# Let's name a Biden Cabinet **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 8, 2020, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040 "2020-11-08T05:34:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2020, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/81 "2020-11-11T15:52:28Z")
Some folks we’ve already come up with here, too. Why Mayor Pete for UN ambassador, though? I like him but would prefer someone with better foreign policy chops. > **[Here's who could serve in top roles in the Biden administration | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/10/politics/biden-harris-administration/index.html)** > > President-elect Joe Biden is beginning to announce the men and women who will serve in top roles in his administration. ---
**Author:** ![Kearsen1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Kearsen1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen1)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2020, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/82 "2020-11-11T15:56:12Z")
I was hoping they would find a place for Booker. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2020, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/83 "2020-11-11T16:17:09Z")
It’s early yet. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2020, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/84 "2020-11-11T16:26:44Z")
I think it’s because UN Ambassador is a good place for a brilliant guy like him to get some international experience, get to know some of the major international players, without the harsh spotlight of a more significant cabinet position. Sort of a soft start that can’t be fucked up too badly by a newbie. ---
**Author:** ![CHealy7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ab097/32.png) [@CHealy7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CHealy7)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2020, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/85 "2020-11-11T17:19:45Z")
Could Van Jones be a decent outside bet? ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2020, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/86 "2020-11-11T18:24:22Z")
Fauci could be head of HHS but I think he probably wants to keep his current job. If Trump fires him Biden could hire him back or he could pick any job he wants in the US. Drug company, university, etc ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/87 "2020-11-12T00:40:22Z")
Looks like Ron Klain has been named Biden’s Chief of Staff. Though that isn’t a Cabinet position. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/88 "2020-11-12T01:33:44Z")
FYI, The New York Times has an [article](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/11/us/politics/biden-cabinet.html) (paywall warning) speculating on who might be in the cabinet. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/89 "2020-11-12T02:06:04Z")
> [@CHealy7](#): > > Could Van Jones be a decent outside bet? I love that guy. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/90 "2020-11-12T13:20:44Z")
On the BBC today, I was reading speculation about Bernie Sanders for Sect. of Labor, but with Vermont having a Republican Governor, I think that is a non-starter. It looks like there source is Foxnews, so now it makes more sense why it was suggested. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/91 "2020-11-12T14:50:08Z")
Vermont law provides for a special election, not gubernatorial appointment. It is extremely unlikely that a Republican could win a U.S. Senate seat in Vermont anytime soon, especially given the stakes nationally. See: [Filling vacancies in the U.S. Senate - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Filling_vacancies_in_the_U.S._Senate) ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/92 "2020-11-12T15:09:03Z")
Yeah that’s my point as well: we definitely want people with subject matter knowledge but he doesn’t have to be someone who can split atoms to work for the DOE. He just has to know about how to manage the atom splitters and what the consequences of mismanagement of that department can be. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/93 "2020-11-12T15:17:05Z")
Oh, that is outstanding. I didn’t know that. Got to love the SDMB. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/94 "2020-11-12T15:27:03Z")
Soitenly! My wife is from Vermont and her dad was long involved in state Dem politics, so I try a bit to keep up with things there. As it happens, Bernie has confirmed that he’d be interested. > **[Bernie Sanders says he would accept Labor secretary job if Joe Biden asks |...](https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/11/politics/sanders-labor-secretary-biden-cnntv/index.html)** > > Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said Wednesday that he would accept the job of Labor secretary if President-elect Joe Biden asked him to join his Cabinet. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/95 "2020-11-12T16:56:55Z")
I overlooked that there would be an interim gubernatorial appointment in Vermont. But see: > **[Scott Says He Would Replace Sanders With Democrat-Affiliated Independent](https://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2020/10/23/scott-says-he-would-replace-sanders-with-democrat-affiliated-independent)** > > A report that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is seeking a position in a potential Joe Biden administration has raised questions about who would succeed Sanders... ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/96 "2020-11-12T18:38:25Z")
I mentioned her in my original post, but for HHS, not USDA. Innnnnteresting. > **[‘I’ve been very, very loyal’: Marcia Fudge makes the case for Ag secretary](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/11/marcia-fudge-agriculture-biden-cabinet-436066)** > > In an interview with POLITICO, the Ohio representative emphasized the role that African Americans played in helping deliver the White House for Biden. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/97 "2020-11-23T02:40:48Z")
Antony Blinken is the leading contender to be Biden’s SOS. > **[Biden poised to nominate Antony Blinken as secretary of state | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/22/politics/biden-transition-antony-blinken/index.html)** > > President-elect Joe Biden is poised to nominate Antony Blinken to serve as secretary of state, people familiar with the matter told CNN, elevating a longtime foreign policy adviser as Biden makes his first round of Cabinet announcements Tuesday. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/98 "2020-11-23T04:30:50Z")
Interesting. So far the relatively few people Biden has named to key appointments have been current or former staff members or close associates of his. Not surprising for his White House staff – e.g. Ron Klain – but a little surprising for Secretary of State. That’s a plum assignment that Presidents have often given to prominent figures in the party (e.g. Colin Powell, Hilary Clinton, John Kerry). Of course it’s early yet, but it seems to point to Biden wanting to name a more technocratic cabinet rather than rewarding and placating party poobahs. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/99 "2020-11-23T04:50:10Z")
[Linda Thomas-Greenfield to be nominate as UN Ambassador.](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/527123-biden-to-nominate-linda-thomas-greenfield-for-un-ambassador-reports) He really does seem to be going for substance over sizzle. I daresay 99% of Americans have never heard of either Blinken or Thomas-Greenfield. But I trust Biden that they’ll know what to do to be effective at their jobs. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040/100 "2020-11-23T02:50:33Z")
(Someone stop me if we’ve already done this.) Who should Biden choose as his Attorney General? I’ve seen Merrick Garland suggested. That would be a great burn on McConnell. But he comes with baggage, not of his own making: If he were to prosecute Trump or any of his cohorts aggressively, he would be immediately open to accusations of “settling scores”. Perhaps Preet Bharara would also be a good choice. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-a-biden-cabinet/925040.md?page=6)