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Arizona governor in line for homeland security post

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor November 20, 2008 09:53 AM

Another day in the transition to a new president, another leak of a possible cabinet pick.

Depending on who you believe, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano is in as Homeland Security secretary, or is merely at the top of President-elect Barack Obama's list, with no selection yet.

Politico and the Washington Post are reporting that she has been chosen, while CNN and NBC say she is the top choice, but no offer has been made or accepted.

Napolitano was one of Obama's earliest supporters among major Democratic elected officials during the primaries, and her state is on the front lines of the immigration debate.

According to the Associated Press, other names thought to be in the mix are: Tim Roemer, former Indiana congressman and member of the 9/11 commission; Ray Kelly, New York police commissioner; former Navy Secretary Richard Danzig; Richard Clarke, a counterterrorism official in Republican and Democratic administrations; James Lee Witt, former FEMA director; Los Angeles Police Chief Bill Bratton, a former police commissioner in Boston; former New Jersey Governor Tom Kean, chairman of 9/11 commission; and Representative Jane Harman of California, chairwoman of Homeland Security intelligence subcommittee.

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I wish the anonymous sources would get silenced. The media's thirst for the scoop is tiring. I would rather Obama announce his selections rather than anonymous tipsters.

Posted by Lawrence November 20, 08 10:52 AM
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For Homeland Security? She can't even secure her state from Mexicans coming over her border. Poor choice!

Posted by Bob November 20, 08 11:16 AM
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As an Arizona Republican I hope that President-elect Obama offers Napolitano the cabinet post and that she accepts. Republican Secretary of State Jan Brewer would serve the remaining two years of Napolitano's term as Governor. Both houses of Arizona's legislature are Republican controlled.

Posted by Thom Chafey November 20, 08 11:37 AM
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I'd be happier to see her as secretary of gay rights, if such a post exists (which it should).

Posted by M. Sutol November 20, 08 01:33 PM
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Let us listen to this woman. How is she is proposing for this hated rock? Is the violence and jail the solution at all? Fram de economy and sociology may is an approaching point of view? Let the violence an war as a face reaccion. For our founders fathers "all are equals", the foreign people mus walk in a path under the law an govermental policies? In no official policies road crimen and smugling take part?

Posted by gonzalo November 20, 08 01:39 PM
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ummmm....the list of all the other people seem to be much more qualified than this lady

Posted by rrgr November 20, 08 02:01 PM
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Lawrence, the source of these leaks is the Obama team. They want the word to get out so that they can avoid a major mistake by announcing an appointment that is too controversial. In this case, the media is not at fault, Obama is.

The security of our nation needs to be in the hands of officials that are experienced in handling terrorism and disaster management. What are her qualifications other than having been an early supporter of Obama? That's certainly not enough to make me sleep soundly when there are still people out there plotting to detonate nuclear weapons on American soil.

Posted by Rob November 20, 08 02:18 PM
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M. Sutol, are you an idiot? Gay rights? A cabinet secretary? Give me a break. You know what right gays *don't* have? The right to take a millennia old thing like marriage and just start pretending it means two guys who want to commit sodomy for a while.

Posted by haha November 20, 08 02:27 PM
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This Obama cabinet is starting to look like a Clinton cabinet. I THOUGHT HILLARY LOST THE ELECTION. or did I miss something. If he appoints Hillary Sec. of State, she will be in charge. history does repeat .

Posted by halfaday November 20, 08 03:13 PM
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