The New Republic’s John Judis on Obama’s selection of Bill Richardson as Secretary of Commerce:
I was never crazy about Richardson as Secretary of State for reasons I no longer need to enumerate, but I think he’s a perfect choice for Secretary of Commerce. He is an experienced governor; he has run a cabinet department; and he is, above all, an effective pol in a job that is highly political. The Secretary of Commerce is as close as you get to what the Postmaster General used to be. I know one shouldn’t say this aloud, but he is the cabinet officer in the best position to reward supporters and significant constituencies with money and contracts. And he represents a very important Democratic constituency.
Emphasis mine. You’re right — you shouldn’t say that aloud. For that matter, you shouldn’t even be thinking it.
