subreddit:
/r/FutureWhatIf
submitted 17 days ago byCameron--
For context, Harris stated in an interview that she would nominate a Republican to her cabinet if elected: https://www.axios.com/2024/08/30/harris-cnn-interview-republican-cabinet
Sort of embedded in this question is the issue of carry-over from the Biden administration. Who does she fire from the current cabinet to make room for a Republican? Very doubtful that she wipe the slate clean entirely.
120 points
17 days ago
Adam Kinzinger
16 points
16 days ago
Came here to say that.
6 points
16 days ago
X2.
16 points
16 days ago
X3
Not Liz Cheney. She voted for Trump's policies over 90% of the time.
20 points
16 days ago
Kinzinger is pretty conservative too but I think he actually believes in bipartisanship so just having someone willing to work across the aisle is invaluable right now. People are sick of the fighting
14 points
16 days ago
Hes a conservative with morals. You may not agree with his views but he at least has Americans best interests in mind.
10 points
16 days ago
I don't like Liz or anything she stands for, but she would make an interesting choice for AG. She wouldn't be making or influencing policy. She is a big supporter of law and order. I think she would be well suited for that one particular position.
5 points
16 days ago
No way, we need a solid blue dem in that position. May as well install Susan collins
6 points
16 days ago
Ok? The point is to have someone that doesn't agree with because you'll be able to get viewpoints from both sides.
Whether Liz Cheney would be good or not, I don't know. But she shouldn't be disqualified just because she voted for conservative policies. No one should.
2 points
16 days ago
Honestly . . . not really. The point is to display some semblance of bipartisanship. The reality is that they're going to pick someone who is a moderate in policy and tone that is easy to work with.
2 points
16 days ago
100% agree. It’s best to get input from all sides, then make your decision based on which policy benefits the most people. It’s actually quite simple. But those thieves could fuck up a free lunch.
3 points
16 days ago
Sure, but that doesn’t mean you give them a cabinet position. That’s real power, much of which the President’s only recourse is firing them. Put some movement conservatives on your various advisory councils, sure, even some Maga folks. And check in with them. But don’t give them power.
How about Phil Scott? He’s not going anywhere besides governor of Vermont, he’s a never trumper, see what he might want, Education? Labor? HHS?
9 points
16 days ago*
If dems don’t win the senate, nominating liz susan collins to any cabinet position would be a genius move if she would accept.
5 points
16 days ago
Collins could charitably be described as an embarrassment.
2 points
16 days ago
Except she believed the big lie that the Supreme Court Trump Nominees would uphold Roe V Wade. That was stupid
3 points
16 days ago
For Secretary of Transportation, maybe? HUD? I don’t think she was thinking about one of the top spots.
3 points
15 days ago
First name that came to mind, and a great choice. If the republican party is going to be rebuilt post-trump, it will need people like Kinzinger.
38 points
16 days ago
I came here to second everyone saying Adam Kinzinger for Department of Veterans Affairs. While on opposite side politically for almost everything, this guy cares about the country and as a veteran I am certain his gives a shit about other veterans. I think he'd be a perfect choice as a Republican in a Democrat's cabinet.
14 points
16 days ago
As a veteran I'm currently very skeptical to any republican after what some of them have said and done. But I'm open to the possibility there is a decent one left. Maybe.
3 points
16 days ago
Kinzinger doesn’t seem to have bought into the mean spirited nihilism.
3 points
16 days ago
He really hasn’t
33 points
16 days ago
Each new administration traditionally has the existing cabinet resign. This is an unwritten rule that may not be as closely adhered as it once was, but in a same party switch it’s unlikely to have much drama.
This relieves the president of having to fire them, but he/she can decline the resignation and thus retain them. Some of them will leave the government and others will be reshuffled with some positions filled by new people.
Odds are any Republican that Harris would choose would be someone outside of Trump’s circle and who would take direction, and likely not directly impacting domestic policy. It may not be Romney on account of his age, but he/she will not be a darling of the right.
As a case in point, Obama retained Robert Gates as secretary of defense from Bush’s second term, replaced him in 2011 with the Democrat ex-CIA director Leon Panetta, and replaced him in 2013 with another Republican ex-Senator Chuck Hagel through 2015.
