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Who will be President Obama's Secretary of Defense?

Settled as Robert Gates (current Secretary of Defense)

Background: This market will suspend/settle based on who Barack Obama selects as his first Secretary of Defense.


Ret. Gen. Wesley Clark: Former Supreme Allied Commander Europe of Nato

Sen. Hillary Clinton: Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee

Richard Danzig: Former Sec. of the Navy (under Bill Clinton)

Robert Gates Current Secretary of Defense

Sen. Chuck Hagel: Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Fomer Sen. Sam Nunn: Former Chairman of the Senate Armed Service Committee

Gen. David Petraeus: Commander of in Iraq during the Surge, now commander of CENTCOM

Ret. Gen. Colin Powell: Former National Security Advisor, former. Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, former. Sec. of State

Sen. Jack Reed: Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, voted against Iraq War resolution

Sen. Jim Webb: Former Sec. of the Navy, member of the Senate Armed Services, Foreign Relations and Veterans Affairs Committees

Ret. Gen. Anthony Zinni: Former Commander in Chief of CENTCOM (until 2000)

Note that the National Security Act prohibits some possible choices (Wesley Clark, David Petraeus, Anthony Zinni) as they've been military officers in the past 10 years, although Congress could hypothetically pass a waiver to allow them to be eligible, as was once done in the case of George Marshall in 1950. They're all being grouped together under the choice "A recent military officer requiring congressional waiver"

Some options and text from this page: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/1/41051/20179/636/50686

Useful Link:
New York Times article on Obama's and McCain's possible Cabinet picks

Huff Post news page on Obama's possible cabinet picks
Discussion about related questions here: http://www.hubdub.com/e/Topic/Possible_Secretary_of_Defense_Secretary_of_State_picks_96

Settlement details:As reported by a major mainstream news source.

 
Forecast history %
Sen. Hillary Clinton (NY)
0%
Richard Danzig
0%
Robert Gates (current Secretary of Defense)
97%
Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE)
0%
fmr. Sen. Sam Nunn (GA)
0%
Ret. Gen. Colin Powell
0%
Sen. Jack Reed (RI)
0%
Sen. Jim Webb (VA)
0%
A recent military officer requiring waiver
0%
Someone else (no congressional waiver required)
1%
Settled as Robert Gates (current Secretary of Defense) on Mon 1st Dec 2008 11:24am PST

Suspend date: Mon 5th Jan 7:59am PST
Settlement date: Mon 1st Dec 2008 11:24am PST

Initial likelihoods: Sen. Hillary Clinton (NY): 10%, Richard Danzig : 10%, Robert Gates (current Secretary of Defense): 10%, Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE): 10%, fmr. Sen. Sam Nunn (GA): 10%, Ret. Gen. Colin Powell: 10%, Sen. Jack Reed (RI): 10%, Sen. Jim Webb (VA): 10%, A recent military officer requiring waiver: 10%, Someone else (no congressional waiver required): 10%

Action history:

