A McCain cabinet?

RedState.com ^ | June 21, 2008 | Josh Painter

[Josh Painter]

Pure speculation time again! Here's my vision of a possible McCain Administration cabinet and some other key posts. Here we go:

Agriculture - Marilyn Musgrave, Congresswoman (R-CO) Representing Colorado's 4th district, Musgrave is a staunch conservative, strong on domestic drilling and a member of the House Agriculture Committee.

Commerce - Mitt Romney, former Governor (R-MA) Everyone knows that Mitt knows commerce.

Defense - Sam Nunn, former Senator (D-GA) Nunn has more defense creds than anyone on the planet. He served nearly 25 years in the Senate and was chairman of the Committe on Armed Services. Many say he retired because he felt out of place in a Democrat Party which had moved too far left. A veteran, he served a regular tour in the Coast Guard plus 6 years in the reserves.

Education - Dr. Vrginia Foxx, Congresswoman (R-NC) She has an Ed.D. degree in education and is serving her second term in the US House representing the 5th District of North Carolina. One of just 38 Republicans to score a 100 percent approval rating from the American Conservative Union.

Energy - George Allen, former Senator (R-VA) Allen is a strong conservative who served Virginia in the state legislature, as Governor and in both bodies of the U.S. Congress. A member of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and its Energy Subcommittee while a Senator, he's all for domestic drilling, and that includes ANWR.

HHS - Mike Huckabee, former Governor (R-AR) Health care reform was a major theme of Huckabee's 11-year governorship in Arkansas.

Homeland Security - Tom Tancredo, US Congressman (R-CO) No terrorist will dare try to cross the border, less they get nuked by The Tank.

HUD - Diana Irey, Washington County Commisioner (R-PA) The lady who ran against John Murtha has experience in economic development.

Interior - Barbara Cubin, US congresswoman (R-WY) A 7-term US Rep from Wyoming, she's a conservative who is widely viewed as a legislative expert in the field of energy and minerals. Cubin serves as a Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. She recently introduced a bill that would significantly increase America’s oil refining capacity.

Labor - JC Watts, former US Congressman (R-OK) Just what Labor needs, the entrepreneurial spirit of this four-term former US Rep, youth minister, GOPAC chairman, businessman and quarterback.

State - Joe Lieberman, US Senator (I-CT) Liberal Lieberman is conservative where it counts - in this case, on foreign policy and the war against Islamic facism.

Transportation - Mary Fallin, Congresswoman (R-OK) Representing the 5th District of Oklahoma, conservative Fallin serves on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Treasury - Phil Gramm, former US Senator (R- TX) Conservative Gramm was an economic professor for 12 years at Texas A&M. During his years in the Senate, he served on both the banking and budget committees.

Veterans Affairs - Duncan Hunter, former US Congressman (R-CA) The former US Army Ranger and longtime Rep from the San Diego area was the ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee. Hunter probably understands the needs of our military verterans better than anyone else around.

Attorney General - Deborah Wong Yang, former US Attorney, (R-CA) Yang is a former California State Judge and led the US Attorney's office for the Central District of California, the largest such office outside of Washington DC.

Vice President - Sarah Palin, Governor (R-AK) I was an early advocate of Gov. Palin for VP, but my enthusiasm for her cooled after she raised taxes on the oil producers who operate in Alaska. I just don't like to see taxes raised for any reason, even supposedly good ones. From what I'm able to gather, the hike she pushed through was both modest and needed, so I'm willing to let it go. Besides, John McCain needs her badly. As a woman, she may be able to help him steal some Hillary supporters from Obama. In politics she's a rock star with just the kind of pizazz that McCain lacks. She's the most popular US governor, and her appeal has a wide range. It won't hurt with conservatives that she's a spending hawk, a lifetime NRA member, strongly pro-life and a supporter of drilling in ANWR. Add her beauty pageant good looks, an attractive family and you have a winner.

EPA - Marsha Blackburn, US Congresswoman, (R-TN) Blackburn is a fiscal and social conservative who represents the 7th District of Tennessee. When she was a Stater Senator, she led the successful effort to prevent the passage of a state income tax. As a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, she should be well qualified to run EPA.

FEMA - Russell Honore, former Lt. General, U.S. Army Honore is a no-nonsense, "git-R-done" guy who won praise from all quarters for his leadership of the recovery effort in the wake of Katrina. His list of Army service medals is as long as your arm. Just the man to restore cred and respect to the troubled FEMA.

OMB - John Kasich, former US Congressman (R-PA) Reelected to the House 8 times, Kasich is a fiscal conservative who sat on the House Budget Committee and as charman of the congressional committee on welfare reform. He is a weekend television show host for FOX News Channel.

Drug Czar - Rick Santorum, former US Senator (R-PA) Known for being tough on immigration, Santorum would also be tough on illegal drug dealers.

Press Sec'y - Megyn Kelly, attorney and television anchor Not just another pretty face, Kelly has a BA in political science from Syracuse and a law degree from Albany Law School, where she was editor of the Law Review. She was also a reporter for the ABC News television affiliate in Washington, DC.

Trade Representative - Michael Steele, former Lt. Governor (R-MD) Steele earned a bachelor's degree in international relations from Johns Hopkins and a law degree from Georgetown. He has worked in both the Tokyo and London offices of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, as well as its office in the nation's capitol.

UN Ambassador - Rudy Giuliani, former Mayor (R-NY) Rudy would do a great job of making the US case at the UN. He's tough on Islamic jihadism, but he's a likable fellow who should be admired and respected by the world's diplomats.

Surgeon General - Bill Frist, former Senate Majority Leader (R-TN) Dr. Frist is licensed as a physician and is board certified in both general surgery and thoracic surgery. He has performed over 150 heart transplants and lung transplants,and he founded the Vanderbilt Transplant Center. His political and medical experience qualify him to be an outstanding Surgeon General.

Senior Advisors - Fred Thompson, Steve Forbes, John Bolton, Ted Olson Heavy hitters all.

- JP

[PugetSoundSoldier]

McCain is a RINO and he will appoint a RINO cabinet.

Obama is a Marxist and he will appoint a Marxist cabinet. Is that better than a RINO cabinet? You'd rather have Marxists in control?

Read these words from President Ronald Reagan and take them to heart:

When I began entering into the give and take of legislative bargaining in Sacramento, a lot of the most radical conservatives who had supported me during the election didn't like it.

"Compromise" was a dirty word to them and they wouldn't face the fact that we couldn't get all of what we wanted today. They wanted all or nothing and they wanted it all at once. If you don't get it all, some said, don't take anything.

I'd learned while negotiating union contracts that you seldom got everything you asked for. And I agreed with FDR, who said in 1933: 'I have no expectations of making a hit every time I come to bat. What I seek is the highest possible batting average.'

If you got seventy-five or eighty percent of what you were asking for, I say, you take it and fight for the rest later, and that's what I told these radical conservatives who never got used to it.

How has the Left advanced so far today? Incrementalism. Small steps. Working slowly over decades. That is how we'll take the country back to Conservatism. McCain is not the end goal, but a step; Obama would be another big step to the Left, meaning even more work - if we even get the chance - to bring the Nation back to the founding principles.

[ElkGroveDan]

Obama is a Marxist and he will appoint a Marxist cabinet. Is that better than a RINO cabinet? You'd rather have Marxists in control?

No. I said McCain is a RINO and he will appoint a RINO cabinet. That is all I said. Is it not true? Would you rather I remain silent? Of course its true. Why are you arguing with me then?

[PugetSoundSoldier]

No. I said McCain is a RINO and he will appoint a RINO cabinet. That is all I said. Is it not true?

No, it is not true. As the Republican nominee he is de-facto a Republican. And with an 80% lifetime ACU rating he's decently conservative too, on most issues.

[brydic1]

McCain is being hoisted on his own petard. He pushed McCain-Feingold down the throat of conservatives only to see that attempt to bar free speech is affecting him but not Obama. Obama, like any typical leftist, has now repudiated campaign finance reform and will get away with it because his supporters could care less for those principles, they only want a leftist elected. McCain on the other hand will only suffer from his despicable efforts to abolish free speech. McCain consistently railed against oil companies, oil exploration and production and now that the nation is feeling the effects of this insanity, he is exposed as just as much a fraud as the leftist democrats.

Only a conservative republican nominee could have taken advantage of this issues and we obviously do not have one.

[ElkGroveDan]

I see. You are one of them too.

[stockpirate]

We used to call McCain supporters on FR trolls, now we call them republicans and non-McCain supporters are the new trolls.

I say screw McCain as he has screwed conservatives. Many RINO’s will do and say anything to shit up any conservative desent about McCain after all just look at their hero’s own attack on free speech.

Truth is just as Rush stated, 4 years of McCain will destroy the Conservative movement for the next 50 years and McCain would be the last republican POTUS in our lifetime.

Screw McCain.

[okie01]

And with an 80% lifetime ACU rating he's decently conservative too, on most issues.

Assertions like this is what troubles me about McCain and his supporters. Before you go ballistic, yes, I'm voting for him -- but without any enthusiasm.

But how can it be asserted that McCain is "80% conservative" when he was the author of the greatest attack on political free speech in the history of the nation.

There is no way that a conservative would've authored McCain-Feingold.

Perhaps he voted in favor of 80% of our issues. But he is NOT "a conservative" -- nor even 80% of one.

Why must we misrepresent McCain as a conservative.

[PugetSoundSoldier]

Yes. I’m a guy who would like another Ronald Reagan, has some problems with McCain, but overall considers him a decent stop-gap of a candidate and infinitely better than Obama.