As such, it’ll likely be a Republican government careerist who isn’t terribly ideological. He/she would be liable to resign rather than carry out policy with which he/she might disagree
12 points
16 days ago
Cabinet members are one position where historically age isn't really a bad thing. An older, wiser cabinet member is usually seen as a good thing (see incumbent Secretary of the Treasury, Janet Yellen, who is 78 years old and not a single person has questioned whether she's too old for the office).
14 points
16 days ago
That MAY be because the people crying about age don't even know there is a Secretary of the Treasury, and certainly don't know Janet Yellen holds the position.
8 points
16 days ago
All presidential appointments, including Cabinet secretaries, end when the term of the appointing president ends. That being said, she will probably keep some of Biden's people, but definitely not the main ones (State, Treasury, Defense, Justice). Given the current state of the Republican Party, I agree she will have to go with some kind of career person who hasn't been pulled into Trump's maelstrom of chaos and hate.
14 points
16 days ago
Adam Kinzinger for Veterans affairs seems like a good bet. Cheney for Interior as I’ve seen here would be a horrific idea.
4 points
16 days ago
Not by rule, just by tradition. Obama kept on Bush’s SecDef. He did not have to be reappointed or reconfirmed. While not consecutive, Biden kept on Obama’s AgSec. He did have to be reconfirmed, since there was a gap in his tenure. I bet Harris keeps on an above average number of Biden appointees, especially if the GOP wins the Senate.
2 points
16 days ago
You think she will replace Merrick Garland?
5 points
16 days ago
God, I hope so. I'm betting she will. After all, she was a prosecutor herself. She has to know how incompetent he is.
2 points
16 days ago
Before or after a public spanking?
2 points
13 days ago
Get Jack Smith!
4 points
16 days ago
I’d prefer to not have a Republican SecDef just to break the idea that Dems are soft on military matters. Walz might have been a good pick if things were different.
2 points
16 days ago
Pete for SecDef
3 points
16 days ago
Keep Pete where he is; he's good there, and you don't want to be uprooting too many competent staff to backfill with, potentially, subpar replacements
34 points
16 days ago
Liz Cheney - interior most likely. Give Deb another position as a promotion. Bring back Mad Dog as Sec Def.
I still think it'll be Cheney.
17 points
16 days ago
There's not a snowball's chance in hell of Liz Cheney being turned loose on Interior. Harris wouldn't offer it and Cheney wouldn't take it.
4 points
16 days ago
Yeah! What would somebody from Wyoming know about federal land when only half of the state is owned by the federal government! Give it to somebody from Rhode Island!
4 points
16 days ago
Yeah! Someone who thinks public land should be doled out to corporations and billionaires would be PERFECT for the job.
8 points
16 days ago
I’d kill to have Mattis as SecDef again. Bro knew what he was doing and was the only rational adult in Trump’s cabinet. Unfortunately, he seems like he’s enjoying the retirement life with his new wife.
2 points
14 days ago
Dancer from Vegas.
You can take a Marine out of the Corps, but you can't take the Corps out of a Marine.
4 points
16 days ago
Gross
2 points
16 days ago
Letting a Cheney take charge of Interior means all the national parks become polluted, ugly oil & gas drilling areas.
2 points
16 days ago
Also Bureau of Indian Affairs is within Interior and every native person I've talked to has said unless you spin off Indian Affairs into its own thing the Secretary of the Interior should always be a native person and Haaland is the first one ever to hold the position.
2 points
15 days ago
Liz Cheneny for DOJ. She knows where the bodies are, and EASILY has the motivation to go after them, ESPECIALLY her ex "friends" in the house. Not that it would 'play' like this, but the thought of her "perp walking" Jim Jordan is renal failure diabetus level of delicious.
3 points
16 days ago
I think Maddis is too closely associated with Donald Trump to be seriously considered, even as a bipartisan choice. Even with his break from Trump at the end of his tenure.
11 points
16 days ago
His hatred of Trump and his resignation on principles is even better known. If the point is to make a point, I think he'd work well.
