# Harris political appointments reaching out to Republicans/conservatives **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** kamala-harris\ **Created:** [July 29, 2024, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940 "2024-07-29T08:42:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/61 "2024-07-30T00:48:10Z")
Agreed. Just because a Republican is sane doesn’t mean they are moderate. ---
**Author:** ![Steven\_Maven](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steven_maven/32/3272_2.png) [@Steven\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Maven)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/62 "2024-07-30T05:17:47Z")
Withdrawn ---
**Author:** ![GailForce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/63 "2024-07-30T14:03:23Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > How do you feel about the Federated States of Micronesia Liz? I picked China as an arbitrary example, and also as an important post tempting her to accept it if offered. There was a time, within my memory, that on specific foreign policy issues the GOP wasn’t all that far from the Dems, at least when a political campaign wasn’t being waged. Now that’s changed–both the degree of institutional opposition for its own sake and the unending perpetual nature of politicking-- but there might be certain countries or situations where there is broad agreement on U.S. policy towards a particular nation. It’s not hard for me to imagine that, political rhetoric aside (which really doesn’t exist practically any more for a discarded ex-GOPer like Cheney) , that she and Harris don’t essentially agree on US policy towards China or Russia or France, and there could be upsides for both in an important ambassadorship for Cheney, especially if she braves the brickbats and abuse she’ll draw in supporting the Harris campaign over the next few months. Not knowing a lot about foreign policy details, I can’t venture a guess as to WHICH country would be most appropriate, or least inappropriate, but I have to suspect there is one. Besides which, the ambassador implements the President’s policy, so there will be very little cause for Cheney to distinguish her own position from Harris’s. Her job would be to follow orders, and if there is a serious conflict , to resign her post. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/64 "2024-07-30T14:21:30Z")
I concur that the current republican party is far too compromised to trust in any positions of power. Why waste time on trying at this point? ---
**Author:** ![GailForce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/65 "2024-07-30T14:23:33Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > Why waste time on trying at this point? I think it looks good to have a few Republicans in any Democratic administration, especially if they’re serving in a position where they don’t get to set policy as much as they get to administer it. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/66 "2024-07-30T14:27:36Z")
In past circumstances I would agree but I don’t trust Republicans at this point. ---
**Author:** ![GailForce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/67 "2024-07-30T14:29:22Z")
Would you trust a Cheney or a Kinzinger if they campaigned vigorously for Harris in swing states? ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/68 "2024-07-30T15:30:11Z")
Maybe Kinzinger, but, and this is true, Liz Cheney’s last name is Cheney. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/69 "2024-07-30T15:50:24Z")
> [@GailForce](#): > > Would you trust a Cheney or a Kinzinger if they campaigned vigorously for Harris in swing states? Actions speak louder than words. Let’s see who from the Republican party “campaigns vigorously for Harris in swing states.” In fact, I will lower the bar - I will take "campaigns _at all_ for Harris, in any state, before considering them for an appointment. When that happens, and Harris wins, we can discuss this more seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/70 "2024-07-30T16:26:08Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > In fact, I will lower the bar - I will take "campaigns _at all_ for Harris, in any state, before considering them for an appointment. When that happens, and Harris wins, we can discuss this more seriously. The Republican mayor of Mesa, AZ (pop. ~500k) declared for [Kamala](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/07/29/mesa-arizona-mayor-john-giles-endorses-harris/74596202007/) 😉. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/71 "2024-07-30T16:34:17Z")
Good! There’s one. I will be looking for more like that. I have no aversion to appointing Republicans to positions in the (hopefully) Harris administration, but I have a problem with doing it “just because.” Anyone who is supportive of the Harris ticket may (operative word - “may”) be considered, but needs to have real qualifications for the job, like any Dem appointee. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/72 "2024-07-30T20:29:22Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > I have no aversion to appointing Republicans to positions in the (hopefully) Harris administration, but I have a problem with doing it “just because.” Anyone who is supportive of the Harris ticket may (operative word - “may”) be considered, but needs to have real qualifications for the job, like any Dem appointee. Ok, I’m reasonable. No fascist fucksticks. Just because Cheney didn’t back the orangu-tan1 doesn’t mean she’s reasonable or trustworthy. Actively supporting Harris over the dick-tater2 wanna be is a good threshold for measuring if they should be considered at all for a post in her admin. That signals a willingness to let conservatived have a voice, but they have to demonstrate they aren’t trojan horseshits. The Overton Window has already shifted to the right 2 houses, maybe it’s fair to build a wall. * * * 1 His tan _is_ orange. 2 He has a potato-shaped dick. ---
