Talk of Gates lingering longer

gatessoldiersRobert Gates has won bipartisan praise as defense secretary. Now there is buzz about whether the Wichita native might be persuaded to stay on, no matter which presidential candidate wins. “My personal position is Gates is a very good secretary of defense and would be an even better one in an Obama administration,” said Richard Danzig, a top national security adviser to Barack Obama and a former Navy secretary. John McCain’s campaign is making similar suggestions, though more quietly. What does Gates say? “The circumstances under which I would do that are inconceivable to me.”

14 Comments

  1. Phantom
    Posted June 24, 2008 at 7:54 am | Permalink

    It’s inconceivable to me that they would keep him.

  2. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted June 24, 2008 at 7:58 am | Permalink

    Just how many republicans WILL obama have in his administration? I constantly hear talk of this republican or that republican for VP for cabinet positions, for whatever.

    And obama supporters said we didnt have to worry about appeasement?

  3. Phantom
    Posted June 24, 2008 at 8:01 am | Permalink

    Just because he’s from Wichita, doesn’t score any points with me. He’s demonstrated he’s no Kansan, just a McCain/bush flunkie.

  4. gster
    Posted June 24, 2008 at 8:05 am | Permalink

    Compared to his moronic predecessor, Gates is a keeper. He may be the most qualified Cabinet appointment made to date by the First Idiot in the White House.

  5. Phantom
    Posted June 24, 2008 at 8:10 am | Permalink

    He definitely had an easy yr. over yr. comparison. Which is saying nothing.

  6. Phantom
    Posted June 24, 2008 at 8:13 am | Permalink

    What has gates done except follow bush and mccain policy? Rolled a couple air force heads for hauling live nukes. The man’s a genius!

  7. gster
    Posted June 24, 2008 at 8:16 am | Permalink

    Come to think of it, Gates ties his own shoes, doesn’t breathe through his mouth and has mastered the use of the compound sentence. I’d say he’s a bloomin’ genius compared to you know who!

  8. JWink
    Posted June 24, 2008 at 9:19 am | Permalink

    In my opinion, Robert Gates is the most qualified American today to fill the position of President of the United States. But unfortunately in our political system, the most qualified Americans are not often considered.

    Robert Gates was raised in Wichita and graduated from East High School in 1961, reportedly with straight “A’s.” He was an Eagle Scout with “distinguished” honors. I have been told his brother was principal of Southeast High School but don’t know when. Anybody know?

    Bob Gates had an exemplenary higher education at some eastern universities culminating with a PhD in Russian history from Georgetown University in Washington D.C.

    Mr. Gates professional career was in foreign service, CIA and so forth, to long to enumerate properly here. His final professional position was as President of Texas A&M University. He was appointed Secretary of Defense in late 2006.

    To get to the point of Ronda Holman’s editorial comments: yes, it would be wise of the winner of this 2008 presidential race to convince Robert Gates to continue in the position of Secretary of Defense for the foreseeable future. This would help unwind the middle-Eastern/Iraq mess we are in, in some logical manner.

  9. Predestined
    Posted June 24, 2008 at 10:20 am | Permalink

    “The circumstances under which I would do that are inconceivable to me.”

    And this means what? He doesn’t want to stay on? He doesn’t like McCain? He doesn’t like Obama? Somebody clue me in. As usual, I’m clueless.

  10. TomPaine
    Posted June 24, 2008 at 10:20 am | Permalink

    In recent times presidents have always had a token opposition party member in their cabinet, Clinton had Cohen , Bush Mineta.

  11. CelticKin
    Posted June 24, 2008 at 11:10 am | Permalink

    Just how many republicans WILL Obama have in his administration?

    —————————-

    As far as I’m concerned, Obama can have as many COMPETENT AMERICANS in his administration as he wants. I could give a crap about all this partisanship. It’s done nothing but damage our nation.

    People need to grow up and get their priorities straight, and if they think $4 a gallon gas is worth it for the opportunity to politicize “gays” just because they want to feel holier-than-thou about it, they need to prepare never to hold public office. A lot of us have had enough of that CRAP, too.

  12. WSClark
    Posted June 24, 2008 at 11:24 am | Permalink

    This is what we DON’T need regarding government.

    “Dobson accuses Obama of ‘distorting’ Bible – Conservative is critical of Dem’s stance on how the Bible should guide policy”

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25343812/

    “I think he’s deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own worldview, his own confused theology,” Dobson said.”

    Guns, God and Gays………….. does not an effective government.

    I don’t care if the next president is a Wiccan! We need results, not pandering to partisanship and special interests.

  13. CelticKin
    Posted June 24, 2008 at 11:30 am | Permalink

    Gates won’t stay ragardless of who the next president is.

    I’d be interested to know who got him to take the job in the first place and why he did. I’d like to see his memoir.

  14. Nano
    Posted June 24, 2008 at 9:42 pm | Permalink

    CelticKin
    Posted June 24, 2008 at 11:10 am | Permalink

    Just how many republicans WILL Obama have in his administration?

    —————————-

    As far as I’m concerned, Obama can have as many COMPETENT AMERICANS in his administration as he wants.

    Dude, that’s got to be the most sensible post I’ve seen in a while. Why are you wasting your time on this moron-infested blog?