Obama Plans To Pick Republicans For Cabinet

Times Online:

AS Barack Obama enters the final stages of the fight for the Democratic presidential nomination, he is preparing to detach the core voters of John McCain, the likely Republican nominee, with the same ruthless determination with which he has peeled off Hillary Clinton's supporters.

The scene is set for a tussle between the two candidates for the support of some of the sharpest and most independent minds in politics. Obama is hoping to appoint cross-party figures to his cabinet such as Chuck Hagel, the Republican senator for Nebraska and an opponent of the Iraq war, and Richard Lugar, leader of the Republicans on the Senate foreign relations committee.

Read the whole story: Times Online

Comments

[MajorKong]

Well, if I was going to pick Republicans for a cabinet, Hagel and Lugar would be two I'd want.

[bogtrotters]

Bob Dole for the Federal Erections Commission.

[kellygrrrl]

just dig up Ronnie and plop him up there

[kentj]

Great ideal!

When families lose their homes due to foreclosures, they are American families. When families cannot afford health care for a sick child, they are American families. When our veterans return from the war of lies in Iraq, and our veterans are sick, and homeless, those are Americans. When our Seniors cannot afford heating oil, those are Americans.

With so many unemployed Americans due to such Clinton policies as NAFTA, it is time for us all to think in terms of We the People of the United States of America, instead of the old politics of them vs. us, and instead of democrats vs. republicans. Because at the end of the day the only people who benefit from the same old yesterday politics are old politicians. Old politicians, who rather line their pockets with money from lobbyists instead of working for the American people.

So, with Barack Obama willing to change things in Washington by working with the best Americans in order to get the job done for all Americans. Well that is positive change that benefit Americans.......All Americans. When you are hungry, homeless, and unemployed,.....being a democrat or republican just does not outweigh....... We are the American People, and we always take care of our own.

Barack Obama is a leader for the American people for real positive change. Yes, change can be scary, but without change where would this great nation be today.

Because We Americans, are better than our past. We are moving forward to a better future of unity, peace, justice, love, and one people for all Americans.

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

were did you cut and paste that from? Who is "really" losing there homes? NAFTA is helping Ohio and Texas the most, turn off your TV. There is no soup kitchen lines. Homes are becoming cheaper. I know your not hurting and your neighbor is not either. Get a box of straws and suck it up!

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

Just read this, in regard to Ohio and Nafta:

http://www.tradereform.org/content/view/693/33/

[tbone99]

Show me where Barack has voted differently thenH.C. on any free trade bill.He and Hilary just voted to extend it to Peru and against it in Central America.He wouldn't even be talkin free trade if Edwards hadn't made it an issue, likewise health cand economic injustice.He's Wall St's guy and they are for globalization 1000%

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

Sorry Liberals however The GOP will not go away. I know you "progressives" has the guillotine and GitMo ready for conservatives such as myself and Rush and friends. Plus just because they are "Republican" they are more likely R.I.N.O's. Don't worry, you Liberals will over play your hand and blow this election also.

[JackSlappyNotYourPappy]

.

"Sorry Liberals however The GOP will not go away."

We know ... you are going to reorganize in Buenos Aires ...

As the repugnista's!

.

[JackSlappyNotYourPappy]

.

Under the new and not improved Huffy posters truth in statement policy I must admit my above statement is not based on the truth and therefore it must be concluded that I am a liar and ... everything I say from now on could/should only be considered a lie!

Hummmmmmm

Interesting license ....

.

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

Buenos Aires dose not sound too bay right now for My Republican Brothers and Sisters!

[Manni]

All you lefty idjiats deserve this!

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

Ah Manni the neocon troll rears it's ugly pin head

[borderorder]

The one without a Christian given name.

[HumeSkeptic]

Ah! The bigoted one with an Indian name is here to complain about Obama's middle name. No cross burnings to attend tonight, Manni?

[HumeSkeptic]

I like Thalia. Once this primary election is done, Thalia will be back right here, in full swing, posting great stuff, full of facts and intelligent comments, against the Right Wing nuts.

I propose ( and I know that no one listens to me) we start kissing and making up.

I'll be the first. XoXoXoXo, Thalia.

[UtahLiberal435]

So much for 'hope' and 'change.'

Obama will take the progressive momentum that's been building over the last 6 years and throw it away by being an accommodationist to goose-stepping Republicans. There won't be any 'healing.' The GOP will walk all over him because he's not a fighter.

And they call Hillary "Republican Lite."

Stupid netroots.

