if i were the President, i would nominate anyone but john kerry.

[spanone]

i would NEVER allow the opposition to appoint my cabinet members.

[SoCalDem]

1. Amen n/t

[1StrongBlackMan]

2. Yup ...

And when I made the announcement, I'd preceed it with, "Where's John? He might want to hear this ..."

[Sheldon Cooper]

6. Ha!

That'd be great.

[msongs]

3. he can always appoint members OF the opposition, ie, GW Bush retreads and loyalists nt

[indepat]

4. I would never nominate a member of the opposition to be a member of my cabinet

[Paladin]

5. Agreed. We Need That Senate Seat. (nt)

[frazzled]

7. It's not even about that

It's about being manipulated. I've found this entire episode one of the most distasteful examples of old boys' clubism I've seen in a long time. And to think that some here have played right into it.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

9. They're a bunch of middle-schoolers.

McCain referring to Kerry as Mr. Secretary last week and then giggling like a
a little girl? They've lost all touch with reality and the challenges facing this
country. The lack of maturity and comprehension of the seriousness of our
issues is treasonous. anyone paying the slightest bit of attention can see
McCain, Graham and the rest of them don't give a damn about this country.

[sufrommich]

8. I'm not sure it was just the opposition.

I think there were democrats in the house and senate who asked him to think of them when prioritizing his battles. I tend to agree with the talking heads on this one, he's getting grief from both sides.

[spanone]

12. anyone who opposed her was the opposition regardless of party affiliation.

[karynnj]

10. This is stupid - the Republicans did not "pick" Kerry - they said they would elect them

From the beginning, the story was that Obama would chose Kerry or Rice. In fact, it was only a leak to the WP that said Rice was the preferred candidate - and the WP has been pushing her constantly.

It is beyond stupid to say anyone but Kerry. What of McCain? What of Gingrich? Would Bachmann make you happier?

It is ridiculous given Kerry's history that some on the left are pouting that he could be nominated. He was to the left of all the mainstream opponents he had in 2004 and to the left of every nominee at least back to Dukakis and paid a political price for it.

[Bucky]

14. Being "to the left" didn't hurt Kerry.

Being uninspiring was his core flaw.

[karynnj]

19. The media hid almost every speech he gave

He is a very inspiring man and you might remember the shock at his excellent 2008 and 2012 convention speeches.

The fact that he protested Vietnam and that he was the only Senator willing to investigate the Contras definitely hurt him with certain populations.

[KamaAina]

11. If I were the President, I would have nominated anyone but Janet Napolitano

for Homeland Security, rather than throw Arizona to the teabagger wolves.

But he did.

So there's no reason to expect him not to appoint Kerry and resurrect Scott "Code" Brown's career.

[Bucky]

13. 2025 Headline: "President Aina appoints Benito Mussolini as Secretary of Homeland Security"

You can't say he isn't qualified for the job.

[KamaAina]

15. Well, he would make the trains run on time

but there'd be all the expense and bother of removing all the lampposts from Foggy Bottom.

Wow! Two out of three Presidents with Hawai'i ties (assuming Hillary comes between)!!

[Johonny]

16. A Republican would nominate someone that totally scared the * out of Dems

and then pull back a put the person in they wanted all along.

So Obama should be floating out people like Jeremiah Wright or Van Jones and then say OK, OK
we accept Susan Rice as a compromise candidate.

[Jennicut]

17. Kerry was the only other person in the running besides Rice, going back months ago.

Not sure how that means the Repubs "picked" Kerry.

[frazzled]

18. Not true

There were several others, especially Tom Donilon, who seems to be Joe Biden's pick, and one of Obama's most trusted senior advisers: plus, moving from NSA to State has been a common route.

[arthritisR_US]

20. I agree, Kerry would be just rewarding and

justifying unjustifiable behaviour, IMO.