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KS-Gov, KS-Sen: Obama Wants Sebelius for HHS

by: James L.

Wed Feb 18, 2009 at 7:29 PM EST


Very disappointing:

President Obama has settled on Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, a key ally with a record of working across party lines, as his top choice for secretary of health and human services, advisers said Wednesday. [...]

It remained unclear whether the White House would finish vetting Ms. Sebelius in time to finalize her nomination by next week. Advisers described her as "the leading candidate" and said there were no others to mention, although they emphasized no final decision has been made. After the troubles with Mr. Daschle and other recent nominees, the White House has intensified its vetting to make sure it thoroughly scrubs its choices before Mr. Obama gives the final signoff.

Assuming Sebelius is nominated and accepts the gig (and you would think she would have publicly declined by now if she were not willing to serve), Democrats will have a pretty barren shelf of possible candidates for the state's open Senate race in 2010. What a bummer.

SSP currently has this race on our list of Races to Watch, but it's hard to see how this contest heats up without the presence of Sebelius.
James L. :: KS-Gov, KS-Sen: Obama Wants Sebelius for HHS
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KS-Gov, KS-Sen: Obama Wants Sebelius for HHS | 120 comments
She'll be good
But not stunning. Oh, and we only even have a prayer of winning this if the nominee is Tiahrt and Moran goes down ripping him nearly to shreds. Our best bet now is Dennis Moore, and we could conceivably hold his house seat because Obama won it, but that wouldn't be fun.

But WTF does Rahmbo have against Dean again? He was made for this job.

Moore will not run
He's already committed to serving another term in the House.
[ Parent ]
Moore would get eaten alive, im afraid
This is a heavily Republican state and the only Democrat with a chance of even making this race competitive is Ms. Sebelius.  Moore running would also likely be handing KS-03 to the Republicans(its a lot like NY-20).  
[ Parent ]
Not really sure about that
I agree with you that our only shot is Sebelius for this race, but I'm not sure if KS-03 would be an automatic loss (though it would be frightening). Unlike NY-20, Democrats actually have quite a few state legislators in that district. If I recall correctly, 5 of the 9 state senators representing portions of that districts are Democrats. The same definitely cannot be said about NY-20.
[ Parent ]
The point is that Moore would likely still lose handily
in the Senate race.  I think he would be lucky to break 45% statewide, especially with Republicans running ads against him saying that he would be a "rubber stamp for the liberal Democrat agenda".  Sebelius is our only shot because accross the state know her well and trust her.  
[ Parent ]
And I'm not disagreeing with you on that. (eom)

[ Parent ]
I don't think Dean would be good
when healthcare reform is at the top of your agenda, it's not a good idea to put someone with so many enemies on the frontlines. Dean might have been a good choice when he was still an unknown Governor of Vermont, but he's now a polarizing figure.  

Liberty Avenue Politics - a place for politics in Southern Queens
[ Parent ]
I was one of the biggest cheerleaders for Rahm as CoS, but--
it's pretty clear now that the guy has a massive sore loser complex and is more concerned with hyping himself up than anything else.
[ Parent ]
I'm not 100% sure
she would win the Senate seat anyway

Liberty Avenue Politics - a place for politics in Southern Queens
But it would be competitive
And she would have a chance. Without her, the seat is gone.
[ Parent ]
Look at it from her POV
Maybe possibly winning a Senate seat vs. Being a key person in the creation of a viable healthcare system

She'd be dumb NOT to do it.  

Liberty Avenue Politics - a place for politics in Southern Queens

[ Parent ]
she better deliver on health care
I don't want to give up a shot at a Senate seat for someone who isn't totally committed to far-reaching health care reform.
[ Parent ]
I think you could amend that
to: "Maybe possibly winning a Senate seat vs. Maybe possibly being a key person in the creation of a viable healthcare system"
[ Parent ]
She'd still be dumb not to do it


Liberty Avenue Politics - a place for politics in Southern Queens
[ Parent ]
Eh, Obama's got a new cabinet to build in 2013.
There would have been room for her if she lost a good race in Kansas.

And if Obama lost in 2012, she might be viable as a presidential contender even if she'd just lost a close Senate race.  But I might be wrong about that.  Daschle sure was cooked once he lost.

