Janet Napolitano, Homeland Security Secretary?

***Update 12/1, 11 AM***

At a news conference today, Obama introduced his picks of retired Marine Gen. James Jones as White House national security adviser, former Justice Department official Eric Holder as attorney general, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano as secretary of homeland security, Susan Rice as UN Ambassador, Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State and Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense

Read more here.

***

CNN is reporting Wednesday night that Obama has chosen Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano to become secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

President-elect Barack Obama's top choice for secretary of homeland security is Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, multiple Democratic sources close to the transition told CNN on condition of anonymity.

One source said he believed the final decision depends on the vetting of the Democratic governor, much like the selection of Eric Holder for attorney general.

Politico has more details on the Napolitano pick:

Napolitano (na-pawl-i-TAW-noh) brings law-and-order experience from her stint as the Grand Canyon State's first female attorney general. One of the nation's most prominent female elected officials, she made frequent appearances on behalf of Barack Obama during the campaign. She was re-elected to a second four-year term in 2006.

Transition insiders have long expected she would be offered a Cabinet slot, although she had also been mentioned for other posts, including attorney general.

Read more about the speculation that Janet Napolitano would be Attorney General.
Read the Obama's Cabinet BigNews Page.

Comments

[Humanleague002]

Gov. Napolitano is a terrible choice for HomeLand Security. She has done nothing for human rights in Arizona. If you disagree-give me one example!
She's signed the Employer Sanctions Bill into law which has hurt our economy, destroyed families and failed to convict one single employer of anything. She got 287g for Sheriff Arpaio and has supported him in his efforts to racially profile and literally turned Maricopa County into a Police State. She defended GOP State Rep. Russell Pearce when news articles and ads were proving his ties to neo-Nazi's and White Supremacists.
She also refused to endorse Sheriff Arpaio's Democratic opponent in the Nov. election, and abandoned her state party by leaving it in the hands of a neo-con (Jan Brewer) who will take over as Gov.
She did not speak out against prop 102 (Az version of Prop 8)
Watch and learn:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k1YSa0-i9s

[Jeeze]

As an AZ resident who voted for Janet Napolitano for Governor I am saddened to see her leave. She has had an uphill battle dealing with right-wing conservatives in the AZ legislature, but has held her ground on repro rights, but has had to compromise on other issues such as militarizing the border using the national guard, appeasing crazy sheriff joe arpaio and his anti latino antics, the list goes on. Now we will have a full throttle right wing take over with Jan Brewer taking Janet's old position. Crap. More info here:

http://roguecolumnist.typepad.com/rogue_columnist/2008/12/the-kookocracy-gets-its-moment.html

[kendal]

Charlie Rose interviewed Janet Napolitano alongside a then-unknown Sarah Palin (he even mispronounces her name) last year at the Women in Leadership Conference in New York...def­initely worth a watch!
http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/8736

[ModeratePoliticalJunkie]

Wow....Jan­et is well spoken and very intellectually astute..an­d Sarah...we­l, lets just say God Bless her for trying...b­less her heart..

[negotiatethis]

"thanks for that question about education, but i'm gonna talk about energy. . ."

this is too funny

[tiajudita]

Ms Napolitano, tear down that fence!

[blaharumph]

she looks very much like ayn rand...

yet, i am sure she's a wonderful person!

[Danny]

Janet Politano can explain to us why we need "Homeland Security" in the first place. That's the relief I expressed.

[Danny]

Anybody but Chertoff, from DAY ONE? Janet Napolitano? Sweet, more than sweet, SANE!

[darthdarcy]

Very poor choice for such an important powerful agency...

We needed someone much more competent and experienced than Napolitano or Chertoff

It involves more logistics than legal experience it's really not a job for any lawyer...

Ray Kelly of NY would have been great, or a retired General or Admiral like Wesley Clarke or Fallon..

Lawyers aren't really good for much but lawyering.­..

[Indie2008]

Military leaders are sometimes better tacticians than strategits. She has law enforcement, as well as legal experience.

[darthdarcy]

So did Chertoff..­.

[itschuck2c]

Her idea on homeland security in AZ was a 211 number to call for instructions during an emergency.

[kvaughn75]

I have to agree. I don't see any evidence in the several profiles I've read of her that indicate she's the right fit for the job, if we still really need DHS. I don't get it. I know there's a reason behind every Obama appointment and they're well thought out, but still. I think we need someone with expereience working with or in the FBI/CIA. Someone with intelligence experience, technical prowess and foreign policy experience. Someone from the investigative side of criminal justice.

[UpandSincere]

Uhmm... Can someone explain why we want to keep on with this "Homeland Security" thing? Not that I don't feel MUCH safer now that it has the authority to... do what again? Other than obstruct and confuse the purpose of other agencies this office never made much sense.

[TheNoBullExpress]

So THATS what the Obama/McCain meeting was all about !
She would have beat him like a rented mule in the 2010 Senate race

[doctorwang]

I'm not so sure she would win against McC. I think she'd be better off waiting a couple more years and going after that %&*$#, Jon Kyl. He didn't win by much during his last election.

[TommyObama]

You really think McCain will win the GOP nomination next time?

[nonamesleft]

This is really irresponsible by Obama and Napolitano. Shame on you two for ditching AZ and leaving us with a sever deficit and a Republican governor.

[TommyObama]

I'm an Arizonan, and I don't feel so sorry for us at all. We deserve this "ditching".

Perhaps now that our state GOP will be free to do for Arizona what the national GOP has done for America, our ignorant "independent voters" will wise up, pay attention, maybe read something from time to time, and start supporting someone other than the names they see on the biggest billboards every two years.

I look for the complete GOP control of Arizona to be the next and biggest phase in our slow but steady shift from Red to Blue. Jan Brewer has no idea yet how much she'll resemble GW Bush in function, if not in form. I'm just hoping it doesn't take eight years!

J-Nap has her flaws, but the nation will be lucky to have her. I miss her already.

[JaDa4096]

I am very proud of my Gov, however being a gay man in red state with the last drops of blue being drained is really painful. especially when i'm stuck with a home i cant sell and move to a state that supports me and my family. but that being said, i cant think of a better person than Janet Napolitano to head Homeland Security.

[lis60]

I am happy for her but this leaves those of us in Arizona in a bad situation. Ugh, Jan Brewer? As Governor?? We finally were getting some more Democratic­/progressi­ve things done here because of Janet. This state is a mess in so many ways. Overbuilding, terrible schools, the air quality in Phoenix is awful, the health care is terrible, I could go on and on........ Well, congrats Janet! Sorry to see you go.

[dezzertguy]

Frankly, she had 6 years and it sounds like she did nothing. It should get better with her gone. All she did was write letters to Washington, all day kindergarden and promote Obama. AZ will be better with her gone. I worry about security for the US. but AZ will be better. She did nothing for those issues you mention. She was good for the teacher's union but not the kids.

[BadTymin]

No Matter what o does or who he picks there is an complaint retread or no experience

[devinsbuddy]

J-Nap! J-Nap! J-Nap!
Say it isn't so! You leaving us with a republican Secretary of State as new goverrnor is unforgiveable! But we love you and can show the world that there are Arizonans in politics who are winners! Best wishes and don't be a stranger!

[dezzertguy]

Well, she is leaving a mess. This is an execellent way out, a win for the state and a win for her. The US may not being served the best, but at least AZ will be in better shape.

[Bloggerrogr]

"...Well, she is leaving a mess." Wait til Jan Brewer takes over. Brewer is Palin on steroids! God help us all here in Arid-zona.

[lis60]

Are you joking?? I don't know what state you live in but her leaving does NOT leave Arizona in better shape at all.

[iknowdou]

what planet do you hail from?