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Obama’s Top Five Likely Changes to His Cabinet (Who He ‘Will’ Pick and Who He ‘Should’)

Nov. 9, 2012 12:45pm Mytheos Holt

Back at the start of September, during the Democratic National Convention, TheBlaze asked who President Obama might choose to replace in the event that he won a second term. At the time, we predicted that of Obama’s cabinet, two members would most likely choose to leave voluntarily (Hillary Clinton and Steven Chu), while two could very likely be fired (Eric Holder and Janet Napolitano).

So far, half of our predictions came true. Clinton has made it clear for some time that she plans to retire from the Secretary of State’s office for quite some time. Attorney General Eric Holder, however, has also announced his intention to retire, bringing the total number of vacant spots to two. Alongside Holder, there are also signs that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner might get the boot (a surprise, given our previous prediction that he would stay on), and those holding certain other positions might circulate out.

These three announced absences, plus the quite likely event that current Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta is likely to quit, leaves four highly important positions vacant for Obama to fill going into his second term. Below are our predictions for who the President probably will pick to fill those departments, as well as some equally strong contenders who – for the sake of a successful second term – he probably should pick.

Secretary of the Treasury

Obamas Top Five Changes To His Second Term Cabinet

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Who Obama will hire: Jack Lew, White House Chief of Staff.

Why? Lew is seen as the favorite, according to multiple sources, and would be a fairly safe consensus pick who would avoid any noisy confirmation battles. A former Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Lew is an old hand at government bureaucracy, and his one liability (surprisingly) is not having an equally distinguished career in the private sector. Nevertheless, for a President who seems to be trying to put a new, bipartisan put forward, Lew is probably the safest pick, given that the Left is already sounding alarm bells about his softness on Wall Street.

Photo Credit: Google

Who Obama should pick: Google CEO Eric Schmidt.

Why? In a move that may surprise the President’s critics, one of the White House’s chief aides has reportedly been looking for a Fortune 500 CEO to act as a potential candidate for Secretary of the Treasury. The people mentioned as being potential candidates are mostly from industries that backed the President throughout his first term, and include Facebook CEO Cheryl Sandberg, Tony James of the Blackstone Group and Eric Schmidt of Google. Of these three, Schmidt is the most likely to avoid questions over either his firm’s practices (Blackstone), or how profitable he’s managed to be (Facebook). On top of that, Google is an icon of the new information age economy, and the President could signal a newfound friendliness to at least some form of entrepreneurship by picking Schmidt.

Secretary of State

Photo Credit: AP

Who Obama will pick: Susan Rice, Ambassador to the United Nations

Why? Politico has caught this one. Reportedly, despite the very real possibility of noisy confirmation battles over the Benghazi scandal, Obama will attempt to push Rice through the confirmation process anyway. Given that the Democrats expanded their lead in the Senate, this looks easier for him to do, and despite Rice’s thorny relationship with current Secretary of Statte Hillary Rodham Clinton, she looks likely to survive.

Photo Credit: AP

Who Obama should pick: Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry

Why? Because he’s the only other person with a shot at it, and unlike Susan Rice, has no major scandal to his name. Kerry has also shown signs of being more hawkish, or at least less reflexively anti-American than his fellow Democrats, and is an experienced old hand at foreign policy, given his status as Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. Kerry also has personal relationships with many world leaders who Obama would need to negotiate with – a good counterpoint to the President’s infamous inability to connect.

Secretary of Defense

Photo Credit: ExecutiveGov

Who Obama will pick: Ash Carter, Deputy Secretary of Defense.

Why? Obama’s picks for the Secretary of Defense position have been relatively low-key, with an emphasis on competence over ideology. Carter, who already stands second in line to take the job from current Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, is relatively unlikely to ruffle any feathers, and almost certainly would maintain a steady hand at Defense. His scientific background and mathematical prowess also mean that in the event that sequestration is not avoided, he could conceivably find a way to keep the cuts to America’s military as strategic as possible and minimize the damage they might inflict.