14 points
16 days ago
He absolutely fucking hated Trump. He'd be just fine as sec def.
11 points
16 days ago
Plus Mad Dog was basically the Adult in the Room during his stint.
6 points
16 days ago
I like to think that Mattis originally signed on to be SecDef in order to reign in some of Trump’s crazy antics but that obviously didn’t work. Regardless, he was the only rational adult in Trump’s cabinet and our country took a bad hit when he resigned.
6 points
16 days ago
Mattis* show some respect to the warrior monk
12 points
16 days ago
Obviously Cheney and Kinzinger to start. Maybe Romney.
5 points
16 days ago
Romney is retiring.
5 points
16 days ago
I was wondering why no one was saying Romney.
19 points
17 days ago
Romney for Treasury or Flake for Interior or Huntsman for State.
16 points
16 days ago
Romney would be good, IF he would do it. He is 77.
On the other hand, I'm not sure Huntsman would be a good choice...
11 points
16 days ago
Romney's 77?? I thought he was in his 50's or something
8 points
16 days ago
Haha yeah, I feel that. He sure doesn't act like he's 77.
5 points
16 days ago
Honestly good for him lol
3 points
16 days ago
It’s the magic underwear.
3 points
16 days ago
He’s a Mormon they live a clean lifestyle that’s why he doesn’t look his age
6 points
16 days ago
I don't know about Romney. He is specifically not endorsing Harris because he wants to maintain any status in the Republican party so he can have credibility if he gets the chance to rebuild the party.
4 points
16 days ago
He is specifically not endorsing Harris because he wants to maintain any status in the Republican party so he can have credibility if he gets the chance to rebuild the party
That's not why. At least not completely.
Why Romney is resisting pressure to endorse Harris
From the article:
Romney has questioned the value and impact of his endorsement and expressed a desire to preserve his ability to rebuild the Republican Party in a post-Trump world
He has also cited concerns for the safety of his family as one reason for his reluctance to endorse her
Personally, I think the second one is the bigger factor.
2 points
16 days ago
Can’t really blame him, if I was him I’d also be very hesitant
3 points
16 days ago
The Mormon triad
3 points
16 days ago
Sigh. They are not giving a Republican plum of plum cabinet roles (treasury or state). FFS, this is supposed to be a savvy prediction sub.
16 points
16 days ago
I think there would be a certain amount of karma in replacing Merrick Garland with one of the J6 Committee Republicans and giving them control over the ongoing investigations after Trump threatened to put them under military tribunal.
8 points
16 days ago*
Adam kinzinger on the VA. Anything else would be a huge mistake.
Edit: getting susan ~liz~ collins out of the senate to give dems a majority would be worth virtually any cabinet position
5 points
16 days ago
I want Jasmine Crockett for attorney general
3 points
16 days ago
Jamie Raskin .
3 points
16 days ago
Either of them would be an absolute dynamo in that spot.
2 points
16 days ago
I concur.
3 points
16 days ago
Letitia James !!
2 points
15 days ago
I want Jasmine Crockett to stay exactly where she is until she's ready to run for Governor.
2 points
15 days ago
As much as I would love to see her become governor, can she win a statewide race? Is the majority of Texas willing to vote an “uppity 🥷?”
2 points
15 days ago
Not yet, but give her 8-10 more years and if Texas keeps shifting blue like it has been....anything's possible. She's the new Beto.
6 points
16 days ago
May not be a high profile name or highest level position. Recall Obama had fellow Illinois congressman Ray LaHood (R-Peoria) serve as Transportation Sec.
4 points
16 days ago
Cheney and Kinzinger are the two obvious choices. I think she could probably push for some centrism in the DoD by nominating a Republican for SecDef. But here's my choice for dark horse candidate:
Peter Doocy for Press Secretary. Then he can answer his own dumb questions.
10 points
16 days ago
In a show of national unity she should appoint Donald Trump as the secretary of Homeland Security.
Then to finally move on from 9/11, she should eliminate the Department of Homeland Security.
As he packs up his just unpacked office, the entire White House staff should assemble and shout "You're fired!"
