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Go Home Why Arizona Dems Don't Want Napolitano At Dhs

THE PLANK DECEMBER 1, 2008

Why Arizona Dems Don't Want Napolitano At Dhs

At a press conference today, President-elect Obama announced the members of his national security team. Among them was Arizona governor Janet Napolitano, Obama's nominee for Director of Homeland Security. When news of her possible nomination first leaked a few weeks ago, TNR's Seyward Darby explained why Arizona Democrats aren't thrilled with the choice:

Arizona governor Janet Napolitano looks likely to be secretary
of Homeland Security (thank you, leaky transition team). Though many are
applauding her candidacy,
her pending appointment is raising anxiety among Arizona Democrats. "It's a
dreadful step," Democrat Phil Lopes, minority leader in the state house, told TNR today. "There is very serious
potential of us backsliding on things we Democrats and the residents of the
state think are important. ... I do wish that she would [stay] because with us in
the minority chambers, she's the only one who can put a stop to [the GOP]."

Napolitano, a widely popular Democratic governor in a red
state, has two years left in Phoenix's
executive office. During her tenure, Napolitano has broken the Right's iron grip
on both houses of the state legislature by vetoing several Republican-backed
bills. Among other things, she nixed denying in-state tuition and day care to
illegal aliens and allowing law enforcement greater latitude to enforce
immigration law. "Our plan with her in office is one thing, but without her in
office, we would have to change the strategy totally," Lopes said, affirming
that several Democratic officials have even personally lobbied Napolitano to
keep her post.

"I'm horrified at the thought of Napolitano abandoning the
state," Amy Silverman, managing editor of the Phoenix New-Times, told TNR today.
"She has not been a perfect governor, but when it comes to the big
picture--balancing out the incredibly far-right and often wing-nut state
legislature--she's been a godsend."

Not only will Democrats lose Napolitano as a crucial ally--they
will also have to contend with her constitutionally mandated successor, Secretary of State Jan Brewer, a rank-and-file Republican elected in 2002. "The
population needs to be more careful in whom they elect secretary of state,"
said Democrat Marsha Arzberger, minority leader in the state senate. "I do not
think she's a leader, I do not think she's prepared for the task, and I don't
think she has a vision in mind." Silverman added, "She's from the same
cloth--literally, she came from the legislature--as the wing of the GOP
Napolitano has battled with for years."

If Napolitano leaves, the GOP will be a triple threat,
controlling the governorship and both houses of the state legislature. "Just as
conservatives worry that having so many Democrats in Washington
could thwart real debate about the problems facing America,"
Silverman said, "Many in Arizona--and
not just liberals--are worried today about the same thing happening with
far-right Republicans here."

So while many acknowledge that this might be a smart
career move for Napolitano,
Arizona's Democratic leaders
agree: Without her, their plans for education, taxes, and other core issues are
down the drain. "The nation's gain is going to be Arizona's loss," said Democrat and senate
minority whip Rebecca Rios. "In terms of what change we're going to be able to effect in the next two years, it's going to be slim to none."

--Seyward Darby, with reporting by Marin Cogan

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19 comments

Not to mention the fact that Napolitano is probably the only AZ Democrat who could beat McCain when he runs for reelection. Then again, this might be Obama's way of making nice with McCain so that he'll  help him push some of Obama's bills through the Senate.

Why anyone would want the DHS job, by the way, is beyond me. That department is squeezed on all sides, so she better be ready to throw some elbows.

- propositionjoe

November 20, 2008 at 4:58pm

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Arizona Dems, this counterpart of yours in Virginia is with you on this one.

- ackyri

November 20, 2008 at 5:17pm

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Living in Arizona, I have to agree.  I would much rather see her finish her term and challenge McCain in 2 years.  We need her in office until then to counter the state legislature.

- waroberts

November 20, 2008 at 6:34pm

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Quit your whining.  If you are so desperate to live in a Democrat state, then just come follow everyone else and move next door to California.  Jeez.

- mmussman

November 20, 2008 at 6:47pm

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Napolitano has already said she would not run against McCain in 2010, so that was never an option once he filed to run again.  So if she doesn't take DHS she is out of a job.  I agree, she will be a loss for the state, and it will be a painful two years.  But by 2010 you will see a new Dem governor here again (either Goddard or Giffords) and more Dems in the legislature.

- cal80

November 20, 2008 at 8:07pm

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I agree with Mmussman, country comes first, and if Arizona is that oppressive move your ass to California, New Mexico, or any other state. Obama seems to trust her in that position, and serving the nation is the highest priority.

- blackton

November 20, 2008 at 8:40pm

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I'll take the whack jobs in Phoenix over those in Sacramento any day.  I lived in CA the first half of my life when it was still a great state (my dad originally moved there in 1921), but in the last twenty years it has gone downhill.  I knew that when people started talking about how they had to buy their kids a Mercedes when they got their license (albeit a "used" Mercedes), and those kids were going to public high schools, that the place had a serious moral deficit.  Now the nanny state has a huge monetary deficit as well--even when times were good they just couldn't figure out how to fund all those state programs.  Obama should take a good long hard look before he plunges in and does the same damage to the country.

- cal80

November 20, 2008 at 9:45pm

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Oh by the way, mmussman, California has had a net outmigration for the last decade---mostly to states like AZ, NM, and other parts of the West to escape the highest real estate prices, taxes, crime, and pollution.  The only people moving into California were from south of the border where things were worse.  

- cal80

November 20, 2008 at 9:48pm

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This country is trending Democratic, and although Arizona stayed red, it became less so and not more so like Idaho or West Virginia.   I don't believe that leaving the governorship necessarily invites a wing-nut take over in Arizona--John McCain would even campaign against that.  

- dylanposer

November 21, 2008 at 10:30am

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This country is trending Democratic, and although Arizona stayed red, it became less so and not more so like Idaho or West Virginia.   I don't believe that leaving the governorship necessarily invites a wing-nut take over in Arizona--John McCain would even campaign against that.  

- dylanposer

November 21, 2008 at 10:30am

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"I agree with Mmussman, country comes first." What? Putting a lid on your political ambition, finishing your current term as governor of an American state, and protecting that state from the lunatic right ... how is that not putting your country first?

- thackerj

November 21, 2008 at 10:33am

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I thought we were entering an era of post-partisanship.  If she is the best person for the DHS job then that's where she should go, regardless of the wishes of the Arizona dems.

- poortomsacold

November 21, 2008 at 11:13am

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thackerj, you spelled it out yourself, you mentioned state twice, a state is not the country. Yes, in a roundabout way serving in a state is in serving the country, but nowhere the same as actually serving within the Federal Gov't. I hate to say it but it is true, I really don't care who is governor of Arizona, I do care who is cheif of Homeland security, one affects the lives of the state the other the nation.

- blackton

November 21, 2008 at 12:23pm

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So Obama can't appoint this Brewer person to some obscure ambassadorship and let the next person in line (a Democrat, if I recall correctly) percolate up to the governor's office?

- cspencef

November 21, 2008 at 3:13pm

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This is unbelievable.  There are two posters here (thank you Blackton) who have it right - country first, politics second.  I don't know or give a damn who she is, but if she's right for the job, then take the damned job and the hell with fighting off Republicans in a state legislature.  It's incredible the sentiment that you "liberals" show and have shown for the past 8 years.  Because Bush is president of my country, loving my country = loving Bush.  Therefore, I hate my country and wish ill of it.

Unbelievable.  I'd tell you to grow up except that this is treachery and treason punishable back in the day by hanging.

- jwl2672

November 21, 2008 at 3:22pm

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Steve Benson had a pretty funny cartoon in today's AZ Republic about her departure.  She is a talented woman, and if anyone can handle DHS, she can.  We will miss her, but I wish her well in helping to fix up the country.

www.azcentral.com/.../benson

- cal80

November 21, 2008 at 5:52pm

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I absolute agree with Cal80.  I lived and taught in AZ for many years.  Californians have populated AZ along with many other connected states.  I always heard the same reasons: crime, pollution, high cost of living and that the state population was bursting at the seams.  

- rutherfurd

December 1, 2008 at 2:01pm

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Oh, jwl. We can't all be as wise, noble and pure of heart as you. Forgive us.

- WoodyBombay

December 1, 2008 at 5:13pm

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MONDAY'S MINI-REPORT.... Today's edition of quick hits: * If readers would take a moment to comlpete the BlogAds reader survey, we'd appreciate it. * Another very painful day on Wall Street, with the Dow closing down nearly 680 points, or...

- Anonymous

December 1, 2008 at 5:30pm

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