Sources: Gregoire Could Replace Kagan

[kpete]

Source: The Hotline

Sources: Gregoire Could Replace Kagan
May 12, 2010 11:39 AM
By Reid Wilson

WA Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) leads a short list to replace Solicitor General Elena Kagan, the WH has told members of Gregoire's home-state delegation.

Gregoire, a 2-term incumbent and a former WA AG, has been a rumored contender for other admin positions. But the WH has informed top aides to WA members that she is under serious consideration, according to several sources inside the delegation.

An admin official confirmed Gregoire's name is one of those being considered. Gregoire endorsed candidate Obama just before the WA caucuses in '08, offering a helping hand as Obama picked up two-thirds of the state's delegates.

Gregoire's appointment would elevate LG Brad Owen (D), a conservative Dem who has held his largely ceremonial post since '96. Several more prominent Dems have been angling to run for the state's top job in '12, when Gregoire was expected to pass on a third term.


Read more: http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/05/sources_gregoir.php

[NJmaverick]

1. I know the President is trying to surround himself with the best and the brightest

but pulling so many good Democratic Governors and other elected officials out of office is frustrating to my Democratic sensibilities.

[Arkana]

2. Me too.

Although if he could take Deval Patrick off our hands so we could run a Democrat with a chance at winning in November that'd be just gravy.

[No Elephants]

9. Patrick has said repeatedly that he does not want another appointment in the federal government.

If he wanted one, I am sure he could have one. He was Obama's national co-chair and vouched for Obama when the media was accusing him of plagiarizing from Patrick's 2006 campaign speeches.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. It is truly a matter of being between a rock and hard place.

It is such a shame that there is such a paltry "bench" of backup players to come up to bat when the first team is called to DC.

I think THIS is exactly what Dr Dean was working to overcome with his 50 state initiative. If we had people on the ground
everywhere, and funding for them to run and win... we would have great people in offices at every possible level..in every possible state.

[No Elephants]

11. Not understanding what the 50 state strategy has to do with a lieutenant Governor

succeeding a Governor who is plucked from office in the middle of his or her term. That's often what the state Constitution requires.

[tcaudilllg]

24. You're exactly right

We need a triple-bencher team. God knows we can do it.

[secondwind]

5. I thought the same thing just now....

[zipplewrath]

6. Problem with being out of the WH for so long

The only place to go to find people with executive experience is in the state houses. Those around from the Clinton days have probably been in lobbying or other areas of private work that makes them unwilling or undesireable for public office.

[No Elephants]

10. Why does a Solicitor General need experience running a state? And what does being out of the White

House have to do with finding Democratic lawyers who are qualified to be solicitor general?

Edited for silly typos.

[No Elephants]

8. Gubernatorial appointments are about repaying campaign favors.

America has only 50 Governors, counting Democrats, Republicans and indies. To say that Obama has to pick off Democratic Governors in order to get the best and brighest in a highly educated country of well over 300 million people is...

[foxfeet]

4. I'm pretty sure Gregoire would go in a heartbeat.

She'd be a good Solicitor General. We in WA State will have to work to keep that sleazeball Repug Dino Rossi out of the governorship in 2012.

[ManiacJoe]

16. According to news reports, the gov plans to stay the full term of office.

[foxfeet]

21. Yep. Heard that this evening.

I hope she stays, but I'm not optimistic.

[LisaM]

7. Better to take her out of Washington than Napolitano out of Arizona

that was a disaster, and anyone could have predicted it. At least here, there is a good chance we can elect another Democrat.

[Tansy_Gold]

12. Many of us DID predict it would be a disaster. n/t

[LisaM]

13. Yes, you are right.

I'm one of them. I was trying to tone it down a little.

[saracat]

17. WE did. And some still sneer.

[saracat]

18. Delete

[cascadiance]

25. I would think that Obama would learn from the Napolitano experience...

And realize that nominating any governor from a state where the governor isn't a solidly Democratic state is unwise. Lest we forget Gregoire went through a very contentious recount a few years back...

Please no! I don't want to feel that Vancouver here in Portland area is off-limits for me to live in if the Rethugs take over once she leaves. It's bad enough that Washington is a sales tax only state.

[DebbieCDC]

14. Gawd anybody but Dino in '12

Jeebus I hate that sleezeball. But I think the pukes will run our puke AG, who couldn't wait to sue over HCR. Dino's damaged goods.

Owens would be nothing but a stopgap until the 2012 election. I'd miss Chris though if she went to DC. That would be like giving that idiot Tim Eyeman carte blanche to run the state. Owens can't take him on.

[keopeli]

15. WA will have a hard time in the next election cycle keeping democrats

Dino is a loser I don't expect to win, or even run. But other no-name repubs will be fresh meat for an anti-incumbent mood. With state taxes skyrocketing from the recession, Dems are likely to lose the governorship if Repubs can find a decent candidate, especially since we don't have a deep back-bench.

Possible exception would be our Seattle Mayor, Mike Nichols, who was ousted this year over a snow-storm controversy. A run for governor might make the battle interesting.

[saracat]

19. Stupid, stupid, stupid. He needs to stop tapping Governors. If he left Napolitano

in Az to complete her term, Arizona wouldn't have been a disaster.

[troubledamerican]

22. Noooooo -- don't take Gregoire out of Washington state. WTF is Obama thinking

[ManiacJoe]

23. Good lawyer with lots of AG experience.

[depakid]

20. There are plenty of people equally or better qualified for the job

though Gregoire happens to think the she (the governor) IS the attorney general's client (as opposed to the people of the state)- and likewise, would be unlikely to exercise much if any independent discretion as solicitor general.

Thus- look out Washingtonians, your job keeping your state from experiencing an Arizona shift is about to get a lot harder.