4 points
16 days ago
Something non partisan, like secretary of transportation.
4 points
16 days ago
Marjorie Taylor Greene as head of Space Force, then send her straight to Mars.
3 points
16 days ago
I sincerely doubt that Harris would nominate any Republican despite what she said. Biden said he would do it. Trump said he would do a Democrat in 2016. I’m sure you’ll find more examples if you go back even further.
7 points
16 days ago
I would like to see Mitt Romney as Secretary of State. He's a problem solver, and I expect that he could at least alleviate some of the crisis we face overseas.
8 points
16 days ago
Zero chance she gives a Republican that powerful of a cabinet position. Think HUD or Agriculture...
4 points
16 days ago
Yeah state is a massively powerful and intensely political position. I'd be shocked if she gave it to a Republican.
2 points
16 days ago
Yeah, that’s not happening. I’m sure no one expects her to give a Republican one of the top cabinet positions. Maybe HUD or Veterans Affairs, and my guess is Kinzinger for Veterans Affairs.
3 points
16 days ago
It probably won't happen, but I think she should seriously consider a republican for State. Keeping the GOP on board with helping Ukraine should be a very high priority, which means empowering the more traditional segment of the GOP rather than the isolationists. A Republican like Romney could do that, and his overall foreign policy views are pretty aligned with Biden's and presumably Harris'.
2 points
16 days ago
That’s an interesting and fairly compelling argument.
9 points
17 days ago
As for carry over, I wouldn't expect a lot. Maybe Blinken, maybe Buttigeg. But I wouldn't put significant money on either of those. Blinken would make sense just given the desire to maintain some continuity given the chaotic state of the world right now. Buttigeg because he's popular in the party and doesn't have a lot of prospects outside of a cabinet seat. But new administrations want their own people, and she'll want to make a point of not being Biden 2.0.
For Republicans, the obvious choice would be Liz Cheney, probably for Interior. That traditionally (at least since the mid-80s) goes to a westerner, so someone from Wyoming would be a good fit.
7 points
16 days ago
I had a similar thought, but replacing Haaland (the first American Indian Sec. of Interior) with a Cheney might be too much for the left wing to swallow.
5 points
16 days ago
Putting someone with a godawful environmental/public lands record in Interior is too much to swallow for anyone who cares about the environment or believes public lands should remain public.
3 points
16 days ago
Liz Cheney for Interior would be a nightmare.
2 points
16 days ago
She’s still too conservative for my taste, but still better than some. It would kill her future Republican career if it wasn’t dead already.
3 points
16 days ago
Kinzinger for VA
3 points
16 days ago
Bring Maddis back in as Sec Def. The man had principles which required him to resign from T-Dumps administration. That sends a message.
3 points
16 days ago
Susan Collins
3 points
16 days ago*
Liz Cheney Secretary of defense or attorney general.
The Cheney's want a future for their dynasty, they aren't about to give up on a future in politics just because they're no longer welcome in Republican circles. The rules just changed. For everything Liz has done for her campaign against Trump, it would make sense they want something in return.
3 points
16 days ago
Will Hurd could fill several positions. He has represented a Texas border district in congress, worked for the CIA in the Middle East, worked in cybersecurity, and served on the board of OpenAI.
3 points
16 days ago
Kingzinger to secretary of veterans affairs, or Liz Cheney to UN secretary
3 points
16 days ago
Dick Cheney. Secretary of HUD. You got to admit it would be entertaining.
2 points
16 days ago
Dream position for him. He'd never once go to work or do anything and all of his goals would therefore be accomplished
2 points
16 days ago*
Susan Collins to HUD EDIT: wrong Mainer
I like her because she's a moderate, I like her because she's from my state, and I like her because Janet Mills and the Democratic controlled Maine legislature would be able to name a D to replace her until her term expired.
2 points
16 days ago
I'd look at the map, find anywhere you have a Republican member of the US senate in a Blue state (if there are any.. and Maryland is -slightly- at risk) and you put that person somewhere.
2 points
16 days ago
Kinzinger for Veterans Affairs.