**Author:** ![GailForce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/73 "2024-08-01T22:32:51Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > I will take "campaigns _at all_ for Harris, in any state, before considering them for an appointment. When that happens, and Harris wins, we can discuss this more seriously. it’s an interesting fix Cheney and Kinzinger have gotten themselves into. They have no future with the GOP short-term and very possibly long-term, so as I see it, they have very little to lose in campaigning for the Dems or even converting to Dems themselves, and running as a Dem in a deep red district. In Cheney’s case, I think she could run as a Dem for Senate in Wyoming, and give the incumbent the best race he’s had in years. As a defeated Dem, she’d be eligible for an ambassadorship on that basis. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/74 "2024-08-01T22:57:03Z")
> [@GailForce](#): > > so as I see it, they have very little to lose in campaigning for the Dems or even converting to Dems themselves, and running as a Dem in a deep red district. In Cheney’s case, I think she could run as a Dem for Senate in Wyoming, and give the incumbent the best race he’s had in years. As a defeated Dem, she’d be eligible for an ambassadorship on that basis. But would Dems actually want her? Be assured her politics is antithetical to everything Dems want except she is opposed to Trump. There is very little chance Dems would vote for her simply because the alternative is an actual Republican Party member. It’s been shown some MAGAS actually have milder policies than she does. Frankly, for either to turn Dem I’d need more to go on than “the GOP won’t let me play, can I be on your team? I’m still going to score on your goal.” And you may think they have very little to gain by campaigning for Dems, but they don’t seem to see things the same way. Although I’d accept their campaigning a lot more easily than their changing party. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/75 "2024-08-01T22:59:23Z")
And what would be Cheney’s chances of winning the Democratic primary, given her solid conservatism? Would the Dems in Wyoming vote for her over a traditional Wyoming Dem? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/76 "2024-08-02T07:51:31Z")
Another vote for “none”. Both because they are horrible people with horrible politics - or they wouldn’t _be_ Republican in the first place - and because they are treacherous, hostile people who will take the opportunity to sabotage anything the Democrats do. Attempts at “bipartisanship” have a consistent history of ending as disasters for the Democrats; they need to learn that the Republicans are their _enemies,_ not the “loyal opposition”. ---
**Author:** ![GailForce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/77 "2024-08-05T21:22:45Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Would the Dems in Wyoming vote for her over a traditional Wyoming Dem? I would, if I lived in WY. Otherwise, there’s no chance at all that a traditional, or even a conservative, Dem will get elected from WY in my lifetime. This way, Dems get a bit closer to a majority, and we simply have to live with her voting record. Maybe on a few issues she’ll cast some votes our way, certainly more than the hardcore MAGA troglodyte she defeated. As for her, it’s her way of telling the MAGA “FU, you tried to wreck my political career cuz I told ya the truth about your cult? Ha ha.” A win-win all around. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/78 "2024-08-06T00:07:01Z")
> [@GailForce](#): > > This way, Dems get a bit closer to a majority, and we simply have to live with her voting record. Maybe on a few issues she’ll cast some votes our way, certainly more than the hardcore MAGA troglodyte she defeated. Joe Manchin shows that a majority in name doesn’t help if the votes aren’t there, and as pointed out, the MAGA who replaced her from her ouster wasn’t as extreme on issues as she was. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/79 "2024-08-06T00:23:53Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > But would Dems actually want her? Be assured her politics is antithetical to everything Dems want except she is opposed to Trump. When politicians change party, they typically change views on issues. This may seem strange because there is so little party changing lately, but it happens. As for Harris appointments, she should not promise in advance. But a lot of centrist voters like bipartisanship, and there are a lot of senate confirmed offices that aren’t greatly political. I expect a few of them would go to never-Trump Republicans if Harris wins. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940/80 "2024-08-06T00:45:16Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > When politicians change party, they typically change views on issues. Politicians who change parties typically do so because they changed views, or the party changed views away from them. Cheney would only be changing because she doesn’t want Trump, not because any of her politics has softened. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-political-appointments-reaching-out-to-republicans-conservatives/1004940.md?page=5)