[ Parent ]
Killed by Blue Dogs
The combination of a stronger PayGo, a weak economy, aversion to taxes and Blue Dogs biting deep into existing programs like Social Security mean that there will be no big health program in the foreseeable future (probably 15 to 20 years).

If Sebellius wants to do something, she better try for the Senate.

[ Parent ]
What the hell is wrong with Obama
that he needs to pick sitting senators and governors for every single post in his administration?

Setting aside the idiocy of taking out our only change to win the KS-SEN race, Kansas is in a lot of turmoil financially. How does plucking their well-liked governor out of the equation help things at all, either for the state or for the Democrats' image?

I like Obama, I've been supporting the guy for a long time, but his cabinet selections have been absolutely baffling - and this one might take the cake.

The worst pick was Hillary
because Paterson made the baffling decision to take Gillibrand from NY-20, which we are almost certain to lose without her.  
[ Parent ]
In all fairness,
Even if you don't like the Gillibrand pick (and the recent poll shows she'll likely blow away any R opposition in the general), it's kinda a stretch to blame Obama for the selection made by Paterson; it's not like she was the obvious choice when Clinton was selected.
[ Parent ]
Um
All Presidents pick sitting Congressmen, Senators and Governors to be in their cabinets. Do I need to make a list?

BUSH:
Governor Dirk Kempthrone- Idaho
Governor Mike Johanns- Nebraska
Governor Tom Ridge- Pennsylvania
Governor Christie Todd Whitman- New Jersey
Governor Tommy Thompson- Wisconsin
Governor Mike Leavitt- Utah
Rep. Rob Portman- Ohio

CLINTON:
Rep. Les Aspin- Wisconsin
Sen. Lloyd Bentsen- Texas
Rep. Mike Espy- Mississippi
Rep. Bill Richardson- New Mexico
He picked two former Governors; Bruce Babbit of Arizona and Richard Riley of South Carolina

This is not a new thing. Clinton actually costed us Aspin, Bentsen and Richardson's seats. Bush cost the Republicans the Governorships in Wisconsin and a top Senate candidate in New Jersey.

Liberty Avenue Politics - a place for politics in Southern Queens

[ Parent ]
I didn't say it was new.
I just thought he'd have learned from his predecessors' mistakes.
[ Parent ]
Carter did the same
Here are some of his picks:

Rep. Bob Berglund(MN-07) for Ag. Sec.  Seat goes Republican
Sen Walter Mondale for VP.  Seat goes Republican
Rep. Brock Adams(WA-07) for Sec. of Trans.  Seat goes Republican

[ Parent ]
Why were they mistakes?
because we lost some of their seats...some of them were good cabinet members. Why should Governors and members of Congress be off limits, especially when they're probably the most qualified.

The Lt. Governor of Kansas is a Democrat, so we're not ceding the job to a Republican any sooner than we would have anyway...maybe Parkinson decides to run for a full term now...and we keep the Governorship. Wouldn't that be a plus?

Liberty Avenue Politics - a place for politics in Southern Queens

[ Parent ]
The point is to not go crazy
As it appeared like Obama was doing early on.  He picked Salazar, Clinton, and Napolatano, which could all cost us a seat somewhere in each instance.  I think that is more than enough picks from Congress and governorships and I think he should start looking elseware for Cabinet picks.  
[ Parent ]
This doesn't cost us anything though
if Sebelius had no intention of running for the Senate.  

Liberty Avenue Politics - a place for politics in Southern Queens
[ Parent ]
Of course it does
What a fantastic thing to say.  She is the GOVERNOR of a red state.

She has the ability to be a positive force for change in a place where it will be difficult to match her.

A 100 people could be Cabinet secretary.  Only one was elected to govern a red state, twice.

If she doesn't want to be a Senator, fine, but don't run for a term limited office if you don't want to serve the term.

[ Parent ]
What?
You think she had any idea she would be in the Presidential cabinet in 2006?

Ridiculous.  

Liberty Avenue Politics - a place for politics in Southern Queens

[ Parent ]
Look at where the seat of power is
For better or for worse, the Bush decade has seen an unprecedented concentration of power in the executive branch at the expense of the legislative, and whilst Obama works painstakingly at reversing that particular W legacy it obviously makes sense to recruit the best talent to implement executive decisions and run bloated departments.

I'd willingly absorb the loss of a couple of seats and state capitals if it meant genuine improvements in policymaking - just as an example, I promise you Janet Napolitano is absolutely a better choice for a post like HS then some faceless bureaucrat. The choices that these Cabinet members will make are TOO crucial not to pick the best at President Obama's disposal.

