Will John McCain be the Republican in Barack Obama's cabinet?

The Telegraph, London, UK ^ | 2008-11-12 | Toby Harnden

[rabscuttle385]

It's standard fare for a president to make a bipartisan gesture by including one member of the opposing party in his cabinet - just as it's always the case (lest we forget) that every president-elect vows to change the tone in Washington and reach out magnanimously to his vanquished opponents.

But John Podesta, the former Bill Clinton former chief of staff who's spearheading the transition for the 44th president, said today that there would be independents and Republicans in Barack Obama's cabinet and "not just at a token level".

[rabscuttle385]

FTA:

5. John McCain. Don't laugh. Well, OK you can. I don't think McCain will be in Obama's cabinet, not least because he has the rest of his Senate term to serve out. I do think, however, that it's very possible that McCain could well become an Obama buddy - he'll be thinking of his legacy and his gracious (the word everyone used, but it's the right one) concession speech was from the heart. I'm certainly not holding my breath but a role for McCain in Obama's cabinet would be a stroke of genius and real creativity by the new president.

[rabscuttle385]

Sigh.

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[BlueStateBlues]

What do you mean? McCain a Republican? When did that happen?

[pissant]

Actually, that would be perfect. Get a conservative to run for his Senate seat.

[reagan_fanatic]

I simply cannot puke anymore - there’s nothing left.

[bigbob]

Putting a Republican or Independent in the Cabinet is obviously not the same as putting a Conservative in the Cabinet, but still I agree with you, it could be a moderating influence.

[Heartland Mom]

I thought O already indicated Hagel (RINO that he is) was under consideration for a cabinet-level position. Plus Dingy Harry said McCain would be valuable to “reach across the aisle” in Senate negotiations. Whatever.

[djsherin]

I wouldn’t be surprised. I also wouldn’t be surprised if he gave us the finger and smiled while he was shaking Obama’s hand with glee.

[Ingtar]

It would only be genius because Senator 59 would be appointed to replace McCain.

[rabscuttle385]

Putting a Republican or Independent in the Cabinet is obviously not the same as putting a Conservative in the Cabinet, but still I agree with you, it could be a moderating influence.

There's one problem with that: McCain is neither Republican nor Independent; McCain is a Democrat.

[nmh]

He’s a RHINO.

After all that bending over, he should get something out of it ... but you know liberals ... they would find him to DULL and too “right wing”.

Sorry John, all that “reaching across the aisle” was a total waste of time. You are irrelevant.

[joejm65]

As long as McCain refunded every single penny he raised during the election AND as long as he renounced his membership in the GOP AND as long as he profusely apologized for wasing the time and effort of the millions who worked for his canidacy and who went to the polls to support the McCain/Palin ticket AND as long as he issued a public apology to Sarah Palin for putting her and her family through pure screaming hell, I personally don’t see a problem with him accepting a cabinet position in the new Marxist regime...

[MaggieCarta]

...McCain a Republican? When did that happen?

LOL!

[TChris]

He’s a RHINO.

Ok, folks, your credibility is really suffering here.

The correct term is "RINO". It's an acronym which stands for Republican In Name Only.

There is no "H" in "RINO".

Mmmmmmmm kaaaaaaay?

[cricket]

No matter how you read this; it IS funny. . .Earth to Great Britain; 'Earth to all', who imagine a Repub in Obama's Cabinet - (an honest one, for that matter - all the more funny). . .lol. . .a stroke of genius. If Obama is a 'genius' he is an 'evil genius' and not the kind that 'reaches out' to the 'loyal Opposition'. . .

[justapicker]

I was flabbergasted when McCain went so soft on Obama 20 minutes into the first debate when Big O left himself wide open on the economy (O blamed 8 years of failed Bush policies when the Dems socially engineered Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac and presided over its failure and set this crash in motion; McCain could have crucified them all right then and there. It later seemed he was going soft to hedge his bets to maintain his favor with the Dems after losing the election, if not throwing it altogether. Then he left Palin twisting in the wind. Nothing would surprise me.

[TommyDale]

Good way to get the Maverick RINO out of the Senate, actually.

[Centurion2000]

But John Podesta, the former Bill Clinton former chief of staff who's spearheading the transition for the 44th president, said today that there would be independents and Republicans in Barack Obama's cabinet and "not just at a token level".

Because the Dems will need someone to blame with their policies EXPLODE in their faces and kill millions of people.

[Def Conservative]

I agree, we should encourage this!

[VRW Conspirator]

There's one problem with that: McCain is neither Republican nor Independent; McCain is a Democrat.

I told people I know that if they wanted to vote for the Democrat, they should have voted for McCain. LOL