As it is looking increasingly likely that Barack Obama will be the next President of the United States, it will be interesting to see who he will appoint to his first cabinet.

I think that while Joe Biden will have a major say in Foreign Affairs, Bill Richardson of New Mexico has to be a certainty for the State Department. He endorsed Obama fairly early in the primary campaign, and this will be his reward.

I think that Hillary Clinton could get the job of Ambassador to the United Nations. Remember, this has a cabinet seat and is a very influential position. Hillary's experience and friendship with world leaders could come in handy here.

Defence will be interesting. It is known that Obama has a liking for Robert Gates, the present incumbent and may ask him to remain on. If Gates doesn't stay on, then Wesley Clarke of Arkansas has to be a front runner.

Clarke will also be in the running for Homeland Security along with Colin Powell, who is due to endorse Obama shortly. All in all, these appointments will be interesting to watch.

The VP cannot be given any other ministry in the Cabinet, though he/she will be in it obviously.

Secretary of State - Bill Richardson
Secretary of Health - Hillary Clinton
Secretary of Agriculture - Tom Vilsack
Secretary of Defence - Gen Anthony Zinni
Homeland Security Secretary - Richard Danzig
Energy Secretary - Al Gore
Interior Secretary - Tom Daschle
Secretary of Treasury - Austan Goolsbee,
Attorney General - Andrew Cuomo
Education Secretary - Linda Darling-Hammond
Labour Secretary - William Samuel

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Yes, lets reward Hillary for her blunder yes vote to the war and lying about her global experience with ambassador to the UN.

As for the Obama cabinet:



...thats as likely to be his cabinet, because he's not going to be elected with people like this in the USA...

Obama emphasises team players and low drama, also he is interested in having Republicans in cabinet.

All given the 2012 race will likely be tough due to the economic situation.

Some big name Republicans who I think unlikely but possible to serve in his cabinet: Colin Powell,John McCain and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Overall I think he is going to look for a balanced team that works well... so if person X is individually the best for say Labor he mightn't appoint them if they clashed with other members.

He is clearly reaching out to all sorts to get his first hundred days in order , even the "Blue Dogs".

John Podesta , Tom Daschle, Pete Rouse are both potential chiefs of staff, though it is likely that Podesta will instead lead the transition (he's doing this now anyway).

John Kerry & Christopher Dodd are interested in State but I don't think they'll get it.

John Edwards and Al Gore I wonder about... also curious re Bill Gates & Warren Buffet ... they do pretty good jobs where they are but wonder would Obama seek to link up with Gates' charity... State backing often helps.... and he could link up with the other Bill (Clinton).

He can't put Clinton in Health as she has failed there before, her vision of area is too different and you couldn't trust Bill.

Mike Bloomberg is a possibility, plenty of talk that he might oversee the banks & bailout in a new post.

I'd say Susan Rice, Richard Holbrooke, and Bill Richardson are in with a chance for State and that Robert Gates is a shoo in for Defense if he wants it.

Some good speculation here & here.


cYp

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"Yawn , am I alive yet ?"

That Al-J piece is actually pretty upsetting. It's easy to forget there are people out there this ignorant.

Incidentally, I do like the fact the Al-J reporter is called Kauffman.

Would love to see Bill Clinton in that cabinet, would that be allowed? He would bring great experience to the cabinet table, would make a good treasury secratery, best president of 20th century imo, economy was sound during his terms, and you can't pin the difficulties after on him when Bush started underming the middle and working classes and caused consumer spending to collapse.

Judging by the way he's been talking over the last few weeks, I think he would be more comfortable in a McCain cabinet.

This is a bit like Kinnock celebrating victory in Sheffield in 1992 on the Sunday before the election.

Its the last Sunday onwards before the election that people really start to break either way.

Obama seems to be celebrating with big party on election night etc.

Indeed and so what are his plans for his half hour slot on prime time ?

He has bought it on Fox, NBC & CBS for Oct 29, just before the World Series. See this thread,he has something up his sleeve !

CyP

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"Yawn , am I alive yet ?"

Diana Ross, Secretary of State, “Im a goddam American icon”!