Bernie Kerik
Bernie Kerik seems like a very good choice for Homeland Security, from what I gather of his history of doing things effectively. The BBC has the most interesting story about him, including the interesting detail that he has a half-Korean daughter from his time as an Army MP in South Korea. My time as a shink, relationship counselor, and personal consigliore to most of the USFK defense counsel has given me much understanding and acceptance of what young guys do when far from home, and nothing so far leads me to believe that he’s failed to support or accept his daughter (regular readers of this blog already know that I have a son and a baby daughter with my Korean wife).
If I have any real concerns, they would be (1) his superficial but still troubling resemblance to the guy on the right (kidding!!! heh. . . .), and (2) the fact that unlike Rudy (my first pick), he doesn’t have the legal experience. Still, Rudy wasn’t a cop, and this is mainly a law enforcement agency, so given the choice, a cop is the better choice. Kerik’s Iraq experience–not to mention his military service–will also help him see homeland security in a global context. I have high hopes for him, and frankly, had I known Kerik was an option, he might have been my first choice.