Posted on 06/19/2007 12:27:15 PM PDT by kristinn
White House budget director Rob Portman is stepping down and will be replaced by former Iowa Republican congressman Jim Nussle, senior administration officials said today. The president is scheduled to make the formal announcement at the Roosevelt Room later this afternoon.
Administration officials described the decision as motivated by Portman's desire to spend more time with his wife and three teen-aged children. Since returning to Washington as a congressman 14 years ago, Portman has been commuting weekly to his Cincinnati home, and his press secretary said he had tired of that.
SNIP
Still, the news of Portman's departure seemed to surprise lawmakers on the Hill, where there is not nearly the same affection for his successor, Nussle, who ran an unsuccessful campaign for governor of Iowa last year. Nussle had previously served as chairman of the House Budget committee and has been seen as a hawk on spending issues.
House Majority leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) was notably cool in his comments about Nussle when asked about the new appointment this morning. "Rob Portman was one of the best members I have ever served with, a person of keen intellect and a responsible legislator," he said.
All he would say of the new OMB director is that "Mr. Nussle is a Dane." Both Hoyer and Nussle are of Danish ancestry. "You can read into that into what you want to read into it, and what you want to read into it is correct," he added.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Danes are notorious for their decision-making abilities, if I recall.
Oh, and having the serious hots for their moms.
And whacking their stepfathers.
Scumbag politicos have a way of revealing their true colors once they are ineligibe to run for re-election.Governors are found of last day pardoning of criminals and signong laws almost forgotten in the end of year rush.Presidents worry about their legacy as seen through liberal historian eyes.
I doubt it. Portman was a typical RINO as a US rep.
I see this as a sign Rudy is toast...Nussle was his primary pimp in Iowa.
Oh dear, well, that’s unfortunate.
The point was that Hoyer has nothing good to say about Nussle. It’s typical Rat behavior — when in doubt, be an SOB. These people don’t have a shred of class.
I’d really like to know what Hoyer was getting at.
Theories off the top of my head:
(1) If you can’t say anything nice about someone, don’t say anything at all.
(a) Hoyer is citing an area of commonality between himself and Nussle.
(2) Hoyer is taking a shot at Nussle’s decision-making ability.
I really don’t like either one of those theories....surely there’s a better explanation (?)
Nussle has been a solid Gopconserv for years. He is one who can actually deal with economics. Iowa will miss him.
Once you start paying the danegelt, you never get rid of the dane.
This is just symptomatic of the immigration blindness that presently affliects FR.
Nothing else matters.
The fact that we have a more vigorous budget hawk means little.
Portman was a dem if I recall correctly.
I think this is yet another excellent appointment by the President.
Bush will go down as a great President. I have little doubt on this point.
OK, I’m subculturally illiterate. I don’t understand that one either. Was Hoyer caught smoking pot?
Nothing else matters. You are correct. Compared to making the illegal invasion into a 'legal' one, something like this doesn't matter one bit.
The fact that we have a more vigorous budget hawk means little. Also correct.
Portman was a dem if I recall correctly. You recall incorrectly.
I think this is yet another excellent appointment by the President. Who will even remember this a few weeks from now?
Bush will go down as a great President. I have little doubt on this point. A little humor to liven up the posting?
Illegal invasions have been made legal throughout the nation’s history.
The illegal immigration debate is over rated over heated and hyperbolic.
I am happy to hurl the same insults at the immigration crowd that I read directed at President Bush.
Portman was not a democrat.
Bush had the guts to go to war in nations of more than 50 million people. He took out both governments successfully and installed democratically elected alternatives. He continues to fight despite cowards on the right and left.
He steers correctly between the racist poles of right and left in this country defined by fools such as Rosie O Donnell and Ron Paul. Bush is an American patriot. He humbly does his job while naysayers tip tap at key boards with all the venom they can muster while staring into high def screens about Paris’ latest travails.
I have no shame for my admiration of President Bush.
Ping!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.