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February 23, 2004 –
In responding to The Moderate
Independent’s latest poll, M/I readers have opened a comprehensive
discussion about the individuals who can shape the future of our
country – ideally for the better. Ranging from Don Henley and John
Hightower for head of the EPA, to Barbara Lawton for Health and
Human Services Director and Ben Cohen for Secretary of Commerce, our
readers came up with suggestions for 26 different positions for the
upcoming Democratic ticket.
True to The Moderate Independent’s
nature, chief moderate in the race General Wesley Clark ran exactly
even with current frontrunner Senator John Kerry for President,
while finishing a solid first over John Edwards in the Vice
President category as well (63-13%.) And Clark won a plurality of
recommendations for Secretary of State, with 45% of people choosing
him, while former President Bill Clinton came in second in that
category with 14%.
A wide array of offerings, though, for
the Secretary of State position is sure to expand discussion on the
topic.
Edwards and NY Attorney General Elliot
Spitzer ran neck in neck in the Attorney General category, with
former attorney Edwards edging out the lesser known New Yorker
44–36%. Andrew Young also stood out as an interesting choice worthy of conversation.
For head of the EPA, Robert Kennedy, Jr.
was choice of 31% of respondents, while Jim Hightower and Ralph
Nader tied for second at 16% (this was prior to Nader’s announcement
that he would run for President again.)
Governor Howard Dean, an MD, was the top
choice for Health and Human Services, Surgeon General and, not
surprisingly, to head the Democratic National Committee.
Robert Rubin was the top choice to run
the Treasury Department, and in a dream arrangement for organized
labor, Gephardt was the first pick to run the Department of Labor.
One of our favorites has to be the pick
of Al Sharpton to head the FCC.
In the redemption/revenge category, Joe
Wilson got a least a few votes in the Secretary of State category,
and Max Cleland took top honors for Secretary of Homeland Security –
which would be for his supporters a welcome vindication against the
claims that he was soft on homeland security that were made by his
opponent, now-Senator Chamblis, and President Bush during the 2002
elections.
Secretary of Defense is perhaps the most
interesting chart to take a look at, as there are numerous high
quality choices but no clear frontrunner. Senator John Kerry
(provided he’s not busy at the top of the ticket) and Barry McAffery
led with 12% each, but numerous others were close behind, including
Republican Senator John McCain (one of M/I favorites on that side of
the aisle) and current Secretary of State Colin Powell, who was tied with Senator Bob Graham for second place. As you see, for Moderate Independents, party doesn't matter, only the quality of the individual - even Powell isn't tainted by his Bush association in this poll.
And in the irony category, once-homeless
Congressman Dennis Kucinich was tied for the Head of Housing and
Urban Development, and former-Senator Jean Carnahan, who lost her
husband, Senator Mel Carnahan in a plane accident in 2000, was tied
for top honors for Secretary of Transportation.
Check the complete results, containing
recommendations for all 26 offices for which suggestions were
received.
Click here to see the results | 