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

Yeah, Hillary's a real progressive, right? You're voting for Clinton, so don't talk about progressives. Only a vichy dem or a bush dog dem would vote for Clinton.

[UtahLiberal435]

Hillary haters are such fools.

But Saint Obama, he's 'real.' He's 'one of us.'

He'll heal lepers, walk on water, make the whole playground a big lovefest.

He'll sell the progressive movement down the tubes.
Big surprise there, to anyone who was paying attention.

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

You know what. You are not smart. I just want to let you know that. Just because there is a (R) next to someone name that dose not make the a real republican. Hillary is no "GOP lite" either.

[ladygreenslippers]

i think it's a great idea. Not all repuBs are neocons.

[lornejl]

You might be right, cooler heads and all that. Me, I would have all repubs, and 1/2 the dems lined up in a firing squad, after a fair and speedy trial, of course.

[HumeSkeptic]

Yeah! But being a Repub is certainly a character flaw, I think.

[UtahLiberal435]

Neocon or not, they'll goosestep the party line on every close vote.

Sorry, but right now us Democrats could nail the coffin shut on the GOP for decades. But noooo, since so many of us just can't stand harsh words, we'll hand the country right back to them.

No quarter.
None.
You want change?
Make change.
Grab the bit in your teeth and get it done.
Don't chicken out like a bunch of weenies.

And most everyone on this board spent the last two years calling Pelosi and Reid chickens, and DEMANDING that they stand up to GOP obstructionism.

So what happened to our spinal integrity?

Now you're all falling on your knees giving hosannahs to Saint Obama the Accommodationist.

Classic.

[nellie]

Not all republicans are neo cons. That's the point. He didn't name Specter. He didn't name Hatch. He didn't name Boehner. He named Hagel. Not a bad choice. I think he should consider Lincoln Chafee. And it's not his entire cabinet. It's one or two positions. Hillary would likely do the same thing, like Bill did.

Really, no big surprise here. The timing is interesting. But the idea is no biggie.

[borderorder]

You say you'll change the constitution
Well, you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You better free you mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don't you know it's gonna be all right

[OkieMon]

if the MSM picks up on this his presidential bid is dead in the water....

[jsarets]

Watch the Republicans tack to the left in search of jobs in the Obama administration, especially the appointed bureaucrats. Obama can actually de-radicalize the GOP and alienate the neocons as the fringe lunatics they really are.

[JackSlappyNotYourPappy]

.

I little advice for those of you on Thalia's back today:

Lighten the fuck up!

Huffy's a blog christ's sake ... and I dont (and can't imagine why you would) believe and/or put any stock into anything any of us says!

When this site ceases to be "entertaining" for "entertainment" purposes only ... I'm out!

.

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

GO DOWN A FEW POSTS AND SEE WHY SHE GETS SINGLED OUT

SHE JUST INFERRED EVERY PERSON WHO SUPPORTS OBAMA IS THE SAME AND HOLDS THE SAME VIEWS

[JackSlappyNotYourPappy]

So what?

The over the top response to her is even more exposing!

.

[JackSlappyNotYourPappy]

.

I suspect there are around 100 of us who have been a part of Huffy since very early.

15 of those are the trolls ... the other 85 are "us"!

We all know who us is and we know each others positions.

I've been a team player all my life.

I haven't nor would I ever attack another member of my team publicly!

I can't imagine how some of "us" can ...

.

[accountability]

well, to be fair,

I think it might be somewhat understandable when so many Obama supporters pile on anyone who supports Senator Clinton, or even says anything decent or fair about her.
Most of the comments, slings and arrows run along the same lines with not much variations so one might feel as if everyone is the same.

I'm sure there are Senator Obama supporters who don't indulge in this behavior or even believe in the smears against Senator Clinton but I guess they don't dare speak up for fear of being ostracized or attacked and called trolls, neo-cons and worse.

Did she infer it or imply it?

[KQuark]

So Hillary supporters would rather have someone incompetent in her cabinet like Patty Solis Doyle than a competent Republican. Hillary will fill her cabinet with Hillaryites that she feels she can control, just like Bush. Hillary supports hypocrisy is amazing.

[Sisyphuss]

The same Hillaryites that are running her incompetent campaign will be running amuck in the White House. No thanks.

[accountability]

And you are stating this as a fact?
Did Hillary say that she would put Patti Sollis Doyle?

If you remember Bill Clinton was widely praised for his Cabinet pics because he broke out of an old model in many ways... Of course now it doesn't seem so unusual appointing an hispanic, a woman etc. And isn't Reiche Jewish?
this was pretty exciting for Progressives back then. We were celebrating.

