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Monday Dec 1, 2008

Conservatives Running Out Of Oxygen

How desperate are conservative hacks for talking points in the Obama Era?

Witness "Republican Strategist" Leslie Sanchez on CNN's The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, paired with James Carville, try to find something negative to say on Obama's latest cabinet picks.

The complaint? Two-term governor Janet Napolitano, long dealing with border issues in Arizona, doesn't have the right experience to be Secretary of Homeland Security.

This, from the people that brought us Brownie.

Sad transcript follows:

SANCHEZ: You know, the one appointment that's going to get some pushback is probably homeland security with Governor Napolitano with the respect a lot of people were hoping it was somebody maybe that had military experience to bridge all those intelligence agencies together and now new that you department of homeland security is a mammoth job. It's not that she is not capable. It's just the experience level.

BLITZER: Remember at the same time, Leslie, much of what homeland security is about, dealing with the aftermath of disasters like hurricanes, Katrina ... she's a governor of a border state.

SANCHEZ: But Wolf that's one portion. I also have people say she's somebody who comes from a border state and immigration issue. There's compromise ports of entry, air, land, sea and northern border. There's a lot more depth to that position if you talk to anybody. I was talking to a lot of folks when that first started, department of homeland security. There's a lot there.

CARVILLE: There is one of the most talented; I don't know exactly, one of the most popular governors in the United States. If anything, when she was picked at homeland security director, I was sort of hoping Governor Napolitano would be get the very senior position in the government and I'm delighted she took it and going to be very surprised if her confirmation vote is anything short of overwhelming. She's a remarkable.

SANCHEZ: Let's be very clear. I think people are going to be cautiously optimistic if they were looking for different types of qualifications and credentials and now it's something to be seen.

BLITZER: Remember the first homeland security secretary was also a former governor, Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania. So governors are pretty well positioned to deal with this kind of stuff.

SANCHEZ: He had tremendous military experience.

BLITZER: But military, there's a difference between military and homeland security.

SANCHEZ: Absolutely.

BLITZER: There's a Pentagon that deals with military.

SANCHEZ: But you can't act as if one doesn't have anything to do with the other.

BLITZER: I'm not saying it does or doesn't. Remember what the [Secretary of] Homeland Security's really responsible for [is] dealing with the homeland security and the aftermath of man-made or natural disasters.

SANCHEZ: I think we can continue to debate that point, Wolf. I'm saying that people are going to be watching this particular appointment with great interest.

OK Republican senators, who wants to start the pushback? Who wants to try to keep her confirmation vote in Senate below 90 votes? Anyone, anyone...

Posted by Bill Scher on Dec 1, 2008 email post email Spotlight / / You are in Republican Party