[ Parent ]
"especially when they're probably the most qualified"
Is Sebelius really better than the alternatives? If Bennet ends up losing (an increasingly improbable but not yet  impossible scenario), are we going to be comforted because Salazar was the best Sec of the Interior possible? Not to get into political criticisms of the people involved because that's a whole 'nother story, but there are LOTS of non-officeholders  who would be just as good in Obama's cabinet. Some of them got less powerful jobs in Obama's administration, some didn't get any at all.

And FWIW, Obama's team didn't seem to take Lt Govs into consideration for DHS - picking Napolitano gave AZ a Republican governor, and a far right Bachmann-esque one at that.

[ Parent ]
Brewer is going to be hated in Arizona
After all of the budget cuts she is going to have to make in the next two years.  
[ Parent ]
Republicans think Arizona
is one of their top governorships to defend, that should show how much faith they have in Brewer.


Liberty Avenue Politics - a place for politics in Southern Queens
[ Parent ]
No, he didn't
but Obama wasn't looking at who holds office where and what picking this person might do in the next election. That's not Obama's style...he picks who he thinks could be the best job regardless of political ramifications. This should not surprise us, I don't know why it does.

It's his job to effectively run the government the best way he knows how with the people he thinks are best and it's our job to get Democrats elected. if our only complaint about someone is that it makes it harder for us to win an election, then that's not really something that holds water for anyone but us Democrats IMO.


Liberty Avenue Politics - a place for politics in Southern Queens

[ Parent ]
I admire that viewpoint
and I'd be able to buy it if I thought these were the best people, but I really don't. Holder, Chu, Solis, maybe Shinseki - you're right that those folks are probably the best people for their jobs. But the rest I'm not so sure about. And it's not just about winning elections, although that's what I'm sticking to here since it's this site's main purpose.

I mean, to use the obvious example, Judd Gregg - was that the best choice? (who is possibly being replaced by Harold Ford Jr. - man, talk about red meat for the angry liberals there).

There's some kind of political calculus going on with Team Obama, but it's starting to look amateurish from where I stand. I've watched with glee as pundits underestimated Obama again and again and again, but this time feels different.  

[ Parent ]
I think Gregg was a political calculation that failed
that was an effort to win a 60th Senate seat that blew up in our face, and I'm not so sure Ford is such a bad choice for Commerce. An African-American from the South in charge of the census? I know he's conservative, but I hardly think he's going to roll over to minority supression in the census.  

Liberty Avenue Politics - a place for politics in Southern Queens
[ Parent ]
No, Gregg wanted the seat first


Bill Posey is not half-alligator...and is outclassed by Davy Crockett anyway: http://www.washingtonmonthly.c...
[ Parent ]
Brownback
Brownback may be a wingnut but hes pretty popular in KS. I dont see how Parkinson can beat him or anyone but Sebelius (whos obviously termed out). But maybe Brownback wont end up running for Gov.
[ Parent ]
He already filed the papers to run.
Barring some freak occurrence, I can't see why he wouldn't go through with it.
[ Parent ]
You could have the D Lt. Gov run for Senate
and switch places with Brownback, instead of Sebelius switching places with Brownback.

Bill Posey is not half-alligator...and is outclassed by Davy Crockett anyway: http://www.washingtonmonthly.c...
[ Parent ]
Let's hope he does
We have a decent shot against Tiahrt.

We have almost no shot against Brownback.

[ Parent ]
Brownback has always been overrated
Look at his SUSA approvals.  They've been somewhere between the mid 40's to low 50's his entire time in the Senate.  
[ Parent ]
Bush
Not a single sitting House or Senate member was taken for Bush's original cabinet.  Not a one.  He took losing Senate candidates like Ashcroft and Governors with a sitting Lt. Governor.

Raiding a prime prospect, indeed our only prime prospect for a Senate seat is vasin, arrogant and egotistical.  We need every Senate vote we can get.  We can't keep throwing Senate and House votes away like they grow on trees.

[ Parent ]
Bush took Johanns
out of Nebraska for 2006, costing them a shot as Nelson.  
[ Parent ]
She mentioned Johanns
He also took Whitman out of New Jersey when she was considering a run against Toricelli. He caught a lot of hell for that. I remember. First, because she was pro-choice (which is the end all be all for Republicans) and second, because she had a shot at taking out Toricelli.