Photo Credit: AP

Who Obama should pick: Former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE)

Why? Hagel is a bipartisan pick, having been one of the GOP’s more dovish foreign policy thinkers during the Bush administration, and would probably breeze past a confirmation hearing. His background, unlike Carter’s, is more diverse and would enable Obama to avoid the trap of keeping too many career bureaucrats in Washington, especially at a time when both parties seem dissatisfied with the dominant approach to military power in Washington. He’s already on the short list, and with good reason, though newly elected Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer might have one or two reasons to complain if he’s nominated. He endorsed her opponent in the last election.

Attorney General

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Who Obama will hire: Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick.

Why? Patrick gave what was widely seen as a barn-burner speech at the Democratic National Convention, and is reportedly coveted by the administration for a potential second term cabinet position. Given his previous tenure at the Clinton Justice Department, and his executive experience as governor of a state, Patrick can probably get this job if he wants it, and would certainly retain some of the spirit of previous Attorney General Eric Holder without (as of yet) being tainted by scandal or radicalism. One warning: Look for a reinvigorated Civil Rights division if Patrick is chosen.

Who Obama should pick: Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist

Why? This is admittedly a long shot, but Crist is certainly qualified. He comes from a background as a state Attorney General, and similarly to Patrick, he gave a well-received speech at the Democratic National Convention this year. However, unlike Patrick, his record is more moderate, and as a former Republican, he could possibly attract some crossover votes in the Senate. Crist’s focus during his time as Florida’s Attorney General centered on stopping human trafficking of children, a noble and underreported area of legal enforcement, and this would be an interesting new priority for the Obama administration to pursue.

Honorable Mention: Secretary of Business

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Who Obama will pick: Export-Import Bank President Fred Hochberg

Why? Assuming Obama wasn’t lying when he said he wanted to create this cabinet position (and even if he was, these predictions could work just as well for Secretary of Commerce), Hochberg brings a couple of qualities that the President might prize – a long history of service and loyalty, and a slight token status. Hochberg, aside from his impressive career in Government service, is also openly gay, a strong credential for an administration that increasingly goes out of its way to demonstrate friendliness to the gay and lesbian community. His one disadvantage, especially if he is nominated to be Secretary of Business, is that he has no experience in a for-profit business.

Photo Credit: AP

Who Obama should pick: Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney

Why? Yes, there is buzz for this, and from the most unlikely of places. Specifically, both MSNBC host Toure and Rush Limbaugh have said they want to see Romney become part of Obama’s administration in this capacity. While the odds of Romney taking the job are admittedly very small, it’s not impossible to see Obama (who’s already said he wants to work with Romney) offering it to him, if only to disarm a former formidable opponent. However, given the odds that such a position would transform Romney into a fall guy for Obama’s relatively anti-business administration, it might be unwise for him to take such a job if it’s offered.

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Comments (88)

red_white_blue2
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:00pm
Romney is too intelligent to fall for a deal with Mr Potter!

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- coolcat
  Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:48pm
  If Romney has to report to anyone he wouldnt take it. Forget it
  
  Report this comment
- turkey13
  Posted on November 9, 2012 at 5:55pm
  You missed the main man – Chris Christie for Sec. Of State. Don’t forget all that kissing up to Obama and the hugs before the election. He now has a brown nose and two brown racing stripes on each side of his nose.
  
  Report this comment
- anothercomment
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 8:33am
  @TRANSMITTOVLADMIR
  Absolutely: STOP calling him The President.
  He is no more a President than I am a Princess.
  
  Report this comment
- poorrichard09
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 8:59am
  Who ever he picks they will for sure be good toadies who will FORWARD his commie agenda.
  
  Report this comment
- DeOppressoLiber
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 10:21am
  he will tap into Google and Facebook people so he can learn how to use the social media to better communicate His propaganda and also how he control the release and access to information.
  
  How many people go past the first page of a Google search to research any subject?
  
