John Kerry For Secretary Of State. Max Cleland For Secretary Of Veterans Affairs

Over the past eight years, our standing in the world has plummeted and while there are many important decisions to made in the coming days, Secretary of the Treasury for example, there are two areas where I have a touch more experience and two men I believe, strongly, are the right men for the job.

Let's start with the position and the man for which there will be more debate.

John Kerry for Secretary of State.

This is going to be one of the critical positions in the Obama Administration and not one for the faint of heart. It needs to be filled by someone who is both actually understands the world around us and is passionate about making that world a better, safer place.

It also needs to be filled by a Democrat and not be one of the places where we look for bipartisanship where there is none. Of all the things completely fubared by the Bush Administration and its Republican supporters, our foreign policy is number one, top of the charts. Why on earth would we want to blur the lines between blue and red here? Democrat all the way at State I say.

Of all the people being considered for the job, frankly, John Kerry is best-suited for the role. A decorated war hero, John Kerry served his country when many others served their own interests. In 1968, young graduates from universities like Yale, men such as John, and his close friend David Thorne, had ample opportunity not to go to Vietnam but they did.

Wouldn't it be a tremendous benefit to have a combat veteran as Secretary of State? Someone who understands that real men and women fight and die in wars? I say yes.

It also would be a benefit to have a Secretary of State who is passionate and understands that climate change is an issue that effects all other issues. In his career in the United States Senate and in his personal life, John Kerry has been a passionate supporter of environmental issues and a passionate believer that we must act, and continue to act, to fight off the potentially catastrophic impact of global warming.

War and Climate Change are the two great issues facing our country and our world. John Kerry is better than any considered to address them.

For those who think otherwise, I'd ask you to consider this endorsement of the man.

I saw John Kerry fight through the primary process in 2003 and 2004. I saw John Kerry stand up, under immense pressure at the first debate in the fall of 2004. I watched as John Kerry handled the loss with dignity and after November 2004, I watched John Kerry carry on, and continue the fight.

I have seen John Kerry in the most public of moments, and standing alone with my young son. We would be fortunate to have him as our Secretary of State.

And now, Max Cleland.

On Max's behalf, there is the kharma argument and the qualification argument. On the karma side, we have a partial redemption since Jim Martin appears to at least have forced a runoff with Saxby Chambliss on December 2nd.

This, however, only partially heals the wound Max suffered in 2002. Max Cleland deserves to roll back into Washington, D.C. and get the hero's welcome he so richly deserves and be appointed Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

This is not an insignificant position and one not fraught with difficulty. The needs of an older generation of veterans, those of the Vietnam era, are colliding with the needs of a younger generation, those from Iraq and Afghanistan.

The need has grown and grown and grown and now is so dramatically out of whack that this department needs an inspirational leader that no Congressman, No Senator, No Congressional Budget Advisor could possibly deny or turn down.

Max Cleland is that man.

Max has the experience, he served as head of the VA under Jimmy Carter. He served as a US Senator. He knows veterans, he knows the issues, he knows the job.

There are many deserving men and women for these two roles. But these two men, I believe, are the best qualified and most deserving.

There's one more tie between them that is a tie best broken. Both were victims of the worst kind of political character attack that we have seen in recent history. Both were attacked, and really, destroyed politically, by lies and evil. As Max wrote here recently, "justice can be delayed but it never should be denied."

It will be not only justice but good our country if both these men are tapped for key roles in the Obama Administration.

To stay on top of all the news, articles and rumors about who will get what job, take a moment and stop by the Cabinet NewsLadder - you can even vote your favorites up.

To support Jim Martin in his runoff against Saxby Chambliss, please stop by this special ActBlue page.

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Comments

[Mugzi]

I know Obama will make the best decision...Kerry is okay, I thought during his campaign for President, he should have been more assertive. He caved too much on the Swiftboat thing, he didn't deserve that!

[zahavi]

The author misses the glaring fact that Colin Powell also had every reason to understand the costs of war but failed to oppose the most unnecessary war in our history. John Kerry also voted for that war. John McCain was a veteran and remains a cheerleader for war everywhere under any clash of interests.

Maybe military experience is grossly overrated as a guide to ethical decisions?

[BSERIUS]

Kerry has no credibility after losing to Pres Bush when any but him would have won....and the pix of him with Jane and his medals and his salute will be all over the media again

[weatherwaxx]

Kerry lost because Ohio's vote was sabotaged. Ken Blackwell, in the Katherine Harris position of campaign chief AND Secretary of State, made sure those damned Diebold vote-fraud machines were in place. He kept 1/3 of the machines locked up, and distributed the remainder to mostly Republican districts. Well-off burbs had 15-minute waits, inner-city black areas had 5-6 hour waits. I know; I was driving voter transport.

Kerry should have demanded a recount - he didn't. The Dems left it to the Greens and Libertarians to foot the bill.

Kerry would probably be an excellent Sec of State, but the election fiasco cost him too much credibility.

I want to see Al Gore as Secretary of the Interior ... or even in a new Environmental Affairs cabinet position.

[cmilburn]

Thank you for mentioning Al Gore. Why not him for SoS or Energy?

I got laughed at when I proposed this to my friends: Bill Clinton for SoS.

Hey, people out there love him! He'd be a fine choice if it wasn't for his ego. If that could be reined in, wouldn't it be loverly?

And btw, no Senators for posts. Keep them in the Senate where we need help. Cleland would be the perfect choice for VA head. Duckworth is in the running for Obama's seat and if she doesn't get it, find someplace for her. Richardson will land somewhere in the Cabinet, maybe Energy (a post he used to have under Clinton). Powell for UN Ambassador (wouldn't that be ironic)?

[DDK]

The Cleland suggestion is great. Not sure yet on SOS. But I've heard others discussing Chuck Hagel or Colin Powell as Secretary of Defense, and I'd like to voice an early protest. Don't play into Republican charges of Democrats being soft on defense by such an appointment. There are plenty of qualified Democrats (Sam Nunn, Wesley Clark, though the latter would require a change in the law, I believe).

[Beamreach]

With Kennedy's health and future in question, I don't think it would be a good idea to risk having two freshman senators from Mass. Richardson is the better choice anyway. Cleland would be a good pick, however.

[AndSoItGoes]

Would like to see Evan Beyh (sp?) as Secretary of State. He is an extremely intelligent man and articulate, and has background in international issues. Think he would be a good fit with this administration.

Also think Colin Powell would be excellent in any Cabinet or advisory position. It seems to be a waste of talent that he would not serve in a military or security capacity but, again, he would be wonderful anywhere in this Administration.

Really think Chuck Hagel would be excellent as Secretary of Defense.

[Maxual]

With you all the way on Cleland. For SOS, I'd rather see Richardson, personally... but I like both.

[Woodley56]

Karma, not kharma, and unless I'm missing something, Martin didn't beat Chambliss, he just forced a runoff. Nonetheless, good suggestions.