Cabinet Strategy: A Method to the Madness?

[blackangrydem]

By appointing all of these cabinet members at once won't it be more difficult for Democrats to form opposition, criticize and challenge appointments without appearing to impede political progress?

[shoelace414]

1. an incoming president would appoint all his cabinet

at bascially the same time.

[MemphisTiger]

2. don't you mean "strategery"

[elperromagico]

3. I don't think so; Cabinet members typically resign at the beginning of a

second term. Six, IIRC, resigned from Clinton's cabinet after his '96 reelection.

So, appointing replacements all at once is not that unusual. Bush probably knew about these resignations - or had requested them - months in advance, and had already considered replacements.

[blackangrydem]

4. Wholesale changeover is not the precedent.

[elperromagico]

7. And this isn't wholesale.

It's two more than resigned before Clinton's second term.

[blackangrydem]

8. except all at once, and it's not over yet.

It is indeed wholesale.

[leyton]

5. Yes, there is a method in several ways.

I think cabinet members were encouraged to stay on until the end of the term to provide the appearance of stability (IIRC other first terms had tons of turnovers) and so that's why only three positions - EPA, Treasury, and HUD - turned over. So all the people that would left during the first term for various reasons stayed until now.

Also, Bush is making a major play for blacks and Hispanics. Hence Gutierrez (Commerce), Martinez and Jackson (HUD, 1st and 2nd term), Gonzales (DOJ), and Rice (State).

I think you are right about what you say, though. It's going to be difficult for us, and I think we have to be careful. We risk hurting ourselves, especially with Hispanics, if we put up too much of a fight to Gonzales, though we should definitely rake him over the coals about Abu Graibh. In general, we have to pick our battles, and then win them.

[From the south]

6. Cabinet turnover isnt unusual

Jenet Reno was the only one there through the whole clinton administration... I think every person in the Regan cabinet changed.

I guess Bush wants to get it all out of the way in one shot