Please point out where Sebelius was even considering running for the Senate, but this seems to imply she never had any intention of doing so.


Liberty Avenue Politics - a place for politics in Southern Queens

[ Parent ]
Oh Thompson too
He took Tommy Thompson out of Wisconsin...the Republicans wanted him to run for one more term and then against Feingold in 2004, which he still could have after being in the administration and didn't.  

Liberty Avenue Politics - a place for politics in Southern Queens
[ Parent ]
How'd that Bush cabinet work out for him?

[ Parent ]
It seemed to work for his first term
He gained seats in Congress in 2002 and was reelected in 2004.  It was his second term when everything fell apart.  
[ Parent ]
You're Speaking Electorally,
I was speaking from a governance point of view.  Did his cabinet officers run their departments efficiently and competently?  Did they successfully develop and help get enacted good legislation?  Did they provide the President with good and honest advice or were they yes-men and women?
[ Parent ]
Bush
Boy, isn't it nice to know that our President doesn't follow the Bush plan?

Seriously, the fact that Obama is trying to put together the best possible cabinet regardless of political considerations is refreshing, and proves to me he really is the person for whom I voted.

[ Parent ]
There are plenty of qualified candidates for any given job
Can you honestly tell me with a straight face that Napolitano is the most qualified person in this country for Homeland Security, an agency that shouldn't even exist in the first place?  Not a chance.  He wanted a few big names from red states.  That's why she was picked, and I suspect that's why Sebelius will be picked.
[ Parent ]
Not to mention
Picking Napolitano gave the AZ Governorship to a republican, giving them total control over that state for the next two years.  I'm sure AZ Dems are thrilled about that.
[ Parent ]
Wyden and Max Baucus still need jobs Obama.
Chop chop!
F You, Man!
Yes, I just told the President of the United States to go have sexual intercourse with himself. And why wouldn't I? It's like Obama reads this blog, looks at our hopes and dreams for the Democratic Party, and does the complete opposite in an effort to truly piss us off.

Well, congratulations Mr. President, mission accomplished. My honeymoon with you is definitely over.

Did it ever occur to anyone
that maybe she doesn't WANT to run for the Senate?

Liberty Avenue Politics - a place for politics in Southern Queens
[ Parent ]
She Turned Down Any Notion
of serving in Cabinet the first time around, so I didn't see why she would change her mind in the midst of dealing with a state budget back home.
[ Parent ]
Did she "turn down?"
or was she turned down? There's a difference. Sebelius isn't going to publically say if Obama picked someone else for cabinet positions she was considered for. For all we know he never considered Sebelius for anything because Daschle was the first cabinet job filled.

I also think the budget might be the end of her popularity in the state and thus the end of any chance of her winning a Senate seat that she may not even want to run for.

We haven't heard anyone say "Well she was gonna run for Senate, but the President asked her to be HHS Secretary," so do we know she was ever considering running at all.


Liberty Avenue Politics - a place for politics in Southern Queens

[ Parent ]
If she was firm in her desire not to be in the Cabinet
then I think you could bet that she would make that clear instead of wasting the Obama vetting team's time. She previously declined a Cabinet gig when Labor was on everyone's lips -- perhaps HHS is more appealing for her.
[ Parent ]
I agree
Its clear that the Gov just didnt find the idea of running for the Senate as good as other job prospects, or she wouldnt have been open to being vetted. You cant blame President Obama for her chosing not to run, no matter how much you may have wanted her to.  

A cat can have kittens in an oven but that doesn't make them biscuits.
[ Parent ]
Maybe
...you can tell him tomorrow in person?
[ Parent ]
I See At Least
The blogosphere is aware of Obama's trip to Canada tomorrow, even though it'd probably last only half a day or so. Unfortunately, I'll be slaving over my desk at work five hours away in Toronto working like most people.

Even if I got to Ottawa, the Secret Service would probably shoot first and ask questions later, since Obama seems to have much tougher security than previous presidents due to the historical nature of him being the first black one.

