1) The word "politics" comes from the word "policy" - as in which policies the government should enact. Cabinet positions such as the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State, as well as all other Cabinet positions, execute laws for those government agencies under their purviews on behalf of the President.
It also means,
Idiom
8. play politics,
a. to engage in political intrigue, take advantage of a political situation or issue, resort to partisan politics, etc.; exploit a political system or political relationships.
b. to deal with people in an opportunistic, manipulative, or devious way, as for job advancement.
Politics | Define Politics at Dictionary.com
Clearly this is not what the SECDEF is supposed to do. Also, I will be more clear in my use of the word "politics" next time. Funny how you were the only guy who found issue with my usage of that word though.
2) Just because something is based on politics does not necessarily mean it is based on partisanship. The reason why Obama kept Robert Gates was because Obama wanted to maintain institutional continuity of the military since we're fighting 3 wars. Also, Obama and Gates seemed to have the same ideas regarding the administration of the military despite being from different parties.
See definition above. Obama tends to practice that defintion of politics more than the definition you put forth. Also, and this is just me, I believe that all politicians weight the "political" backlash with every appointment they make. Example, Hillary Clintion. Obama was criticized as being smarmy and condescending towards her during the campaign. In addition, her husband is a champion for the Dem Party. It was a political win for him as well as the fact he thought she'd do a good job.
3) As you said, executive positions are appointed, not elected. But that doesn't mean they aren't political. Since, because they are government positions, they are innately political. Since those positions help determine and enforce government policies.
They are political in the sense I described above. Not, I believe, in the way you describe. I believe the offices I described are the most unaffected by partisanship. They do, for the most part, what is right by the people. When they don't, they get hammered like AG Holder is right now. He has delved into the politics I describe is now lauded by both parties.
4) Yes, the Secretary of Defense is the highest ranking official that represents our servicemen. Even so, the representation of our servicemen is not his primary responsibility. That was the point I had made.
I agree with you. It isn't his primary responsibility and I never said it was. I simply said he is overall responsible for it, which he is.
(C) include a description of the means by which the Department of Defense will maintain the capability to reconstitute or expand the defense capabilities and programs of the armed forces of the United States on short notice to meet a resurgent or increased threat to the national security of the United States;
(D) reflect, in the overall assessment and in the strategic and regional assessments, the defense capabilities and programs of the armed forces of the United States specified in the budget submitted to Congress under section 1105 of title 31 in the year in which the report is submitted and in the five-year defense program submitted in such year; and
(E) identify the deficiencies in the defense capabilities of the armed forces of the United States in such budget and such five-year defense program.
10 USC § 113 - Secretary of Defense | LII / Legal Information Institute