Created Sun 5th Oct 2008 9:47pm PST by neuronexmachina
Changed Description Wed 5th Nov 2008 3:46am PST by ryanj: show details
... his first Secretary of Defense. Market will be voided if Barack Obama doesn't win the election. <.<br/> <br/> -/> <br/> <b>Ret. Gen. Wesley Clark (AK), former:</b> Former Supreme Allied Commander Europe of Nato <br/> */> <br/> <b>Sen. Hillary Clinton (NY) - member:</b> Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee <br/> */> <br/> <b>Richard Danzig - fmr. :</b> Former Sec. of the Navy (under Bill Clinton) <)<br/> */> <br/> <b>Robert Gates - current</b> Current Secretary of Defense <<br/> */> <br/> <b>Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) - member:</b> Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee <br/> *fmr. /> <br/> <b> Fomer Sen. Sam Nunn (GA) - fmr. :</b> Former Chairman of the Senate Armed Service Committee <br/> -/> <br/> <b>Gen. David Petraeus - commander:</b> Commander of MNF-in Iraq during "the Surge," pending, now commander of CENTCOM <<br/> */> <br/> <b>Ret. Gen. Colin Powell - fmr. :</b> Former National Security Advisor, fmrformer. Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, fmrformer. Sec. of State <<br/> * /> <br/> <b>Sen. Jack Reed (RI) - member:</b> Member of the Senate Armed Services ... against Iraq War resolution <br/> */> <br/> <b>Sen. Jim Webb (VA) - fmr. :</b> Former Sec. of the Navy, member ... and Veterans Affairs Committees <br/> -/> <br/> <b>Ret. Gen. Anthony Zinni - fmr. :</b> Former Commander in Chief of CENTCOM (until 2000) <)<br/> <br/> Note that the ... military officer requiring congressional waiver" <"<br/> <br/> Some options and ... /41051/20179/636/50686</a> <><br/> <br/> Useful Link:<br/> <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/25/us/politics/25transition.html?_r=1&amp;pagewanted=1&amp;oref=slogin">New York Times article on Obama's and McCain's possible Cabinet picks</a><br/> <br/> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/obama-cabinet">Huff Post news page on Obama's possible cabinet picks</a><br/> Discussion about related questions ... .com/e/Topic/Possible_Secretary_of_Defense_Secretary_of_State_picks_96</a>><br/> <br/> Edited by Ryan J.
Settlement requested Tue 25th Nov 2008 1:51pm PST by gobbergo: Robert Gates
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15986.html
Settlement requested Tue 25th Nov 2008 3:24pm PST by coolkraft: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15986.html
Settlement requested Tue 25th Nov 2008 3:24pm PST by coolkraft: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15986.html
Suspended Mon 1st Dec 2008 7:43am PST by jenniandboys[Admin]
Settled as 'Robert Gates (current Secretary of Defense)' Mon 1st Dec 2008 11:24am PST by destry[Admin]

Suspend date: Mon 5th Jan 7:59am PST
Settlement date: Mon 1st Dec 2008 11:24am PST details

 

Predictions (355)

49 weeks ago
athex predicted Robert Gates (current Secretary of Defense) (H$500 at 98%)
49 weeks ago
gabrielwest predicted Robert Gates (current Secretary of Defense) (H$200 at 98%)
49 weeks ago
athex predicted Robert Gates (current Secretary of Defense) (H$500 at 97%)
49 weeks ago
vindictiveimmunity predicted Robert Gates (current Secretary of Defense) (H$500 at 96%)
49 weeks ago
weirdbro predicted Robert Gates (current Secretary of Defense) (H$239 at 96%)

Comments (15)

Hey, great work on this question. Now if only I had an idea on the right answer...
posted 1 year ago
  2 Erik
Obama would have a Secretary of Defense?
posted 1 year ago
For those picking "Someone else," could you post in comments if you have a particular person(s) in mind?
posted 1 year ago
  4 wabash
Wesley Clark is mentioned in the top but isn't in the poll. Could someone fix it?
posted 1 year ago
@wabash: if you'll note in the background "Note that the National Security Act prohibits some possible choices (Wesley Clark, David Petraeus, Anthony Zinni) as they've been military officers in the past 10 years, although Congress could hypothetically pass a waiver to allow them to be eligible, as was once done in the case of George Marshall in 1950. They're all being grouped together under the choice "A recent military officer requiring congressional waiver"?
posted 1 year ago
  6 eliminati
Its gonna be Gates at first, then Hagel will resume the spot for the last 7 years of Obama's presidency.

Obama will appoint at least a few Republicans to prominent spots in the cabinet, not obscure ones liek transportation secretary.

Personally, I think he should offer it to McCain as a massive outreach to bridge the country. But another republican is just about as good.
posted 1 year ago
I think that the McCain fans of this country would be a lot more satisified with Obama if he did give McCain this job. I know i would at least. Us republicans arent going to have a voice in the US for 4 years, not congress or president.
posted 1 year ago
  8 ryanj
lol I can sarcastically say "now you know how it feels!"
posted 1 year ago
  9 eliminati
Republicans don't deserve a majority voice with all the things they farked up. Ironically, Bush didn't even follow core Republican ideas of cut taxes, cut government, cut regulation. Republicans have a core now of the deep deep south, through Texas and north through a bunch of bible-thumping and 3 Electoral Vote states.

However, just because they don't deserve it, doesn't mean its not the most prudent thing to do. I hope a minimum of 3 spots go to Republicans, and definitely the Secretary of Defense.
posted 51 weeks ago
@ryanj stop your whining you had congress.
posted 51 weeks ago

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