Ray Ring reminds folks that there are still conservatives in the West and that they have a point some times, up at the GOAT:
Obama received more votes than the last Democratic candidate for president, John Kerry, in 404 of the 413 counties in the West, indicating that a new order may be taking command of the region's politics. That impression was reinforced on the congressional level: Western Democrats took three Senate seats that had been Republican (in Colorado, New Mexico and Oregon). They took at least six House seats from Western Republicans, while losing no Democratic seats in either chamber of Congress.
Democrats also gained more seats on public utilities commissions in Montana and Arizona, with candidates who vow to put more emphasis on development of wind and solar energy.
But Obama's hopeful message, his call for fundamental change and unification, will meet resistance in the West from here on out, especially on the level of local politics.
Out here in the West we can come together at times. Readers may remember the deal for management of the Colorado River during drought signed by Republican Dirk Kempthorne last year. He remarked, at the signing, "If the seven states of the Colorado River basin can get together and work out a deal, then surely anybody can."
The effort was jump started by Gale Norton during her tenure at Interior.
The President-Elect can implement changes at the Department of Interior without a lot of budget. President Obama should quickly outline his strategy for oil and gas development, oil shale, water and hydroelectric power. The infrastructure and expertise are in place in most places in our federal agencies to carry out policy in those areas. We think he should ask the states to develop local policy -- to supplement the federal effort -- and then roll up by watershed.
The Western states were carved out of the landscape as the nation had carved up the landscape east of the 100th meridian -- areas that did not require irrigation for the most part. John Wesley Powell warned about the, "capricious application of political boundaries," and urged that the West be organized by watershed.
Here's long list of possible Interior picks from Les Blumenthal and McClatchy Newspapers:
Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash.
Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash.
Rep. George Miller, D-Calif.
Former Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles
Former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson
Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer
Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal
Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
John Leshy, former Interior Department solicitor
Sally Jewell, CEO of Recreational Equipment Inc.
Thanks to Ed Quillen and the GOAT for the link.
It's interesting that Rep. Raul M. Grijalva didn't make the list. He was on the short list -- over the weekend -- according to the Washington Post. Kate Sheppard at the Grist and McJoan at the Daily Kos are leaning his way. He has Progressive credentials.
Here's a background article about former Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles from Rhonda McBride writing for KTUU.com - Alaska. She writes:
What ever you feel about Knowles, you'll probably find little argument that he doesn't have a grasp of the issues that affect the state. "I think it would be a brilliant appointment, frankly, because of Knowles' managerial skills," UAA history professor Steve Haycox said. Managerial skills that are important to this job. Out of all the federal agencies the Interior Department may have the most impact on Alaska. It oversees 10 different offices and about 200 million acres -- roughly 60 percent of the state. "Alaska has more national park land than all the rest of the national parks put together," Haycox said...
For Lower 48 environmental groups Knowles might be seen as too pro-development. But some argue that his record as governor shows a balanced view of managing public lands. One example: His track record on dealing with cruise ships and water pollution. Knowles said he's not campaigning for the job, but he'd definitely consider it.
Alaska has had one previous Interior secretary, former Gov. Walter Hickel.
More Coyote Gulch coverage here.
"colorado water"
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