Obama Cabinet Pick Napolitano Gives Arizona a Republican Governor

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: NYT/AP

President-elect Barack Obama's announcement Monday that Gov. Janet Napolitano is his choice to head the Department of Homeland Security means a Republican will move into the governor's office.

Arizona does not have a lieutenant governor, so the Democratic governor's midterm departure -- if she is confirmed as secretary of homeland security -- means she will be succeeded by Secretary of State Jan Brewer, a Republican in a state that leans toward the GOP....

The turnover won't occur before late January at the earliest because Napolitano said she doesn't plan to step down as governor until the U.S. Senate confirms her appointment....

***

Napolitano, 51, would be departing after six years as Arizona governor and midway through her second four-year term. She previously served as Arizona attorney general and U.S. attorney for Arizona....

Brewer, 64, is a veteran public officeholder, with more than two decades as a legislator, a Maricopa County supervisor and secretary of state. Brewer had a reputation as a fiscal hard-liner and conservative on social issues while a legislator in the 1980s and 1990s, so her taking over the governorship would mean a new approach from Napolitano's direction.

Napolitano has pushed for more spending for education and social services. Republican legislators charge that she rammed through spending that the state cannot afford. Napolitano also has been a liberal on some social issues, including abortion rights, and pushed for strong state action on environmental initiatives.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Cabinet-Successor...

[onehandle]

1. It's likely that Arizona's next Governor would have been a Republican anyway.

So they get one two years early. Not a huge problem. Hopefully the state will get smarter by 2010.

[saracat]

3. You are completely uninformed. It was not likely.We have an AG who is even more pouplar than Janet

Terry Goddard but Janet's leaving and the now, unneccessary GOP majority that was allowed to be elected by our State Party is going to make it harder for him to be elected.Until Janet's appointment and the loss of the leg most would have said a Dem Gov was a done deal.

[AllentownJake]

7. America needs her more than Arizona

Judging by the disaster FEMA is in I can't imagine what shape the rest of the departments in. We need a capable executive.

Sorry.

[Alexander]

8. Many other people would make a good Homeland Security secretary.

America needs a good Homeland Security secretary, but not necessarily Napolitano.

Arizona, on the other hand, needs Janet Napolitano.

[AllentownJake]

12. What Obama wants

Obama gets.

[Alexander]

18. I'm not disputing that.

I just happen to believe that there are other qualified choices for Homeland Security secretary, and there aren't a lot of good statewide candidates in Arizona.

[saracat]

34. Lots of other folks could do this job.We need her veto pen.

[Wabbajack_]

15. "unneccessary GOP majority that was allowed to be elected by our State Party"

Say what?

[Alexander]

19. It makes about as much sense as anything else she says.

Zero.

[saracat]

25. Our state Party "Allow4ed" the election Of GOP legislators and state senators

to happen even in Democratic districts though we were well funded and had every reason to look toward victories. They invested our resources in money and people poorly.Is that clear enough?

[Wabbajack_]

50. Arizona still leans puke

It's no shock they have the legislature. I wouldn't chalk up Dems failure to win it as incompetence.

[saracat]

52. Well, most of us do.And while we may "lean puke" according to you

we out registered the GOP 3 to 1 and had not only a Dem Gov, but Dem Attorney General and our congressional delegation is Dem dominated. We raised more money than any other state party. And we elected 2 out of 3 members of the corp commission.We "were" on track to take the State leg and senate.

[CreekDog]

55. Terry Goddard didn't win in 1990

of course then he had been the Mayor of Phoenix rather than AG and his father had been governor.

but to be left with Jan Brewer, egads, that is a disaster.

[dbackjon]

27. Now it is possible

If Janet hadn't fucked the state over, Goddard would be a shoe-in.

[saracat]

35. Exactly.

[azmouse]

2. I feel sad for my state, happy for the country.

Janet will do a great job for all of us.

