Who do you support for Secretary of State?

[yebrent]

Poll question: Who do you support for Secretary of State?

This is the first of 5 polls I am creating for top cabinet positions in a potential Democratic Administration in 2009.

The Cabinet positions being polled:

Secretary of State
Secretary of Defense
Attorney General
Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security
National Intelligence Director.

Yes, I know the National Intelligence Director isn't an official Cabinet Position, but it is a highly critical position in the administration that oversees 16 separate intelligence agencies.

Why start this so early?

Glad you asked, for a couple of reasons.

These cabinet positions especially, require strong public support for the individuals serving. We trust these individuals to uphold the constitution and the people first, and the Party and the President second. This is an opportunity to voice that trust.

Secondly, I don't think it hurts to show the depth of the Democratic Party's bench. There are a lot of good candidates for cabinet seats, and the sooner this party can think of itself as a team, the better. America is looking for a team to lead, not another dictator. Holding our party leaders up for comparison against Gonzales, Condi and Gates only helps our national party image.

The first poll up is for Secretary of State. The next poll won't start until this one is closed. The winner of this poll will be excluded from the remaining polls. I've omitted the following people from all the polls:

Leading Presidential Candidates:

Hillary Clinton
Barack Obama
John Edwards
Bill Richardson

Others:

Al Gore (may run and probably wouldn't take a cabinet position)
Nancy Pelosi (why would she give up what she's got?)
Harry Reid (Harry might be more willing than Pelosi, but I would be surprised)
Bill Clinton
Jimmy Carter

The Secretary of State nominees are listed randomly. If you don't see your favorite, nominate them, and I'll add them next time. I hope to make this an ongoing series through the election.

[yebrent]

1. Interesting to see Kerry in the early lead.

Not too surprising, since he would make an excellent SOS.

[More Than A Feeling]

2. Someone who was almost the Diplomat-in-chief himself? I'll buy that.

It says to the American people: "Our party is so fucking fantastic we use the second-biggest vote getter in American history to talk to Swaziland!"

[election_2004]

3. My choices

Secretary of State: Joe Biden
Secretary of Defense: John Kerry
Attorney General: Stephanie Tubbs Jones
Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security: Bill Richardson or Wes Clark (if neither of them is the Dem nominee)
National Intelligence Director: Jane Harman

[yebrent]

5. Joe Biden is one of the choices n/t

[election_2004]

12. Thanks! And I just voted for him!

[Hawkowl]

4. JFK as A.G

I'd like to see John Kerry loosed on the rethuglicans as Attorney General. He's shown a true knack for this type of corruption investigation with the BCCI. And he should be sufficiently motivated to tear apart the Bush family criminal empire. This needs to be a priority of the next administration. The rooting out of these criminal organizations such as the Carlisle group, and the hushing up of misdeeds by past presidents such as Bush I and Shrub.

[AtomicKitten]

6. I think Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

would be brilliant as Attorney General.

[yebrent]

7. The Attorney General poll will be the toughest.

There are so many good choices, it will be difficult to narrow it down to 9. Fitz will definitely be on the list.

[AtomicKitten]

9. Oh yes.

Fitz would be another fine choice.

[Auntie Bush]

11. Kerry is a good choice for attorney General for the reasons you mentioned ... but

Pat Fitzgerald, Elliot Spitzer or Pat Leahy would also make good choices, (but I'd hate to lose Leahy for VT senator).

Back to the real question.....If Clark isn't President...He'd be my first Choice for SoS. Second would be Bill Clinton, third John Kerry, last Richard Holbrooke.

[PresidentObama]

8. Depending on how the Senate is looking for 2008...

Senator Kerry would be my pick!!

If not, Wes Clark.

[yebrent]

10. Not much of a chance in the Dems losing Kerry's seat should he be SOS. n/t

[sellitman]

13. Wes would be good.

Actually any Dem would be great. That would mean we have a Democratic President.

[lpbk2713]

14. I hadn't thought about it but

Bob Graham might be well suited for that post. He would certainly have a lot more credibility than what we now have inflicted upon us.

[election_2004]

15. Ooooh, another good one

Graham would be a great choice for either SoS or SoD.

[yebrent]

16. A few more hours to break the Kerry / Clark tie.

I'll post the 2nd poll (Attorney General) when I get back tonight.