  The control of information and release of information is a very powerful tool. Go back to the Blaze story on how informed Dear Leader electorate are.
  
  Report this comment
- lillith70
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 9:41pm
  Especially after the Petraus betrayal. I wrote Mitt and Ann and thanked them for the bringing the GOP into a nicer place but asked him not to let obama use him. He should form his own thing to help Congress or do speeches to do the same.
  
  Petraus case shows once again that dem politicians have a tendency similar to old Ned’s penchant for seducing people into doing his bidding, using them and then destroying for the thrill of the power of it.
  
  Report this comment
TechCitizen
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 3:43pm
Love you guys, but Schmidt is NOT the CEO of Google, and Sandberg is NOT the CEO of Facebook. Details count, especially when you are building a new media outlet.

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- crzyredhead
  Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:41pm
  Well, Schmidt was the CEO from 2001 – 2011 and is now the Executive Chairman, I think we can give them a waive on that one. Not sure about the Facebook CEO though
  
  Report this comment
bamadadof3
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 3:28pm
Might want to add Petraeus to the list now…LOL

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JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 3:07pm
Who is or is not picked for these positions in my humble opinion does not mean squat.

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- Ilikepeople
  Posted on November 9, 2012 at 3:24pm
  When world war starts who are you pulling for, the Communisms or the Communisms?
  
  Report this comment
commoncents5
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 2:43pm
Is it possible that Valerie Jarrett would be a suggestion for Secretary of State? She is the boss of everything to & fro!

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- smv803
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 2:54pm
  No…..she’s in the spooky dud (and I mean dud, not dude) category: Meaning, Behind the scenes, like in czar, Like in secret. Like in, please watch the other hand.
  
  Report this comment
huey6367
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 2:34pm
I wouldn’t hire Charlie Crist to change my cat’s litter box.

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- FreeUsAll
  Posted on November 9, 2012 at 3:06pm
  I wouldn’t hire any politician to clean my cat’s toilet… or anything else for that matter. Politicians and the political class are a plague to a well-functioning society.
  
  Report this comment
- grayling646
  Posted on November 9, 2012 at 3:33pm
  If you hire a politician to change your litter box the next thing you know there’s an office full of bureaucrats and a 10 volume procedure to perform the task…and it’ll still smell when they’re done (if they ever get done).
  
  Report this comment
- Cymry
  Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:56pm
  the EPA would get involved, your house would be declared a “brown area” you’d be charged a horrendous fee that you couldn’t pay and the IRS would forclose on your property.
  
  Report this comment
EdgeOfSanity
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 2:26pm
I don’t want Mitt Romney to take a position where he will improve the economy . . . and Obama will get/take credit.

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- MignonMallon
  Posted on November 9, 2012 at 2:55pm
  Exactly!
  No way should Obama get the benefit of Romney’s skill and experience; as if BHO would allow Romney to do anything that would make sense. The country wanted Obama – now they got him.
  Live with it!.
  
  Report this comment
- MNYukon
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 11:47am
  Absolutely no way should Romney accept any position in Obamas cabinet. Keep his knowledge and know how. Let Obama sink with his communist cabinet.
  
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Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 2:18pm
Whoever it is, you can be sure they are a card carrying member of CPUSA.

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aproudinfidel
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 2:14pm
Oh, and how about Bill Ayers for Sec. Def., he has a lot of experience with things that blow up.

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aproudinfidel
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 2:12pm
Any of the choices will, of course, have to be approved by Sec. of Everything Valerie Jarrett. I feel so confident of America’s future…failure.

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- doomytram
  Posted on November 9, 2012 at 2:35pm
  Ya think Valerie Jarrett had something to do with Obozo’s “Muslim Outreach” at NASA? Reckon she had forgotten that Obozo was going to close NASA down a week after Obozo’s famous…reach out and do some muslim outreach at NASA?
  
  You can bet that Jarrett and Obozo will be appointing and sneaking in as Much muslim outreach as they can.. and no more elections, so they can. How many Muslim Brotherhood can Jarrett and Obozo put in power PC postions? +/- 100?
  