[ Parent ]
Wow!
Obama may select an incredibly well respected, progressive-minded, and competent woman to run one of the most important departments and to spearhead probably the important legislative effort of his administration, and THAT causes you to flip out?!  Incredible.
[ Parent ]
It's Not About Her Being
Competent or a progressive-minded woman, that's not what I care about at least in this race. Heck, if she was a progressive-minded, competent woman who WASN'T the most popular Democratic governor in Kansas history when an open seat in her state happen to come by, I would say to Obama go right ahead and appoint her.

But she IS a popular governor who stands the only chance of sticking it to Republicans by taking away that seat. So my anger stems primarily from political concerns.

[ Parent ]
I Hear Ya
And, of course, you are right about the short-term electoral setback that appointing Sebelius represents.  But, let's not lose [not "loose" dammit!] sight of the forest for the trees.  Enacting good legislation and competently running the government is what matters; we sometimes seem to forget around here that elections are just a means to an ends.  I have a pretty favorable view of Sebelius and healthcare reform is at or near the top of my list of priorities.  Success in this endeavor vastly outweighs a possible Senate seat pickup, IMHO.  At a minimum, it seems that reasonable people who want the Obama administration to succeed could see the governing upside to selecting Sebelius, and not just the short-term electoral downside.
[ Parent ]
::sigh::
this makes the teeny tiny senate guru-ito inside me cry with the power of a monsoon...

but, hey... i do love me some boyda. heres to hoping tiahrt and moran rip eachother to shreads    

Boyda should run again in KS-02 I think
But I don't know the situation on the ground, so take what I write with a grain of salt.

Bill Posey is not half-alligator...and is outclassed by Davy Crockett anyway: http://www.washingtonmonthly.c...
[ Parent ]
How would this affect the Governor's race, I wonder?
Parkinson already signalled that he wouldn't run for Governor in 2010, but that was as Lt. Gov; if he became the incumbent, would that change matters?
I wonder if this has anything to do with the budget
the Governor agrees to stay out of the 2010 Senate race and take the cabinet job in exchange for the Republicans releasing their stranglehold on the state budget?  

Liberty Avenue Politics - a place for politics in Southern Queens
Now that we're done going crazy
maybe we can entertain the notion that if Sebelius really wanted to run for the Senate, she would have said no to a cabinet position?

I'm not going to attack Obama for picking someone who may or may not have decided to run for a Senate seat in the future.  Napolitano though, yeah that put a Republican in charge at a critically bad time.  But this outrage over Sebelius is overblown.

I don't really see much outrage in this thread
Other than perhaps one over the top comment.
[ Parent ]
Perhaps, but ...
... reading some of the overall tone in many threads since election day you might just forget that we won!
[ Parent ]
Just saying "we won" is not the answer
We have a lot of hard work ahead of us.  
[ Parent ]
Exactly
So let's get down to that hard work, both in terms of building on the political accomplishments we've gained -- and way, way, way more importantly, enacting the policy changes this country so desperately needs.

I've heard people here literally say that maybe they wish we wouldn't have won, since now we've got difficult open seats to defend because of cabinet appointments.  That's absolute lunacy.  If the President wants the Governor of Kansas as his HHS secretary, and thinks that's the person he can get now to help him enact health care reform, I'll fully support him rather than tell him to f-off.

[ Parent ]
That was one dude
Who is now banned, for what it's worth. But I agree -- that was perhaps the stupidest comment I have ever read on any blog.

I've heard people here literally say that maybe they wish we wouldn't have won, since now we've got difficult open seats to defend because of cabinet appointments.

[ Parent ]
I know it's a small handful
That's why I choose to post here and really nowhere else on line.  It seems to be one of the most sane and civil places to discuss politics.  So many other places leave me wondering sometimes whose left in the asylum.  You and David deserve the credit for what's got to be a tough job at times.

I do think, though, that the tone here has gotten a bit snarkier, and some people are finding that there were some aspects of being out of power that were easier than having the responsibility of governing -- and its easy to forget that we try to win elections to govern, not to win the next election.

And for what it's worth, my favorite all-time stupidest comment was on Kos a few months after Nancy Pelosi became speaker.  A group of people were all in a snit about something she did, and someone literally said "She's so conservative, I wouldn't be suprised if she switched to the Republican Party."  And they were being serious!

[ Parent ]
You should see it now
there actually ARE people on kos calling for a primary challenge to Obama.

OpenLeft is even worse.


Liberty Avenue Politics - a place for politics in Southern Queens

[ Parent ]
It was the threat of Huey Long
challenging FDR on a third party that got FDR to move left and enact Social Security and the Wagner Act.  

