Wednesday, November 19th, 2008...9:48 pm
Homeland Security?
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Yeah, yeah, I’m trying to run down the rumors too…
UPDATE: Both CNN and Reuters are reporting that transition officials have confirmed it, and sundry friends in Phoenix have been talking about it too. Gack…Governor Brewer?
26 Comments
November 19th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
I hate the taste of crow, and sincerely hope I won’t have to eat any tonight…
November 19th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
FUCK! Sorry, but I was hoping she’d actually keep her word and stay for her full term. We will be stuck with Governor Brewer and the merry band of idiots in the legislature for the next two years at a minimum.
We are Screwed!
November 19th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
OK, Gov. Napolitano. I know you read Ted’s blog. I just have one thing to say. “PLEASE DON’T GO!!!”
kthxby
November 19th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
That is putting it nicer than I did. I used some expletives…..
We are usker-doo-ed if she leaves…
November 19th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
If Janet really abandons us to the tender mercies of Jan Brewer she can forget about any support for higher office from a lot of Dems in this state. Brewer will be a disaster beyond imagination.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:30 am
what michael, tucsonteresa and Zelph said…
November 20th, 2008 at 4:40 am
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/20/AR2008112000050.html?hpid=topnews
This is a disaster. For her political career and our state. Homeland Security, as an organization, is a joke. She will never be heard from again. Her political ambitions will never survive this.
We are f**cked.
November 20th, 2008 at 8:08 am
Blech!!!
November 20th, 2008 at 8:53 am
I am a regular reader posting anonymously today for “political” reasons.
I agree that we are on the F-Train (30 Rock, anyone?), but I disagree that this is the end of Janet’s political career.
Here is why:
1. Janet is SMART (some of the people around her, not so much – but that’s another post). I guarantee you she has thought this through and made her own decision about why this is, in the end, the best choice for her.
2. She cannot beat John McCain in 2010 and she knows it. McCain is now an elder statesman who has “taken one for the team” so to speak. He will be a Senator for life and Janet is being realistic to know she simply cannot beat him now. Plus, let’s remember she has never won a race against an incumbent – she has only won open seats.
3. Homeland Security may not be the most glamorous position in the Admin, but Janet is not the glamorous type. She has always been a hard worker who gets press because of what she DOES, not how she looks or even what she says. She will excel at HS because she will address immigration, completely overhaul disaster response and she will keep herself in the national spotlight for her work on these two critical issues.
4. She can run for another office anywhere. Look – there is a long, colorful history of people moving to certain states to run for open seats (McCain, Hillary – ring a bell?). Janet was born in New York City, raised in New Mexico, went to school in California and law school in Virginia. She can reclaim any of those states as her own – and I bet you anything she will.
There is no doubt we are screwed – but I guarantee you Janet is not.
November 20th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Ditto to what Zelph said above. I will never campaign or vote against her in a GENERAL election, but I’ll stay on the sidelines, especially given the ascension of Brewer and the numbers in the Legislature. Janet should have already made the kind of statement that Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell made a few days ago about not wanting to leave his state in a bad position by going to DC.
November 20th, 2008 at 9:00 am
The only immediate benefit to Janet’s going to Washington and Brewer ascending to the gov’s chair is that Terry Goddard would then become the next in line should Brewer not serve out the rest of the Janet’s term. An appointed sec of state can’t move up to governor in mid-term. Remember the Castro-Bolin-Babbitt three-gov drama some years ago?
November 20th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Governor Brewer will bring some much needed Palinism to the 9th floor.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Anonymous: Interesting break down. I see where you are coming from…
November 20th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Steve, are you implying that Jan Brewer will have a heart attack, oh say a day after a major natural disaster in the state???
November 20th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
This is a great move for Janet. She’s totally screwed up the budget. Now she can ditch out and we can blame republicans.
November 20th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Ditto, Anonymous. I look forward to federal immigration policy being influenced by Janet so yahoos like Pearce and Arpaio can be rendered powerless.
That being said, it’s going to be an ugly two years around here with AZ’s version of Sarah Palin running the joint. Pass the Tums, please.
November 20th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Seriously, stop the whining people. I am so excited for the Governor to have this awesome opportunity.
This isn’t the first time Arizonans are facing the pits ending when it comes to their local government–lets not forget the Meecham, Symington, and Hull eras that left the state corrupt or bankrupt in the past. Without the balance of power, why should she waste her talents trying to stop the disaster the Republican controlled house and senate insist on bringing to the state?
To our beloved Governor I say loudly “Run Janet RUN!” You tried as Governor but without reasonable people to help you achieve your goals and work with you, why bother any longer? Please take a job where your talents and know how will bring some good to our nation.
Arizona will be fine after it fails under the control of Jan Brewer. In fact, I am already feeling smug at the thought of it.
November 20th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Opps, forgot to mention, to all of you politically retarded people out there who believe that Janet “screwed up” the budget, get a clue.
