Rob Portman named OMB Director

[JNelson6563]

No link yet, just announced on CNBC.

On edit, here's a snippet on Mr. Portman:

Ambassador Rob Portman
04/29/2005

U.S. Trade Representative

Ambassador Rob Portman was appointed United States Trade Representative by President George W. Bush on April 29, 2005 and was sworn into office on May 17, 2005 by Andrew H. Card, Jr, Chief of Staff to President Bush. Previously he served as a Representative of the Second District of Ohio in the United States Congress.

During his time in Congress, Amb. Portman served as the Chairman of the House Republican Leadership and was the liaison between the House Leadership and the White House. He was also a prolific legislator known for reaching across the aisle to achieve results. As a Member of the House Ways and Means Committee, and its Subcommittee on Trade, he has been involved with trade issues and legislation for years. He also served as Vice Chairman of the House Budget Committee. Among other international meetings and conferences, he attended the Seattle WTO Ministerial in 1999.


http://www.ustr.gov/Who_We_Are/Bios/Ambassador_Rob_Portman.html

Will post link to story ASAP

[JNelson6563]

1. Link to story

Bush Names Portman to Head Budget Office By TERENCE HUNT, AP White House Correspondent
7 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - President Bush has decided to name Trade Representative Rob Portman (news, bio, voting record) as the White House budget director, moving quickly to fill a vacancy created by a personnel reshuffling, a senior administration official said Tuesday.

Bush also has decided to nominate Susan Schwab, the deputy trade representative, to move up to the top job, replacing Portman, the official said.

Portman will succeed Joshua Bolten, who stepped down as director of the Office of Management and Budget to become White House chief of staff.

Bush was to announce the changes Tuesday morning at the White House.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060418/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush

[MrModerate]

2. I can see the virtue of trading out the burned out lackeys . . .

in favor of fresh lackeys, because surely some of the administration's club-footedness over the last few months is from fatigue as much as it is from bad policy.

McClellan is clearly used up -- he's lied straight-faced too many times to have any credibility or professional standing left. Not to mention that he's pretty obnoxious even when he's not lying.

But as Schimpanski's recent defense of Rumsfeld proves, there are no new ideas, no new policies, and no acknowledgement of failure to be found in this White House. I suppose that they might get a slight bounce by improving their communications with the Regressive leadership of the House & Senate, but unless they repudiate everything they've done since Bush v. Gore, it's going to be hard to convince anyone else who's been paying attention.

So, while they may be giving the deck chairs a new coat of shellac, I can't see it helping very much.

[JNelson6563]

3. Exactly

Just sprucing up and re-arranging deck chairs. :toast:

[IChing]

4. "Bush taps Portman"-----AP headline----LOL

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BUSH?SITE=FLSTU&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


By TERENCE HUNT
AP
Bush Chooses Portman as Next Budget Director



WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush on Tuesday nominated Trade Representative Rob Portman as the White House budget director, turning to a Washington insider and longtime friend as part of an effort to re-energize the administration and boost the president's record-low approval ratings.

Bush also selected Susan Schwab, the deputy trade representative, to move up to the top trade job, replacing Portman.

Bush said more changes are in the works under his new chief of staff, Joshua Bolten.

"With a new man will come some changes," the president said. But he emphasized anew that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's job is safe, despite calls for his resignation from a half dozen retired military commanders.



"I hear the voices and I read the front page and I know the speculation," the president told reporters in the Rose Garden. "But I'm the decider and I decide what's best. And what's best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the secretary of defense."

[Up2Late]

5. Bush nominates trade chief as new budget director (AFP)

(Well who DID you expect him to nominate? Someone who's doing a GOOD job?)

Bush nominates trade chief as new budget director

18/04/2006 15h52

WASHINGTON (AFP) - President George W. Bush has nominated Trade Representative Rob Portman as his new budget chief, handing the popular former congressman the tough job of halving the groaning US deficit. Speaking from the White House Rose Garden on Tuesday, Bush nominated the 50-year-old Portman as head of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in place of Josh Bolten, who has become the White House chief of staff.

Bush also nominated one of Portman's two deputies, Susan Schwab, to step up to head of the trade office, handing her the challenging task of steering World Trade Organization talks through to success. "Rob is a man of deep integrity. He knows the priorities of my administration, he can get things done," Bush said, calling for a swift confirmation by the Senate.

As OMB director, Portman will have to grapple with a US budget deficit that has surged under Bush's watch, owing to multi-billion-dollar tax cuts and a massive expansion of federal spending since the September 11 attacks of 2001.

Flanked by Portman and Schwab, the president described the budget office as "one of the most essential agencies of our government". "The OMB has a central responsibility of implementing the full range of my administration's agenda, from defense programs that will keep our people secure, to energy initiatives that will break our dependence on oil, to tax policies that keep our economy growing and creating jobs," he said.

(more at link)

<http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/060418155132.std779do.html>

[dubyaD40web]

6. This could be fun.

Didn't Mary Landrieu say she would block any * nominee until proper funding is met for Katrina aid. Or something??

[rainbow4321]

7. He took $$ from Indian tribes, also

Which may not be a big deal, but it's an interesting thing to have in common w/ Abramoff.


http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060105/NEWS01/601050344

Former Congressman Rob Portman, R-Ohio, got $4,000 from two tribes. The contributions were made to America's Majority Trust, the leadership PAC that Portman formed before he left Congress to join the Bush cabinet as U.S. trade representative.

Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., received $1,000 from Abramoff and his wife, Pamela. Bunning's office did not return a reporter's phone calls on Wednesday.

Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, received $1,000 from the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. DeWine's campaign spokesman, Matt Carle, said the money will be returned to the tribe or given to a charity.

Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher received $1,000 from the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana back in 2002, when he was a member of the House. The Republican Party of Kentucky received $10,000 from the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe in 2004.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

8. At Least Shrub Didn's Pick Delay...

... who was said to be on the "candidate" list.

[saltpoint]

9. I'm a bit nervous about the portfolio the GOP is building on this guy.

I'm nervous about a Haley Barbour/Rob Portman ticket for 08.

[dusty64]

10. You aren't really

are you? barbour looks and has the charisma of Porky Pig and a trade rep who's main job was the selling of America to foreign interests, in the words of the warmongering chimp I say "bring it on"...........

[saltpoint]

12. I agree on your points, but I don't feel they'll eclipse the demographic

appeal.

The GOP wants to keep Ohio and Portman would be potent there.

Barbour can lose a pound or two and suit up for battle. He's very smart and very shrewd and I think he could take McCain out, certainly Romney, maybe Allen.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

11. Looking at the freakersite today

Saw Tony Snow has been offered Snotty Scottys job. He was posting about it, for petes sake. What a Leaker!:rofl: