Better Know a Presidential Administration: Obama

Welcome to the fourth installment of my multi-part series, Better know a presidential administration, where I do research and decide who I am going to vote for based off the administration that would choose to have out of everyone currently in American politics.

It should be known that I think all the candidates currently running are political opportunists who don't know what they are talking about, not genuine politicians who care about the future.

President: Obama

Vice President:

Tim Kaine: Strategically, Obama choosing a Virginia politician as his running mate would be a brilliant move. Virginia was one of the strongholds of the Civil War and is still everything that the South Represents. Given that Obama faces a problem because a lot of people in that area will have trouble voting for an African American, this would alleviate some of their issues

Others who could do the same thing: Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius (who is on every ones short list already), North Carolina Governor Mike Easley, Tennessee Governor Phil Bresden, and West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin

Bill Richardson: This would be the dream ticket for liberals wanting minority power and the nightmare ticket for a group like the KKK. While it is unlikely Richardson would be chosen, simply because his state is not that important and he is a shoe-in for the Secretary of State spot, they could try this to win over every minority in the country.

Al Gore: This is almost a dream ticket for me, and I wish these two would be switched in this position. Gore and Obama are the two best politicians around currently. They're honest, they're charismatic, and they're both electable.

Secretary of State:

Bill Richardson: Richardson is the go-to guy when someone needs diplomacy in hostile lands, and he always leaves with the situation better than when he came. He has experience, he's a good manager, and he's a relatively decent guy.

James Rubin: He worked for the State Department under Clinton, served as the National Security Advisor to Wesley Clark, and then Kerry, and is generally well versed on politics and foreign policy. He's currently supporting Obama too.

Secretary of Defense

Colin Powell: Colin Powell and Obama have spoken lately, and it wouldn't surprise me to see Obama appoint Powell as a racially motivated pick to cross-party lines. Powell has experience up the ass, and having served in some capacity to four presidents is a good way to get picked again.

John Hamre: He was all over the Defense Department in the Clinton administration while serving in the Senate Armed Services Committee under Reagan and Bush 1. His support of Obama and historical proof that people always return to positions they left when a new party takes office suggest this might be his role.

UN Ambassador:

Oprah: However unlikely this may be, it would be quite awesome to have the most famous entertainer in the country serve as our ambassador to the world. She's rich, she's famous, and she gives money to good causes.

*Note: If Hillary Clinton ends up as Vice President, expect Bill Clinton to be UN Ambassador

Attorney General:

Tom Miller: He's a state attorney general in Iowa, one of the first primary states. If Obama wins Iowa, it wouldn't be surprising to see him reward those people who helped win it for him.

Secretary of the Treasury:

Dan Hynes: Currently the comptroller in Obama's home state, and a supporter of Obama.

Other People in the treasury department: Josh Steiner,Brian Mathis, Michael Froman

Secretary of Homeland Security:

Bill Delahunt: He is in all the House committees dealing with anything security, and lives with one of Obama's close friends, Dick Durbin.

Secretary of Labor -

Ray Mabus: Mabus is one of Obama's senior advisors, and while all evidence about this guy seems to point to him as a possible National Security Advisor, I think Obama will throw him into a low level cabinet position until he sees a higher opening.

White House Press Secretary:

Howard Dean: I remain convinced that a Barack Obama president would be the dream presidency of the entire democratic party and who better to serve as press secretary than the guy who likes to scream at people and make ridiculous accusations.

Chief of Staff:

David Ploufe: He's Obama's campaign manager, and this is where campaign managers always end up.

Secretary of Commerce -

Penny Pritzker: She is his current finance chair, and has served on the boards of many financial firms.
Secretary of Health and Human Services -

Brian Schweitzer: Current Governor of Montana, he worked in the Department of Agriculture under Clinton, and he is one of the "stars" of the Democratic party currently. It's possible he would be Secretary of Agriculture too.

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development -

Rich Daley: As the mayor of one of the poorer large cities in the country, he had to have made great decisions dealing with Urban sprawl. His approval ratings show that he has, and his support for Obama makes him a prime candidate for a position such as this.

Secretary of Education -

Rod Blagojevich: He seems to be a very popular Governor in Obama's home state. His minority status and rise from poverty would look good to the public. It would attempt to show that it is possible for people to rise to stardom out of nothing.

George Miller: He's the ranking democrat in the Educational Ways and Means committee in the house and he's supporting Obama.

Secretary of Transportation -

Karen Kornbluh: She spent the 90's working for the Treasury Department and the FCC. She is a big financier of Obama's campaign and it looks as though she would get a cabinet level position when he is elected.
Secretary of Energy -

Tom Daschle: Tom Daschle is a famous ex-Senator and his appointment to this particular position would absolutely infuriate republicans who view him as unpatriotic. Unfortunately, he is a lobbyist now, so he is a negative in my opinion. He is supporting Obama however.
Veterans Affairs:

Max Cleland: A crippled war hero ex-senator who supported Kerry in the last election, he is perfect to head this department. He hasn't issued support for Obama yet, but I can see him jumping on the Optimism bandwagon.

Secretary of Agriculture

Stephanie Sandlin: Member of the Agricultural committee in the House from South Dakota, and an Obama supporter.

Secretary of Interior:

Dick Gephardt: This guy wants to be in the White House, but he has shown himself to be unelectable as president so putting him in a mid level cabinet position would position him to run for office again.

National Security Advisor:

Samantha Power: She is Obama's current National Security Advisor for Darfur, and is advising him on his campaign. It makes sense. Most of these choices are all obvious choices.