Maybe this isn't such a bad idea from a historical perspective.

[ Parent ]
I haven't seen calls for a primary challenge to Obama there
There was one idiot on OpenLeft calling for us to rise up and institute a Soviet-style state, but I think she got banned.
[ Parent ]
There is someone
posting diaries with the than "A Progressive President in 2012" who was advocating it.  

Liberty Avenue Politics - a place for politics in Southern Queens
[ Parent ]
Some people are always going to be that way
If things are not going their way.  
[ Parent ]
Amen!
we try to win elections to govern, not to win the next election.

Absolutely!  Getting health care reform passed and successfully implemented is huge; much more important than a single senate seat, let alone the possibility of one.  I won't pretend to know whether Sebelius is the best person for the job or, even if the best, substantially better than other options.  But, it seems naive to think that Secretary of HHS is a ministerial positon where any competent bureaucrat is as good as anyone else.  Besides, there will be absolutely nothing better for Democrats long term electoral success than a competent and successful Obama administration.  The best talent should be where it matters most and right now that is the executive.

[ Parent ]
Health Care
Taking concrete steps that people can actually see to fix our health care system (or at least significantly moving in that direction -- it's going to take a long time) will do more than anything else, I think, to re-elect the President in 2012, and make us the governing party well into the 21st century.  This is both an issue that cuts across party lines, and really gets at how government can improve peoples lives.  I won't pretend to know if Governor Sebelius is the best choice either, but you're right that this is not a position you can put a decent administrator in and hope for the best -- and she is the President's choice (or so it seems).

Now, I have to go to bed or else my health care will not be good in the morning!

[ Parent ]
My thoughts exactly
I'm waiting for someone to take the next step and say "Let's primary the sonofabitch!"

I think some people cannot understand why someone like Sebelius, after being governor (of albeit a small state) wouldn't want to be like 97th in senority in the Senate -- and as an administrator, might find the HHS job really attractive.

[ Parent ]
Some of the reactions here are totally confusing
There's an unspoken hierarchy to cabinet posts and HHS is close to the very top of that list. The things that the appointee is going to do will be critical for the future and has very real ramifications, if it was a nothing BS department then I couldn't care less, but with the healthcare system already at breaking point I want the very best to dedicate themselves to fixing it. I don't see why Sebelius doesn't fit that description.

An uproar over a potential Senate gain lost just strikes me as a classic failure to see the forest for the trees. We CANNOT allow America's healthcare system to go ahead in its present state any longer.

That's just silly
There are many, many, many, many dedicated people who would make HHS cabinet members.

And instead of taking one of them, our our-RDC-in-disguise President chooses a sitting Governor of a red state (but not the reddest out there, so we could be competitive if we show we can do a good job).

This is not about a mere potential senate candidate.  It is about a Governor who made promises to the people of her state, and whose service is critical to making our party more of a possible choice for the citizens of her state.

Stupid Democrats don't know how to govern.

[ Parent ]
"Stupid Democrats don't know how to govern".
Wow, that comment was really out of line. So Obama picks Sebelius when she still has two years left on her term. Big deal, we have a Dem Lt.Gov who can take her place. This is not Arizona.
[ Parent ]
If she didn't want to serve a full term
...she should not have run.

This is especially critical in red states.  The only way to turn those states is to show the people that our policies are good ones.  We can't do that if our popular office holders leave before their job is done.

Arizona was stupid stupid stupid.  This is just stupid stupid.

[ Parent ]
Showing them that our policies being good is exactly what's being done
Improvements brought to their lives are going to be more lasting and profound if it's directed federally. It's just the way it is.
[ Parent ]
What nonsense
She ran for Governor of Kansas, not HHS.  These rationalizations are just silly.  

It's plainly obvious she is not the only person who can run HHS, while it is also plainly obvious she was the only one elected Governor of Kansas.

This sets back the party in Kansas immensely, at a time when we had a foothold.  With her and Boyda gone, we are marginal to the point of being irrelevant, again.

As always, if she doesn't want to do the job she said she wanted to do, fine, political career over, go be a bureaucrat.  But spinning this as anything other than a broken promise to Kansas is fanciful.

[ Parent ]
Doesn't the same reasoning apply
to Obama himself and Hillary Clinton? If they didn't want to serve six years, why did they run?

