Since the brilliant Hillary Rodham Clinton — who pulled off an impressive cease fire in Gaza today — seems determined to leave the State Department for a well-deserved rest, it appears that President Obama is left with an SOS nomination conundrum. Elevate UN Ambassador Susan Rice? Or appoint John Kerry (who then would vacate a Senate seat that Scott Brown might want)?
It's not a decision we cats envy, but we have a few thoughts.
First, we think that John McCain and Lindsay Graham are clowns. We scoff at their faux outrage over Susan Rice — but at the same time, we have no desire to turn the new Secretary's Senate confirmation hearings into a circus of Trumpian proportions.
We also think that Kerry would make a terrific chief diplomat. But the Republicans Swift-Boated him before. What would stop them from doing it again?
Therefore, we suggest to the President that he surprise everybody and appoint a Secretary of State who — as a Republican, a former member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and a Viet Nam veteran — would carry the necessary international gravitas and take the wind out of the GOP's sails. All at the same time.
Chuck Hagel, keep that cell phone handy!
1 comment:
We both share an admiration for Chuck Hagel despite his party. Couldn't agree with you more. He would be a wise choice and, of course, a bipartisan one. There is another benefit: not having a clear shot at whining, McCain would have a stroke.
Post a Comment