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Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar

by: Colorado Pols

Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 17:38:07 PM MST


The Rocky Mountain News has the story:

Sen. Ken Salazar is expected to become Interior Secretary in President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet, with a formal announcement to come within days, sources told the Rocky Mountain News on Monday.

Salazar has long been considered a leading candidate for Interior Secretary, based in part on his past work leading the state Department of Natural Resources.

On Monday, three Democratic sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said Salazar had been offered the job, and the announcement was expected within 48 hours.

"It's a done deal," said one source, although others said it was a difficult decision for Salazar, four years into his first term as U.S. senator.

"He's a very thoughtful guy, and this is a big decision," one source said. "It's a great opportunity, but so is being in the Senate."

At a televised news conference earlier in the day, Obama had to explain why he left out an announcement of the Interior Secretary position while he was unveiling the rest of the team that will oversee energy and environment issues.

The Interior Secretary oversees vast tracts of public lands, including environmentally sensitive areas where President Bush's Interior Department tried to vastly expand oil drilling and minerals extraction...

"I have very mixed emotions," Ritter said in a written statement. "Ken Salazar has been an extremely effective United States Senator for Colorado these past four years, particularly as a moderate centrist. But if a nomination to join the Obama administration comes to pass, Sen. Salazar would make an equally outstanding Interior secretary for the country, for the West and for Colorado."

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines.
Colorado Pols :: Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar
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Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar | 63 comments
As I posted on the other thread
the appointment will be either John Salazar, or more likely John Hickenlooper.

Hick can raise money, is will-liked by the business community state-wide, and has become close to Ritter after that initial stuff about Hick almost running a primary against Ritter in 2006.

Ritter will be comfortable running with him for his own re-election (though I think that JS would be better for Ritter and the ticket).

About the only group that is not crazy about Hick is organized labor and city employees, but that is not enough to keep Ritter from naming him (those same groups don't like Ritter either).

another thought
The sort of anti-Denver sentiment that has kept high profile Denverites (particularly Mayors) is gone, or at least gone when it comes to this particular Mayor.
[ Parent ]
Really?
...perhaps within the Metro area you are correct, but I think he would suffer from Denver-itis everywhere else in the state.  I doubt he could pull significant voters in El Paso, Weld or the Western Slope.  And, his Denver-ness would not inspire great enthusiasm in Pueblo/Southern Colorado either.

Granted, his extreme whiteness will help statewide.

[ Parent ]
Yay!
Political football and more prognostication for the next 5 weeks. Should be exciting.  
What else were we going to do
funk through a sour economy Christmas.

The sun still shines and political junkies don't have to hibernate.

[ Parent ]
Huzzah!
Good for Ken.  Maybe this will shut up the "I hate Salazar" movement for a while...at least until Ritter appoints John and they cry bloody murder again.  :)

Obviously there are a number of good potential replacements...I like Romanoff or Perlmutter...but I think there's a more important factor here.

This likely makes 2010 a more competitive election.  Not that KS was a lock to be reelected, but it's hard to argue he was in much trouble at this point.  Whoever the replacement is won't have money in the bank like KS to scare off a strong challenger (if repubs can find one).  And, as 538 pointed out the other day, appointed Sens are anything but locks to win reelection.

I smell another Blue Ribbon Commission forming.  :)

Dear Ken Salazar
Thanks for giving us something to do during the holidays.

Sincerely,

Bloggers

"I'll take incompetence over a business model incentivised to kill me any day." -- DtR(H)

Hear hear.

[ Parent ]
I prefer the speculation that goes on for weeks
and never gets settled.  This one's gone, SOS is coming down in a week or so, etc.  Then what?  Clearly Ken doesn't think weeks ahead for people with too much time on their hands.  What a jerk.

"I'm all naked and wet!" - Homer Simpson
[ Parent ]
then the scramble for Denver mayor, according to Roger!
..or the scramble to replace Ken Gordon on Mt. Olympus
[ Parent ]
I thought it was Mt. Rushmore
But you may be correct in that it is Mt. Olympus
[ Parent ]
The Greek gods are in Greece.

[ Parent ]
My bet
It will not be a white male.

