Smithie predicts who Obama should pick for the big four in the Cabinet
Jinny Choi
Issue date: 11/13/08 Section: Opinions
His campaign promised to reach across the aisle of partisan politics, and President-Elect Barack Obama's Cabinet will reflect that. There have been several speculative short-lists and suppositions made, but Valerie Jarrett, transition co-chairman for Obama, has made it clear that most are far from true. I don't see Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, John Edwards, Howard Dean and Arnold Schwarzenegger on that short-list.
Although, one thing to note - and judging by the selection of Rahm Emmanuel, the newly appointed Chief of Staff - Obama's administration will be focused on one big promise: fixing the economy.
What follows is my short-list for a few positions in Obama's Cabinet:
Secretary of State: More of a personal than prophetic guess: Condoleezza Rice. She has been the one consistent beacon of level-headed decisiveness for the Bush administration. She is a team player, and, in short, rescued Bush's diplomatic record. She has even come forward to say, "As an African-American, I'm especially proud because this is a country that has been through a long journey in terms of overcoming wounds and making race not the factor in our lives. That work is not done, but [Election Day] was obviously an extraordinary step forward." She would definitely heal the sting on the right.
Secretary of the Treasury: With the Wall Street crisis, and the U.S. economy's sharp downturn, finding the correct person for this position is crucial. Timothy Geithner seems to be a good option, being the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and presently supervising the Wall Street crisis. His inside knowledge may hurt him, as liberals point to his proximity to Wall Street, but his active experience as undersecretary of the Treasury for the Clinton administration will be a valuable asset.
Secretary of Defense: I know I am harping on the incumbents and probably making Democrats unhappy, but Robert Gates, former Boy Scout, should stay in his position. He replaced Donald Rumsfeld with bipartisan support, and before that served for 27 years in the CIA. He has a vast knowledge of the Middle East, as he currently co-chairs the Council on Foreign Relations' task force on U.S.-Iranian relations, and is a former member of the Iraq Study Group.
Attorney General: Hillary Clinton, a powerful political juggernaut, should take the post of Senate majority leader, leaving Patrick Fitzgerald, famous for his involvement in the prosecution of Scooter Libby, as the likely choice. The U.S. Attorney for the North District of Illinois has solid credentials. His good judgment could help resolve the fate of Guantanamo Bay and the privacy concerns stemming from the controversies of the Bush administration.
In any case, as he once stated in October, President-Elect Obama wants Republicans working by his side - most importantly, the necessary steps he takes now will ensure an easier overall transition into the presidency.
Although, one thing to note - and judging by the selection of Rahm Emmanuel, the newly appointed Chief of Staff - Obama's administration will be focused on one big promise: fixing the economy.
What follows is my short-list for a few positions in Obama's Cabinet:
Secretary of State: More of a personal than prophetic guess: Condoleezza Rice. She has been the one consistent beacon of level-headed decisiveness for the Bush administration. She is a team player, and, in short, rescued Bush's diplomatic record. She has even come forward to say, "As an African-American, I'm especially proud because this is a country that has been through a long journey in terms of overcoming wounds and making race not the factor in our lives. That work is not done, but [Election Day] was obviously an extraordinary step forward." She would definitely heal the sting on the right.
Secretary of the Treasury: With the Wall Street crisis, and the U.S. economy's sharp downturn, finding the correct person for this position is crucial. Timothy Geithner seems to be a good option, being the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and presently supervising the Wall Street crisis. His inside knowledge may hurt him, as liberals point to his proximity to Wall Street, but his active experience as undersecretary of the Treasury for the Clinton administration will be a valuable asset.
Secretary of Defense: I know I am harping on the incumbents and probably making Democrats unhappy, but Robert Gates, former Boy Scout, should stay in his position. He replaced Donald Rumsfeld with bipartisan support, and before that served for 27 years in the CIA. He has a vast knowledge of the Middle East, as he currently co-chairs the Council on Foreign Relations' task force on U.S.-Iranian relations, and is a former member of the Iraq Study Group.
Attorney General: Hillary Clinton, a powerful political juggernaut, should take the post of Senate majority leader, leaving Patrick Fitzgerald, famous for his involvement in the prosecution of Scooter Libby, as the likely choice. The U.S. Attorney for the North District of Illinois has solid credentials. His good judgment could help resolve the fate of Guantanamo Bay and the privacy concerns stemming from the controversies of the Bush administration.
In any case, as he once stated in October, President-Elect Obama wants Republicans working by his side - most importantly, the necessary steps he takes now will ensure an easier overall transition into the presidency.
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