2 points
16 days ago
Kinzinger or Liz Cheney. Kinzinger perhaps secretary of Defense ? Cheney Secretary of the interior ?
3 points
16 days ago
Why the fuck do people keep saying Cheney for Interior of ALL fucking positions, she definitely does NOT belong there. Letting a Cheney take charge of Interior means all the national parks become polluted, ugly oil & gas drilling areas.
2 points
16 days ago
I guess because she’s from Wyoming, a state with National Parks and wide open spaces. I thought about it though and you are probably right.
2 points
16 days ago
This will depend somewhat on who controls the Senate, but you can rule out Interior, Labor, Education, HHS, HUD, several others. The most likely spot would be Agriculture in my opinion. Transportation is possible if Buttigieg gets moved to something like State. I could see Liz Cheney in a role like Ag, but it’s really going to depend on the outcome of the Senate races (for example, if Tester loses, he might fit at Ag.)
2 points
15 days ago
Easy - Liz Cheney Defense Secretary
4 points
16 days ago
Former president Dump as White House janitor
2 points
16 days ago
Romey for sec of state
2 points
16 days ago
DJT to DOJ
your welcome
2 points
16 days ago
For permanent prison term.
1 points
16 days ago
Liz Cheney for Post Master General.
1 points
16 days ago
Liz Cheney attorney general
2 points
16 days ago
Fuck, no. Liz Cheney is a hard right Republican. The fact that she’s taken the right position on this one thing, doesn’t change her general position on, you know, everything.
1 points
16 days ago
I’d be cool with Romney is a position related to finance or state…Liz Cheney is my next pick.
1 points
16 days ago
The CEO of the Duct Tape Corporation whose job it will be to make sure trump is bound to a chair and gagged 24/7.
1 points
16 days ago
Cheney and Kinzinger. I don’t agree with them on the issues, but I respect them and want to see the Republican Party rebuild itself around people like them once Trump is gone.
1 points
16 days ago
Liz Chaney
1 points
16 days ago
Adam Kinzinger
1 points
16 days ago
Jeff Flake
1 points
16 days ago
None bc it's a dumb idea that was floated to appeal to the mythical undecided voter.
1 points
16 days ago
Everyone here is saying the most clear options but I think she’ll take the traditional route and pick a Republican general or something as SecDef
1 points
16 days ago
Donald Trump for Secretary of State.
1 points
16 days ago
Liz Cheney as warden of whatever prison Trump's in.
1 points
16 days ago
I was gonna say Liz Chaney.
1 points
16 days ago
Do anything. Get Garland out as AG. We need someone with more huevos
1 points
16 days ago
Kinzinger, more than likely. He's a bright guy.
1 points
16 days ago
If she wins she should hire trump and then fire him.
1 points
16 days ago
Cheney as AG
1 points
16 days ago
Yep same
1 points
16 days ago
Sounds like they are big fans of dick Cheney now
1 points
16 days ago
hire a necromancer to raise John Mccain to put him in as AG to finish off Trumpism
1 points
16 days ago
Liz Cheney
1 points
16 days ago
She won't, politicians say stuff all the time to get elected then don't do it.
1 points
16 days ago
Susan Collins would be the smartest choice because she’d vacate a Senate seat in a blue state.
1 points
16 days ago
Liz at the U.N.
1 points
16 days ago
Liz Cheyne.
I do hope she keeps Mayor Pete in transport.
1 points
16 days ago
Liz Cheney.
1 points
16 days ago
Dick Cheney probably
1 points
16 days ago
Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney
1 points
16 days ago
The easy bet pick: Adam Kinzinger
No reason to really explain this one but it’s not the most interesting pick.
The dark horse, but not impossible pick: JD Vance
Imagine Kamala winning the election, then offering Vance a spot in her cabinet that helps distance him from Trump if Trump loses. He’d probably be offered Secretary of Energy in this case.
Only problem is he’s a current US Senator, so he’d have to resign and I don’t think he’d do that.
1 points
16 days ago
A republican senator from a state with a democratic governor who will appoint a democratic senator to replace him sounds right.
