Obama's Secretary of Agriculture: Tom Vilsack

[Verily]

Breaking on CNN.com. I guess he does hate Southerners after all

[Lunar]

Really?  Daaaamn

I thought it was going to Sanford Bishop, Jr!


Wasn't Vilsack the best option for the Democrats in Iowa to challenge Chuck Grassley?!!?!  Oh, the netroots will be mad about this one, even if he can still retire and run for the seat with higher standing than he could if he didn't take the position.


oh, I don't know about this

[Verily]

Challenge Chuck Grassley? I don't think anyone thought anyone could challenge Chuck Grassley. It's all about hoping Grassley retires.

[Linus Van Pelt]

. Vilsack loves the ethanol boondoggle.

[Verily]

. Vilsack loves the ethanol boondoggle.

True. He is, after all, from Iowa.

[Lunar]

Agreed, f--- Iowa and their crops.   What a horrible choice.  95% probably based upon Obama's need for the Midwest for reelection.  We'll see on this one.

Challenge Chuck Grassley? I don't think anyone thought anyone could challenge Chuck Grassley. It's all about hoping Grassley retires.

Vilsack's favorables are almost identical to Grassley's and I remember seeing it basically tied.

[Meeker]

The Netroots don't like Vilsack because of some position on pesticides. Can't remember what exactly the grudge was.

Anyways, this is really surprising. Vilsack basically gave a Sherman statement several weeks ago that it wasn't going to be him.

[Verily]

The Netroots don't like Vilsack because of some position on pesticides. Can't remember what exactly the grudge was.

Anyways, this is really surprising. Vilsack basically gave a Sherman statement several weeks ago that it wasn't going to be him.

Well, this is just an AP report based on "sources". Could be wrong.

[Frodo]

What exactly is Vilsack's position on agricultural subsidies? Oh, and some details other than 'he supports them' would be nice too.

[Meeker]

What is Vilsack's position on agricultural subsidies? Oh, and some details other than 'he supports them' would be nice too.

He supports them a lot.

[Nhoj]

. Vilsack loves the ethanol boondoggle.

so does obama

[Lunar]

. Vilsack loves the ethanol boondoggle.

so does obama

Yes, but everyone who competes in the Iowa caucus "supports" them.

Vilsack SUPPORTS(OMGOMG!!!) them

[Filuwaúrdjan]

. Vilsack loves the ethanol boondoggle.

so does obama

Yes, but everyone who competes in the Iowa caucus "supports" them.

Vilsack SUPPORTS(OMGOMG!!!) them

...and if Obama has actually picked him, then so does he. By default and political calculation, perhaps, but so what.

[Lunar]

Yeah, well that's the discouraging sign..

My suspicion is that Obama considers the cornfields in the Midwest to still be reelection territory.

I don't think anyone not from the region supports massive ethanol subsidies.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Well, fellow Iowan Tom Harkin chairs the Senate agriculture committee.

[Reluctant Republican]

I’ve never really understood why people in elected offices take these cabinet jobs, with the possible exception of state. But eh, I guess it’s a good end to a public career. Less stressful then a Senate run as well probably.

[Lief 🗽]

He's not great, but he's better than some of the corrupt idiots on the House agriculture committee whose names were floated earlier. Also, he's not from the South.

[Flying Dog]

Eh, what did you expect? Obama was going to pursue Ethanol with or without Vilsack.

[The Populist]

I never liked Vilsack, and I wanted Bishop to get the job.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

I really wish Obama had picked a Southerner, someone like Bishop from Georgia, or Bredesen from Tennessee, or anyone from the South.

[The Mikado]

Nothing wrong with Tom Vilsack.  This gets The Mikado Stamp of Approval.

[MaxQue]

At least, he didn't pee in a cup in a plane like Bishop.

[Lunar]

I’ve never really understood why people in elected offices take these cabinet jobs, with the possible exception of state. But eh, I guess it’s a good end to a public career. Less stressful then a Senate run as well probably.

Vilsack is in elected office?

Where?  When?

[Lunar]

At least, he didn't pee in a cup in a plane like Bishop.

Hey, at least Bishop isn't a corn whore

[Lunar]

I'm thinking about it, did Bishop do really awful in his interview, did Bishop not want the job, is Obama thinking already about his reelection, did someone close to Obama really want Vilsack (Hilldawg cough cough), or some combination of the above occur?

I know Obama likes to appoint his rivals to top positions, but Vilsack has no business as anything except a Grassley opponent and most likely should go to utilitarian hell with the rest of his state.

This is getting ridiculous. 


This is the worst decision Obama has made post-election thus far, and that includes any decisions to bribe Blago.  Severely disappointed with this one.