[KSDiva]

4. Sucks for AZ, but she'll be smashing as head of dhs

[chimpymustgo]

16. Please share what commends her so highly that we love the governorship?

I'm sure she'll be good - but at what price? And no one else on par or better?

[xchrom]

5. the real news for me?

a democrat from a western state in charge of homeland security.

[Alexander]

6. Hopefully Terry Goddard will run and beat Brewer in 2010.

Although now Brewer has a head start, Goddard is very popular.

I hope he makes himself more visible in the next year.

[TechBear_Seattle]

9. This is history in reverse

I remember when Republican Governor Evan Meecham was impeached in 1988 on the grounds of fiscal malfeasance and obstruction of justice in the investigation of his malfeasance. (He was convicted by the state Senate and removed from office a month and a few days before a recall election was to take place.) Secretary of State Rose Mofford, a Democrat, took his place to become the state's first woman governor.

Ah, how the tables have turned in Arizona! A male Republican Governor is impeached by a legislature overwhelmingly dominated by Republicans, and is replaced by a very popular female Democrat who breaks boundaries (and forced amendments to the state constitution; it had previously referred to the governor as "he," leading to question as to whether a woman could constitutionally hold the governorship.) Twenty years latter, a female Democratic Governor is selected for a Cabinet position by a very popular Democrat who broke boundaries, and she will be replaced by a male Republican who, if he is a typical Republican, will be the source of scandal to his party and much grief to his state.

[Wabbajack_]

14. New Guv (r) is also female

[TechBear_Seattle]

43. Oops. n/t

[Alexander]

24. Jan Brewer is a she, not a he.

"Twenty years latter, a female Democratic Governor is selected for a Cabinet position by a very popular Democrat who broke boundaries, and she will be replaced by a male Republican who, if he is a typical Republican, will be the source of scandal to his party and much grief to his state."



Whoops.

[TechBear_Seattle]

44. I know three people named Jan; all are male

Mea culpa

[davidinalameda]

47. Jan Brady???

hmmm?

[TechBear_Seattle]

48. No, two of them are straight

Jan is derived from the Greek name Iannous, which translates into English as "John." It is related to the names Ian and Yanni.

[davidinalameda]

54. you missed my point

you said that all the Jan's you know are male

but we all know Jan Brady who's female

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

10. Well, we know One True Thing:

Gov. Napolitano is gonna be one hell of a lot better then fucking Skeletor.

Which, I will admit, might be damning Napolitano with faint praise, but I do not intend that.

[KamaAina]

11. According to some of our AZ DUers, Brewer is a fundie nutjob

this cannot possibly be a good thing. Why would Napolitano accept the HS appointment knowing that this would happen to Arizona?

[Robbien]

13. And Brewer would then get to pick his replacement at the state's SoS

Nutjob GOPers in every slot of power.

Poor Arizona.

[KamaAina]

17. I believe it would be *her* replacement

though 'Jan' is one of those names that can go either way.

[deadmessengers]

21. Definitely a "her" n/t

[Alexander]

20. Only temporarily. The SoS would be up for election in 2010.

But yes, there are plenty of nutjob GOPers out here and taking Napolitano out of our state is only making things worse.

Arizona might have gone blue in 2012, but I don't think that's possible now.

[Wabbajack_]

51. Why would the Governor in 2008 effect

how the state votes for President in 2012?

[deadmessengers]

22. Here's a question

in the history of the US, has a woman ever succeeded another woman as Governor of any state? If it's happened, I can't think of where/when/who.

[KamaAina]

23. That'd be... Janet Napolitano.

who succeeded Jane Dee Hull.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_Napolitano#Governor

She is Arizona's third female governor and the first woman in the United States to be elected a governor to succeed another elected female governor.

[deadmessengers]

29. learn something new every day... thanks! n/t

[dbackjon]

26. A Dark Day for Arizona

This pisses the hell outta me.

