< Back to Front Page Text size – +

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.

  • CommentComment
  • EmailEmail
» Back to Front Page
.

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
.

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
.

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
.

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
.

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
.

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
.

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
.

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
.

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
add your comment *(If you put a URL in your comment, it must be relevant )
Required
Required (will not be published)

This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.

About Political Intelligence

Reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors about the Obama administration, the Massachusetts congressional delegation, and other national political happenings.
see all Globe blogs

News from the Washington Bureau

Health care headache for House Democrats

WASHINGTON - Democratic House leaders scrambled to round up enough support yesterday for their sweeping health care overhaul, getting last-minute help from White House advisers on the eve of a historic vote scheduled for today. (Globe Staff, 11/7/09)

Health care opponents intensify late attack

WASHINGTON - The sweeping health care overhaul package before Congress is under an 11th-hour attack over a pair of emotional issues, abortion and immigration, that are complicating Democrats’ efforts to piece together the coalition they need to pass the bill. (Globe Staff, 11/6/09)

Patrick wraps up two-day visit to Washington

WASHINGTON - Governor Deval Patrick swept through Washington yesterday, wrapping up a two-day tour to advance the state’s interests in health care, economic development, and transportation - a trip that also let him showcase his access to the city’s most powerful Democrats, including President Obama. (Globe Staff, 11/5/09)

Moderate Democrats fear shift to GOP

Democratic moderates who will determine the fate of much of President Obama’s domestic agenda heard an early warning from this week’s off-year elections: Congress had better do something about the economy, or sitting lawmakers will lose their jobs in 2010. (Globe Staff, 11/5/09)

Public’s opinions of health care overhaul efforts have familiar ring

Americans’ opinion of the health care proposals now before Congress is eerily similar to public sentiment about the Clinton health reform initiatives in 1994, according to an analysis published online yesterday in The New England Journal of Medicine - and that may not bode well for Democrats. (Globe Staff, 11/5/09)

Frank reconsiders legislation after worry raised on loopholes

House Financial Services Committee chairman Barney Frank, under fire from some fellow Democrats and consumer groups for carving out what they call loopholes in legislation designed to prevent another economic meltdown, said in a letter released last night that “there may be a problem here’’ and that he wants to reconsider. (Globe Staff, 11/5/09)

BU professor turned Pakistan envoy draws flak

Professor Husain Haqqani, who took a leave of absence from Boston University to become Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States last year, is one of the most influential figures in his nation’s government. But in recent weeks, Haqqani has been fighting for his political survival, accused of something that can tank a government career in Pakistan: being too “pro-American.’’ (Globe Staff, 11/4/09)

In battle over credit abuses, Warren wields a plan

CAMBRIDGE - Her critics portray her as an ivory tower elitist intent on disrupting the American Dream. But to her legions of fans in the Democratic Party, Harvard law professor Elizabeth Warren is the nation’s leading economic David, fighting to protect middle-class families from corporate Goliaths. (Globe Staff, 11/3/09)

New England’s GOP moderates aiming to reverse ’08 setbacks

WASHINGTON - New England’s moderate Republicans, shoved out of power by two Democratic waves of anti-George W. Bush fervor, are scrambling to make a 2010 comeback, making early bids for congressional seats that GOP leaders say are critical to taking back majorities in the House and Senate. (Globe Staff, 11/2/09)

In Kennedy’s towering shadow, Senator Kirk discreetly toils

Paul G. Kirk Jr. kept to himself on a recent day in the Senate chamber, sitting quietly with a manila folder of policy papers while his colleagues milled around on the floor, back-slapping and schmoozing. (Globe Staff, 10/31/09)
archives