List emerges for Cabinet posts
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/07/art.gates.gi.jpg caption="Current Defense Secretary Robert Gates is likely to stay at the post, a source tells CNN."](CNN) - Barack Obama is considering a mix of Washington insiders and high-profile business executives to head various cabinet positions, one source involved in the cabinet gathering process told CNN.
For Secretary of State, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry is high on the list. Also on the list is Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, a former presidential candidate who endorsed Barack Obama early in the Democratic primary season. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and former U.N. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke are also interested in the job.
For Secretary of Defense, there are indications current Defense Secretary Robert Gates will stay at the post "for a certain period." Gates, the former CIA Director under the first President Bush, has been praised by members of both parties for his leadership at the Pentagon over the last two years. Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, a former United States Army Captain and a member of the Armed Services Committee, is acting as the go-between with Gates.
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, who also served as that state's attorney general, is said to be a "very real possibility" for U.S. attorney general. Napolitano, who also endorsed Obama early in the primary process, was named earlier this week to the Obama transition team. She's also served as a U.S. attorney from Arizona.
For Secretary of Commerce, former White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta, Time Warner Chairman Dick Parsons, prominent Chicago Businesswoman Penny Pritzker, and University of California economist Laura Tyson are all under consideration.
One problem: the Obama administration wants a diverse cabinet, and that means everything is still up for grabs.
Good heavens....please no John Kerry!!!!!!!
Bill Richardson is latino btw (and he is a great choice!) But some polical diversity for a diverse administration would help in other areas
everyone keeps talking about how diverse the cabinet is going to be. But how much diversity can you have if you have the same od white hair dudes who have been in the same seats foreever, what about CHANGE? how about some black people? are you telling me that their are no qualified BLACK person who can hold a seat in the Obama cabinet. Some one sho is younger than 60 and have a vision and wants a CHANGE like Mr. Future President has been preaching?
I mean i am a suporter of OBAMA, no doubt. But now that the campaigning is over and he won, will he really remember the little people who voted for him adn contributed their time, energy and little bit of money to his campaign adn put another face out ther with which they can identify, a BLACK man or woman who has also risen from the dust, risen like a "rose from the concrete"?
This will be interesting to see.
Peace.
T.A.P
One Love.
Here we go already....where is the "CHANGE"? Same people who have not gotten a darn thing done since early 90s....very disappointing, same old, same old
Second that!
Kucinich for Attorney General!
Remember remember......a new president does not absolve the Crimes of September
RESTORE ACCOUNTBILITY TO THE UNITED STATES of AMERICA
Its ok to put BUSH and CHENEY on the stand......its the Justice Departments duty (unless its been corrupted)
We as American citizens EXPECT it.
NO TRUTH.......NO CHANGE
Black Republican of New York for Obama-Biden:
You asked where was there a single name of a Latino. Bill Richardson was one the list. I suggest that you read before making comments.
If these are the serious consideration, so much for change. I guess that was simply a buzz word for electoral purposes. This presidency scares me.
By IowaMom:
November 7th, 2008 1:32 pm ET
I have come to the conclusion that for some, if Pres-Elect Obama solved all the world's problems on day one, they would still hate him and say horrible things about him and his supporters because there are just some people in this world who love being miserable!
_______
That is the most truthful observation made in this whole discussion.
I think he needs a couple of community organizers in his cabinet...too bad Saul Alinsky isn't around.
Chris Dodd for Sec of State? Of course, I mean he's already taken kickbacks from enough American companies (hey there Fannie and Freddie), it makes perfect sense to now broaden his horizons.
So, if he does get in, after he's taken his kickbacks, and when the world starts to fail, will you all blame Republicans again?
@ Truth Hurts
You're just mad because his rational, calm and intelligent campaign and demeanor "curb stomped" your candidate's chances on Nov. 4th. Your posts show that you are precisely the kind of boyle the Republican Party needs to lance in order to survive and regain the respect and support of the American people.
"To the victor belongs the spoils" – we are in for some tough times if these are the best people he comes up with – this is just payback to the "old boy" network that thrust him forward in front of HRC. Kerry as Sec of State? Really – OMG!
What part of this is just a possible list and the man has not even been sworn in yet do you people not get?
I have confidence that he will make the best choices. He's an intelligent man and if the way he ran his campaign is any indication, he will do fine. But Americans need to give him some time, this mess took a while to create and it will take a while to fix.
Regarding change, you can't change everything and everyone. Keep the good, change the bad. And diversity is essential. I hope Obama chooses some younger individuals as well.
I hope the economy worsens and all you Obama supporters get what you deserved. He and his buddies in congress will push there liberal agendas and when the Mid Term Elections come, the Republicans will take back the House.
Palin 2012
P.S. PLEASE NOT KERRY!!! How about Keeping Condoleeza Rice. Hey she is another BLACK face and she was great at being S.of .S. Afterall, wouldn't that be bi-partisanship?!!!
I thought this was all about CHANGE but all the names are the same old names...Where's the change??????
Same old same old! Change we CANNOT beleive in!
A 'diverse" BO cabinet will likely have a couple illegals, too!
'YES WE CAN' ? we'll get there not in one year not in the first term,
perhaps not in my lifetime ,but I promise we'll get ther..yeas we can..
I agree with Tim in Seattle. This is all pure speculation, even if there maybe some basis to it. Eventually, the president-elect will pick a cabinet through a process that will be as well-thought out and deliberate as with his other decisions.
Remember all the people who were on the VP list?
All I have to say is Republicans get over it you got your behinds handed to you on a Silver Platter. Stop crying like the silly ignorant babies you are and move on. Remember your the ones who put Bush in for two terms so that says a lot of your opinion.
With friends like Bill Richardson – who needs enemies – ask HRC. Obama better watch his back if this guy is in his cabinate.
I don't think Obama should choose his cabinet for the sake of diversity or change or any of those things. Isn't that what John McCain did when he picked Sarah Palin? He wanted a woman and someone to please his base. Well Sarah Palin scared the heck out of half of us even though she is a woman. So that strategy doesn't always get you very far.
Obama needs to choose people he can trust and that are experienced. If you look at how he ran his campaign, you can get an idea of how he will choose his cabinet. For his campaign, he chose very experienced people with a long track record. He didn't choose people just so he could be a people pleaser and show his diversity.
In the end, his leadership abilities will bring change.
Shouldn't Fareed Zakaria be considered for a cabinet post, or something like chief advisor? He has made some exceptional observations over the years and not just internationally, but also domesticly; a resource not to be wasted.