NAPOLITANO - you are a traitorous scum bag. I will never, ever, vote for you in any election that you run for in the future.

You have delivered Arizona to the Dark Ages. We voted for you to keep the neaderthals at bay, not advance your selfish political ambitions.


SHAME ON YOU

[Cactus Boy]

36. A Dark Day for Arizona

Janet Napolitano has left Arizona in a financial disaster. She
promised us so much, but did not deliver on her promises. 

Mr. Obama has just tapped her to be the "Director of
Homeland Security".  I wish her well. She must adapt,
because her record shows she is not concerned about a secure
Nation, but instead about "open borders". Under her
leadership as Arizona Governor, hundreds of Arizona citizens
and 5 Police officers have lost their lives due to Illegal
Aliens from Mexico. A state of chaos she not only condoned
but promoted. I wish Mr. Obama would have picked someone much
more qualified. Our Nation's citizens deserve better than
this. The citizens of Arizona know all too well. 

[KamaAina]

40. Why is this kind of post always in Courier?

[ThoughtCriminal]

41. Kut-N-Paste Kommandos - nm

[Coventina]

56. Where in Arizona are you from?

And how, pray tell, is Arizona's financial situation Janet's fault?

And since when is the issue of "open borders" not related to Homeland Security?

And please list the names of the "hundreds of Arizona citizens" that have been killed by illegal aliens from Mexico.

Also, please list how many law enforcement officers have been killed by citizens of the United States vs. illegal aliens from Mexico.

I'm looking out my window and I don't see a "state of chaos."

This Arizonan is sad to see Janet go, for sure. But really, I am happy for the nation. I know she'll do a great job. I'm not happy about Jan Brewer taking over, not at all. But hey, we survived Mecham & Symington, I don't see how Brewer could be any worse...

[David__77]

28. It's incomprehensible to me that Obama would make this choice.

I don't understand this at all. Personnel are NOT decisive at all times. Surely another pick could have avoided this disaster for Arizona.

[Arkana]

30. Sorry, Arizona.

[DesertRat]

31. Now Arizona will have a new distinction

Jan Brewer will be the only Governor in the country who didn't go to college. She's known for not being very bright and letting the right wing control her.

Napolitano brought some balance by vetoing a lot of bills by our Republican legislature.

We've just taken a giant step backward. This is a sad day for Arizona.

[KamaAina]

32. But Sarah went to five, so it all balances out

[DesertRat]

38. At least Sarah went to college. n/t

[OhioChick]

33. Bad Choice for Tech (IT) Workers....

Obama's choice for DHS could flame tech visa battle

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano has a strong record of support for the H-1B program

November 20, 2008 (Computerworld) The person thought to be President-elect Barack Obama's leading choice to be secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, has been a strong advocate of increasing H-1B visas -- a stance that could turn out to be a lightning-rod issue during her confirmation.

In testimony, speeches and a letter sent last fall to congressional leaders, Napolitano, a two-term governor, has left a clear trail of support for increasing the H-1B visa cap to address what she has argued is a shortage of skilled workers.

Napolitano's consideration by Obama for the DHS post was widely reported today, although it has not been confirmed publicly. The DHS oversees U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which manages the visa program.

Napolitano was one of 12 governors who sent a letter (download PDF) in September 2007 to congressional leaders in both parties urging an increase in the visa cap. "Until we are able to address this workforce shortage, we must recognize that foreign talent has a role to play in our ability to keep companies located in our state and country; and therefore, need to ensure the increase availability of temporary H-1B visas and permanent residency visas (green cards)," the governors wrote.

Those pushing the visa cap hike included California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and then-New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

Napolitano "is as rabid a supporter of H-1B as you are likely to find," said Rob Sanchez of Chandler, Ariz., a software engineer who publishes the Job Destruction Newsletter, which is focused on technology-related labor issues.

