5 Administration Positions Barack Obama Must Fill and the Potential Candidates
Obama has chosen Rahm Emanuel as his chief of staff. Here are potential candidates for other positions.
1. Attorney general—Eric Holder, deputy attorney general in the Clinton administration, is a possibility. So is Rep. Artur Davis, a Democrat from Alabama and, like Obama, a graduate of Harvard Law School. Janet Napolitano, Arizona's governor, also has been mentioned.
2. Secretary of state—Some Democrats say that if Obama asks Robert Gates to stay on as secretary of defense, Sen. John Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, is the top choice for secretary of state. If Gates does not stay, advisers said Obama could choose a Republican like Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana or Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska.
4. Defense secretary—Obama may ask Gates to stay as a demonstration of bipartisanship. Otherwise, former Deputy Defense Secretary John J. Hamre, former Secretary of the Navy Richard J. Danzig, and Jim Jones, a retired Marine general and former NATO commander, are possible candidates.
3. National security adviser—Possible picks are James B. Steinberg, a former deputy national security adviser, and Gregory B. Craig, a former State Department official. Other names being tossed around: Danzig, Dennis Ross, a Middle East envoy, and Susan E. Rice, former Bill Clinton aide and early Obama adviser.
5. Treasury secretary—The most likely choices are Lawrence H. Summers, who was treasury secretary for Clinton, and Timothy F. Geithner, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker; Robert Rubin, another former Clinton treasury secretary; and Laura D'Andrea Tyson, who chaired Clinton's Council of Economic Advisers, also are options.
Sources: New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, the Hill
Reader Comments
En Espanol....
Mi Nombre Es Iliana y me pregunto porque mi Presidente mas CHULO y FAVORITO NO ESCOGIO A UN HISPANO PARA ALGUN GARGO por que despues de todo fimos los Hispanos quien lo escogimos y le dimos segun las encuestas fue lo que lo GANAR con todo el RESPETO Y ADMIRACION de una simple ciudadana que le dio su confianza y voto quisiera saver si alguien me puede desir el por que?
Se que sera un PRESIDENTE magnifico y le pido mucho a DIOS me lo cuide y me lo Bendiga y que la gente que este a su alrededor sea gente de bien y la senora OBAMA,le dijo que DIOS LE ALUMBRE EL CAMINO Y LE DE LA SAVIDURIA para sus hijas y esposo,TODOS los Hispanos que conosco estamos felices pero estuvieramos mas felices si tuvieramos REPRESENTACION en su CABINETE.
que DIOS BENDIGA A AMERICA Y LA FAMILIA OBAMA.
Iliana Ortiz.
Cabinet Appointments
Geithner would be great - a very diverse global view of the economy we need. It would be super to have Volker in a collaborative role as well. He's too old to hold the job alone - but with Volker's experience and Geithner's smarts, the results would be excellent.
Summers is too controversial. Obama can always consult with him.
Attny General: I also really like and respect Napolitano. She is a cool head and a bright mind. She would make a super Attorney General. Also - an opportunity for a woman to get a high profile cabinet post and prove her mettle on the national level. Someone with strong organizational skills has to bring the Justice Department back into line.
Chuck Hagel - a SUPER GUY. Have to find him something good. He took a lot of heat when he stood up for his principles against the war in Iraq. Does he have the personality for Sec of State?
All have to thoroughly vetted to be sure they have no close PAC connections, no political favorites overseas that could influence decisions, no favors owed that would compromise their objectivity.
The Obama administration must be known for its objectivity, clean reputations, and personalities that command respect.
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