Hagel and Lugar

USA Today's Kathy Kiely wrote in Friday's edition:

In Chester [Virginia], [Obama] spoke to 250 voters at picnic tables in a sun-dappled pine grove.

During a nearly 90-minute conversation that touched on matters ranging from health care to education, from tax policy to Iraq, Obama told the group that his foreign policy advisers will include two prominent Republicans, Sens. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Richard Lugar of Indiana.

Comments

[Judith Steckly]

Senator Richard Lugar is a true statesman. He often rises above partisan politics. It's not far-fetched to think that his expertise and values regarding foreign policy could bring him to Secretary of State in the Obama administration.

[Andy Borgmann]

The question is whether Lugar would want to be Secretary of State or not. I could see that if 1.) he were a Congressman (not a Senator) or 2.) he didn't pretty much have a lock on the election in Indiana for the rest of his existence.

But I agree whole-heartedly with your Lugar sentiments. He is probably the best example of what it means to be a Senator in the entire Senate.

[Judith Steckly]

Andy, I think Senator Lugar could accomplish much more as Secretary of State than as a Senator from Indiana. Despite his wise counsel the current administration followed other paths. Senator Lugar is well respected throughout the world. He has that great ability of using common sense! He works with leaders from different points of view. His bi-partisan efforts have been numerous, and have often brought valuable legislation. We can all be proud that Senator Lugar is from our state.

[Andy Borgmann]

Judith - on the surface I agree with that, except experience leads me to believe otherwise. Being secretary of state is sort of a lose lose. Colin Powell was widely respected before becoming Bush's secretary and it pretty much destroyed his reputation.

This is true for other SoS as well - not just those in the Bush Administration.

The SoS has become more of a puppet role of the President and largely has no "advancing" features for someone with an already stellar reputation and one who serves the public well in their current role.