Defense Secretary?

[karynnj]

33. Thanks for the wise words

All your points make sense. It very likely is NOT Obama leaking as he has no need to influence himself. After thinking of your points, I suspect the SOD stuff is likely offered to suggest there is a way to have both of these people. However, doing so guarantees two fights at a time that Obama does not need fights. Picking Kerry for state and Hagel (or some military connected person) for defense might be two easy confirmations. Rice did tell the media that she would be happy staying at the UN as long as Obama wants and (unlike Kerry) she is young enough that she would be an obvious candidate in 2016, 2020, or 2024 when we have a Democrat in office.

There was also a lot of praise for Kerry as SOS from important Republicans in the Senate - not just as a negative to Rice or happiness that they could possibly get Brown back, but genuine praise for his work, integrity and abilities. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/83771.html

I was so happy to see this article because it reaffirms the praise that people like Corker and Lugar have given Kerry on the SFRC committee. I think that the title is true EVEN if there were no problem with Benghazi. The praise given was for Kerry, not against someone else. Senator Cardin makes a very strong case for Kerry:

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) defended Rice, saying she has done an “outstanding job” as U.N. ambassador to the U.S. But he said Kerry would benefit from his decades spent building relationships on Capitol Hill.
“Sen. Kerry is under consideration for a high position because he’s talented, has tremendous integrity and respect — he also happens to be a senator,” Cardin, who also serves on the committee, told POLITICO.
“Part of your responsibility in the administration is your relationship with the Senate and House, and obviously Sen. Kerry has an incredible relationship. I think colleagues on both sides of the aisle will tell you that.”

(Rice people could say that over the last 4 years, Kerry used his position to get all the Senate votes fixed and could continue to do that - as a Senator.)