UPDATED: A president often described as a cowboy is leaving office and the nominee from Arizona lost the election. Still, the American West is riding high right now, in part because of President-elect Barack Obama’s Cabinet picks. He’s chosen Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (homeland security, in photo) to join his administration, as well as Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar (interior), California Rep. Hilda Solis (labor) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory director Steven Chu (energy). New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson had been picked for commerce secretary but dropped out due to a federal investigation into how his political donors landed a transportation contract. Congress’ top leaders remain House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. And California Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Henry Waxman are newly slated for key chairmanships (Senate Intelligence Committee and House Energy and Commerce Committee, respectively). So far, the West has kept the gloating to a minimum. But the South feels slighted (though Obama’s choices for U.S. trade representative, defense secretary, EPA chief and secretary of state all have Southern ties). “This is the first time you can say, ‘Look, where is the South in this administration?’ ” said Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga.
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22 Comments
Didn’t Richardson drop out?
See page 4a of this morning’s Wichita EAGLE: “Richardson bows out of the Cabinet.”
Stop the presses ……….
Richardson got caught.
The power will rotate, east to west.
Kansas remains fly over country.
Only clout Kansas has is REelecting our representatives. They get senority power.
Term limits. Good idea. Not so good for Kansas.
It’s all we got.
““This is the first time you can say, ‘Look, where is the South in this administration?’ ”
Out of it. And that’s a good thing.
Wait a minute.
Wasn’t New Mexico’s one of the US Attorneys Abu Gonzales fired for not pushing politically-motivated investigations? And isn’t this new US Attorney the hack installed by Rove?
Sounds like BushCo had the fix in for a Grand Jury to convene — remember, there’s nothing about convening a Grand Jury that indicates guilt, or even a crime — about the time Richardson would face Senate review for Secretary of Commerce.
Sounds like Obama decided we aren’t gonna play that game.
Richardson will be back.
The whole thing stinks. The timing, the target, the jurisdiction of the US Attorney who was installed by Abu Gonzales.
Told ya. See what happens when a Democrat gets accused of corruption? It’s a set up, even though it would make no sense.
You also might notice that there aren’t hoards of Republicans behaving like Democrats and calling for his head before he is even indicted.
“This is the first time you can say, ‘Look, where is the South in this administration?’ ” said Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga.
Jack Kingston?!
This is the great mind from the South who we’re being deprived of –
http://tinyurl.com/8ssz7n
Keep it up, CONs!
This is gonna be a fun four years!
Richardson Withdraws Cabinet Nomination Amid Grand Jury Probe
“Jan. 5 (Bloomberg) — New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson withdrew his name from consideration to be President-elect Barack Obama’s commerce secretary amid a federal investigation into how a political contributor won state financial business.”
Not saying he’s done anything wrong….yet, but the thread is pretty dead at this point, at least as far as Richardson is concerned.
There are plenty of others cited though, many of them clowns, which should make this all very interesting. Maybe a case of the ‘Peter Principle’ at work, we shall see.
The latest certainly doesn’t come from out west. Although not a member of the cabinet, a quote from this article states, “With Democrats controlling the White House and Congress, the new DNC chairman will be responsible for reinforcing the White House message, preparing for the 2010 midterm elections and raising money.”
Meantime the Republican Party seems to be floundering even in the decision of who might lead them (not to mention where they may be led).
———-
Obama Taps Virginia Gov. Kaine to Head DNC
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2009/01/04/virginia-governor-tim-kaine-dnc-chairman/
Linda, you do know that kaine is against stem cell research? He’s antt-choice?
Here’s what’s being said about kaine over at Crooks and Liars.
“Ugh. After Howard Dean, could we pick a more disappointing choice for DNC head? After all, what the spinally deficient Dems need is a more milquetoasty, against stem cell research, pro-life, anti-gay chairman whose actions speak directly to his callousness towards those less fortunate directing the candidates and elections to help retain the Democratic majority, doncha know?”
There’s no doubt about who’s leading the democrats.
Wingnuts with a D
Yeah, I know richardson is innocent until proven guilty. But…I’ve said before, I worked with the SOB and his staff when he was a mere congresscritter. He was a crooked skirt chaser then, and I dont imagine anything has changed.
Monkey has a point though, about the corrupt USA office in New Mexico. I think the repukes had their bases covered just in case bill was picked for something substantial.
I bet Hillary and Bill are laughing their asses off!
Nice to see the south put in their place though.
Let ‘em and their religious reich residents sit in the back of the bus for a while and see how they like it.
“Linda, you do know that kaine is against stem cell research? He’s antt-choice? — ksfarmgrrl
——-
No, I didn’t, but I appreciate the heads up! I don’t know much at all about him, guess I better do some research!
Our country can’t afford to have a repeat of bushco and if that means staying way more vigilant, writing many more letters, calling more often (for starters!) — just to let the yahoos in charge know someone is paying attention…
I do give bushco credit for reminding Americans we have responsibiities in our representative-style government!
“One of the last things our country needs is a White House that has Christian right on speed dial”
From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, no less!
…At the very least, Obama has symbolically abandoned his own denomination, the United Church of Christ, which is at the cutting edge of the social gospel. He has honored the Southern Baptist Convention, which at its core advances a privatized and individualized gospel. These two bodies occupy opposite wings of Christian faith.
Given Obama’s campaign of carefully crafted symbolism, one should not underestimate the meaning of his decision to enlist a Southern Baptist Note: “It’s Only One Prayer” Rick Warren to say the opening prayer at the inauguration.
If he is signaling a shift in his theological vision, then his moral vision is devolving.
Let’s not forget it was the leadership of a Christian tradition that privatizes faith that championed the war against Iraq, backed economic favors for the wealthy, opposed addressing climate change and did nothing to push the Bush White House to care for the marginalized in our world.
On the other hand, those who heard the biblical imperative to do justice are the ones who warned against war, criticized tax breaks for the wealthy, advocated for initiatives to address climate change and spoke up for the poor and powerless.
One of the last things our country needs is a White House that has the Christian right on speed dial, legitimizes its leadership and validates its theology.
We know where that kind of theology leads. What we don’t know is where Obama’s theology is now leading him.
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2009/0…
A little more “research” on obama’s pick to head the dnc.
I like the comments. “It’s only one prayer, he’ll only sing one song, and it’s only the head of the dnc”.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132×8057089
ksfarmgrrl
Posted January 5, 2009 at 9:12 am | Permalink
Linda, you do know that kaine is against stem cell research? He’s antt-choice?
—————
Good grief. If Obama doesn’t stop it, I’m going to start liking him.
He may need your vote there Out.
Seems like he is deciding early he doesn’t want mine.
Obama supports relaxing federal restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, as do the majority of members of Congress.
“Good grief. If Obama doesn’t stop it, I’m going to start liking him.”
Color me surprised….
“Obama supports relaxing federal restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, as do the majority of members of Congress.”
We know what he says. And what congress says. But when you look at what they DO? It doesnt match up.
It’s going to take time for people to realize who obama is. Even though he’s showing it every day, there are still many who dont believe it.
Even Oprah Winfrey agrees with Maya Angelou who says “when people tell you who they are, believe them”.