Tom Tancredo Interview
Pushing hard for Kennedy?
In this case I don't know if there are enough non-whites and/or women to choose from.  Nothing personal, they just aren't high enough up.  Other than Kennedy and J. Salazar, I can't think of any.

"I'm all naked and wet!" - Homer Simpson
[ Parent ]
There's more
We have a pretty deep bench in this state.

Tom Tancredo Interview
[ Parent ]
I'm honestly curious.
The two above are good candidates, but who else fits?  Groff for instance is getting there, but may not have a large enough following yet.  DeGette should stay put.  Morgan Carroll may have the right stuff, but should spend some time making a bigger name in the state senate.  Carroll, T., the same story as his senate colleagues.  I'm really at a bit of a loss.

"I'm all naked and wet!" - Homer Simpson
[ Parent ]
Mike Miles

[ Parent ]
Thanks a lot!
...I choked on my Pinot and now vino is everywhere.
[ Parent ]
Frederico Pena

[ Parent ]
No, let Pena fuck up transportation again
[ Parent ]
and what, pray tell,
did Pena do to fuck up transportation the first time, and why would it disqualify him from becoming our next senator?
[ Parent ]
Look up the Sky Blue crash
and what Pena knew at the time vs what he said. And my point was not that it would disqualify him from being Senator, but that being Secretary of Transportation would disqualify him.

Tom Tancredo Interview
[ Parent ]
I couldn't get anything
all of the articles needed a subscription to see. So...... unfortunately I'm still not seeing your point. Could I get a brief synopsis?
[ Parent ]
What little I remember
Was that Pena knew the airplane inspections program wasn't doing a good job and ignored that. When the Jet Blue plane crashed he held up the study that laid out how the dept was doing a lousy job and claimed it said they were doing a great job.

Tom Tancredo Interview
[ Parent ]
Morgan Carroll a U.S. Senator?
Sorry, but she's not ready for THAT much prime time.

She's a Jimmy Kimmel, not a Jay Leno.

Defend the 1st, 10th, 14th and 17th Amendments - and Social Security! Vote Democratic!

[ Parent ]
I guess it depends on what you mean by "high enough up"
...as high as an umemployed ex-State Rep.?  Romanoff has that (almost) covered.  

What about Gail S.?  Whatever happened to her?  And what about Fed.Pena?

[ Parent ]
or even as high as an unemployed ex-State Rep?

[ Parent ]
Pena could be very busy.
Schwartz wouldn't be bad, but again lacking in (let me switch terms here) name recognition.

This just in, Romanoff is both white and male.

"I'm all naked and wet!" - Homer Simpson

[ Parent ]
Schoettler
is who I think Jam was referring to.
[ Parent ]
What's wrong with Schwartz?
Apparently her name is more familiar :)

"I'm all naked and wet!" - Homer Simpson
[ Parent ]
Yes, thank you
..the other Gail never crossed my mind.
[ Parent ]
True, re: Andy.
...perhaps that helps explain why an unemployed state rep is considered so "high up"?  ;-)
[ Parent ]
I'm not getting where that's coming from,
in this particular thread.  We're talking about DavidThi expecting someone that isn't a white male.

Anyway soon to be former House Speaker should be considered over a no-name, first term Rep.  Statewide there isn't enough interest in local-ish politics to use a newbie, or a quiet veteran (quiet meaning without a leadership post).  Most of the women (I've noticed more women lately, but not so many minorities) in our current system are up and comers.  The ones that have been around don't seem to have a lot of interest in seeking other offices (Madden - was considering appling for SOS and didn't, even before she knew she wouldn't be the only, Jahn - where the hell did she go?, JFG - since the primary anyway).

But I digress.  If you're so desperate to talk about Andy, I'm happy to help you indulge.  Just pick a more appropriate place.  Wait, do you have a crush?

"I'm all naked and wet!" - Homer Simpson

[ Parent ]
excuse me..
..but wasn't it YOU who said (in the post to which I responded):

This just in, Romanoff is both white and male.

Sorry for reading your posts, dear.  I will be more temperate next time.  But my desperation for Andy has been misdiagnosed.

I did, however, remark on the notion (present in this very thread!) that people here (you, perhaps?) view woman/minorities as not "high enough up" as white males like Andy, who is an unemployed, ex-state rep.  

