Sorry if I'm slow, do you interpret the meeting to mean that Obama is thinking of a cabinet position for McCain?

This site has devolved into a gossip column.  They are not going to discuss cabinet positions, but rather legislation that they want to see passed (i.e. earmark reform, torture bans).

OBAMA, MCCAIN TO MEET IN CHICAGO.... ABC News' Jake Tapper reported this morning that John McCain, accompanied by Lindsey Graham, will travel to the President-elect's transition headquarters in Chicago on Monday. Tapper added that there's "no indication

Thanks Political Animal. That makes more sense.

The only appointments McCain would consider would be State or Defense...and how does that help Obama?  Well the Governor of Arizona is a Democrat, would she have the chutzpah to appoint a Democrat to replace McCain?  Did McCain really show the policy wonkishness appropriate for Defense, much less State?  Could McCain be loyal to the Administration and contain his maverick streak?

It seems to me that the answers, without really being insulting to McCain, are no, no and no.  So I don't see a McCain appointment to a substantive position in the offing.  Now if McCain wanted to finish his career as Ambassador to France or even to the UN that would be another matter.  I wonder how Cindy would feel about that.

poldpf, it is standard procedure for a Dem or Rep Govornor to appoint someone from their own party regardless of the party of the Senator. When Sen. Heinz, a Rep. died in a helicopter accident Harris Wofford, a Dem was appointed by Gov. Casey. No one said a word, and that was a tragedy. McCain would be getting a promotion. I doubt it will happen though, for reasons you laid out. It could only be Defense or State for McCain so it won't happen.

I don't see it happening for another reason.  The governor of Arizona is a Dem and would appoint McCain's replacement.  That could get the Dems to 60 in the Senate.  THAT would be a real gesture of bipartisanship though.

blackie, either you read my mind or I read yours.

McCain ought to stay in the Loyal Opposition.  We are going to need one to protect our liberties from the emboldened, totalitarian Left.

Cindy McCain gettting to spend four years in Paris?  I think she'd cope.  

ChanRobt, totalitarian left? Can you provide some examples of what has transpired recently, or what you think's in the offing?

Defense is Gates and State is HRC (I admit, shocked at first, but liking it more and more now...team of rivals and all that). Moreover, McCain is unqualified by temperament (at least as seen in the campaign) to be in either position. Nothing else, except maybe Homeland Sec would fit...and that job puts a premium on organization, again not evident in the campaign.

Does anyone have an opinion about the pros and cons of Clinton vs. Kerry for Sec'y of State? I have to say either pick leads me to believe I don't know the qualifications for the position.  Although, Clinton has proven to be very diplomatic in the Senate, and I think she's kind of a hawk.  Maybe that's the ideal mix.

Yo Channy - you crack me up.  

I agree in principle though, we need intelligent Republicans elected officials to help clean up the disaster of Bush in good faith, and God knows we're short on them.  

Where we'll see the real heros in the Republicans party will be behind the sceens, the military JAGS who will diligently repair the damage to the constitution, the Federal Prosecutors who will be getting out the disinfectant over at Justice and across the states.  I look forward to their help and leadership.  No one has been angrier than them.   Maybe Rove will be indicted after all in the Alabama case.  Hope so.  It will be members of his own party who will do it too.  Yay!  

At the federal level, McCain is a great asset in global climate change and immigration, although the Palin nutjobers will of course think the opposite.  The GOP had best consider taking McCain's lead on these issues, although fine by me if they don't.  

Channy -- "totalitarian"!!??  Give me a break.  What I expect from conservatives is some maturity and the longer perspective, not student-activist-style hyperbole from 1971.  It was even silly when the left was doing it.

Prediction: HRC will not be Sec of State, either because it is not offered to her or because she turns it down.

It is simply not in her best interests to take the job.  Her signature issue has been health care, and just at the moment when it is likely to come up again, this time for real, she's going to the State Dept?  Nah.

McCain for Secretary of Housing? He has the experience...

--The Wise Bard (here in his capacity as wise ass).

Tim, Hillary's interest is health care, and she may have even had it right in '93, but do you think at this point her brand is (wrongly) perceived as tainting any health care initiative? Even four years ago, I fantasized about Howard Dean becoming Sec'y of HHS in a Kerry admin.  But he's moved on as well.  In any case, these pp. have reported that Tom Daschle has now become a health expert, and he hasn't been associated with any failed "socialization" of medicine.

Arizona's governor is required to fill McCain's seat with a Republican appointment if McCain leaves for a cabinet position.  

Arizona's governor is required to fill McCain's seat with a Republican appointment if McCain leaves for a cabinet position.  

ironyroad, the Left's impulse is always towards totalitarianism, conscious or not.  It is the Left that always wants a larger and larger state with more bureaucrats which necessarily creates more coercion.

The Left impulse is to built a state which intrudes further and further into every aspect of life and perpetuates itself by fostering dependence.  Add to that mix the cult of Obama with children taught to sing songs about him, and teenage militias taught in public schools to march to the chant of Obama and you have the potential for something never seen before in this country.

But, it has been seen in other countries:  Cuba, the Soviet Union, China, North Korea.  The control of Leftist countries are more absolute over their citizens than even that of fascist states.

ChanRobt, is this your worldview - Obama=Left, Left=N. Korea, therefore Obama=N. Korea?