Janet Napolitano To Head Up Homeland Security

by Todd Beeton, Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 02:08:16 AM EST

Another cabinet member chosen:

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) has been chosen to serve as secretary of the vast and troubled Department of Homeland Security for President-elect Obama, Democratic officials said. Napolitano is a border governor who will now be responsible for immigration policy and border security, which are part of Homeland Security's myriad functions.

Napolitano brings law-and-order experience from her stint as the Grand Canyon State's first female attorney general. One of the nation's most prominent female elected officials, she made frequent appearances on behalf of Barack Obama during the campaign. She was re-elected to a second four-year term in 2006. [...]

The Democratic officials said Napolitano has not been officially offered the job but is likely to be named and to accept. The selection was first reported by CNN.

Happy birthday, John McCain, two years early. You dodged a bullet.

I haven't looked into how she would be replaced. Does anyone know how Arizona law works in this regard? How's our Arizona bench?

Update [2008-11-20 2:15:18 by Todd Beeton]:Nate has the answer:

Democrats will also lose the governorship if Napolitano accepts a cabinet position. Arizona is one of four states without a lieutenant governor's position, so the honors would go to Jan Brewer, the Republican Secretary of State.

Double Arggh, although, Brewer would serve just until 2010 when Nate posits Gabrielle Giffords might have a run at it to reclaim it for the Democrats.




Tags: janet napolitano, barack obama, homeland security (all tags)

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Re: Janet Napolitano To Head Up Homeland Security (none / 0)

Arizona is going to be a lot worse off with Janet gone.  I wish she were staying to take McCain's seat and to establish a successor.

Also, I'm not sure how she'll treat the immigration issue.  She's pretty much punted on it for her whole tenure as governor, claiming it's a federal issue.  I think she's probably a lot more liberal in her views than the political environment allowed, but she hasn't shown a lot of leadership in this area.


Change has come to America.
by the mystical vortexes of sedona on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 02:26:51 AM EST

Re: Janet Napolitano To Head Up Homeland Security (none / 0)

On the optimistic side, she might be more Jane Hull than Matt Salmon.  No one in AZ politics really has the courage to stand up to Pearce or Arpaio.  So at least she probably will be more moderate than any Republican successor she would have had had she served out her term.

The Governorship was going to flip after her second term anyway and probably to someone more like Pearce because Giffords would be a tough sell to Maricopa County.


I wonder why everyone in the blogosphere feels the need to measure his or her Sebelius.
by AZphilosopher on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 04:08:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]

A lot of "she's" floating around (none / 0)

The first "she"=Brewer
Second "she" =Brewer
Third "she"=Napolitano
Fourth "ahe"=Napolitano
I wonder why everyone in the blogosphere feels the need to measure his or her Sebelius.
by AZphilosopher on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 04:36:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A lot of "she's" floating around (none / 0)

It took me a second, but I got that.

What I'd really like to know is who is Hearst and Arpeggio or whatever.


When you start out making the "slippery slope" argument, where do you draw the line?
by Jess81 on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 05:45:29 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A lot of "she's" floating around (none / 0)

Pearce=scary state Senator anti-education, anti-immigration, total wingnut

Arpaio=sheriff of Maricopa county (Phoenix), anti-immigration, uses department resources to enforce ICE rules, likes harsh treatment of prisoners.

These gentlemen need to be told to stop exploiting these issues and to STFU but no Democrat (including Napolitano) or Republican in the state will because they are popular.


I wonder why everyone in the blogosphere feels the need to measure his or her Sebelius.
by AZphilosopher on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 09:52:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A lot of "she's" floating around (none / 0)

More local players:

Hull-former Governor of AZ, really more moderate than current Repubs in State government

Salmon-wingnut who ran against Napolitano and lost

Raul Grijalva-Democratic Congressman from Tucson.

Giffords-Congresswoman from Tucson

Maricopa County=Phoenix metro area, largest county in the state, 55%-45 Republican

Pima County=Tucson, largest Democratic stronghold in the state much smaller than Maricopa County

The opinion of the average person in Maricopa County is that only communists, machine politicians and other undesirables live in Pima County.  

Taking the sitting governor into the cabinet is probably not a big deal because Giffords was probably going to lose statewide anyway.  So it would be better to get a more moderate Republican in as the incumbent instead of having Pearce win the Repub primary.

My guess is it is no coincidence she was leaked a couple days after the McCain/Obama meeting.  It was probably the cost of doing business on some item.


I wonder why everyone in the blogosphere feels the need to measure his or her Sebelius.
by AZphilosopher on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 10:09:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A lot of "she's" floating around (none / 0)

Joe Arpiao is the sheriff of Maricopa County.   I am not even from Arizona and know about him.  He is on the news on the time for his get tough on crime.  He uses chain gangs and stuff including women chain gangs.  


by gavoter on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 09:55:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Janet Napolitano To Head Up Homeland Security (none / 0)

Cool. While I feel bad for Arizona, it would be great to have TWO western state Governors move into the Cabinet, assuming something also happens to Richardson...


Ever heard of a Blue Moose Democrat?
by Nathan Empsall on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 02:30:49 AM EST

Re: Janet Napolitano To Head Up Homeland Security (none / 0)

Lots of good women in the cabinet so far (including Hillary). Kathleen Sebelius will be offered a top job too I bet since she is in her second term as Gov. lets see what top position would be good (or is still left) hmmm... any guesses?


by YourConcernsAreNoted on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 02:40:17 AM EST

Re: Janet Napolitano To Head Up Homeland Security (none / 0)

I bet Sebelius will get Education. Her governor's page bio lists educaion as a top priority and says this:
"Because good schools equal good jobs and a growing economy, Governor Sebelius has made improving public education a priority. During her first term the state made a historic commitment to Kansas' schoolchildren, and in her second term, Sebelius has strengthened that commitment, proposing significant funding increases for early childhood learning and pre-kindergarten programs."

I've also seen her mentioned for Energy.


by slvn on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 06:10:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Sebelius is being vetted (none / 0)

firstread says it is probably for Labor though it might be Energy.


by Lolis on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 11:05:02 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Janet Napolitano To Head Up Homeland Security (2.00 / 1)

Not such good news.  Napolitano now leads McCain by double digits in a hypothetical 2010 Arizona Senate race  match up.  We will need to get, or protect, our filibuster-proof Senate much more than we will need her leadership on Homeland Security.


It's time for a new capitalism that puts the People over the Rich - www.profitdonationcapitalism.org.
by Georgeo57 on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 02:42:18 AM EST

Re: Janet Napolitano To Head Up Homeland Security (2.00 / 2)

The best way to protect and enlarge our lead in Congress is to actually run the country in an above average manner.
by j royale on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 03:09:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Bingo (none / 0)

All this talk about the 2010 AZ Governor's race (and Senate race) misses the point; the election will turn on the performance of the Obama government more than anything else.


by elrod on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 07:16:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Janet Napolitano To Head Up Homeland Security (none / 0)

Has anyone polled Grijalva or Giffords against McCain or are we going to get Pedersen II:even more inept than before?

I really like the idea of running Grijalva of the two Tucson residents trying to make a dent in McCain's support with Latinos.  McCain will be facing very angry wingnuts on both immigration and the lost presidential.  Cut into his Latino support and he's done.


I wonder why everyone in the blogosphere feels the need to measure his or her Sebelius.
by AZphilosopher on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 04:15:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Janet Napolitano To Head Up Homeland Security (none / 0)

I think this falls under the policy vs. process distinction that was on the front page a few days ago. Apologies that I don't recall the name of the diarist.

Obama is trying to pick the people he thinks are best fit for the particular job. As he should.

I'm well pleased. Go sister!


by carrieboberry on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 05:14:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Janet Napolitano To Head Up Homeland Security (none / 0)

It is a hypothetical matchup.  All of Janet's experience has been executive, not legislative.  There's no guarantee she'd even want to be a Senator.


by Dreorg on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 07:45:32 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Janet Napolitano To Head Up Homeland Security (none / 0)

It was a Daily Kos-sponsored Research 2000 poll that gave her a 9 point lead.  Apparently, other polls have shown the reverse trend.