In some ways that election cycle was much more exciting and inspirational one than this turned out to be. There was much less Democrat on Democrat hatred, meanness, ugliness between the opposing supporters.
I personally had thought this one was going to be even more exciting, "fun" if you will because of the historicity. More standing together with kind of joy at the face the Dems were showing the world.

Sadly I was wrong. Its pretty ugly on these blogs. The attacks between the candidates on the whole have been pretty lite compared to other elections, and compared to the supporters.

Obama reminds me a lot of Bill Clinton.
Stunning intellect, easy going with people, lots of charisma, Clinton looking for consensus and Obama for conciliation.

[IMustKnow]

B.O. Something doesn't smell right!!

[KQuark]

So you have reduced yourself to crude jokes.

Troll alert!

[johnnycanuck]

Alot of old school dems are repugs in dem clothing and visa versa . Bringing people together really isn't rocket science ...it is what it is . Bring people together. Talk. THINK.

[kellygrrrl]

which Dem party are we speaking of?

The Clintonistas

or the rest of us?

[johnnycanuck]

We have to realise , we're all in the same boat . Like it or not , we have to deal with it. Bush did not .

[UtahLiberal435]

Oh yeah, the GOP's going to engage in a big bipartisan love-fest.

They're going to 'come together.'

Fat chance.

They'll stab progressive politics in the back.

Obama. Republican lite.

[soot]

Jesus Christ, you people. I know this is the Huffington Post, but you don't get it. This is a good thing. Effective bipartisanship is the only solution to our political problems. You rave about how Republicans don't deserve another chance after Bush -- But that was Bush! He was hardline, and didn't allow any dissenting viewpoints in his administration. What kind of example is that to follow hot on the heels of, just with a "D" in the place of the "R"?

We can't close our eyes and demonize Republicans, or disenfranchise them, or pretend they're not there; that's how we'll get voted out four years down the road. We need to work together, like it or not.

Abraham Lincoln affected some of the greatest change in his lifetime because he took the initiative to weave together a cabinet of diverse talents and political persuasions. We can follow that precedent today.

[Mattie]

It's funny on ABC news last week, they showed how Hillary has actually worked across the aisle, and actually done the bi-partisan thing. The story also said obama never has. The point was, he's taking the credit, and she's doing the work. Sounds familiar. Go to Gov Watch, or Senate.org, their records are there for all to see.

[KQuark]

You Hillary goofs are having fun now over these comments but in the general it will be decisive in getting Obama elected. Independents and fair minded Republicans do exist. Something that Hillary and her partisans fail to understand.

How many people in their jobs hire people just because of party affiliation? The answer is ZERO if you are a manager of any worth.

I see nothing wrong with hiring the best person for the job.

WHAT A NOVEL CONCEPT that has left Washington but not any other organization that requires competence to succeed.

[lornejl]

" How many people in their jobs hire people just because of party affiliation? The answer is ZERO if you are a manager of any worth."

You're kidding right ? Ever heard of the DOJ ? Hell, the entire federal government is full of repub cronies.

[KQuark]

Duh my point was that government is one of the few organizations that someone like Bush can hire someone based on loyalty alone and get away with it. Successful organizations hire people who are competent regardless of party affiliations.

[guajiro]

As hard as it has been on liberals to see this country torn apart by conservatives these last few decades, we must understand that many of those who vote republican do so because they fall for the lies and distortions the republican organization puts out. We must forgive their errors and accept them as one of us, wanting what is best for ALL our peoples, for we are many different peoples with different cultures and histories, yet we are one country. The great Roman war leader and brilliant politician Julius Cesaer often used the leaders of those he conquered to lead their own peoples, provided they paid tribute and homage to Rome. All great leaders have done so as well, realizing that the people's own leaders convey messages to their followers that no one outside their culture could do as well. It is testimony to the vision that this man Obama has, of the purity of his message. I have seen many work crews operate without a moral or political leader and their performance is despicable. They operate within parameters designed to maximize their own interests, much like the Bush cabal has done. Their members, Halliburton, etc., have profited well, but america falls behind the world further each day under the stewardship of such individuals. I agree with you that the best person for the job should be hired, even if in certain cases, such as now, their political affiliation is republican. One thing though, NO CORPORATE INTERESTS IN THE WHITE HOUSE SHOULD BE ALLOWED. If the CEO's wish to speak, fine! But no voice from Corporations means NO MONEY.