  Report this comment
Frederick_Douglass_Republican
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 2:07pm
He will choose a new racist for attorney general, and Susan Rice can a position since she’s proven herself an unflinching serial liar.

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AmericaOfThePeopleNOTForTheSheeple
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:52pm
O is out to “change” America. Why would he waste his historic and meteoric rise to power and moderate ANYTHING he does at this point? He is in his final run for radical transformation. He will double down and we will see more overt evidence of his known views through appointments without concern for what they reveal about his agenda. Get ready.

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- doomytram
  Posted on November 9, 2012 at 2:22pm
  Susan Rice as Sec. of State – The Heinous and Disgusting Video caused this spontaneous rally. Americans should be outraged at the video maker and how he caused the death of Christopher Stevens. Obozo administration got him a good talking point liar in Rice. Obozo wants to sell the country to the UN by 2016. Clinton Sold all of our National Parks to the UN, and Obozo wants the UN to take over our Country. Make it a little more fair. Does Obozo know that his policies will destroy the country next year? Or Does Obozo? By the way, Steven Chu wants 7 or 8 dollar gas prices….. and so does Obozo….How many coal plants must Obozo shut down till gas goes to 7 or 8 dollars per gallon. Here are some Obozo buzzwords that he passes down to his corrupted puppet liberal media… “Fair Share” “Grand Bargain” “Tax Revenue” “Middle Class Tax Cuts” (Keeping the taxes the same is the 10 year old Bush Tax Cuts) “Fiscal Cliff” All Obozo Media to destroy America. When Obozo is crying that means he is really laughing at how horrid his polices are…..How about that Map of Obozo’s RED America on the Cover of Drudge?
  
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- AmericaOfThePeopleNOTForTheSheeple
  Posted on November 9, 2012 at 2:58pm
  Yup. Yup. Yup…etc. It is all so apparant to those who have more than two brain cells to rub together. Unfortunately, America has been overrun by individuals that while they may be my fellow Americans, I cannot respect for their devoid-of-character existence. I guess it will all come down to survival of the fitest (mentally and physically) as goes all the history of mankind.
  
  Report this comment
ECOMCON
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:49pm
The cabinet, as well as both houses of the Congress are irrelevant now. Obama has already shown his is perfectly happy to override all of them, as well as the Constitution and operate via executive fiat already. This will only increase in his second term. Therefore, who is chosen for any cabinet position doesn’t matter. The more important selections to watch is who is in and who is out within his private little government cabal of the Tzars.

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- Popp40
  Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:54pm
  Exactly…how many times did he meet with his Cabinet during his first term?
  
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- ECOMCON
  Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:35pm
  I’m unsure about Obama’s first year cabinet meeting schedule (although the union bosses sure had many meetings with him).
  
  I saw an interview with Congressman Jason Chaffetz roughly 2 months ago. During that interview he said how since the beginning of 2012, Obama had not met once with his economic advisory council, but that he played 120+ rounds of golf.
  
  Too bad Romney didn’t bring that up in any of the debates.
  
  Report this comment
ResistSocialism
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:41pm
The Black Panthers in charge of racial sensitivity.

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- leeloo4
  Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:48pm
  or maybe they can be in charge of voter registration changes
  
  Report this comment
JoanofAmerica
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:32pm
HOLY COW!!! PROGRAMMER SPEAKS EXPLAINS HOW VOTING MACHINES BEING RIGGED WITH PROGRAM TO DO SO!!!

SHARE SHARE SHARE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbf3iaEbAuY&feature=share

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- Popp40
  Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:50pm
  I agree…this needs to get out but the sad thing is that nothing will be done about it. Those in power will not let this come to light and the Republicans won’t push for an investigation and even if they get one it won’t go anywhere…
  
  Report this comment
HappyHarriet
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:25pm
This is a completely useless article. I hope no one was paid for this.