Janet is loved in AZ, but she wouldn't be guaranteed a win and she might struggle in the race as AZ will probably be suffering over the next two years with the recession (and a housing-based economy).


Change has come to America.
by the mystical vortexes of sedona on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 09:52:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Janet Napolitano To Head Up Homeland Security (none / 0)

I'm intrigued by the confluence of the Napolitano choice, the Lieberman decision and the McCain meeting all in the same brief space of time.  Could there be some sort of deal in the works here?  McCain and Lieberman are food friends; Lieberman was allowed to remain as chair of Homeland Security; and now Napolitano from McCain's state of Arizona gets the Dept. of Homeland Security job.

Maybe Napolitano gets to use Homeland Security to boost her resume for a couple of years and participate in immigration reform with an assist from McCain.  Then she leaves the job to run for McCain's seat, and McCain gets moved out of the Senate to the DHS job, where he can work with old friend Joe, thus clearing the field for Napolitano.  In exchange, Lieberman was allowed to keep his seat.


by Dan Kervick on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 08:02:39 AM EST

can't she still run for Senate? (none / 0)

I don't see why not. Johanns ran for NE Senate after being Secretary of Agriculture.


Join the Iowa progressive community at Bleeding Heartland.
by desmoinesdem on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 08:45:21 AM EST

Re: can't she still run for Senate? (none / 0)

Right, but he ran for Senate two cycles after he was appointed to the Cabinet.  For Napolitano to run for Senate in 2010, which is what the speculation has focused on, she'd probably need to announce her candidacy towards the tail end of 2009.  That means less than a year in the Cabinet before she, presumably, resigns in order to campaign.


"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman
by Steve M on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 10:53:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Janet Napolitano (none / 0)

Solid pick.  Really solid.


by RichardFlatts on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 08:57:57 AM EST

Buzz is that Sebellius will be Labor Secretary (none / 0)

"Another governor to keep an eye on today as the next potential "leaked" pick: Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. The vetting process is well under way for her, and the most likely spot for her appears to be Labor secretary, although she might also wind up at Energy. But Labor makes the most sense, as both the business community and labor seem to be fans."

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2 008/11/20/1683066.aspx


by puma on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 09:46:13 AM EST

Yes, but... (none / 0)

...why hasn't Obama picked any women for his cabinet yet?

Oh, wait.


You can't stop the signal.

President "That One"

by Dracomicron on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 09:51:04 AM EST

Bummer (none / 0)

We lose a shot at McCain.  Guess he and Obama made a deal.


by activatedbybush on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 10:00:15 AM EST

Re: Janet Napolitano To Head Up Homeland Security (none / 0)

Not a good idea IMHO, for purely political reasons.

We need to have Democrats in the Governor's offices out West to not only govern well, but to prevent GOP shenanigans at the ballot box.


by LionelEHutz on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 10:03:23 AM EST

Napolitano as Obama's VP nominee in 2012? (none / 0)

Obama will be looking to add states to his victory list.

Biden will have served his purpose and would rather be SoS in the second term anyway.

These some people that make sense for Obama to pick:

* Janet Napolitano

  • Kathleen Sebelius
  • Brad Henry
  • Brian Schweitzer
  • Tim Ryan

If Napolitano does well at Homeland Security, she'll be a popular former governor in a swing (lean red) state with national security experience.


Rrrinnggg... Time to change the government.
by Carl Nyberg on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 11:01:32 AM EST

Re: Janet Napolitano To Head Up Homeland Security (none / 0)

Jan Brewer as Governor of AZ? Noooooo!!!

Brewer is a former candidate with a hard right agenda who ran a vicious campaign that pretty much revealed what a vile person she is.  

We are screwed down here. First, we are stuck with two senators (Kyl, McCain) who haven't done squat for our state. And now we will be governed by a right wing fanatic for 2 years.

Hopefully Gabrielle Giffords or current Attorney General Terry Goddard can defeat the dark side of the force.


Let the spin begin!
by KoolJeffrey on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 12:52:34 PM EST


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