So we know that there will be some departures from the first term — Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner is out; Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is out (after doing a spectacular job); Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta; Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank (acting); Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar; Press Secretary Jay Carney; Attorney General Eric Holder (maybe not going for a year or so) look like they are at the top of the list to go. Other possibilities include:
- Chief of Staff — Jack Lew rumors include Secretary of the Treasury and National Security Advisor
- Department of Homeland Security — Janet Napolitano is a possible replacement for Eric Holder
- Secretary of Housing and Urban Development — Shaun Donovan is a rumored replacement for Jack Lew, Chief of Staff
- Secretary of Energy
Positions that look like they will retain their leadership:
- Secretary of HHS — Kathleen Sibelius will be spiking the ball on Obamacare
- Secretary of Transportation — Ray LaHood
- Secretary of Education — Arne Duncan
- Secretary of Labor — Hilda Solis is criticized for being too close to Labor, but doesn’t look like she is going anywhere
So who do you think ought to be the new cabinet? I am hoping that President Obama goes for competence, learns some lessons from the first time (Tim Geithner), and gives some young heads time in leading these departments. The latter is especially important for grooming the next generation — especially, I think for the DOD, State, NSA and Treasury Departments. I provided a clean list of the positions, so you could cut and paste, then add your nominees. Pundits mulling over the rumor mill are all over the internet, so I’ll let you google that if you are looking for names. But this is a chance to think more progressively than we’ll likely end up with, so go to town.
Secretary of State —
Secretary of the Treasury —
Secretary of Defense —
National Security Advisor —
Secretary of Commerce —
Secretary of Interior —
Attorney General —
Department of Homeland Security —
Secretary of HUD —
Secretary of Energy —
Chief of Staff —
Press Secretary —