Everyone's talking about Obama's running mate. But who would you like to see in an Obama cabinet?
Today you can vote on the next Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Also, the previous rounds are still open for voting. More below the fold.
For all of you have been following these polls, I just wanted to let you know that I changed the system of the polls. The problem is that up to Sec. of Labor all polls were won by white men. It is as unrealistic as can be that we'd actually have a cabinet in which all the top positions were held by white men. It's not the 60s anymore. So the Obama Cabinet polls will have to change a little.
What I will do from now on:
I will still poll all positions and the initial polls for all positions are reopened. So you can still vote for State, AG, etc. In the end, I will look at all poll results and will compile five different cabinets including your favorite candidates from each poll (plus a wildcard where necessary). The diversity of the US population will be reflected in each cabinet. And you then get to vote on each cabinet as a whole.
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You can still vote in the following polls. Here are the links:
Please note: candidates who had won earlier polls were not included in subsequent polls. Those candidates (Richardson, Edwards) may now get wildcards.
Secretary of State (Bill Richardson will get a wildcard)
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Defense
Attorney General
Secretary of the Interior (Les AuCoin's vote total will not count due to ridiculously obvious and stupid poll stuffing)
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Labor (Robert Reich and John Edwards will receive a wildcard)
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Secretary of Housing and Urband Development
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
You can vote in one or all of these polls. I just ask you to please only vote once.
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Here's the list of current cabinet positions and cabinet level administration offices that will be polled in the coming weeks:
Secretary of Homeland Security
White House Chief of Staff
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Director of the Office of Management and Budget
United States Trade Representative
Who will be included: a maximum of 15 candidates (max number of positions in Dkos polls), I'll try to make each round as diverse as possible, always keeping in mind competence and knowledge required for the respective position. Therefore, I'll include men and women, minorities, sitting and former elected officials, appointed officials, academics, people from the non-profit and private sectors, Obama as well as Clinton supporters, and, yes, also Republicans and Independents.
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Today's candidates for Secretary of Homeland Security are (in alphabetical order, links lead to bio):
Richard Clarke - fmr. member of the National Security Council, fmr. Chair of the NSC Counter-terrorism Security Group
Rep. Anna Eshoo (CA) - member of the House Intelligence Committee, chair of the Intelligence Community Management Committee
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (CA) - member of the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security
Jamie Gorelick - fmr. Deputy Attorney General, fmr. member of the 9/11 commission
fmr. Sen. Bob Graham (FL) - fmr. Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee
Rep. Jane Harman (CA) - member of the House Homeland Security Committee, Chair of the Intelligence, Information Sharing and Terrorism Risk Assessment Subcommittee
fmr. Sen. Gary Hart (CO) - fmr. member of the National Commission on Terrorism (Hart-Rudman Commission)
Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (TX) - member of the House Homeland Security Commission, Chair of the Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee
fmr. Sen. Bob Kerrey (NE) - fmr. member of the 9/11 commission
Anthony Lake - fmr. National Security Advisor
fmr. Sen. Chuck Robb(VA) - fmr. Co-chair of the Iraq Intelligence Commission, fmr. member of the Iraq Study Group
fmr. Rep. Tim Roemer (IN) - current President of the Center for National Policy, fmr. member of the 9/11 commission, fmr. member of the House Select Intelligence Committee
Rep. Loretta Sanchez (CA) - Vice-chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, Chair of the Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism Subcommittee
Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS) - Chair of the House Homeland Security Commission
James Lee Witt - fmr. Director of FEMA
I would also like to ask you to nominate candidates for all cabinet positions not yet polled, for several of them I'm still well short of 15 candidates.
Enjoy voting!