Liberty Avenue Politics - a place for politics in Southern Queens
[ Parent ]
No it does not
There are two responsible (non-scandal) reasons for leaving the responsibility of a Governorship.

1)  Health and family reasons

2)  The people choose to advance you to a different office representing the state, or running for the higher offices of President or Vice-President.

She is the leader of one of the states of the United States of America, in a time of crisis. Some people here seem to think she is leaving a job at Burger King.

The California legislature has been locked up due to a budget battle.  Suppose Arnold decided to quit to today to film Terminator 4.  No, you don't just quit to take another job.

No sorry, she ran for a job that she is abandoning before her job is done, a job she committed to do.

If another dude can run Kansas as well as her, then there are a hundreds who can run HHS as well.

[ Parent ]
Um
If Arnold decided to quit today to film Terminator 4, I'd break open a bottle of champagne because Governor Garamendi would be a hell of a lot better.

And Sebelius isn't leaving her job to film a freakin movie, she's leaving to serve the President's Cabinet...the Cabinet that helps govern and craft policy for the NATION...Kansas included.

I think you're being ridiculous.

Liberty Avenue Politics - a place for politics in Southern Queens

[ Parent ]
Truth be told
We can go back and forth all day on this, but it's ultimately her decision whether she wants to take the appointment or not; it's entirely her prerogative and we're in no place to judge what she wants to do with her career.

If she comes out with "... if nominated, I will not serve" then fine, it's what she wants to do.

[ Parent ]
A 100 people?
I don't profess to know the ins and outs of the structure of the Department of HHS, but it has 11 operating divisions, of which includes things like the CDC and the FDA, all of which have great responsibilities. In that sense it resembles the giant, unwieldy state bureaucracy which a person like Gov. Sebelius would have had extensive experience in managing - the overseeing of a huge web of agencies and massaging of egos cannot simply be done by 1 of a 100.

In fact, it's the Senate seat from KS that's only 1 of a 100, and given that I'm confident we'll reach 60 without much of a problem come 2010, I'd be happy with Sebelius giving the health infrastructure in the country the shock it needs.

[ Parent ]
1 of thousands is more like it
this country is full of competent, smart people.  It's beyond obtuse to think one current officeholder is that special, especially someone who was not the first choice.
[ Parent ]
What!!
Where do you get the idea that being Secretary of HHS merely requires one to be a competent manager?  I frankly think that's an incredibly naive notion with no understanding of how government works.  These people influence policy.  They are spokesmen for their agencies with Congress and inside the administration.  Their access and influence is directly proportional to their stature, and some lifelong bureaucrat would have been a terrible choice.  Would you have been happy if Obama picked Bredenson, who has so many ties to the healthcare industry, but seems like a competent enough manager?  If there are really thousands of people who would have made good HHS Secretaries, you should have no trouble naming a few dozen, no?
[ Parent ]
Perhaps the most bizarre thing
The stimulus just passed by the barest 60 votes.  If Obama wants to be reelected, and bring dramatic change to this country (not change designed by Susan Collins) he needs 61 votes in the Senate that will not compromise and water down legislation.

And he needs that in two years so he has at least one year of quality actions to present the American people when he runs again.

Yo President Obama....  the country and your party really don't want Susan Collins deciding the legislative direction of this country.

I wonder if he asked Susan if it is okay with her to appoint Sebelius....

You might have a point if KS was the only way of getting to 60 or 61
NH, MO, OH, FL, KY, PA and NC are all top tier and LA and TX could get interesting on top of that. Also still an outside chance Grassley could call it quits in Iowa.
[ Parent ]
See below
60 or 61 is better than 59, but 63 or 64 or so is the real magic number.
[ Parent ]
Exactly
Things like EFCA and real healthcare reform require 60 "good Democrats."  These things might have to wait for 2010 when we have a goos shot at 63+ Senators.  
[ Parent ]
Now's the time
Maybe we should try to get healthcare reform successfully implemented now?  That will do more for Obama's re-election and the long-term future of the Democratic party, than sitting on our hands and waiting until we have one more senator.
[ Parent ]
And so?
The idea that she will amke health care reform more likely than any of a few dozen others is ludicrous foolishness.
[ Parent ]
Who?
Who are those few dozen others who can do the job just as well as Sebelius?
[ Parent ]
Also
What happened to 1000 you said upthread could the job just as well as Sebelius?  Quite the backtrack to drop down to a few dozen.
[ Parent ]
How many doctors are there in this country?
Probably several hundred thousand?  Maybe even a million.  I have a hard time believing there are less than 1,000 of them more qualified that Sebelius for HHS.  And unlike her they actually have doctorate degrees in healthcare.  Ya I know, having a HHS Secretary actually be a practicing doctor is probably a crazy idea.
[ Parent ]
Tens of thousands, how is that
Don't make your position silly.  Sebelius has zero unique skills that make her the perfect HHS bureaucrat.
[ Parent ]
Who?
Just a few dozen names?  Is it really that hard for you to name anyone?
[ Parent ]
Don't be obtuse please
How about every current Governor, Senator and Congress member since she brings nothing special to the table.

