U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice has done what I said on my Facebook page a while back that I thought she ought to do: withdraw her name from consideration to replace Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. Now I want to suggest something else. The only viable candidate the Republicans had as a candidate for their presidential nomination was Jon Huntsman. He is intelligent, experienced, and capable of rational thought, unlike all the other sorry candidates. He was the first to be dumped from consideration.
I think Huntsman would make an excellent Secretary of State. Even that "heroic" Senator John McCain couldn't vote against his confirmation. There's nothing unusual about putting a member of the opposition party into an administration. During his first administration Obama made an exceedingly conservative Republican congressional representative Secretary of the Army. Nominating Huntsman would very likely convince some of the more moderate Republicans in the Congress that it’s possible to compromise with Democrats now and again.
COMMENTS:
Robert Schechter Why should Obama tap a Republican for the job rather than gilding the resume of another Democrat, unless possibly to avoid doing anything to create a competitor to run for the nomination against Hillary? What bipartisan reciprocity did he get for keeping Gates on? But if he wants a Republican, Chuck Hegel may be a good choice.
Lewis Turco But why not the best Republican? Huntsman is a very good man. There's nothing unusual about putting a member of the opposition party into an administration. During his first administration Obama made an exceedingly conservative Republican Representative Secretary of the Army.
Marcus Bales He would, but the Clintons, who want Hillary elected in 2016, won't stand for a validated and newly-internationally-experienced Huntsman as the Republican opposition.
Robert Schechter Well, if I thought Hunstman was definitely the best person for the job, I'd be fine with it. But I just don't think he is clearly better than some Democratic choices that are also available, so why go out of your way to burnish Huntsman's standing and turn him into perhaps the only plausible Republican candidate in 2016? Best to keep it all in the family. Kerry would be perfect, but for the opening it would give Brown to try to get back in the Senate.
Lewis Turco I said Huntsman was intelligent and rational. He's unlikely to stand again for the Republican nomination in 2016.
Tad Richards I agree with Lew on the last point. No way the Repubs are going to nominate Hunstman, and an important role in the Obama administration won't burnish his reoutation with their base.
Robert Schechter You're probably right, though maybe the Repubs will be looking for the un-Romney in four years. Regardless, serving as Sec of State could really help advance the career and stature of a Democrat, to the greater good of the party (witness the Repubs, who have no real statesmen now), so I don't think Obama should give up that opportunity. Again, I don't think Huntsman is so wonderful that he should get the appointment based on no one else being as good.
Tad Richards I don't think a president's main job is to provide a showcase for his successor. it's to pass his program, and since there are any number of qualified people for a job like secretary of state, I'd be find with selecting Hunstman if I thought it would help. but it wouldn't. Because a secretary of state isn't much involved in arm-twisting with Congress, and if a Repub like Huntsman joined the Obama administration, he'd immediately be branded as a traitor.
Lewis Turco As Powell was. He's another Republican I could live with.
Donna Lynn M Nope. Enough. Chuck Hagel Sec of Def is enough. Huntsman is a "blow in the wind" guy. Better than the rest, but not good enough for SoS.
Lewis Turco: If Kerry is appointed, there's a very good chance that the Republican former senator from Massachusetts, whom Warren defeated, will be elected again.