I’m what you call a rational conservative. Like that of which Ronald Reagan spoke of in that speech above.

I swear, for a small percentage here on FR, Ronald Reagan would be crucified for being a RINO and a Demican...

[PugetSoundSoldier]

But how can it be asserted that McCain is "80% conservative" when he was the author of the greatest attack on political free speech in the history of the nation.

I admit; on the issue of political speech he's not conservative. On the issues of trade, taxation, pro-life, limited government he is staunchly conservative.

That's one not conservative issue, 4 conservative issues. That's about 80%. I'll not hold a litmus test on a single issue - that is short-sighted and incredibly damaging.

He was originally wrong on immigration and offshore drilling, but has come around. Meaning that the areas he's not conservative in, he's open to the conservative position and comes over to it. So even with political speech he can be brought around.

I'll take the stance of Ronald Reagan - you get the best you can get now, and fight for those other areas. And by far and away McCain is a LOT closer to the "ideal conservative" (if such a person exists) than he to the "ideal Marxist".

And we know the exact opposite is true about Obama.

[Josh Painter]

May I suggest you focus your talents and energy on somewthing other than being so arrogant as to tell me what topics I should and should not write about?

Usually having an editor means a writer gets paid for his or her work. I don’t see any checks from you in my mailbox.

But thanks for your interest...

[okie01]

I admit; on the issue of political speech he's not conservative. On the issues of trade, taxation, pro-life, limited government he is staunchly conservative.

IF you're really a conservative, how can you be a "staunch conservative" on one issue and be a "statist liberal" on another?

You can't. A conservative pretty much sees different issues thru the same principled prism. If one is conservative on the First Amendment, one is likely conservative on trade, taxation, life, etc.

Instead, it is opportunists who see different issues thru different prisms -- who vote liberal on political speech, but vote conservative on other issues. And, being opportunists, they are always free to change their mind (even when the facts don't change, only the wind of politics) -- because, if nothing else, they are "flexible".

So, please, let's not call McCain what he isn't: A Conservative. Let's call him what he is: An Opportunist, who leans toward the conservative side of things.

That's still better than a Marxist. But it's more honest.

[PugetSoundSoldier]

What’s your stance on free trade, or legalization of drugs? Conservative positions?

[Josh Painter]

Fred has already been asked in an interview if he would accept the AG job if offered, and he said no.

[Reagan Man]

So, Fred said no. That is too bad. He would’ve been a solid choice for AG.

Thanks.

[Josh Painter]

stockpirate wrote: “It will have twice the number of conservatives as there are now on his campaign staff, which is ZERO.”

“McCain hates conservatives and will not appoint any to anything.”

“This article is stupid and a complete waste of bandwidth.”

*

Perhaps if you spent a little time doing research before sounsding off, you wouldn’t sound so ignorant.

Just a few of the conservatives on McCain’s campaign staff are co-chair Phil Gramm and advisors Robert McFarlane (Reagan’s Nat’l Security Advisor), Major Ralph Peters, Max Boot, Gen. Alexander Haig (SECSTATE under Reagan), Niall Ferguson (Hoover Institute Senior Fellow), Brig. Gen. Robert Kimmett (three Bronze Stars, Purple Heart, Air Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry), Bill Kristol, Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah (former Reagan White House staff assistant), and many more...

[Josh Painter]

I’m hoping Fred would not turn down an appointment to the Supreme Court. I think he would be an excellent justice.

[okie01]

What’s your stance on free trade, or legalization of drugs? Conservative positions?

What are McCain's? Conservative positions?

But, for the record, I support free trade as a rock-bottom conservative principle. Being anti-free trade is an isolationist position associated with populism, not with conservatism.

As to legalization of drugs, I'm open-minded. I'd entertain the notion of treating them like we treat alcohol.

Does this make me an apostate in some way? If so, why isn't McCain an apostate?

[Josh Painter]

Obama Administration cabinet:

Agriculture - Tom Harkin
Defense - Wes Clark
HHS - John Edwards
HUD - Shelia Jackson Lee
Interior - Al Gore
Peace - Dennis Kucinich
State - Joe Biden
Treasury - Chuck Hagel
Veterans Affairs - John Murtha
Attorney General - Artur Davis
Vice President - Hillary Clinton
Nat’l Security Advisor - Susan Rice
UN Ambassador - Bill Clinton

[Reagan Man]

Agreed. Fred would be a fine original intent/original meaning constitutionalist. Unlike the stress associated with being USAG, as a SCJ he could work at a pace that would further his conservatism and beliefs in federalism.

Even if Fred lasted 10-15 years, at least we’d have someone to count on and someone who speaks for us.

[SoCalPol]

For Sec. of Defense - Duncan Hunter
He has more experience and background than all of the folks mentioned.

Your guy Nunn is an advisor to Obama.