February 24, 2009
Locke for Commerce Sec. - UPDATED & BUMPED
That's the news, per here and here. A safe pick in the wake of the Bill Richardson fiasco and Judd Gregg's Census-induced about-face.
Locke is about as straight-laced as they come, so it's hard to imagine any hang-ups in the confirmation process...assuming no tax problems.
UPDATE: note also that Locke, generally viewed as a pro-business and pro-free trade Democrat, is another reminder that Obama's anti-NAFTA rhetoric in the primaries was disingenuous.
Tuesday AM UPDATE: Michelle Malkin objects to the characterization of "strait-laced," via Locke's ties to John Huang and the infamous Buddhist temple fundraisers of days gone by. HotAir has some oppo too.
Interesting stuff, though I'm not quite sure it would quash the nomination at this point.
Posted by Eric Earling at February 24, 2009
07:29 AM | Email This
1. Hasn't Locke been a lobbyist since his departure from the guvmint mansion? I'm sure the MSM is doing its due diligence in pointing this out as well. Whatever. Since Rahm Emmanuel has taken over the census, the Commerce job doesn't do all that much anyway.
2. What about the disposition of this campaign financing
fiasco?http://www.soundpolitics.com/archives/006098.html
3. Wow. Who knew that Locke had tax problems?
4. I'm OK with this. It at least means Obama isn't likely to be too anti-trade.
Locke was a mediocre governor, but he was way better then Queen Christine the Incompetent.
5. Well... it could be worse.
6. Not a bad choice from what is left out there. I also hope Gary has been paying his taxes. I have no idea how much the Commerce Office budget is, but I am sure it will at least triple under a Secretary Locke. Congratulations Secretary Locke.
7. If Locke were Governor the past 4 years, our Deficit would be less than 1/2 what it is now.
I disagreed with Locke on plenty of stuff...but he was pro-business (a learned skill that took him awhile).
I'll bet he is also mighty clean from a vetting standpoint.
He's a Boy Scout!!
Anyway...perhaps he can help Washington State GROW it's way out of the quagmire his successor "Deer in the Headlights Yak-Yak" Gregoire put us in.
8. NoNo 'Bama. The CURRENT gov. Take her PLEEEEEZE
9. Let's see, where are Locke's ethics? Well he publicly endorsed a massive development project in King County while his staff was performing a "fair and impartial analysis" of the project, that included a totally flawed road analysis that happened to excuse the developer from hundreds of millions in impacts. Later as governor, he then appointed a former King County Council chairwoman to the Growth Management Hearings Board just in time for her to vote in favor of the project that he had publicly supported, endorsed, and oh, received campaign contributions from.
Good riddance!
10. If Locke were Governor the past 4 years, our Deficit would be less than 1/2 what it is now.
I agree with you on that one.
I disagreed with Locke on plenty of stuff...but he was pro-business (a learned skill that took him awhile).
He wasn't ANTI-Business, I'm not sure that makes him pro-business. He was pro-trade at least.
I'll bet he is also mighty clean from a vetting standpoint.
He's a Boy Scout!!
Well, except for that whole Jon Wong thing.
11. Tuesday Update: Yes, I knew right away that Locke's reputation of being squeaky clean was more from his personal likability, and frankly boring persona, then from actual experience.
But you are also correct that, especially since these are so old and he was easily re-elected since, that it won't make any real difference.
12. Another unethical Democrat in the Obama administration? This can't be. This is hope and change and aligned with the most ethical congress ever. The sun is supposed to shine down on the new Camelot.
13. Locke did wonders for Commerce here in WA...{sarcasm}
As I recall, under Gov. Locke, Boeing relocated their corporate HQ (and countless jobs) to Illinois!!!
14. oh my goodness. I forgot---yes, Boeing HQ did leave on Locke's watch!