[ Parent ]
That was in response to your
Romanoff has that (almost) covered

Find the other place on the thread that someone besides you mentioned Romanoff and knock yourself out.

"I'm all naked and wet!" - Homer Simpson

[ Parent ]
Yes, and I responded to your response.
...is that not allowed?  yet, after my response to your mention of Andy, you professed confusion as to why I mentioned him.  Anyway, poliwatchdawg also mentioned Andy, and not in response to me, so there!  (Plus, have you noticed that this topic has spread out over multiple threads?  Many of which are discussing Andy?  Really, it's true!)
[ Parent ]
Federico Pena! GREAT idea!
That is a splendid idea. I hope it gains traction.

Defend the 1st, 10th, 14th and 17th Amendments - and Social Security! Vote Democratic!
[ Parent ]
"high enough?"
Gail Schoettler - smart, ran a good state-wide campaign during the Repub ascendancy

Claire Levy - front range, but talented

Kathleen Curry - Western Slope, talented, could win state-wide

[ Parent ]
Just for fun
I'm going to say Gary Hart.  Ritter should look at appointing Gary Hart!  

:)

[ Parent ]
I just want to point out...
Way way way back when this first came up I said that if it was offered, Salazar would take it. This is a great step forward for Salazar.

Tom Tancredo Interview
Well done, Dave...
I wonder though, are there any first term Dem Senators that wouldn't have accepted a Cabinet post?  :)

Actually, I'll answer that myself:  Jim Webb might have said no...

[ Parent ]
..first-term Dem Senators are all the rage in this Administration...

[ Parent ]
Let's be fair
Hillary Clinton is a second term senator.

"I'll take incompetence over a business model incentivised to kill me any day." -- DtR(H)
[ Parent ]
Yes you did, Dave
But I don't think most disagreed with that so much as thought he wouldn't get the offer. I think it's great for Colorado and that he'll do a fine job at Interior.  

It also makes for more moving parts to consider and a higher degree of difficulty for all of us trying to guess correctly who will be appointed to SOS and Senate. If you get both of those right, you'll really have something to brag about.  

[ Parent ]
I'll miss him
I'll miss his annual Renewable Energy Conference.

He's done an exemplary job in making  Colorado a renewable energy hub.  

Ken Buck: a man of Mr. Rove and Dick Cheney. The road forward does not use reverse.

Colorado may get two Cabinet level appointees and more!
Salazar for Interior and Pena for Transportation = good for America & Colorado and cross our fingers good for RTD Fastracks! Good stuff. For those of us who got to know Will Shafroth during his years at GOCO or during the CD2 campaign, I sure hope he is asked to serve in some capacity in Washington. We need more people of his caliber (integrity; hard working; love of country, family, community; expert on the environment and policy; understands the importance of a strong economy, priority on education, understands the importance of our energy independence and sustainable energy and how that ties into not only solid environmental policies but also contributes to a strong economy by creating green collar jobs and alternative common sense transportation opportunities, and most importantly has shown a strong willingness to make decisions and carry out priorities not based on self interests but the interests of the next generation ). I sure hope our Cabinet level appointees choose experienced, good people like Shafroth to serve under them to carry out the Presidents and the Secretary's priorities and action plans. Go Colorado & U.S.A!
Bernie Buescher...
is the Dem with the best chance of holding the seat. I'd prefer Romanoff as Senator and Bernie as SOS, but the reverse will suffice.
Andrew Romanoff
Romanoff is not only a liked person in Denver but the Western Slope as well. I could see him winning this seat in a re-election bid. Either way, this is great for the State of Colorado. And how about becoming the Sr. Senator before taking office Mark?
Interesting point
We need whoever it is to be appointed at least 1 day before the new session so they get seniority over all the newly elected Senators.

In fact, before Illinois sells their seat if possible.

Tom Tancredo Interview

[ Parent ]
Does anyone think that Romanoff would deign to accept SOS?
...now that the senate has opened up?  Sounds like 4-8 years of extreme pouting if Andy doesn't become Senator.
I respect Romanoff a lot
but I would not like to see us go back to having 2 white male Senators. I think a lot of other people would say the same thing.

