NorCal lawmaker pushed for Interior job
By ERICA WERNER Associated Press WriterWASHINGTON-A Northern California congressman who hunts, fishes and grows wine grapes is being promoted for Interior secretary by two prominent fellow lawmakers.
California Democratic Reps. George Miller and Anna Eshoo sent a letter to the incoming administration in the past week urging consideration for Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St.Helena, said Miller’s chief of staff, Danny Weiss.
“They believe that he would make an excellent secretary, has a broad base of support and knows the issues very well, both from the environmental side and the natural resources side, and they encouraged the transition team to consider him strongly,” he said.
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Makes a certain amount of sense, especially from the Klamath point of view. Obama and Thompson aren’t unfamiliar, either — they coauthored Iraq legislation, among other things. Of course, Mike came out strong for Hillary early on. But that doesn’t seem to have hurt Hillary.
Downside? I’m pretty sure he has no executive experience whatsoever, and the O needs some practiced bureaucratic sword-wielders.
This article appears in Holiday Gift Guide 2008.
Not only did he come out “strong for Hillary early on,” he came out weak and late for Obama. I seriously doubt this one.
Just as well. Looks like Obama’s other choices are statist, as well.
I might add, Thompson seems to have no comment (as does the NCJ) as to why, despite the dams, the Klamath is having a great run of salmon this year.
“Holy Moly”. Quite the comment from Mr. Non-partisan. Those damned Democrats, right Hank?
“Looks like Obama’s other choices are statist, as well.”
Yes Fred, the “statists” will be crushing our individuality during the foreseeable future, compelling us to pay for curbside trash pickup and forcing us to recycle.
this is the change you all fell for. No change, same party, same hacks, same screwing by uncle sam.
Did you know, we have spent more on bailing banks out than the Federal Gov. spent on education AND training for 2008. Probably could throw a few other programs in there too.
Oh Unanoymous, you are omniscient! We were all so naive.
Hank, please explain what you mean by this statement:
“Makes a certain amount of sense, especially from the Klamath point of view.”
OK.
Thanks CPR I tried to tell you but you were caught up in your lust for corporate rule.
Mike T doesn’t make any sense, he’s actually just another graft sucking pol that needs to be changed out for someone that actually works for the people.
Although Thompson is not my first choice for Sect. of the interior, he is not without his redeeming attributes. Your dismissal of Thompson as “just another graft sucking pol that needs to be changed out for someone that actually works for the people” shows your arrogance and lack of understanding, no, more like your denial of reality of how politics works, anon 0:59. Do you live in some kind of alternate reality where YOUR ideal candidate is elected by what, your decree? How would you get your Thompson replacement elected in the current system? You wouldn’t, that’s how. So what do your inane comments on anyone elected to office accomplish? Not a damn thing. It only shows what an arrogant, immature a-hole you are.
“Do you live in some kind of alternate reality…”?
Unanonymous lives in the best possible world, one in which he imagines himself to be politically astute, and where his fanciful wisdom will never be tested. He gets to wag his finger at his fellow citizens and, at the end of the day, he packs up his soapbox and sleeps soundly.
your right, no point to fight a corrupt system or point out the hypocrisy of your ad hominum drivel. as long as its our side doing the screwing its okay. ends justify the means…..
CPR watch that rock throwing and tell me how you sleep after writing your finger wagging blog.
besides, Thompson will never make the vetting process:
WASHINGTON (AP) — Saddam Hussein’s intelligence agency secretly financed a trip to Iraq for three U.S. lawmakers during the run-up to the U.S.-led invasion, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.
An indictment unsealed in Detroit accuses Muthanna Al-Hanooti, a member of a Michigan nonprofit group, of arranging for three members of Congress to travel to Iraq in October 2002 at the behest of Saddam’s regime. Prosecutors say Iraqi intelligence officials paid for the trip through an intermediary.
At the time, the Bush administration was trying to persuade Congress to authorize military action against Iraq.
The lawmakers are not named in the indictment but the dates correspond to a trip by Democratic Reps. Jim McDermott of Washington, David Bonior of Michigan and Mike Thompson of California. There was no indication the three lawmakers knew the trip was underwritten by Saddam.
“Obviously we didn’t know it at the time,” McDermott spokesman Michael DeCesare said Wednesday. “The trip was to see the plight of the Iraqi children. That’s the only reason we went.”
During the trip, the lawmakers expressed skepticism about the Bush administration’s claims that Saddam was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction. Though such weapons ultimately were never found, the lawmakers drew criticism for their trip at the time.
Oklahoma Sen. Don Nickles, the second-ranking Senate Republican at the time, said the Democrats “sound somewhat like spokespersons for the Iraqi government.”
In exchange for coordinating the trip, Al-Hanooti allegedly received 2 million barrels of Iraqi oil.
DeCesare said McDermott was invited to go to Iraq by a Seattle church group and was unaware of any other funding for the trip.
bad hummer I can only respond to your comments at a similar grade level: “hummer and thompson in a tree……”
Whatever grade you are in recess is over. Go back to class for a while and learn something before you make us suffer through any more of your smug pontifications.
I think you pretty much sum up the problem with many Americans today, willing to suffer corporate rule and too disenfranchised to speak out against the corruption of our political system.
try to provide some evidence of the so-called “redeeming values” of Thompson you speak of.