# January, 2005: Or, Two What-Ifs

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/january-2005-or-two-what-ifs/244238>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [May 9, 2004, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/january-2005-or-two-what-ifs/244238 "2004-05-09T01:21:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2004, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/january-2005-or-two-what-ifs/244238/1 "2004-05-09T01:21:26Z")

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1. You are George W. Bush, and have just been sworn in to a second term as President. Colin Powell, following a vow he took when he assumed the office of Secretary of State, is retiring. Who are you going to pick?

2. You are Willard Mitt Romney, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. John Kerry has just resigned his Senate seat to become President. Who are you going to appoint to fill the seat?

I am curious as to any answers given, providing that they are within reason.

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**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2004, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/january-2005-or-two-what-ifs/244238/2 "2004-05-09T02:14:09Z")

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For SecState that’s a toughy. But I betcha anything it’ll be someone more ‘reliable’ for the neo-cons.

As far as replacing Kerry? Well, there’s always the old governor resigns only to be appointed to the senate by his former Lt Governor. I always like to dream about those.

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**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2004, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/january-2005-or-two-what-ifs/244238/3 "2004-05-09T02:24:04Z")

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1. It won’t matter; it’ll be another neocon ideologue.

2. Most speculation in MA is he’ll appoint himself, unless the Lege gets a bill passed first giving themselves confirmation power. Bet on that one - and, if so, it’s up for grabs, being as how they’d only confirm a Democrat.

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**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2004, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/january-2005-or-two-what-ifs/244238/4 "2004-05-09T04:27:35Z")

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[QUOTE=ElvisL1ves]

1. It won’t matter; it’ll be another neocon ideologue.  
QUOTE]

Yeah, I understant GW asked a secretary to get Curtis LeMay on the phone.