# Obama's 2nd term Cabinet **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 9, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-2nd-term-cabinet/640505 "2012-11-09T19:20:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-2nd-term-cabinet/640505/41 "2012-12-13T19:24:12Z")
Reports are going around that Hagel is going to be nominated for Secretary of Defense. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-2nd-term-cabinet/640505/42 "2012-12-13T20:50:14Z")
And now it’s being reported that Susan Rice is withdrawing from consideration for Secretary of State. The administration says it’s not going to announce any cabinet choices this week, but it’s not hard to do the math here. 2 + 2 = Bore. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-2nd-term-cabinet/640505/43 "2012-12-13T21:03:20Z")
I hope the withdrawal of Rice wasn’t about the pressure from the losers McCain and Graham… I don’t think there would have been much of a problem getting her through confirmation. Unfortunately, even if this was about something else (like, say, some questionable financial ties in her past) it gives an apparent win to McCain and Graham, and for nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-2nd-term-cabinet/640505/44 "2012-12-13T21:16:58Z")
It’s about Libya. If she had financial problems _and_ this, she wouldn’t have been considered in the first place. I think she could’ve been confirmed but I guess for some reason she didn’t appreciate being smeared this way publicly over something that was not her fault and for which one of her predecessors was entirely excused. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-2nd-term-cabinet/640505/45 "2012-12-13T21:21:17Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > It’s about Libya. If she had financial problems _and_ this, she wouldn’t have been considered in the first place. I think she could’ve been confirmed but I guess for some reason she didn’t appreciate being smeared this way publicly over something that was not her fault and for which one of her predecessors was entirely excused. You’re probably right- I’m just hoping that it was her decision (she was tired of the nastiness), and not a “gentle nudge” from the President because he wanted to avoid the fight. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-2nd-term-cabinet/640505/46 "2012-12-13T21:21:32Z")
Buried by Republican Bullshit Mountain, she was. Check [this](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2012/12/13/susan-rice-withdraws-name-from-consideration-for-secretary-of-state/), for example. A shame. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-2nd-term-cabinet/640505/47 "2012-12-13T21:25:54Z")
So what other nominee would fulfill the important qualification of really pissing off Senators McCain and Graham? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-2nd-term-cabinet/640505/48 "2012-12-13T21:34:13Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > So what other nominee would fulfill the important qualification of really pissing off Senators McCain and Graham? It can’t be anybody but Kerry. That’s what I meant with that “bore” comment. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-2nd-term-cabinet/640505/49 "2012-12-13T21:43:55Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > It can’t be anybody but Kerry. That’s what I meant with that “bore” comment. Why not? There’s still plenty of time. Not that I think Kerry’s an awful choice, I’m just curious if there’s anyone who has the requisite foreign policy experience, is generally aligned with the President’s foreign policy, and would piss off McCain and Graham. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-2nd-term-cabinet/640505/50 "2012-12-13T22:14:48Z")
I like the nomination of Wilson. Not sure if McCain himself would implode, but it would still be fun. Might bring more drama than Obama wants. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-2nd-term-cabinet/640505/51 "2012-12-13T22:19:19Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Why not? There’s still plenty of time. Not that I think Kerry’s an awful choice, I’m just curious if there’s anyone who has the requisite foreign policy experience, is generally aligned with the President’s foreign policy, and would piss off McCain and Graham. I’m sure there are plenty of other qualified people beyond Rice and Kerry. Kerry is the only other name that’s been floated, and the Administartion usually leaks names of potentials before choosing someone. But then, Hillary doesn’t exactly seem to be racing out the door, so Obama presumably has time to float another few names before he has to nominate someone. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-2nd-term-cabinet/640505/52 "2012-12-13T22:46:29Z")
The idea of a career diplomat as Secretary of State is interesting. The only one thus far has been Lawrence Eagleburger, right? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-2nd-term-cabinet/640505/53 "2012-12-13T22:48:27Z")
Looks Like Chuck Hagel for Defense. [Link.](http://news.yahoo.com/meet-chuck-hagel-likely-secretary-defense-191347660.html). Excellent choice. I wish he had gotten traction as a GOP presidential candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-2nd-term-cabinet/640505/54 "2012-12-14T05:42:10Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > I like the nomination of Wilson. Not sure if McCain himself would implode, but it would still be fun. Might bring more drama than Obama wants. Nominating Wilson would be a wonderful middle finger to McCain and Graham. Among the marvelous things about him are his excellent qualifications, the fact he was hailed by G. H. W. Bush as “a true American hero” and the Republicans would have a total shit fit that would make this Susan Rice BS look like a child’s tea party. But alas, I doubt it will happen. > [@Marley23](#): > > Reports are going around that Hagel is going to be nominated for Secretary of Defense. He’s a good guy and will be an excellent choice. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-2nd-term-cabinet/640505/55 "2012-12-14T06:25:37Z")
I heard on NPR today that withdrawing Rice from consideration may help grease the wheels of filibuster reform. Obama may have to choose which is more important (and if she is already off the tale, apparently he has.) ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-2nd-term-cabinet/640505/56 "2012-12-14T17:10:34Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Nominating Wilson would be a wonderful middle finger to McCain and Graham. Among the marvelous things about him are his excellent qualifications, the fact he was hailed by G. H. W. Bush as “a true American hero” and the Republicans would have a total shit fit that would make this Susan Rice BS look like a child’s tea party. Hey, Obama could get a two-fer and appoint Valerie Plame as head of the CIA. Wouldn’t that break some ground - appointing people to departments who have actually had long and distinguished careers in those departments? Republican heads would sound like bubble wrap. > [@](#): > > He’s a good guy and will be an excellent choice. I enjoyed his book _[The Politics of Truth](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Politics_of_Truth)_. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-2nd-term-cabinet/640505/57 "2012-12-20T20:40:06Z")
I agree that Hagel would be a good choice. The Israel and defense industry lobbies appear to be [mobilizing](http://www.politico.com/story/2012/12/chuck-hagel-allies-fire-back-critics-push-for-michele-flournoy-85336.html)against him so it will be interesting to how it pans out. Ultimately it probably depends on how much Obama wants him. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-2nd-term-cabinet/640505/58 "2012-12-21T08:15:35Z")
Hagel is an odd fit for the Obama administration. He was critical of the “Asia pivot”, and rightfully so. In any case, I hope he gets the spot. ---
**Author:** ![conway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@conway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conway)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-2nd-term-cabinet/640505/59 "2012-12-21T16:21:26Z")
And it’s…[Kerry for SoS](http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-john-kerry-state-20121221,0,3517149.story). ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-2nd-term-cabinet/640505/60 "2012-12-21T21:52:04Z")
> [@conway](#): > > And it’s…[Kerry for SoS](http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-john-kerry-state-20121221,0,3517149.story). He’ll make an excellent SecState. Much better than Rice. In fact, it’s hard to imagine anyone better qualified for that spot. The main mark against him that I can see is his vote for the Iraq AUMF. But then, Hillary was on board with that, too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-2nd-term-cabinet/640505.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-2nd-term-cabinet/640505.md?page=4)