You just seem to want to be contrary.  She has no notable credentials for the post, so any professional, scientist, manager or bureaucrat in the field is a peer.

[ Parent ]
Bredeson?
You'd be OK with Bredeson?

I guess were just going to have to agree to disagree if you really believe that every governor, senator, congressman, and healthcare professional, scientist, manager, and bureaucrat would be just as good as Sebelius.

[ Parent ]
BTW
BTW, you need only 60 votes for cloture, not 61.  
[ Parent ]
No you don't
You need probably 62 or 63 to pass a progressive agenda.

Nelson would have bolted with Collins/Snowe/Specter if the stimulus was what more progressive members wanted.

60 is no magic number for real change.  61 is a bare minimum to get something done despite one contrary Senator, or one ill one.  But 61 would almost certainly never be enough for very progressive change.

I'd say 64 should be the target for 2010 to get anything truly progressive done around here.

[ Parent ]
Yes, you do
You need 60 votes for cloture.  60 Democrats is no magic number for passing any piece of legislation; 60 votes is.
[ Parent ]
So what aren't you getting?
You do know that there were actually 61, but Kennedy didn't vote.  

Additionally an agenda needs 63 or 64 votes in general, because each specific may only be able to manage 60.

"Yes we can" should not equal "Yes we can... do what Susan Collins wants".

[ Parent ]
63 or 64
Is well within the realms of possibility without Kansas. I listed nine competitive Repub seats above. Winning less than half would meet your target.
[ Parent ]
compare and contrast
During the last campaign we had two governors here stumping for Obama: Sibelius and Governor Janet Napolitano.

Governor Napolitano was great- funny, articulate, engaging and SMART. In comparison, Sibelius was like watching paint dry... Good choice for a cabinet post.

You know I had been a big supporter of Sebelius for VP
Then I saw her convention speech...

Disappointing for sure if she isn't available for the senate race but it is by no means the end of the world for the many reasons cited above.

[ Parent ]
Her and Kaine were aweful
A couple years ago I recall Kaine doing the Democratic response to the State of the Union.  I figured Kaine's speech was only bad because he was a relatively new Governor.  But then I saw his DNC speech last year and it was almost as bad.  I couldn't believe that guy was on Obama's short list for VP.
[ Parent ]
Now Schweitzer on the other hand...
Wow! I think I STILL have goose bumps from that.
[ Parent ]
Ya, he was fantastic
When he was first introduced there was little reception since most in the crowd probably had no idea who he was.  But he really did work the crowd up.

Schweitzer, Obama and Bill Clinton were my favorite speeches.  Overall I'd give Bill the slight edge as my favorite.  He really brought the house down.

[ Parent ]
He also has enormous star power.
You have to account for that.

Bill Posey is not half-alligator...and is outclassed by Davy Crockett anyway: http://www.washingtonmonthly.c...
[ Parent ]
Latest Schweitzer via Taegan
"I don't know where she's going to be. You'll be stuck with me. There will be no glamour, certainly no snappy dressing. I brought my best two pairs of jeans. There's a little bit of a horse shit stain by the knee. But I've been washing that stuff out."

-- Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D), quoted by ABC News, ribbing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) for announcing at the last minute that she will not be attending a panel on energy policy that the two governors were scheduled to lead at this weekend's National Governors Association meeting.

[ Parent ]
To Sarah Palin
Pwnt.

Bill Posey is not half-alligator...and is outclassed by Davy Crockett anyway: http://www.washingtonmonthly.c...
[ Parent ]
KS-Gov, KS-Sen: Obama Wants Sebelius for HHS | 120 comments

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