There are 39 comments.

1. Member
   Son of Spengler

   @SonofSpengler

   Post author

   1:55 PM EST ⋅ Nov 25, 2014

   Son of Spengler: Imagine that you are someone competent, say, Michèle Fluornoy. Taking this job would be reputational and professional suicide, because it’s only a matter of time before Obama throws you under the bus. So anyone willing to take the job can’t be all that smart and competent to begin with.

   All is proceeding as I have foreseen:

   Flournoy, the co-founder and CEO of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), a think tank that has served as a farm league for future Obama administration officials, would have been the first female secretary of defense had she risen to the position.

   But in a letter Tuesday to members of the CNAS board of directors, Flournoy said she would remain in her post at the think tank and asked Obama to take her out of consideration to be the next secretary of defense. Flournoy told the board members that family considerations helped drive her decision.

2. Inactive
   Kay of MT

   @KayofMT

   2:35 PM EST ⋅ Nov 25, 2014

   Daniel Frank: You’re not laughing. Why aren’t you laughing?

   Because the reality of that is terrifying!

3. Coolidge
   Stad

   @Stad

   2:58 PM EST ⋅ Nov 25, 2014

   Well, if potential SecDef nominees keep dropping out, then I will put my name into play.

   Yes, I will gladly accept the role of Secretary of Defense under an Obama presidency – just long enough to stage a coup . . .

   I would use the military to remove Obama from office, and ensure Vice President Biden is sworn in as President.

   I know, I know . . . Biden?  But let’s face it.  He’s so incompetent, he cannot possibly do the damage that Obama could in his last two years in office.  In addition, he wouldn’t know what to do with the nuclear football if the admiral carrying it hiked it to him.  Maybe Biden would tell Holder “Go deep for the bomb.  I know you people can catch those passes.  I saw Beckham!”

4. Member
   Paul A. Rahe

   @PaulARahe

   3:26 PM EST ⋅ Nov 25, 2014

   Roberto:

   Son of Spengler:Here’s an idea: Obama could host a reality show, like Survivor, or Top Chef, or The Apprentice. The Nominee? Celebrity SecDef? I’m sure it would generate the best ratings C-SPAN ever had.

   It is not exactly choosing representatives at random from a phone book but probably as close as we could get and the odds of getting a qualified SecDef would probably be higher than whatever process is currently being used to vet candidates.

   As for myself I am seeing Flournoy as more of a lock by the hour.

   Former Defense Department official Michele Flournoy, who is considered to be on a short list to replace outgoing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, attacked Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential campaign for recognizing that the decision to withdraw troops from Iraq in 2011 was a “tragic” mistake.

   “Governor Romney called the ending of the Iraq War and the bringing of our troops home ‘tragic,’ which is really hard to understand,” Flournoy recited for an Obama campaign video in October 2012. “He wanted to keep our troops there longer, tens of thousands of them.”

   I imagine the President would be very appreciative of this type of cheerleading at the moment. Having the SecDef defending the pull out in light of the rise of ISIS may be exactly what he is looking for right now.

   If she is nominated they should show the video and ask her on national TV to say whether she still thinks as she did then.

5. Inactive
   Roberto

   @Roberto

   3:30 PM EST ⋅ Nov 25, 2014

   Jordan Wiegand: It seems that anyone who might have a different idea or disagree with the administration on any substantive manner is quickly given the axe, and especially in the DoD.

   DuffelBlog had a rather amusing take on that note:

   It is with profound and sad joy that I am announcing the departure of the last dissenting voice from my cabinet, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. Now, we all know Chuck. I brought him on back in 2012 to replace Leon Panetta, who kept recommending plausible strategies and effective budgets.

   Now let me be clear: I respect disagreement, but I will not tolerate it in my cabinet. So, during our retreat with honor from Iraq and Afghanistan, former-Sen. Hagel stepped in to provide critical leadership.

6. Inactive
   user_82762

   @JamesGawron

   8:11 PM EST ⋅ Nov 25, 2014

   Son,

   I think Obama should go for someone from the academic world. Someone with character, someone who would understand the inner workings of the Pentagon, strategy, tactics, everything.

   …..hmmmmmm…yes I have the perfect candidate.

   Regards,

   Jim

7. Inactive
   Carey J.

   @CareyJ

   5:54 PM EST ⋅ Nov 26, 2014

   James Gawron:Son,

   I think Obama should go for someone from the academic world. Someone with character, someone who would understand the inner workings of the Pentagon, strategy, tactics, everything.

   …..hmmmmmm…yes I have the perfect candidate.

   Regards,

   Jim

   Here’s another example of why Groucho would be a good fit for Obama’s SecDef.

8. Inactive
   user_82762

   @JamesGawron

   6:32 PM EST ⋅ Nov 26, 2014

   Carey J.:

   James Gawron:Son,

   I think Obama should go for someone from the academic world. Someone with character, someone who would understand the inner workings of the Pentagon, strategy, tactics, everything.

   …..hmmmmmm…yes I have the perfect candidate.

   Regards,

   Jim

   Here’s another example of why Groucho would be a good fit for Obama’s SecDef.

   Carey,

   In the final part of my clip Groucho tells Chico & Harpo that instead of paying them $1,000 for the ice he could hire an Eskimo for $100 and make his own ice. This tells you that Groucho could handle the military procurement problem with ease.

   I always get my man.

   Regards.

   Jim

9. Coolidge
   Stad

   @Stad

   5:18 AM EST ⋅ Nov 27, 2014

   Misthiocracy:

   Son of Spengler: The second is personal. Imagine that you are someone competent — say, Michelle Fluornoy. Taking this job would be reputational and professional suicide, because it’s only a matter of time before Obama throws you under the bus. So anyone willing to take the job can’t be all that smart and competent to begin with.

   Sounds familiar:

   I heartily recommend the “Yes, Minister” and “Yes, Prime Minister” series.  Although the British system of government is different from ours, the motivations and bureaucratic manipulations of the individuals involved are exactly the same.