Bush picks Idaho's Kempthorne for Interior

[bluedog]

Bush picks Idaho's Kempthorne for Interior

9 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -
President George W. Bush on Thursday chose Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne as his choice to replace Gale Norton as Interior secretary, a Republican official said.
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Bush was expected to make a formal announcement at 5:30 p.m. EST on Thursday.

Kempthorne, who was first elected governor in 1998, is also a former senator. The Interior secretary job, which oversees federal lands, requires Senate confirmation.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/bush_interior_dc;_ylt=ApvF.GajcbEz1mX4.T.9Hy2s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--


**anybody know anything about him?

[Drum]

1. or, the Ever Popular Recess Appointment...

Watch the headlines on Monday :(

[heirs_of_liberty]

2. New deck chair on the Titanic?

it's refreshing to see a new Governor's seat opening up....

[Erika]

3. Dirk is a silver tongued James Watt

He must have finally paid his delinquent property tax, dumped Suzie, and has something on the W.

[xxqqqzme]

4. US Congress Biographical Directory

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=K000088

'...KEMPTHORNE, Dirk, a Senator from Idaho; born in San Diego, San Diego County, Calif., October 29, 1951; graduated, University of Idaho 1976; campaign manager for gubernatorial candidate Phil Batt 1982; executive assistant to the director, Idaho Department of Lands 1976-1978; executive vice president, Idaho Home Builders Association 1978-1981; state public affairs manager, FMC Corporation 1983-1986; mayor of Boise, Idaho 1985-1992; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 1992 for the term ending January 3, 1999; not a candidate for reelection in 1998; became governor of Idaho in 1999...'

from Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirk_Kempthorne

'...Kempthorne is notable for his conservative views, particularly on economic issues.

Kempthorne will not be a candidate for reelection in 2006. On March 16, 2006, Kempthorne was named to succeed Gale Norton as the new U.S. Interior Secretary...'

[Erika]

5. Dirk also has a habit of bounced checks to his hairdresser

It seems his wife isn't too great of a bookkeeper, so he says.

[The_Casual_Observer]

6. Let me guess, strong ties to lumber companies and a history of

backing other "pro-business" interests. Just a guess.

[Erika]

7. He's their boy alright

With his personal antics, he could only be elected in Idaho or Wyoming. Utah wouldn't have him.

He also closed down the busy main city streets surrounding the Capitol building for months after 9/11.
He barricaded it terribly. Made the locals very angry.

He also had private body guards (24 hours a day)for he and his family for a month after 9/11, paid for by the Idaho taxpayers.

[eppur_se_muova]

8. Interesting stuff in CNN's (AP) story...

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/03/16/kempthorne.bush.ap/index.html
***
At home in Idaho, Kempthorne spent the past year pushing for more state parks and revamping and expanding the road systems with money raised from bonds.

As leader of the National Governors Association, Kempthorne emphasized the challenge of providing long-term health care, citing his experience with his own parents.
***
His political career has touched on several land and wildlife issues. Kempthorne has sued the Bush administration over its November 2000 decision to reintroduce grizzlies into the Bitterroot range, a proposal that was ultimately withdrawn in 2001 by U.S. Fish and Wildlife. He was also part of a four-state salmon recovery effort, working with Indian tribes in the region as well as the Northwest Power Planning Council.
***
and they remembered to mention this:Norton's tenure was a stormy one at times, and her second-in-command, Steven Griles, had a close relationship with disgraced Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Several e-mail exchanges between the two men are now the subject of investigations by a Senate committee and the Justice Department.

[anotherdrew]

9. he'll get right on screwing Oregon, that'll be one of his main goals

just watch and see.

[Erika]

10. Among Western governors, he stood alone on many issues

like dam breeching.

[El Supremo]

11. Idaho's governor named to replace Norton as new Interior secretary

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush selected Dirk Kempthorne as Interior secretary Thursday, saying the Idaho governor brings wide experience to the job of managing the nation's parks, public lands and natural resources.

If confirmed by the Senate, the 54-year-old Kempthorne -- himself a former senator -- would replace Gale Norton in the Cabinet. She resigned last week after more than five years in office.

http://www.9news.com/acm_news.aspx?OSGNAME=KUSA&IKOBJECTID=054f9cc6-0abe-421a-001b-41c02443f27c&TEMPLATEID=0c76dce6-ac1f-02d8-0047-c589c01ca7bf

[Erika]

12. There is a previous post on this

Dirk is good ole GOP boy who never met an environmentalist that he thought should live.

He has so many quirks he is laughable. He has a history of not paying property taxes, bad checks to his hairdresser and blaming it on his wife, and, of course, Suzie who he must have dumped.

He turned downtown Boise into a virtual traffic hell when he shut off traffic within two blocks of the Capitol building for months after 9/11. He also barricaded the Capitol building and ordered 24 hour body guards for him and his family for 30 days after 9/11.

[barbaraann]

13. Bush called him Governor Dirk in the announcement!

He couldn't even remember his name!!!!!

[MaineDem]

14. I was just going to mention that!

I thought that was very condescending. And it showed Bush's inherent stupidity.