As head of the DHS, Napolitano could not unilaterally raise the cap, which is now set at 85,000 -- a figure that includes 20,000 visas for advanced-degree graduates. Congress sets the H-1B cap, but the head of the DHS oversees how the program operates.

"Napolitano has publicly and repeatedly called for major H-1B expansion," said Ron Hira, an assistant professor of public policy at the Rochester Institute of Technology and author of Outsourcing America, and "in that respect she is no friend of American IT workers." Hira said that Napolitano believes that employers should have easier access to H-1Bs, "meaning she would try to streamline the application process even more."

In a speech at the National Press Club in February 2007 (download PDF), Napolitano also indicated that she wants to make it easier for foreign graduates of U.S. schools to get green cards, bypassing the need for H-1B visa in those cases. Napolitano believes that after they pass a background check, scientists and engineers "should have a green card stapled to their diplomas."

If Obama pushes ahead with Napolitano's nomination and she is confirmed, one thing she will have to deal with at USCIS are abuses in the H-1B program. As many as one in five H-1B petitions had problems, including fraud, according to a study recently released by the USCIS.

Arizona had been using offshore call centers to provides services to welfare recipients, but Napolitano ended the practice in 2004. A TV news report looked at the practice; an annotated copy of that report is archived on the Job Destruction site (link to video).

For the most part, Obama is bringing in a team that has forcefully advocated for increasing the use of foreign tech workers. The recession has not blunted that advocacy. Google CEO Eric Schmidt, in a speech last week in Washington, said the current policy of forcing foreign students unable to get a visa to go back home is "bizarre -- it's disgusting."


More: http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=...

[Azlady]

37. Agree, I am very concerned over this choice and the future of

workers in this country. Especially the IT industry

[ChromeFoundry]

42. If this proves to be correct...

He will not get my vote for a second term and I will not stand behind him as a president. His promise was to restore this nations jobs by reduction of the H-1B cap and removal of tax loopholes that proliferated outsourcing of U.S. jobs to foreign destinations. If he cannot uphold his campaign promises, he has no business being president-elect.

[OhioChick]

45. I am compelled to agree with you 100%, Chrome. n/t

[Azlady]

46. I can not believe I am saying this but...

I agree. There are obvious other reasons I voted for Obama, BUT my BIGGEST and MOST IMPORTANT reason was his promise to stop the bleeding of our jobs by either visa programs or outsourcing to overseas. This is just TOO BIG an issue to back pedal on... I PRAY he does not...

[Skittles]

39. this pick completely STINKS

[JNelson6563]

49. Looks like Arizona Dems are

going to have to step-up their ground game. Good luck AZ Dems!

Julie

[classysassy]

53. Sheriff Joe and Jan

this state is truly a hotbed of rightwing rabble.

[GoldenOldie]

57. How many Arizonans know that Napolitano, personally....

rode the borders of Arizona/Mexico via horseback and entered the underground drug tunnels from Mexico into the US to get first hand observation of the real problems facing the security of Arizona and our Nation. Janet Napolitano talked to the families living along both sides of the borders to obtain their insight and Janet Napolitano is on a first-name basis with many of the local and federal government personnel protecting our borders. Napolitano will be way ahead in her game plan for Homeland Security as she has built a strong working relationships with border residents and with those we rely on to protect our borders.

Thus we are left with Jan Brewer, who recently stated that Southern Arizona, "The tail wagging the dog." Which means she has little if no understanding of our border problems, be they illegal aliens, the serious drug-cartel battles, nor WMD entering the US, etc. Jan Brewer's main concern, is abortion, cutting funding for WIC, and taxbreaks. She is Arizona's, Sarah Palin!

[Political Heretic]

58. It's hard for AZ, but I do believe its for the greater good.

I am getting the impression that she may be uniquely awesome in this role in ways that few others would be.

I could be wrong, but I have high hopes. So thank you AZ, for your sacrifice.

[True_Blue]

59. and we get to keep McCain too

If AZ wasn't so beautiful I'd move.