OT: LaHood Accepts Transportation Secretary Job

[SFP]

This to me is just as great as our basketball team making it to the Sweet 16 if not more. This to me really puts our University in the right light.

Congratulations!

[BradleyBrave]

Fantastic choice! I couldn't be happier!

[brocks]

Very good for BU. Recall when Bob Michel was House Minority Leader and Shalikashvili was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. For a school its size, BU produces a lot of power players. Great news. Also speaks well for the new prez from Illinois.

[Big Mike]

I also like this move...always nice having someone from Peoria and BU in power!

[Beninator]

I have never been a fan of Ray, but I like this choice.

[tornado]

any opinions on why a Democratic president elect would name a relatively top ranking, long time Republican/conservative?

I know on the surface most such appointments are "said" to be given to the best guy for the job, but I think we'll all agree favoratism, payback, and politics play at least an equal role.


The Wall Street Journal says this about the appointment....and they are also stumped as to why he was picked...
"LaHood did not serve on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee,
and the long-time member of the House Appropriations Committee did not work on
transportation funding. He is a noted opponent of organized labor’s efforts to win
legislation easing their ability to unionize work places through the signing of cards
rather than through secret elections. That will be a key issue as Democrats move to
unionize the Transportation Security Administration, something President Bush adamantly opposed."

[Da Coach]

Obama had promised to select a Republican for his cabinet, and so far he had not done so.
LaHood, like Robert Michel, has always been a "get-along" sort of congressman who never let partisanship get in the way, and willing to work with the other side. I think that's why he was picked.

[Beninator]

any opinions on why a Democratic president elect would name a relatively top ranking, long time Republican/conservative?

I know on the surface most such appointments are "said" to be given to the best guy for the job, but I think we'll all agree favoratism, payback, and politics play at least an equal role.

Maybe it's me, but I dont consider Lahood a conservative. Lahood is the second republican on the cabinet. fwiw Robert Gates was asked to remain on the cabinet as defense secretary for at least a year.

Nominating cabinet members from opposing partys happens from time to time.. William Cohen (republican) was Secretary of Defense in the Clinton administration and Norm Mineta (democrat) was in the George W Bush administration

[Da Coach]

Robert Gates was asked to remain on the cabinet as defense secretary for at least a year.

Since he has never ran for public office, nobody really knows if Gates is a Republican. He has never said he is, that I know. Because he was never a public official, or announced as a Republican, he was confirmed easily by most Democrats.

[Beninator]

Since he has never ran for public office, nobody really knows if Gates is a Republican. He has never said he is, that I know. Because he was never a public official, or announced as a Republican, he was confirmed easily by most Democrats.

That was news to me so I did a little research...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28022197/

"During his tenure at the CIA, he said, he thought he should be apolitical so he did not register with a political party. But, he added, "I consider myself a Republican."

[SFP]

Regardless of party Gates was one of things that GWB got right. Gates just had an interview on PBS with Charlie Rose. There is nothing not to like about this guy. He did state that he considers himself a Republican and was hoping that Obama did not ask him to remain but he felt it was his duty to stay since asked. There has not been one decision he has made that I have disagreed with these past 3-4 years. He agreed and help prepare for the surge in Iraq and he knows enough about Afghanistan not to flood it with troops like some are asking.