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Ag Secretary Possibilities

A

Anonymous

Guest
Stock Of Colorado’s Salazar Rising For USDA Secretary
Dec 12, 2008 1:36 PM



Rep. John Salazar (D-CO) appears to have moved to the top of the list of the candidates to become USDA Secretary in the Obama administration.


Veteran Washington agricultural columnist Jim Wiesemeyer said this week that Salazar, a farmer who represents his state’s Third Congressional District, appears to fit several criteria that could help determine the nominee for the post. Among them, he is a moderate to conservative Democrat. He was born and raised on a cattle operation and is a seed potato farmer. And he is Latino.

Thus, Salazar, whose website says he was raised on a farm where he shared a bedroom with five siblings, with no running water or electricity, “fits in a lot of different categories and may have the inside track on this position,” says Wiesemeyer, vice president with Informa Economics in Washington.

Wiesemeyer expects Obama to name his choice for USDA Secretary before Christmas, and probably in the last one-third of cabinet announcements.

“I think that when the transition team gets to that last third they will sit down and figure out where they are on the regional representation and the ethnic background of the nominees that have been announced,” he said. “That’s why Salazar could be a good fit.”

Although Salazar may be the frontrunner for now, there’s no guarantee he will be the nominee, says Wiesemeyer. After all, neither of the last two USDA Secretaries – Mike Johanns and Ed Schafer – was even being mentioned in the press the morning they were announced by President Bush.

Other candidates who have been mentioned are Tom Buis, president of the National Farmers Union; former Rep. Charlie Stenholm (D-TX); and Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, (D-SD).

Editor’s note: Sandlin appears to have some popular appeal among crop growers, garnering 45% of the vote in on-going six-candidate poll of visitors to cornandsoybeandigest.com. Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack is pulling 37% but has already indicated he’s out of contention.

http://beefmagazine.com/cowcalfweekly/1212-stock-colorado-salazar-usda/
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
I don't know too much about Salazar- but thought this would at least get some comments :???: .....
As he doesn't fit the "Whacko Liberal" picture all Obamas opponents presented before the election in their fearmongering efforts....And unlike Vennaman- he's farm/ranch raised- owns a ranching operation- and at least knows what a cow is...

He's considered pretty conservative for a Democrat- and is a member of the Bluedogs...He opposes expanding gun control and supports permanent repeal of the inheritance tax and lower taxes. He also supports allowing Americans to buy cheaper prescription drugs from Canada- and has been an opponent of Eminent Domain...
Salazar is also a strong supporter of Veterans-- and been vocal against cuts to veterans' benefits and has criticized the Bush administration's proposed cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
 

Texan

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
I don't know too much about Salazar- but thought this would at least get some comments :???: .....

I think he would have been a good choice. The fact that the Humane Society and the envirowackos don't like him is good enough for me.

But apparently, it's not to be. Maybe that's why nobody is commenting on it? This article came out on the same day as yours:


Rep. Salazar Not Interested in Agriculture Post
By Aliya Sternstein, CQ Staff

Rep. John Salazar , who had been widely mentioned as a possible Agriculture secretary, has all but taken himself out of consideration now that he has won a seat on the Appropriations Committee.

Environmentalists and animal rights groups were not thrilled when his name surfaced for the position earlier this month, given his voting record on conservation and horse cruelty. But the Congressional Hispanic Caucus has been lobbying the Obama team to tap the Colorado Democrat, who is a caucus member and farmer.

Salazar was honored to be mentioned as a potential nominee, but now would rather stay in Congress to handle appropriations, a Salazar aide said Friday.

The Democratic Caucus on Wednesday approved Salazar to become a member of the Appropriations Committee, which handles spending bills.

If the Obama transition approached him, “it is highly unlikely he would take the job,” the aide said. Salazar would instead offer to advise the president on farm policy as a Colorado Representative.

Environmental groups had raised concerns about Obama potentially picking a man who voted against extra funding for conservation programs, even though he represents a state that is financially dependent on the environment. Salazar objected to a House amendment during debate last year on the farm bill (PL 110-246) that would have shifted government farmer aid from commodity payments to conservation, nutrition and rural development.

The Humane Society of the United States opposed Salazar for the nomination partly because he voted against a bill (HR 503) that would ban transporting, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling or donating horses for human consumption.



http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000002997480
 

Texan

Well-known member
These are the names put out by the AP yesterday:


AGRICULTURE SECRETARY

Dennis Wolff, Pennsylvania agriculture secretary.

Tom Buis, president of National Farmers Union.

Former Rep. Charles Stenholm, D-Texas.

Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D.

Former Rep. Jill Long Thompson, D-Ind.




Interestingly, they had Salazar listed as a prospect for Interior.


http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5grbkxsqgj1jgjmex2KaPC-9FtE4wD951U8IO0
 

Texan

Well-known member
I guess that AP list isn't all inclusive. Here's two more - Hassebrook and Bishop - along with a mention of Sebelius.

