Okay, who is an acceptable nominee for Secretary of Defense?

[Hippo_Tron]

[Karenca]

1. Clark........eom

[More Than A Feeling]

6. That...is brilliant!

Nothing says "A New Direction" like getting Bush to appoint a past Democratic presidential contender! Sadly, the chances of that happening appear to be between slim and none. Still, he could be on the list of Democratic alternatives.

[BOSSHOG]

7. And General Shinseki as an able assistant

[BrotherBuzz]

8. Wes Clark is not eligible to hold the position

By statute the secretary must be a civilian who has not served in the active component of the armed forces for at least 10 years (10 USC Sec. 113). Clark retired in 2000.

[Recovered Repug]

9. However, George Marshall served as SOD for a year

and he was a five star general.

[BrotherBuzz]

11. Indeed, but only after a special congressional waiver

Marshall also held the position of Secretary of State after his soldiering days ended, and that may have weighed more in the decision than that fifth star. He was viewed as a seasoned and proven statesman by that point.

[Recovered Repug]

14. That was my point.

Whatever rule Congress creates, they can also waive.

[ck4829]

2. I nominate Tammy Duckworth

[bemildred]

3. Barney the Purple Dinosaur. nt

[NMDemDist2]

4. McCain? Murtha? somebody who has actually SERVED would be

nice and who hasn't been hip deep in scandals

[leesa]

10. McCain? Was that a moment of madness?

How about someone who actuallt knows what the meaning of 'defense' is?

[scarletwoman]

5. Colin Powell? (just kidding -- mostly)

[TheJollyNihilist]

12. Murtha

It has to be congressman Murtha.

[Totally Committed]

13. Powell or Zinni would be good. /nt

TC