Henry Waxman Wins Chairmanship of House Energy and Commerce Committee, Janet Napolitano Will Be Homeland Security Secretary
Our daily look at stories and topics that are lighting up the Internets:
Shocker: Waxman Wins!
After a secret ballot vote of the Democratic caucus, Rep. Henry Waxman has defeated Rep. John Dingell for chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Dingell has been the top Democrat on the committee since 1981. Liberal bloggers are shocked but say it's a "very encouraging development" and a victory for Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama, and environmentalists (but a defeat for Blue Dogs). They also say it's a sign that relations between Obama's administration and the House will be good and allow for real progressive change.
Clintonites Pile Up
More transition news comes today with word that Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano will be secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. While a liberal blogger calls her a "terrific choice," conservatives disapprove, saying she appears "hawkish on illegal immigration" on the surface but "there's little substance to that appearance." With the appointment of Sen. Tom Daschle as the next health and human services secretary, conservatives have more ammunition for their complaint that Obama is filling his administration with too many Clintonites. And speaking of Clintonites, the Hillary for SoS drama continues with Bill Clinton's announcement that he will disclose his foundation donors. Bloggers wonder what's really going on behind the scenes and why she's the top contender considering her foreign policy views don't match up with Obama's.
—Gretchen Hannes
Reader Comments
Napolitano
That the heck? Napolitano can't even secure her own State's borders......
Secretary of State
Leo Donofrio's case submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court regarding Obama's citizenship has reached a new level: the case has been "distributed for conference."
On December 5, 2008, only ten days before the electoral college votes, the nine Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court will meet in private to discuss this case identified as:
Leo C. Donofrio, v. Nina Mitchell Wells, Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey
United States Supreme Court Docket No. 08A407
This docketing today by the court for this next step should send ripples of fear through the Obama camp. Obama has been proceeding at lightening speed to put together a cabinet and take possession of the White House with the hope that he won't have to answer the question of whether or not he was "at birth" a "natural born citizen."
Every major news network, print and cable news like FOX, CNN and MSNBC, have ignored all the court cases challenging Obama's eligibility as sore losers or conspiracy theories. It might be in their best interest at this point to report this critically important meeting to take place on December 5, 2008, or lose what little credibility they have left.
Women Cabinet members, especially Hilary Clinton
Hilary Clinton as Secretary of State is NOT what America needs to show that we have evolved into a more culturally sensitive nation. Beyond all the points made about her views, her overwhelming desire to be President, the Bill Factor, this is a chance to reach out to those with whom we must negotiate. They are overwhelmingly paternalistic societies--and you want to force upon them our values of women's equality. I, as a feminist, believe strongly in promoting women. I would love to see at least half of the Cabinet women--and I think there are enough well-qualified women so that would be possible, BUT not at State. A centrist male with an international outlook AND actual work in foreign relations would be a much better choice.
Leave Senator Clinton in the Senate, and put women into HHS, Interior, Commerce, Defense, Veteran's Affairs, Housing, Energy, Education, Transportation, Labor, Agriculture, and Treasury. I have heard of good women candidates for Veteran's Affairs, Treasury, and Labor. I am sure there are women who are qualified to run Education, HHS, Housing and Urban Affairs, Commerce, Transportation, and if he is having trouble finding a woman for Agriculture, I know some women ranchers who could really make a difference in Washington!
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