"Who knows" is probably the best bet for now.

==============================================


NU regent applies to be US agriculture secretary

Associated Press - December 13, 2008 3:15 PM ET

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - University of Nebraska regent Chuck Hassebrook has applied to be the next U.S. agriculture secretary.

Hassebrook says he filed a job application with President-elect Barack Obama's team on Thursday.

The 53-year-old says he was invited to Washington, D.C., earlier this week by Obama's transition team for a discussion about agriculture and rural development. That prompted him to apply, although Hassebrook says he hasn't been interviewed for the job.

Five people are already rumored to be in the running for U.S. agriculture secretary.

Hassebrook has been a regent for District 3, which covers 15 counties in northeast Nebraska, since 1994.

He's also executive director of the Center for Rural Affairs, a grass-roots nonprofit that advocates for rural communities.



www.kptm.com/Global/story.asp?S=9516099&nav=menu606_2


=============================================

Rep. Bishop on short list for Secretary of Agriculture
By Chuck Williams
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Louie Perry, a South Georgia farmer, has heard the rumblings.

U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, a Democrat with strong ties to Columbus and recently elected to his ninth term in Congress, reportedly is under consideration to become Secretary of Agriculture in the Barack Obama administration.

Perry is a fifth-generation peanut, cotton, corn and cattle farmer from just south of Moultrie.

When asked about Bishop, Perry shares a story.

“I tell you the same thing I told that reporter from The New York Times who called me about three years ago,” said Perry, 69. “What you fellows are really asking me is why some redneck from South Georgia is supporting a former Civil Rights attorney. My daddy always told me you help the ones who help you.”

In 16 years in Congress, Bishop has endeared himself to farmers like Perry. Raised a city kid in Mobile, Ala., Bishop has fought for farmers’ subsidies from his position on the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

Now, Bishop’s is one of three names being mentioned prominently for the nation’s top agriculture job. The others are Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Rep. John Salazar of Colorado. Both, like Bishop, are Democrats.

Bishop, 61, said he would be honored to serve, but that he has not been contacted by Obama’s transition team. An appointment could come as early as this week, according to some published reports.




http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/AP/story/805411.html
 

VanC

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
I don't know too much about Salazar- but thought this would at least get some comments :???: .....
As he doesn't fit the "Whacko Liberal" picture all Obamas opponents presented before the election in their fearmongering efforts....And unlike Vennaman- he's farm/ranch raised- owns a ranching operation- and at least knows what a cow is...

He's considered pretty conservative for a Democrat- and is a member of the Bluedogs...He opposes expanding gun control and supports permanent repeal of the inheritance tax and lower taxes. He also supports allowing Americans to buy cheaper prescription drugs from Canada- and has been an opponent of Eminent Domain...
Salazar is also a strong supporter of Veterans-- and been vocal against cuts to veterans' benefits and has criticized the Bush administration's proposed cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Fair enough. The guy is a conservative Democrat, but don't you think we should be looking into his views on agriculture? How much input does an ag secretary have on gun control, taxes, health care and veterans affairs anyway?
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Texan said:
These are the names put out by the AP yesterday:


AGRICULTURE SECRETARY

Dennis Wolff, Pennsylvania agriculture secretary.

Tom Buis, president of National Farmers Union.

Former Rep. Charles Stenholm, D-Texas.

Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D.

Former Rep. Jill Long Thompson, D-Ind.




Interestingly, they had Salazar listed as a prospect for Interior.


http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5grbkxsqgj1jgjmex2KaPC-9FtE4wD951U8IO0

Don't know too much about any of those- except if I remember right Buis and I think Herseth were both strong supporters of M-COOL and the Packer Ownership Ban :)
 

MsSage

Well-known member
Texan you are SOOOOOOOOOO BAD
But then I am worse gotta touch wet paint........
and NO to the Hail did I vote for obama
Just had to click :lol: :lol: :lol:
 

fff

Well-known member
President-elect Barack Obama has selected former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack to become his agriculture secretary, according to Democratic officials familiar with the selection process.

Obama will announce the nomination of Vilsack on Wednesday, the officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the selection before the announcement. Obama also plans to announce his nomination of Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar as interior secretary at the same news conference, other Democratic officials said.

More: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/obama_agriculture
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
fff said:
President-elect Barack Obama has selected former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack to become his agriculture secretary, according to Democratic officials familiar with the selection process.

Obama will announce the nomination of Vilsack on Wednesday, the officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the selection before the announcement. Obama also plans to announce his nomination of Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar as interior secretary at the same news conference, other Democratic officials said.

More: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/obama_agriculture

I don't know much about the man...... :???:

First elected governor in 1998, Vilsack, 58, carved out a reputation as a political centrist. He balanced Iowa's budget and resisted raising taxes, but he was willing to spend money on such priorities as education and health. He argued that pushing alternative energy sources was key to bolstering rural sections of the nation that are struggling economically and with vanishing populations.
 
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