And while Romanoff would probably be worlds better than Udall, I don't see them bringing very different viewpoints or life experience to the job.

Tom Tancredo Interview

[ Parent ]
I don't care about filling a quota
If the strongest person for the job is Speaker Romanoff, then I'm all for him.

I don't know that we have a strong enough female or (pick-an-ethnic-background) candidate to challenge the top white male contenders aside from Degette, who I don't think would do well statewide.

"I have come to the conclusion that the making of laws is like the making of sausages-the less you know about the process the more you respect the result."  -- Anonymous IL State Rep. circa 1878

[ Parent ]
can someone please enlighten me
as to why Pena isn't the most electable candidate? Or at least why a state representative or 1 term congressman is more electable?
[ Parent ]
Pena is seen as a Denverite.
While people on the Western slope are not as averse to Denver politicians as they used to be, someone like Romanoff has worked much harder than Pena to get his name out and to connect with people outside of the Denver-Metro area.  Plus, Pena hasn't held elected office in Colorado for many may years.  That's where Romanoff or Cary Kennedy have him.  
[ Parent ]
The last gets me...
We could probably get Pena in, but I'm afraid half the state's current population wasn't here when he was mayor.  Okay, maybe not quite that bad, but add in this: the folks most likely to have been around when Pena was mayor are the rural folks we used to say were so dismissive of Denver candidates.

And at 61, Pena isn't likely to become a Senate powerhouse in his tenure.

"I have come to the conclusion that the making of laws is like the making of sausages-the less you know about the process the more you respect the result."  -- Anonymous IL State Rep. circa 1878

[ Parent ]
So what that he hasn't been in office for a while?
His record is still there and no candidate, even the darling of pols Romanoff, has great state-wide name ID. I think one of the most important issue to the rural community, apart from water rights and exorbitant farm subsidies, is transportation (i.e. roads) and Pena certainly has the credentials there. But even if every rural person in Colorado despised Pena with the fury of a thousand suns, it still wouldn't matter because you don't win Colorado by winning the eastern plains or the western slope. You do it by winning the I-25 corridor, which is where I have yet to hear a convincing argument as to why Pena is less electable than Romanoff, Kennedy, et al.

Although I'll concede your point about the age, he would never be majority leader or anything. But I think that his previous D.C. experience would allow him to go into the chamber with some clout, and the limits that his age places on his tenure could be a good thing as it forces turnover -- new faces, new ideas, new approaches -- in an aged and somewhat decrepit group.  

[ Parent ]
Jay Fawcett?
(To repeat my post on the other thread - sorry.) Ran a great campaign in '06 against formidable odds. Attractive candidate. Solid credentials. Moderate Democrat.

Defend the 1st, 10th, 14th and 17th Amendments - and Social Security! Vote Democratic!
Wellington Webb?
Hey, I'm serious. He was a good mayor, great name recognition, could draw white and minority voters... He's rested and ready!

(And that's it. Screw Silvio Berlusconi.)

Defend the 1st, 10th, 14th and 17th Amendments - and Social Security! Vote Democratic!

A new email from Ken Gordon...
"Dear friend,

I would like to officially retract my previous email lobbying for Secretary Of State, and humbly offer my services as your next US Senator instead.  

Governor Ritter, on behalf of my ever-shrinking email list, I thank you in advance for this appointment."

[ Parent ]
That was priceless!


Democrats Unite! After all, it's only the future at stake.
[ Parent ]
Webb could be good
He is definitely a powerful campaigner.

Tom Tancredo Interview
[ Parent ]
It's still a two-part equation...
1) Can said appointee get re-elected and

2) can they survive a full term in the Senate, and actually do anything of distinction?

There's a lot of names we've thrown out that would be awesome Senators, but very few can meet this standard. Perlmutter, to me, is the only guy that could do both.


"Patriot: the person who can holler the loudest without knowing what he is hollering about." Mark Twain

There is a third part to the equation
What havoc is created by moving the appointee from their current position.

For candidates not currently holding office or about to leave office, this piece is not as important. But for current office holders (Perlmutter, Hickenlooper, etc) it si something the Gov. has to consider.

Democrats Unite! After all, it's only the future at stake.

[ Parent ]
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar | 63 comments
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