I’m beginning to feel like I’m reading Woman’s Day, Family Circle, or Redbook with some of the offerings The Blaze has been dishing up.

Let’s get down to brass tacks: The cabinet is all window dressing. There have been barely any meaningful Cabinet meetings in the OBlaspheme years, nor will there be in the future. He relies on Czars, and anyone else he can rely on that is also hell bent on destroying the country, like Valerie Jarrett and Van Jones and that slime bucket union leader aligned with SEIU.

Please, stop clogging up the internet with useless nonsense like this. You are beginning to sound like Greta’s tweets (of Fox News) – she will post any tweet as many times a day and night as possible just to drive traffic to her site. The Blaze has stooped to that level as well, apparently.

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- Polarized America
  Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:35pm
  .
  can i give you my recipe for pot brownies.?………………..just kidding
  
  Report this comment
independentvoteril
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:21pm
I for one am SICK of hearing conjuncture.. we are all aware there are logical choices and what the likely outcome would be and than there is the CLOWN who’s making the decisions.. so why are we going to BOTHER??? we have NO control over it but in our own lives.. well we have the CONGRESS but with the speaker of the house the REPUBLICAN’S have put in charge they don’t have the smarts to play the game being played,. so it’s LOST.. they don’t even have the smarts to CHANGE the speaker for someone with the spine to STAND UP.. He might be a very nice guy he’s no more a leader than OBAMA .. OR …. BIDEN..

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Margyt
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:17pm
I think you are nuts on each and every one of the choices above except for Susan Rice. I think BO will use his lame duck status to appoint ideologues who advance his position without argument. Think of who in our rich and powerful would be the modern day Goebbels, Eichmann, Speer, Hoess, even Rommel.

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Juniemoon
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:13pm
It doesn’t matter who he picks, Soros groups are running this gov’t. Soros wants his NWO and Obama is bought and paid for.

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- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:22pm
  Agreed – Obama will have the choices made for him and it will be people even more hard lined and more radical than he currently is.
  
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jackact
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:10pm
1.) Mike Bloomberg for trans fat, salt and 16 oz soda control.
2.) Van Jones for ‘Brownshirt Youth Brigade’ coordinator
3.) Sandra Fluke as vag*** specialist
4.) Jay Z as eubonics coordinator
5.) Chris Christie as Bruce Springsteens towel boy.

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pwatkins
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:09pm
Romney is too respectable to mix with Obama’s administration and hope he never agrees to it. If he does and the progressives fail, which I am sure they will, Romney would get all the blame. That is what Obama wants a “fall guy” Maybe he can find room for the “fat b^$^^turd, Christie. He would get his love the Boss cry-buddie out of Jersey so someone else could be blamed on the failure of him fixing anything for the people there. After all FEMA(yeah right) can work from Washington DC and they couldn’t point fingers at Christie.

We all know Obama is leading from behind and who will always be there running the government unless we Americans wake up one day and take it from them…fat chance of that bc they have moved in for the kill. I still am optimistic though and will continue to pray to the One that is really in charge of all things, our Creator.

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americanexile
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:08pm
New bureaucrats, same as the old bureaucrats.

Only error in this story? Who Obama will pick for Secretary of Business (because god knows Commerce, Labor, and a “Jobs Council” ain’t enough already): Wesley Mouch.

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Proverbs17-12NLT
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:06pm
I’m glad obama has hung around for his impeachment. “He watched my Son Die” “obama killed my Son”

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- SandyfromChesterfield
  Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:57pm
  Romney should be Speaker of the House.
  
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momrules
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:01pm
Really, I don’t care who Obama selects for his new regime. They will be ones who have already proven that they will continue with him on his path to destroy what is left of America. There will not be a single true American among his choices.

God bless and defend Israel.

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Gonzo
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 12:56pm
Chris Christie, Secretary of Doughnuts.

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- The-Monk
  Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:05pm
  Hi Gonzo,
  
  With Sprinkles???
  
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- Gonzo
  Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:08pm
  The works, with Chris in charge Monk.
  
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