The stars must be aligned. On the very same day that Barack Obama acceded to Tom Daschle's "request" to withdraw his HHS nomination, Detroit's Democratic mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is released from jail and is beginning a job search:
Kwame Kilpatrick regained his freedom early Tuesday morning, emerging from jail after a 99-day sentence and stepping back onto the streets of the city he once ruled as mayor. The 38-year-old Kilpatrick, about 25 pounds lighter than when he entered jail at the end of October, left the downtown Detroit facility wearing a dark suit just after 12:30 a.m.
Losing 25 pounds in 99 days? That's pretty impressive. At HHS, Kilpatrick could help implement his plan to combat the national obesity epidemic. Perhaps Kilpatrick would even co-opt some Huckabee supporters in the process--a win-win situation for Obama. If readers have other suggestions for Daschle replacements, please email your nominees to us. Update: The first round of nominees:
Wesley Snipes, Mark Rich, Bill Richardson, and the exhumed body of Al Capone
Meanwhile, Ezra Klein put on his thinking cap and is working hard to come up with a solid list of potential HHS secretaries. Smart money's on Kim Belshe right now. Or maybe Ezra Klein. Update: Howard Dean? Yes, please.