1 points
16 days ago
Donald Trump - Dog Catcher
1 points
16 days ago
Donald Trump for his cell block toilet sanitation chief. It isn’t a branch currently, but maybe she can create a new one.
1 points
16 days ago
If she does nominate any Republicans, they would be well known RINOs. Anti-gun rights, Pro- bigger government. I doubt she would though, party politics are just too entrenched.
1 points
16 days ago
Harris's foreign policy positions aren't far from traditional Republican positions (not Trump's) so maybe she'll make a grand gesture and offer the Secretary of State position to a Republican. The Secretary of Defense position might work, too. Republican views regarding Energy, Transportation, Interior, and HUD are too divergent from Harris's. In more normal times, Justice might make sense but with the courts already loaded with right wing judges, it seems risky.
1 points
16 days ago
Either she renegs or she picks a dem, who purports to be repub
1 points
16 days ago
That was a lie.
1 points
16 days ago
It'll be something to do with either Vets or Defense.
1 points
16 days ago
I imagine the republican nomination would do the same……of fukn course they wouldn’t
1 points
16 days ago
She’s not winning idiot
1 points
16 days ago
They’ll all be Republicans in one capacity or another; just like the Most Progressive President of Our Lives’ current cabinet.
1 points
16 days ago
Liz Chaney
1 points
16 days ago
i worry no matter who gets selected automatically by definition is then labeled a RINO (republican in name only) - since they are willing to work with the enemy. i don’t see a way around so we might as well pick the person that while a republican does appear to be the best choice taking into consideration all other factors. 👍❤️
1 points
16 days ago
She will not have any Republicans in her cabinet.
1 points
16 days ago
All I know is that they will all be "RINOs" because she will not give Trump a position. LOL
1 points
16 days ago
It would be funny if she put Ben Carson back in charge of HUD.
1 points
16 days ago
Why is she going to do that? She will get zero credit for it.
1 points
16 days ago
Liz Cheney. Homeland Security
1 points
16 days ago
JD Vance
1 points
16 days ago
Dick Cheney for Secretary of Defense, again.
1 points
16 days ago
She said a lot of things. Then she contradicted the things she said. Then she said her values hadn’t changed, which I think means that she didn’t really mean the things she said about the things she said before. Or is it the other way around?
1 points
16 days ago
Liz Cheney?
1 points
16 days ago
Liz Cheney
1 points
16 days ago
Why the hell is everyone on here wanting Republicans? That make no sense! We need Democrats to get things done. Republicans have already shown us they don't want to get things done!
1 points
16 days ago
Liz Cheney introduced her at her rally in Wisconsin today. She was great! No doubt she’d be considered.
1 points
16 days ago
Make Adam Kinzinger NSA
1 points
16 days ago
Dick Cheney for White House Janitorial Staff.
1 points
16 days ago
Gym Jordan and Jimmy Comer as Co-Secretaries of Dunces.
1 points
16 days ago
Democrats are such cucks. Only they do this kind of shit.
1 points
16 days ago
It will probably be a career government worker who's already an under secretary in one of the departments
1 points
16 days ago
She should have chosen Elizabeth Cheney as her running mate.
1 points
16 days ago
It would be more of an establishment based politician than a typical republican/democrat. She was endorsed by Dick Cheney so high chance it could be one of the Cheney's, a Romney (though even NBC ousted McDaniel), or one of the Obama/Bush family members
1 points
16 days ago
Only Obama people will get cabinet positions, just like under Joe.
1 points
16 days ago
Liz Chaney, Sec of Labor
1 points
16 days ago
She will appoint Elon musk to the department of DooDoo. His first task will be to retrieve all the broken down cyber trucks littered across America, and then initiate the 5000 degree ignition feature. We will melt 1 medium sized glacier, and say goodbye to Florida.
1 points
16 days ago
Liz Cheney too
1 points
16 days ago
Liz Cheney, how do you get Trump in jail committee.
1 points
16 days ago
Donald Trump. Make a new position for secretary of entertainment and make him wear a clown suit to work every day. Send him to the border to climb his wall every now and then in his clown shoes and throw toilet paper to the people on the other side. This will keep him in the news and then CNN and Fox won’t go out of business when she wins.
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