Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano To Head Homeland Security

From the WaPo:

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (D), whose handling of immigration issues brought her accolades from fellow governors, is President-elect Barack Obama's choice to serve as secretary of homeland security, Democratic sources said late Wednesday.

As a border state governor you know she has some thoughts on immigration reform, but what are they?  Over to the Politico as the suspense mounts:

Arizona Demcratic Gov. Janet Napolitano has been chosen to serve as secretary of the vast and troubled Department of Homeland Security for President-elect Barack Obama, Democratic officials said. Napolitano is a border governor who will now be responsible for immigration policy and border security, which are part of Homeland Security’s myriad functions.

...In 2005, Time magazine named her one of America’s five best governors, calling her “A Mountaineer on the Political Rise.”

Time wrote: “The one issue Republicans think they can use against the popular Napolitano is illegal immigration, because the huge number of border crossings have left many Arizonans feeling overwhelmed and powerless. Her critics claim she came to the problem late, but she seems to have navigated it deftly. … Napolitano opposed … several bills that targeted illegal immigrants. Instead, she looked to the systems and people that make illegal immigration possible: She ordered state contractors to ensure that their employees are legal [and] set up an undercover unit to catch forgers of identity documents … In mid-August she declared a state of emergency in Arizona to direct more funds to protecting border areas from illegal crossings.”

Ms. Napolitano opined in favor of comprehensive reform in 2007 and cleverly (or do you prefer "disingenuously") tagged the "enforcement first" crowd as favoring a silent amnesty:

On the subject of immigration, my plea to Congress is loud and clear: You can't quit now. Last week the Senate was on the verge of addressing our broken immigration system. No, the compromise bill wasn't perfect. But our current system is a disaster. I implore lawmakers to go back to the table, iron out their differences and give us an immigration system that is enforceable, and the resources to enforce it.

Opponents of the Senate immigration bill -- those who really want to do nothing -- merely yelled "amnesty" in place of reasoned opposition. They were -- and are -- just plain wrong. Don't let them derail your efforts.

...For 20 years our country has done basically nothing to enforce the 1986 legislation against either the employers who hired illegal immigrants or those who crossed our borders illegally to work for them. Accordingly, our current system is, effectively, silent amnesty.

If we have no comprehensive immigration reform this year, and if we do not deal rigorously and openly with those already here, silent amnesty will continue. As a border-state governor who has dealt with immigration issues more than any other governor I know of, I am certain that continued inaction by Congress -- silent amnesty -- is the worst of all worlds.

Hmm.  I had no idea that those favoring a fence as well as the border controls and workplace enforcement promised in 1986 favored "really want to do nothing".  Live and learn!

Immigration reform looked like a better issue for the Republican dead-enders if McCain lost, since it gives the party an opportunity to unite around something other than McCain's comprehensive reform.  Looks like we will find out.

More from Ms. Napolitano circa 2006, when she teamed with Arnold and other governors to promote comprehensive reform.

 

Comments

[bad]

Hre words make no sense. She is a perfect match for Obama.

[kim]

Speaking of disingenuity, labeling the opposition to that immigration bill as those 'who want to do nothing', hardly seems innocent. That was deliberate deception. For shame.
=========================

[bad]

While at a Phoenix law firm in 1991, Napolitano was part of the legal team representing Anita Hill, a former Equal Employment Opportunity Commission colleague of Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas who accused Thomas of sexual harassment. Hill's accusations jeopardized but ultimately failed to derail the Senate's confirmation of Thomas.

This is a fun fact to know for confirmation hearings. LUN

[Jane]

That fact makes me despise the woman.

[bad]

Jane, later in that article, there is a bit that suggests Napolitano messed with witness testimony. LUN

[Patrick R. Sullivan]

I thought of that too, bad. Napolitano got Susan Hoerchner to change her testimony, when, under private questioning, it was obvious that Hoerchner didn't live in DC at the time Anita Hill worked for Clarence Thomas. Hoerchner suddenly couldn't remember the dates when Hill had told her she'd been harassed by Thomas.

[bunky]

I bet she can see Mexico from her house. The double standards are wonderful!!!!

[sbw]

Methinks there is a trend amongst the new Obaministas towards situational ethics.

[bad]

Is Napolitano a racist? Her conduct in regard to Thomas is suspicious.

[Soylent Red]

mmmmm...I feel safer already.

[bad]

I feel safer already.

Because you are not a black man?

[bad]

Napolitano endorsed Obama over Clinton for the presidency. How closely would Napolitano and Clinton work if they both agree to work in Obama's administration?

[centralcal]

Getting Napolitano out of Arizona . . .

The Bright Side

[bad]

What makes Napolitano qualified to be in charge of Homeland Security? She is a 40-something female govenor.

[Pofarmer]

Whoa, ouch bad.

[Sue]

bad, bad, bad,

You already know the answer to that question. She's a democrat.

[bgates]

Bad, I don't think I could fully assess her qualifications until I find out who her children have been sleeping with.

[Jane]

What makes Napolitano qualified to be in charge of Homeland Security? She is a 40-something female govenor.

Yeah but she is unattractive, and would definately abort the disabled, so she is okay.

(Oh I am so so so bad - almost as bad as our bad.)

[bad]

Y'all are killing me...

[Patrick R. Sullivan]

Delicious irony; which governor is smarter with Charlie Rose?

[Bill in AZ]

Good riddance guv...

[narciso]

So, Patrick, coming around to the truth; albeit belatedly.?

[Bill Clinton]

Bill, I read something earlier that said Arizona was headed into deep finacial trouble. Is that correct?

[Bill Clinton]

***financial***

[Porchlight]

Yes, the irony - both Napolitano and Sebelius were short-listers for Barack's VP, yet their qualifications compare unfavorably to Palin's.

Actually I am not finding that irony so delicious these days.

[centralcal]

Gimmicky Governor Getting Out of Dodge

LUN

[Jor]

Earth to wing-nuts. The ECONOMY IS TANKING. This is a non-existent issue. Unless there is a miracale, can't see this even coming up on anyones radar in 2009.

[bad]

WTF is Levin saying? Dude is incomprehensible.

[clarice]

Pritzker pulled her name out of consideration.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20081120/pl_politico/15827
Would that more putative nominees would follow her lead.

[bad]

Jor, please link to a lefty site you admonish for being petty instead of focused on financial issues, terrorism, etc

[bad]

Pritzker pulled her name out of consideration.

She is now in charge of the 501(c)4 shadow government.

[kim]

Oh, great, a witness tamperer for head of homeland security.
=====================================

[bad]

When Clinton's lawyers publicly accused [Ken] Starr of leaking grand jury information, an indignant Starr vowed to conduct an internal investigation to disprove the charges. But when he went to Holder asking for FBI help to conduct the probe, Holder talked him out of it, giving Starr the impression that he, Holder, did not think much of the accusation. Starr breathed easier, until he learned that Holder had quietly called the presiding judge in the case and offered the Justice Department's help in looking into the charges against Starr.

Isn't that interesting... LUN

[RichatUF]

bad-

She'll be in a better position to build those "public-private partnerships", like Fannie and Freddie, which have served us so well. It'll end up as the Obama Rental Agreement shop: policy for the highest bidders.

[bad]

I really hope you're wrong, Rich, but...

[Patrick R. Sullivan]

So, Patrick, coming around to the truth; albeit belatedly.?

I've always been a fan of Palin's. I've simply pointed out that the timing isn't favorable for her to have a future in national politics.

[Pofarmer]

I've simply pointed out that the timing isn't favorable for her to have a future in national politics.

If the MSM have there way, it won't be favorable for anyone with an R behind their name to have a future in national politics. Best get that out of your head.

[kim]

Oh, great, a Mark Felt for Justice.
====================

[bad]

Market down over 400 pts.

[bad]

Eric Holder, the long-time Washington lawyer chosen by President-elect Barack Obama to be the next attorney general, was a central figure in the controversy surrounding the clemency petitions of 16 convicted terrorists during the Clinton administration.

Holder, who was deputy attorney general from 1997 until 2001, oversaw all of the requests for clemency filed during those years, including requests from former domestic terrorists, drug traffickers and a number of disgraced politicians.

Oh goodie... LUN

[Sue]

Earth to Jor,

Maybe you could provide us with a list of acceptable subjects that aren't non-existent? So far, anything we talk about seems to fit your broad description of non-existent subjects.

[Extraneus]

Can we start calling this the Obama Crash yet? I can.

Isn't it obvious the market has been reacting to the prospect of an Obama presidency since it first started realizing he was going to win?

[JM Hanes]

Yes we can!

[bad]

The Market--Hope it will Change directions

[Antimedia]

Jor

Earth to wing-nuts. The ECONOMY IS TANKING. This is a non-existent issue.

Translation: please don't talk about this. It makes me uncomfortable. Let's talk about the economy and blame it all on Bush.

[PD]

Earth to wing-nuts. The ECONOMY IS TANKING. This is a non-existent issue.

Not so. Fixing the economy will require good judgment. At issue with the Napolitano nomination is whether Mr. Obama (pbuh) is showing good judgment.

[narciso]

Our beloved governor, inaugurates the new season by pushing for 15% tuition hikes at the state universities. After basically kissing off the conservative vote. he'll finish it off with a state visit from Chavez. This isn't a circular firing squad; it's a fusilade from the USS Constitution. Maybe he stayed out in the sun too long, he didn't hang out by the pool? Don't worry Governor, Sarah will drop by to fundraise for you in 2010; unless she has anything important to do like cook up some moose stew; set up another pipeline from the North Slope. So Begich says he'll be a new type of Democrat; all pro gun and at least conscious of ANWR. "I'll buy that for a dollar". The Democrats have been against import of oil shale, because it looks bad, I guess. They were in the forefront of that interesting experiment of burning our food for fuel. Slo Jo was against the original Alaskan pipeline, so get a company of Alaska NG up there just in case. One
question, how did that Youtube video end up in the blockbuster remainder pile; while.
every form of axelturfed drivel (the secessionist movement, the despoilment against ill will, and some other rancid stuff floated to the top. This ofcourse is
the same site which has no trouble with jihadi decapitation porn; yet actual facts
seem to fall down the memory hole, like Comrade Ogilvy and the extra chocolate ration. We see the results, in the Ziegler video; which is sadly not the exception but the rule for most politically informed folk.

[glasater]

Have just gotten Amity Shlaes book The Forgotten Man and am looking it over. It seems to be well laid out.

It is Shlaes' depiction of the Great Depression and it seems she points out that FDR is not the hero many writers have made him out to be.

[Laura]

Galaster,

It's a great book and a real eye opener. After reading it I looked at our political system with a whole different perspective. Especially useful in the age of O.

[Thomas Jackson]

Wow we have a current government that can't stop the Mexican Army from entering the US. With this appointment I guess we can look forwardtot the explanation of why there are PLA divisions crossing the Arizona frontier in the future.

Every people get the government they deserve. 450 down today, I bet Friday isn't going to show much improvement. Hope you're all ready for the depression or as Obama will call it "Change."