in a few months.  

When Obama talks about appointing Republicans to his cabinet, I think he's talking about Hagel and only Hagel.  I think the only reason Hagel hasn't endorsed him is his close relationship with McCain.  Lugar has endorsed McCain.  

I think Hagel will be SecDef unless Gates stays on.  Maybe Colin Powell or Merrill McPeak?

I think Kerry will be Secretary of State.

[paul718]

I've heard people mention Fareed Zakaria, but I think that's unlikely.

Knocked this off the current page, so I'll repost. 

[Mr. Morden]

Richard Lugar is clearly Obama's top choice.  The only question is if Lugar would want the job.

Should Lugar decline...

Sam Nunn is a strong possibility.

I'd be elated if it were John Kerry.

Chuck Hagel may well have a place in the cabinet, but I doubt it will be at State.  I think the smart place to put him would be Veterans' Affairs.  But Defense is also a possibility.

I doubt Obama puts both Hagel *and* Lugar in his cabinet.  Isn't it more useful to leave at least some of your potential GOP foreign policy allies in the Senate?

Hagel is retiring from the Senate in a few months.  

D'oh.  Not sure how I managed to forget that.

[Torie]

maybe Chuck Hagel?

I have zero respect for Hagel. I can't imagine that would be the choice. I have no idea whom it would be though. Lugar is rather long in the tooth.

[paul718]

maybe Chuck Hagel?

I have zero respect for Hagel. I can't imagine that would be the choice. I have no idea whom it would be though. Lugar is rather long in the tooth.

Why's that?  The Iraq War is something he's very passionate about, but he hasn't endorsed anyone or actively campaigned for/against anyone.

[Beefalow and the Consumer]

Bill Richardson.

Case closed.

[pragmatic liberal]

Whenever people play this cabinet-parlor game, they always name major politicians. Most cabinet positions, however, are filled by senior specialists in those fields -- career bureaucrats, academics, etc.

Obama's Secretary of State is fairly likely to be Susan Rice, as many people mentioned. Also, Anthony Lake (former national security advisor to Clinton) is a top possibility, as is Richard Danzig, former Navy Secretary under Clinton. If he does pick a senator, I'd expect Lugar (R), Hagel (R) or Kerry (R) are the top prospects, although it should be said that Lugar has said he will not take an offer to StateSec.

My own guess is that it'll be Anthony Lake or Susan Rice. I think Kerry will be considered, but he'll stay in the Senate, where he'll play a major foreign policy role as chairman of the foreign relations committee (Biden would be VP, and Dodd, who's next in line, probably won't leave the Banking Committee in the midst of the current financial crisis). Honestly, a factor for Kerry is Ted Kennedy's health -- if he stays in the Senate, he'll be Massachusetts' senior statesman. He very well may be Secretary of State someday (he could be a good attorney general or Defense Secretary as well), but it may not be in this term.

[Torie]

Bill Richardson.

Case closed.

Awful choice. He's a nebbish, and a hack, and tiresome.

[Moooooo]

I went to a Richardson/Gregoire/Cantwell rally and they introduced Richardson as "the next Secretary of State", it sounds like he wants it bad. Personally I like him and I think he would do a great job as Secretary of State.

Personally, I think his paper resume speaks louder than his true intelligence on international issues...

He's overrated, imo.

[JSojourner]

Richard Lugar is clearly Obama's top choice.  The only question is if Lugar would want the job.

Should Lugar decline...

Sam Nunn is a strong possibility.

I'd be elated if it were John Kerry.

Chuck Hagel may well have a place in the cabinet, but I doubt it will be at State.  I think the smart place to put him would be Veterans' Affairs.  But Defense is also a possibility.

I doubt Obama puts both Hagel *and* Lugar in his cabinet.  Isn't it more useful to leave at least some of your potential GOP foreign policy allies in the Senate?

I'm not sure.  A lot will depend on how many Senate seats flip, of course.  But I think Obama will be able to count on Snowe and Collins, who are serious, intelligent people.  And, on foreign policy at least, probably Judd Gregg and Arlen Specter. 

[ShadowRocket]

I wouldn't be surprised to see John Kerry get it.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Richardson

[TheresNoMoney]

I don't know why everyone thinks it's going to be a sitting Governor or Senator. That never happens. I would prefer to keep elected politicians with baggage away from an Obama administration.

[Psychic Octopus]

Kerry will get it, for more than 2 reasons.

1. Obama owes everything to Kerry, the keynote speech, which opened him up to the american people. kerry's loss, and the fact kerry endorsed him early in the primaries probably helped him.

2. Kerry wants it so bad, he has created a resume.

[paul718]

Richardson

Not after the "$120,000" comment

[perdedor]

I'd like to see either Richardson, Hagel, or Lugar as Secretary of State.

You know, I have to believe Bill Richardson is far more effective that he appeared in his primary campaign.  But he was so God-awful, both in debate and on the stump, I'd be a little reticent to ask him into my cabinet.

He was a pretty good UN ambassador, I guess.

http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Bill_Richardson_Farts_During_Debate

Is this really the guy want doing press conferences?

[Robespierre's Jaw]

I wouldn't be surprised if Obama selects either Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico or Senator Richard Lugar as his Secretary of State. Whilst Jim puts a good case forth for Senator Lugar, and I mean a very good case, I do not expect a Republican to receive the coveted cabinet position. Thus, I think he'll end up selecting Governor Richardson as Secretary of State. Though I could be very, very wrong.

[RosettaStoned]

John Kerry

[MR maverick]

John Kerry

NO NO libreals

My only worry about Obama is that he will be like Carter when it comes to foriegn affairs,although Obama has a  cockyness to him so iam not worried that much.

Susan Rice would make a good Secretary of state from what I have read and observed of her during interviews.

[phk]

I think Jimmy Carter would be an excellent Secretary of State.