What's the Upside for Obama in a Ray Kelly DHS Nomination?

[KoKo]

President Obama: We've had an outstanding leader in Janet Napolitano at the Department of Homeland Security. It's a tough job. It's one of the toughest jobs in Washington. She's done an extraordinary job. We're sorry to see her go. But you know, we're going to have a bunch of strong candidates. Mr. Kelly might be very happy where he is. But if he's not I'd want to know about it. 'Cause you know, obviously he'd be very well qualified for the job.

Obama's comments, while laudatory, do seem to have an air of what Gothamist calls "banal praise to smooth things over." Gothamist—and most other critiques of a Kelly appointment—note that the president's administration has even recently critiqued Kelly's police force. In June, Attorney General Eric Holder indicated that the Department of Justice would be willing to appoint a monitor to oversee any changes that might be mandated after the conclusion of the stop-and-frisk civil suit.

The bigger question is why Obama would nominate Kelly in the first place. When Obama offered Janet Napolitano, the outgoing DHS head who will become president of the University of California system, the message was clear: DHS will be tough on border security. Napolitano had been governor of Arizona, giving her credibility on the issue. That was in 2008, when border security was a more important political issue. What message does a Kelly pick send?

One of the first examinations of that issue came from John Avlon at the Daily Beast. His argument came down to the idea that appointing Kelly would help Democrats maintain an air of toughness on security issues—hardly an unimpeachable suggestion.

Avlon also suggests that Kelly brings a sense of authority on issues of terrorism. If so, it's not clear how he earned it. Under Kelly, the NYPD's track record of terror investigations has earned some strong criticism. The department initiated its own aggressive, multi-state undercover operations in the wake of 9/11, which a subsequent report determined had resulted in precisely zero leads. Kelly does have experience working with federal agents on terrorism, it's true—including the CIA, which embedded off-duty agents with the force a decade ago.

Flirting with a Kelly nomination right now may pay some indirect benefits for the president. It serves as a tacit response to criticism of the Department of Justice's investigation of the Trayvon Martin shooting. Kelly would also be one of the few white males in Obama's second-term Cabinet.

Obama's been in a similar position with his ostensible allies on the left before. In 2008, he considered nominating John Brennan to run the CIA. In the wake of massive criticism of the pick from liberals angry about the nominee's embrace of Bush-era torture programs, Brennan withdrew. The liberals won.

For a while. Earlier this year, at the beginning of his second term, Obama nominated Brennan for the same position. The main opposition came from Rand Paul, Republican senator from Kentucky. Brennan was approved 63-34.

More at:

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/07/whats-upside-obama-ray-kelly-dhs-nomination/67376/

[KoKo]

1. Would Ray Kelly go through as Smoothly as Penny Pritzger did?

Anyone have thoughts about this?

[geek tragedy]

2. Obama: Clinton would be on anyone's short list for VP

Oh wait.

Obama camp never vetted Hillary Clinton for vice president spot

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/obama-camp-vetted-hillary-clinton-vice-president-spot-article-1.315512

[KoKo]

3. Is Ray Kelly a "Done Deal? Is that why there's no discussion of this...

"Insiders already Know." Like they did with Penny Pritzger that she would be confirmed.

So...is there no discussion because Police Chief Ray Kelly who was in part responsible for SHUTTING DOWN OWS is now "Under Consideration" because Obama feels he would be a Good Pick now "not eligible for DU Discussion?"