What now for Pete Buttigieg?

[genxlib]

First let me say that I am more than happy with Biden picks so far. It is refreshing to read resumes and feel like I am in good hands. While many of the names have been unknown to me, I always figured that would be the case. We at DU loved the speculation game but I always laughed to myself when the only people considered seemed to be the other Presidential Primary candidates.

Having said that, I have been holding out hope that they find a worthy spot for Mayor Pete. He has been such a good surrogate for Biden and has been willing to go directly into the belly of the beast at FOX. Frankly, I think he is just too damn smart and politically talented to waste. And unlike many of the others discussed (Sanders, Klobuchar, Warren, etc.), he is currently a free agent without a position to put his talents to use.

Personally, I had thought he would make a great chief of staff as a place where his talents could really be put to use. But I completely understand why the long term relationship and trust that Biden has with Klain makes perfect sense.

Secondarily, I thought the Press Secretary role would be good. He is excellent at that but would probably not utilize his full potential. I even felt like the United Nations or Secretary of State would be a possibility but agree that the highly qualified career diplomats are a better choice there.

I know the cabinet isn't full yet and I think he could perform well in virtually any of them. But I have not seen hid name linked to any of those positions so I don't think it is even being considered. Not to mention, the Biden Administration's laudible goal of diversity is certainly working against him.

Part of this is that I would like to see some resume building career path for him. Coming out of Indiana will make it difficult for him to rise through statewide office. I would like to see him in the Federal Government just to see what his upside might be.

At this point, I could see him landing at a think-tank or network commentator. Which would be fine but I think would underutilize his abilities and stall his career path.

So what do you think? Is there a place for him in the Biden Administration? What does his future hold?

[jimfields33]

1. I believe he wants to be professor pete at Notre Dame

That’s his step at least right now.

[northoftheborder]

2. There should be a place for him in Biden's administration - he's very intelligent and personable.

[Under The Radar]

3. Wherever he lands, he should give Democrats lessons in messaging

[Midnight Writer]

13. Exactly. He knows how to reach people, especially people the Democrats seem to have written off.

[Greybnk48]

4. Would he be looking at a Senate seat in two years?

He has the intellect and the gravitas/statesmanship to be an amazing Senator! I hope he hasn't left politics.

But I also love the idea of a liberal, gay married man teaching at Notre Dame. He will change lives there.

[genxlib]

8. He would be great in the Senate

I just don’t know if he can win in Indiana.

[Wicked Blue]

5. I think he'd make an excellent consultant to the Biden Administration

while teaching at Notre Dame

[Captain Zero]

6. He could run for Senate in Indiana 2022

He is definitely known state wide now. He would be the best candidate we have against Todd Young.

[LakeArenal]

7. Love Pete. He may still be President yet.

He more than most has time to evolve into a Super Dem.

He needs some foreign policy experience.
Maybe the head of some future detente measure. I wanted him as U N Ambasador.

Ambassador to some place.

[TexasTowelie]

9. Well, he has a job at Notre Dame

and I don't believe that he wants to move from South Bend. If he is adamant in remaining there, then I don't see any position available for him other than as some type of special liaison.

I also believe that Buttigieg might be more effective if he doesn't have the job as a government official.

[karynnj]

10. Before running for President, he ran for the DNC head

I don't know if Perez intends to stay in that position, but that might be a great position for him. There, coming from Indiana is actually a plus. He has first hand knowledge of one of the toughest areas to win in statewide. I think he did an impressive job as a candidate in a race with many far better known people. I agree that he is extremely articulate and very smart.

I can't think of any remaining cabinet position where he would be a shoo in. I suspect that he will find a place in one of the Democratic or bipartisan think tanks - maybe on foreign policy, a subject that clearly interested him. He might also get a position in the State Department or as an ambassador.

As someone said, he might want to be a professor at Notre Dame, but - to my knowledge - he does not have a PHD. I know that some universities hirer prominent individuals, but that is an exception.

[Qutzupalotl]

11. IMO his most valuable strengths are messaging and

the ability to think on his feet, which makes him ideal as a spokesperson. As a disciple of George Lakoff, he has internalized a sense of good framing and can quickly turn a difficult question to his advantage. We need many more people like him.

People have suggested Press Secretary, where he would excel, although his other talents would be wasted (a common problem for whiz kids; no position will fully utilize all their potential). I did not remember he ran for DNC chair previously, but he could definitely help there. I think a good use of his talents would be chair of Biden’s reelection (or Harris’ election) in 2024.

[Denzil_DC]

14. He's a very effective, media-friendly surrogate.

He might be happy with that role for now while he pursues other career goals.