Bill Cohen - Bill Clinton's Secretary of Defense - was a Republican

[theboss]

The defense rests.

[rpannier]

1. Rests on what???

[theboss]

3. On, um, victory

I'm on the record for wanting to give one of the useless cabinet posts to Huckabee. However, I would never ever in a million years give one of the important posts to a republica - State, Defense, Treasury, Transportation. Bill Clinton turned over the Pentagon to a Republican.

So, any complaints from the Clinton camp should be ignored.

[rpannier]

22. OK

Thanks for the reply

Just curious

[Selatius]

2. What if Barack Obama had a Republican somewhere in his Cabinet?

Does the defense rest there too?

[theboss]

4. I don't have a problem giving one of the stupid Cabinet positions to a Republican

Just not Defense, State, Treasury, or Transportation.

Clinton gave an important one to a Republican.

[MonkeyFunk]

6. When did transportation become such an important post?

[theboss]

10. The last time I visted an airport

That's when it became important.

[MonkeyFunk]

18. Well, the country got by without a Dept. of Transportation

until 1967. It's really NOT one of the major cabinet posts - not at all like Defense, Treasury or State, even Justice. Those are the big four.

[theboss]

19. Fair point. I stupidly left out AG.

AG should esily be off the list.

The ones I don't consider absolutely crucial are:
Labor
Energy
HHS
HUD
Agriculture

In the past, I would not have considered Education crucial, but NCLB changed that. If NCLB is repealed, I would put it on the list.

[Selatius]

8. Well, that depends on what people think is important as far as cabinet positions.

For instance, I'm pretty sure a lot of poor people would be pissed if the Secretary for Housing and Urban Development was a Republican with an eye on privatizing its functions, neither would there be happiness if you had a Republican running the Dept. of Education wanting to gut its operations as well. The only Republicans that I would personally consider would be Lincoln Chafee-like Republicans, but those are truly rare indeed.

[theboss]

11. HUD's never worked

I'm not sure that department could be screwed up at this point.

[Selatius]

12. It's bad, but as they say, don't toss out the baby with the bathwater.

Section 8 Housing is a successful and continuing program run by HUD.

[theboss]

14. My parents car was stolen by residents of Section 8 Housing a few years back

Not the biggest fan of it.

[Selatius]

17. Well, personal experiences may vary. It helped my family get on its feet.

Big fan of it, as a result. Situations like this is why the saying "don't toss the baby out with the bathwater" was coined.

[MonkeyFunk]

23. And did Section 8

make them steal the car? I'm not understanding the leap of logic you're making here.

I was robbed by High school kids once. Doesn't mean I oppose paying for high schools.

[JTFrog]

24. Wow.

My parents live in Section 8 Housing. Without which they wouldn't survive. We're not rich folk, but we sure the fuck aren't criminals.

I'm more than a little appalled at your statement.

[havocmom]

5. There are some bright and honorable Republicans.

And if one or two might be of help in the cabinet, fine with me. Especially fine if they happen to currently serve in the Senate. :evilgrin:

[Johnny__Motown]

7. timesonline is a BS site, don't believe it until a reputable news agency covers it

[napi21]

9. That was his effort to try to mend fences between the parties.

I actually think Cohen was a decent Sec. of Defense. He was a REAL middle of the roader then and he still is. He's one of a VERY FEW Pubs I can stand to listen to when interviewed.

[carlotta]

13. Bill Cohen was a moderate Republican, Hagel isn't

Other than his war stance, this guy is a Neanderthal

# Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003)
# Rated 100% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-life stance
# Rated 0% by the HRC, indicating an anti-gay-rights stance. (Dec 2006)
# Rated 11% by the NAACP, indicating an anti-affirmative-action stance. (Dec 2006)
Rated 36% by the NEA, indicating a mixed record on public education.
Rated 17% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
Rated 0% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
Rated 100% by the Christian Coalition: a pro-family voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 92% by CATO, indicating a pro-free trade voting record. (Dec 2002)
Rated A by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record.
Rated 12% by APHA, indicating a anti-public health voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 8% by the AFL-CIO, indicating an anti-union voting record. (Dec 2003)
90% conservative voting record; 95% support of Pres. Bush. (Dec 2006)

[Thurston Howell III]

16. Thank you.

[bridgit]

15. Yes...what's your point here?

[theboss]

20. My main point is that I'm a dick

My secondary point is that Obama is simply suggesting following in Bill Clinton's footsteps.

And that makes it rather tough for a Clinton supporter to criticize.

"How dare he do exactly what we did? Bastartd!"

[bridgit]

21. Ah, well, it is understood that DUer's *hate* Bill Clinton with an unbridled passion, yes?

I would think they hate then, by extension, all his good and/or even reasonable ideas as well :shrug: