Now here’s one we didn’t see coming: Politico is reporting that Barack Obama may be considering Congressman Raul Grijalva for secretary of the Interior Department:

Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) may be emerging as a top contender to be Barack Obama’s secretary of the interior, according to sources close to the transition.

The Interior Department — which oversees federal lands, national parks and endangered species — has traditionally been headed by a Westerner.

Grijalva recently lambasted the administration for poor treatment of national parks and opposed President George W. Bush’s recent decision to allow coal mining in Arizona. The congressman also has introduced several pieces of legislation to restore and protect federal lands. And he’s supported global warming legislation and funding for renewable energy.

The Interior Department is expected to play a leading role in greenhouse gas regulation next year, an issue that some environmental groups say he could be instrumental in advancing.

This article appears in Nov 20-26, 2008.

Getting hassled by The Man Mild-mannered reporter

8 replies on “Grijalva to Interior?”

  2. Freakin’ great. Did you see the electoral map from the election? Arizona stood out like big red sore out here in the West. It’s bad enough they’re stiffing us with Brewer. Just repeal MLK Day and we’ll be back to the good ol’ days!!

  3. Double-edged sword, here. Grijalva’s support of the environment would be a refreshing change after 8 years of Bush appointees and policies. Howevr, that would leave AZ with one seasoned Dem Congressman, Pastor. (the others are in their 1st or second term). Losing Raul’s influence in Congress would be a set-back for Southern AZ.

    The prospect of another election in CD-7 must have TW and political junkies, who were clearly going through withdrawal, all psyched up. The only person more excited would be Joe Sweeney ‘girding his loins’ and quivering all over at the chance to run for the office once again, this tiem w/o the 2 year wait.

  4. Joe Sweeney was exactly what I thought of too.
    .
    Take the job, Raul! I want to watch Sweeney run!
    .
    (Then again… this time around we did get wacky Cap’n Al… so… hmmmmm…)

  5. It would make more sense for Obama to raid states that were more safely blue, or to draw appointees from universities and the private sector, or even be a little diabolical and cut from the political herd elected politicians registered as Democrats but who aren’t real liberals, like Ed Pastor and Jim Nintzel’s beloved Gabby G.

  7. Given the coverage that Obama’s screening process has gotten, I find it hard to believe that Grijalva can make the cut….

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