Secretary of Agriculture: Butch Otter Of all of the red state Governors and former Senators (because let's admit it, they're not going to put any of those seats in jeopardy), there are only two of them who have a significant background in agriculture. One is Conrad Burns, the former Senator from Montana who lost his seat to Jon Tester in 2006. Burns was a cattle auctioneer and rancher, making his fortune from his growing local livestock business in Montana. He served on various Agriculture-related committees and subcommittees during his 18-year tenure, the longest of any Republican in the history of Montana. The other is the more likely of the two: Butch Otter, the current governor of Idaho. He's Burns, but without the baggage the Senator racked up making racially questionable comments, collecting favors from Jack Abramoff, and so on. Otter spent 30 years with Simplot International, a corporation aimed at building and promoting American agribusiness. He was Lieutenant Governor from 1987 to 2001, and a Congressman from 2001 to 2007. In 2007, he took the reigns of the executive mansion. As much as he might be reluctant to leave the chief executive position that he will have had for just two years by the time 2009 rolls around, the gubernatorial seat in Idaho isn't exactly a gateway to higher positions. The Agriculture post might give him a little additional name recognition, which could make him a top contender for the Senate, or even a higher executive spot (VP, etc) after he finishes. Look what it did for former Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns, who parlayed his Agriculture leadership into a 2008 Senate bid that is looking pretty promising.
Secretary of Energy: John Chambers Ideally, McCain would love to have someone like Arnold Schwarzenegger to take up this position. He's been one of the most proactive governors in the Union with regard to curbing greenhouse gas emissions and seeking to make it easier and more cost effective for consumers to spring for hybrid vehicles. He's also been a huge proponent of alternative energy sources, including a program currently under development in San Francisco that would draw energy from the kinetic movement of perpetually crashing waves on the California coast. Schwarzenegger has really embraced the green movement- with regard to renewable energy in particular- and it's made him considerably more popular than he might have otherwise been in the typically Democratic Golden State. From McCain's perspective, it builds on his own desire to take the US in the direction California has gone with its energy, albeit perhaps not quite so radically. But Arnold has two years left leading the nation's largest state, after which he'll gun for Barbara Boxer's Senate seat. Arnold will probably stay put and wait for his chances, meaning that McCain will probably reach into the corporate sector. Enter John Chambers, billionaire CEO of Cisco Systems. A Northern Californian himself, Chambers has a knack for management, and his prudence has made Cisco one of the most successful corporations in America. Chambers makes a strong pick for wherever he goes. And Energy may be the right place for him.
Secretary of Labor: Meg Whitman If this were a Democrat, we'd be looking for a Labor Secretary among candidates who have strong ties to organized labor. In the case of a Republican, we're probably looking for one of two things: a strong civil servant with a lot of leadership experience, or a business executive who has been kind to the candidate's campaign. Siding with the latter of those two, Meg Whitman, the CEO of eBay, makes a solid choice. Whitman has worked with the burgeoning online auction giant, and has taken it from star to superstar. Whitman's management of eBay has been, from a business perspective, nothing short of impressive. Plus, she's been spearheading the West Coast arm of his campaign's finance operation. For all her experience in the business world as an executive who has managed labor, and as a political heavy hitter, Meg Whitman will end up somewhere in the McCain administration, and this is one possibility.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs: Bob Dole For the same reason I chose Donna Shalala on the Democratic side for the top post at the Department of Veterans Affairs, I'm going to choose Bob Dole on the Republican side. Bob Dole is a perennial Republican leader. He ‘s been involved in government for upwards of 50 years, a career that culminated with his party's highest honor: it's nomination for President of the United States.
And the GOP still looks to Dole for his leadership. After the fiasco at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Dole (along with Donna Shalala) was tapped to chair a commission charged with the investigation of care for American veterans not just at Walter Reid, but rather system-wide. The recommendations that Dole and his committee suggested were met with a great deal of praise. Dole and McCain go back a long way. The former Senator from Kansas would be a solid conservative pick, and more than that, a commitment to the rank-and-file of the Republican Party.
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: Haley Barbour A number of people have pointed out that Haley Barbour might be a contender for the Vice Presidential slot on the Republican ticket. I agree. The Mississippi governor is very popular in the South, and...well, he's from the South. Winning presidential tickets tend to include at least one Southerner on them. But McCain has his choice of at least four solid Republican Southerners for his running mate- Rick Perry of Texas, Barbour, Charlie Crist of Florida, and Mark Sanford of South Carolina. If we assume that he passes over Barbour, then McCain might use him elsewhere.
If so, Housing and Urban Development might be a good place for him. Barbour's management skills following Hurricane Katrina earned him praise from across the country, and more importantly, across the political spectrum. While Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco was being derided for her failure to act, Barbour was swamped with praise for his decisive maneuvers that saved lives, limited damage, and got cleanup and reconstruction under way immediately. Especially nowadays, that's the kind of guy McCain would want in his camp.
Secretary of Health and Human Services: Bill Frist While Democrats might not feel so warmly toward him, Republicans love Bill Frist. The former Senate Majority Leader remains extremely popular among Midwest conservatives.
As a physician-turned-politician, issues related to health and medical services were a central focal point of Frist's career. And with the notable exception of the Terri Schaivo case, Frist is respected for both his dedication to the issues and his knowledge of the subject.
Because Bill Frist fell- and fell hard- before he voluntarily gave up his Senate seat in 2006, a lot of Democrats will find it hard to believe that he would be someone that McCain would want in his boat. But his inner circle won't consist of selections to placate Democrats, and from where I'm sitting, Frist seems to fit the bill.
Again, let me know your thoughts on these picks!