The WORLD is on it’s financial knees. Guess what, George W Bush wracked up a huge bill for us all to pay–so bend over, it is going to hurt a bit.
November 20th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
All,
Do not underestimate how bad this move is for our state. I totally disagree with the assumption that she can turn Homeland Security into a job that promotes her political career. I guess Tom Ridge came close to getting the nod for VP, so I could be wrong, but this job gets you headache, a horrible set of agencies that will not play nice together, and ultimately no one loves you for what you do. They dont care when nothing is happening and they hate you if something does.
Seriously, folks advising the Governor…get a LIFE. This is seriously seriously stupid.
November 20th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Oh…and a number of us in education will likely be leaving this beautiful state soon. Some because they will be losing their jobs, others because the state is so indefensively inhospitable to education that even states like Wyoming could be a step up.
Sorry…but the truth really hurts. I am sick about this possibility of Jan Brewer leading one of the most conservative legislatures this state has ever seen. Women’s rights…look out. Abortion rights…look out. Environmental stewardship? Infrastructure for states and localities? Anything with Govt attached to it that is not “tough on crime”, “tough on immigrants”, or related to privatizing prisons is going to be gutted.
Sigh.
November 20th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Bridget, I have to ask: do you have children? I mean, literally, do you have anyone or even a pet that you have to care for, feed, nurture, through the two years of Brewer that you are so preparedly smug about? A lot of damage can and will be done if Janet N. leaves us. This is serious, very serious. If you have just yourself to worry about, then, yeah I get it that you will just tough it out, but those of us with kids, elderly to care for, and so on are keenly worried about all the new stresses that are to come under a whack-job govenor. Janet, I beg you, don’t leave us.
November 20th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Oh, this is not good. This is not good AT ALL. Buckle yourselves in for the worst ride of your life with the added stress of a horrible economy that will further the wack-jobs’ reasoning for mean spirited cutting funding for schools, humanitarian programs, and health care. And yes, goodbye to reason with regards to reproductive rights, civil liberties and freedom. I would rather live in Montana at this point.
November 21st, 2008 at 6:30 am
I am deeply grateful to Janet Napolitano for her leadership over the last six years, especially as a bulwark against the excesses of the GOP legislative leadership. However, that is precisely why her leaving Arizona for a Cabinet post would be the supreme act of selfishness. No one knows better than Napolitano what would ensue if she leaves right-wingers like Brewer and Burns in charge here. Her legacy would be undone and Arizona would take backward steps in so many areas already noted above. It is hard to believe that supposedly savvy leaders would even ponder stripping a state like ours, with all of its potential and needs, of the one person essential to winning the ongoing fight we are in.
This move, if it is made, will diminish my joy in Obama’s victory because decisions made in Phoenix impact my community, family and profession even more than those made in DC. Moreover, we will be conceding the Senate seat that is up in two years and solidifying the GOP’s chances of holding the governor’s seat that same year. Napolitano leaving us will be a disaster and it is appalling that she and the Obama team are not fully considering the long-term impact of this decision.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:01 am
All of you selfish cry babies need to calm down.
Education in Arizona, although improved under the guidance of Governor Napolitano, remains sub par to education in other states. Heck, even Wyoming is beating Arizona out and hicks like Dick Cheney live there! Had you all really cared about a top education for your kids you would have left when Carolyn Warner was no longer the Superintendent of Public Instruction, or basically, a long time ago.
Simply put, Janet can’t do it alone and her efforts to stall the inevitable is just prolonging the agony. Let them completely ruin it and get ready for a revolt. Children of Republican parents are impacted too and more and more Republicans are leaving their party to become Independents.
With all the crazy people that got elected into the house or senate this past election, giving Brewer the reins will make Arizona politics “the perfect storm.” The disaster these fools will leave will give people with brains an opportunity to once again be involved with government. Look what Bush did for the Democrats this election cycle–the presidency, with more seats in the house and the senate.
If you fail to look at the big picture, the thought of the Governor leaving is completely scary, but the view of the big picture just got really bright.
You can chose to see the glass as half empty but I see it as half full and that is why my posts aren’t selfishly pathetic like the rest of yours. Sure I have a family here and yes they will be impacted, but they are already impacted, but we are survivors. And I, for one, would never ask someone as talented and intelligent as our Governor to not take a cabinet position being offered to her by the President-elect! Perhaps you all missed the fact that she is considered the absolute BEST person for this position….?
November 21st, 2008 at 11:01 am
Kral mentioned something I think may be why she was considered-Gov. Napolitano knows who to deal with fractous people. If anyone can run HS, it would be her after what she did in this state.
November 21st, 2008 at 11:24 am
c’mon people. all this knashing of teeth and rending of garments is ridiculous. it’s not the end of the world and if you didn’t see this coming, you need a serious reality check.
relax.