If John Kerry is tapped for SoS who would we run against Scott Brown?

[justiceischeap]

If Hillary does indeed retire, and Kerry is tapped as SoS, who runs in MA against Brown? Some suggest Deval Patrick but if he's tapped to be the new AG, then who is left in MA?

Brown would be the natural Republic to run for the seat. He's still got money, he garned 1.4 million votes and would most likely hold onto those coupled with the lackluster turn out for non-Presidential elections... who is the obvious choice to run for the Dems and win?

[DonViejo]

1. Gov Deval Patrick nt

[justiceischeap]

4. Yes but some are suggesting that he may be tapped to be the new Attorney General. nt

[itsrobert]

2. Liberal Mitt?

Time for liberal Mitt.

[sadbear]

3. And there lies the problem with Kerry as SOS.

Are they going to trot out Martha Coakley again?

[justiceischeap]

5. Exactly and we can't afford to lose a seat in the Senate. nt

[Anthony McCarthy]

8. I heard someone on Boston radio suggest that

to which I say, one blown election of that importance in a lifetime is the limit.

Congressman Mike Capuano should have been the nominee to replace Teddy Kennedy. He'd have been a good Senator.

[Mc Mike]

6. I remember how scared he was that Maddow would run against him.

[justiceischeap]

7. Yes but that's not going to happen. nt

[Mc Mike]

25. She'd make a great Senator, she'd be ideal.

Brains, insight, experience, even-temper, good heart.

What's up with Martha Coakley? Anything wrong that would prevent her from running again?

[democrat_patriot]

9. I'd support Maddow. But I think she's happy where she is....

I'd suggest a woman for the seat - Brown can't handle a strong woman.

[Mc Mike]

26. Brown's a typical repug. Big money, huge mouth, small brain, miniscule morals.

I'm happy to have Rachel there, and she performs a service for the country that's better than most Senators currently. She would be impossible to replace on her show, but maybe she could do for the Senate what she does for political reporting.

[bluestate10]

10. All the Kerry for SOS posts show that we have Freeper like minds on DU.

Minds that are so doctrinaire that they can't make accurate cause and effect correlations. This is fucking real people, if Obama pulls Kerry out of the Senate, Massachusetts likely elects another republican Senator. Replacement elections are never as well attended as Presidential elections. Many people in Massachusetts worked hard to get Warren in office, President Obama can't put those people through another difficult election, the third election in 2 years. I am a Massachusetts resident who contributed to and voted for Warren, if President Obama throws us into another senatorial election, I may sit it out.

[justiceischeap]

11. My post was intended to point out what a bad idea it would be to make Kerry SoS

I totally agree that it's likely if he's tapped for SoS, we lose a seat to Brown.

[sinkingfeeling]

12. Why can't Massachusetts' state legislature return to allowing the governor to

appoint a successor to the Senate like it was prior to 2009? Remember that they pulled the power to do so from Mitt when Kerry ran for president. Then in 2009, after Kennedy died, they passed a bill to allow a temporary appoint until special election was held.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/sep/24/massachusetts-legislature/massachusetts-legislature-flip-flops-governors-sen/

[vilify]

13. Patrick is good for senate but not AG. I don't like the idea of a 'politician' for AG

[Efilroft Sul]

14. Picking a Democratic senator for any cabinet position is stupid.

It defeats the purpose of us getting 55 Democrats/Independents to their 45 schmucks.

[jsmirman]

16. Yes, yes, and yes!

I'm sorry, but why must we shoot our own damn selves in the balls?

[calico1]

17. I agree. Or pulling out a Dem Gov.

Look what happened in AZ.

[RBInMaine]

22. So he shouldn't have picked Hillary?

[Efilroft Sul]

27. I wouldn't have.

Nothing against Hillary; I voted for her in the Pennsylvania primary. But were I elected president in 2008, one of my goals would be to preserve the head count in the Senate, and having Hillary there would have been a good thing on so many levels. That said, I like Kristen Gillibrand, and we're fortunate that she's a strong campaigner. Other "replacement" Senators aren't often that good, and seats have been lost to Republicans after a strong Democratic senator is elevated to a cabinet position.

Your opinion may vary, and I'm cool with that.

[julian09]

18. I mentioned this months ago, what is left of Kerry 's term 4 years?

They have that time to groom another candidate who will be challenged by Brown in 2016.

[sarcasmo]

19. I don't think Kerry would be a good fit for Secretary of State, just my two cents.

[karynnj]

29. He is an accomplished diplomat and has been on the SFRC for 28 years

Other than you don't like him, why is this a bad fit? He has more relevant experience than the last 4 or 5 SoS had when they were nominated. You do know that Obama and Axelrod had him as the top foreign policy surrogate in the election and had him give a speech right before Biden and Obama. An excellent speech at that.

[Nye Bevan]

21. Why does everyone think Brown would be the nominee? He has that "loser" taint now (nt)

[justiceischeap]

23. Kinda like Nixon had the loser taint and went on to be President?

Granted he was tainted in all kinds of ways but that's beyond the point. I'm sure there are other examples of "tainted" Republics going on to win. The reasoning is that he's known, he's done the job and he's got the money and it would be easy to run him. However, it really all depends on when Clinton decides to step down.

[BlueinOhio]

24. SoS

I have been hearing Jon Huntsman is up for the post. He has worked with Obama before. He was the ambassador for China I believe. The crazies in the GOP rejected him.

[Marrah_G]

28. As a resident of MA I will be pissed if Kerry is asked to be SoS

[karynnj]

30. Because he only served as Senator for 28 years? nt

[BlueMan Votes]

32. the best solution is to leave Kerry where he is.

it would be stupid to risk the senate seat.

[Ruby the Liberal]

33. This concerns me.

He pulled Janet Napolitano from AZ, and left the state with Asst Governor Jan Brewer. Enough said with that loon.

I can see why he would want Kerry - but I hope they have a damn good backup plan this time.

[Ruby the Liberal]

34. Interesting take on the Kerry for SoS role:

http://backchannel.al-monitor.com/index.php/2012/11/3126/why-john-kerry-may-have-to-cool-his-heels-on-secretary-of-state/

Don't know who this reporter is - just came across this earlier and dug it back up.

[justiceischeap]

35. It looks like Chuck Hagel could be tapped Secretary of Defense

Apparently there was speculation in 2009 that he could be tapped for that. And if the above article is factual, it seems that President Obama has his heart set on Susan Rice and if she survives the whole Benghazi investigation, she seems a good pick.