Cabinet Watch

[Genx87]

Post from other thread.

Vilsack has championed the development of ethanol, an alternative energy, in Iowa -- something that coincides with Obama's vision for an energy-independent future, and something he can promote from the Department of Agriculture.

I sense a contiunation with corn ethanol at the expense of the tax payer and our future requirement to get off oil. This was one area that worried me about Obama. His stance on corn ethanol is imo a roadblock to developing better sources of alternative energy. This pick only reinforces this fear. I understand the media labels is "ethanol". But being from Iowa I dont see him advocating sugarcane ethanol.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: alchemize
Sources: Obama to tap Iowa governor as agriculture secretary

CAD will have an opinion on this

Well he will save the corn farmers the extra profits.

Ethanol will still be a cash cow.

A shame.

How many people can Iowa support?

It really is a specialized Mecca with the corn.

So is Iowa the place to go when fleeing overbearing governments like California and NY?

Guess we'll find out.

Then Iowa will have to go big on Social services and tax the hell out of everyone too.

 

[jonks]

Quick, who's Bush's sec of agriculture? interior? education? yeah, i don't know either.

People get all bruised up about cabinet appointments but after they take their post you are unlikely to hear their names again. Sec Def, State, Treasury, Atty Gen, = important influential positions. Commerce is used as a reward slot but no one gives a shit who sits that chair.

So I say let the far right and far left stay distracted by the shiny objects of cabinet positions. It'll keep them busy doing nothing but whining for a while.

 

[CycloWizard]

The broken record appears to be, "...previous ______ in the Clinton administration." As I've said before, the more things change, the more they stay the same. If people wanted a bunch of Clinton people, they probably would have voted for... Clinton! The only non-Clinton people he has chosen are someone from Chicago (big surprise there), an idiot from Iowa (probably a reward for helping him win the caucuses), and the energy secretary, who might actually be a legitimately good choice.

 

[ebaycj]

Originally posted by: Genx87
Post from other thread.

Vilsack has championed the development of ethanol, an alternative energy, in Iowa -- something that coincides with Obama's vision for an energy-independent future, and something he can promote from the Department of Agriculture.

I sense a contiunation with corn ethanol at the expense of the tax payer and our future requirement to get off oil. This was one area that worried me about Obama. His stance on corn ethanol is imo a roadblock to developing better sources of alternative energy. This pick only reinforces this fear. I understand the media labels is "ethanol". But being from Iowa I dont see him advocating sugarcane ethanol.

Guess what, they can grow switchgrass in Iowa easier than they can grow corn. Actually it would be beneficial to the state to be able to diversify it's crop mixture a little bit, that way it won't be so deeply affected by corn/soybean supply/demand/futures trading.

 

[ebaycj]

Originally posted by: CycloWizard
The broken record appears to be, "...previous ______ in the Clinton administration." As I've said before, the more things change, the more they stay the same. If people wanted a bunch of Clinton people, they probably would have voted for... Clinton! The only non-Clinton people he has chosen are someone from Chicago (big surprise there), an idiot from Iowa (probably a reward for helping him win the caucuses), and the energy secretary, who might actually be a legitimately good choice.

"Waaaah, I don't like 90's-era blowjobs, so therefore I don't like Obama's cabinet picks.. Waaaah...."

 

[CycloWizard]

Originally posted by: ebaycj
"Waaaah, I don't like 90's-era blowjobs, so therefore I don't like Obama's cabinet picks.. Waaaah...."

And you're an idiot. I guess it's easier to pull out a ridiculous strawman than criticize anything that I actually said, huh?

 

[alchemize]

Ray LaHood, Transportation Secretary
Mary Schapiro , Head of SEC.

Mary looks well qualified, and I actually know Ray from living in Illinois/people connected to his campaign. Ray is a good guy as was an excellent state legislator, not sure how qualified he is for the post though...

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: CycloWizard
The broken record appears to be, "...previous ______ in the Clinton administration." As I've said before, the more things change, the more they stay the same. If people wanted a bunch of Clinton people, they probably would have voted for... Clinton! The only non-Clinton people he has chosen are someone from Chicago (big surprise there), an idiot from Iowa (probably a reward for helping him win the caucuses), and the energy secretary, who might actually be a legitimately good choice.

Vilsack supported Clinton during the caucuses. Obviously when there is only one 8 year period in which people sharing your ideological bent had an opportunity to gain executive governmental experience, many of your appointees will come from that pool. Unless you'd like him to strictly hire people with no government experience, or people from the Carter era, I think your criticism is a bit unfair.

 

[CycloWizard]

Originally posted by: Farang
Vilsack supported Clinton during the caucuses. Obviously when there is only one 8 year period in which people sharing your ideological bent had an opportunity to gain executive governmental experience, many of your appointees will come from that pool. Unless you'd like him to strictly hire people with no government experience, or people from the Carter era, I think your criticism is a bit unfair.

I have a hard time believing that the people in Clinton's administration are really the best qualified people in the nation for implementing a transparent government which is substantially different from Clinton's government. At this point, I am more likely to believe that someone with little to no executive experience who is dedicated to achieving these goals is more likely to achieve someone who has spent their life working in the "old" paradigm that Obama allegedly opposes.

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: CycloWizard

Originally posted by: Farang
Vilsack supported Clinton during the caucuses. Obviously when there is only one 8 year period in which people sharing your ideological bent had an opportunity to gain executive governmental experience, many of your appointees will come from that pool. Unless you'd like him to strictly hire people with no government experience, or people from the Carter era, I think your criticism is a bit unfair.

I have a hard time believing that the people in Clinton's administration are really the best qualified people in the nation for implementing a transparent government which is substantially different from Clinton's government. At this point, I am more likely to believe that someone with little to no executive experience who is dedicated to achieving these goals is more likely to achieve someone who has spent their life working in the "old" paradigm that Obama allegedly opposes.

Well I think that is an unreasonable standard to apply to gaining a position in the cabinet. Most (if not all?) of them were just assistants or undersecretaries who reported to Clinton cabinet members. Just because they worked in a department during Clinton's terms should not disqualify them in my opinion. The exception of course is Hillary Clinton, which I'd agree with you in criticizing.

Agree to disagree I suppose.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: BoberFett
Eric Holder is a huge gun control proponent. Looks like maybe all those people buying up firearms before Obama takes office weren't so crazy after all.

Personally I'll be stocking up with what I want now. I have a suspicion I won't be able to purchase them by this time next year.

Not that I support liberal gun control positions, but honestly, in the face of all the problems we're having to deal with now...people who continue to focus on what specific firearms they'll be able to purchase (which will have zero impact on their ability to hunt, target shoot, and/or defend themselves) seem like the epitome of misdirected concern to me.