Posted on 06/02/2009 12:24:55 PM PDT by neverdem
Striking again at the already beleaguered Republican Party, President Barack Obama today will announce the appointment of Rep. John McHugh (R-N.Y.) as secretary of the Army.
In tapping McHugh, the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, Obama sidelines yet another senior GOP lawmaker.
The veteran congressman from upstate New York joins his former colleague from Illinois, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, and Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, the ambassador-designate to China, among the ranks of Republicans in the Obama administration, a list that nearly included New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg as Commerce Secretary. And McHugh’s appointment comes just over a month after administration officials helped push veteran Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter to switch from a Republican to a Democrat.
“The president has made an outstanding choice in John McHugh on his credentials,” said former Rep. Tom Reynolds (R-N.Y.), who also represented upstate New York. “He’s a leading expert on Armed services that members on both sides of the aisle respect. ... On any major issue on armed services, I wanted to hear John McHugh’s opinion.”
Speculation had swirled over McHugh’s political future and whether he intended to run for reelection next year.
McHugh has won reelection with ease — taking 65 percent last year — but his successor may have a more difficult time in a district that Obama carried — something that surely didn’t go unnoticed by the president’s aides.
McHugh’s departure — which leaves only two Republicans in the 29 seat New York congressional delegation — sets off a likely fight for his seat, which Obama carried over Republican John McCain in November 52 percent to 47 percent. Sources say McHugh’s chief of staff, Robert Taub, is likely to be an early frontrunner for the Republican nomination.
“This seat is one of the best opportunities for Democrats to pursue now that McHugh out of the way,” said Reynolds, who is also a former chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. “Already we’re watching the Democrats downplay their chances but make no mistake, you can bet they’ll be as forceful as this as they were in NY 20 [special election].”
Logistically, McHugh is leaving the Armed Services Committee at a disastrous time. The defense authorization bill was already delayed given it’s the first year in a new administration. McHugh’s departure comes one week before the defense authorization bill was scheduled to begin a markup.
Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) is emerging as an early favorite to replace McHugh on the Armed Services Committee, but Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) has already expressed interest in the coveted committee slot as well, according to his spokesman. Thornberry spokesman George Rasley said: "Naturally he's interested. We'll see what procedures Leader Boehner uses to fill the seat."
Sean Sweeney, a veteran of New York politics and top aide to White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, hatched the idea of naming McHugh as secretary of the Army, according to a well-placed Democratic soure. Other West Wing officials dispute Sweeney’s role and the official White House posture is to not comment on the politics of the pick.
As with Huntsman, though, White House officials can point to McHugh’s sterling credentials to make the case that it was not merely a political stroke.
Respected on both sides of the aisle, McHugh represents a North Country district that includes Ft. Drum, home of the Army’s 10th Mountain Division, and has become an authority on the military, especially personnel and infrastructure issues.
McHugh, who has never served in the military, replaces Army Secretary Pete Geren, who was a holdover from the Bush administration and was himself a former Democratic member.
Patrick O’Connor, Josh Kraushaar, Jennifer DiMascio and Alex Isenstadt contributed to this story.
Oh man I hope Obama appoints John Cornyn to something.
Then fire him after a Dem takes his seat. the MSM will ignore it.
The is McHugh and McSeries.
So another RINO bits the dust.
And another Democrat will be appointed until an election can be held...And then Obama will admonish anyone who wants to run against the “chosen one”
In 2008, Rep. McHugh got 65% of the vote, so his replacement will probably be a Republican.
“He’s a leading expert on Armed services that members on both sides of the aisle respect. ... On any major issue on armed services, I wanted to hear John McHugh’s opinion.”
In other words, he’s a RINO...
“Sen. Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said he would “work to ensure a swift and smooth confirmation for my good friend.”
Top 10 House RINOs
by Human Events
03/25/2009
Earlier this month, HUMAN EVENTS brought you the Top 10 Most Liberal Republican Senators (based on the American Conservative Union Ratings for 2008) as part of our ongoing campaign against Republicans in name only. Here is a list of their counterparts in the House of Representatives, again based on the ACU’s 2008 ratings (110th Congress, second session):
1. Michael Castle, Del. : 28
2. Chris Smith, N.J. : 28
3. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Fla. : 32
4. John McHugh, N.Y. : 40
5. Fred Upton, Mich. : 44
6. Shelly Moore Capito, W.Va. : 48
7. Jim Gerlach, Pa. : 48
8. Mark Kirk, Ill. : 48
9. Patrick Murphy, Pa. : 48
10. Mike Rogers, Ala. : 50
(Pete King, N.Y. also scored 50)
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=31191
Replacements are not appointed to vacant congressional seats per Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution. A special election will have to be held.
Has this guy served?
Wouldn’t that be great. He can take Hutchinson too.
These pubbies are sickening...nothing but a bunch of sell-outs!!
From the article...
"McHugh, who has never served in the military, replaces Army Secretary Pete Geren..."
He’s picking off liberal RINOs.
His hometown is Watertown, NY, where Fort Drum is the base for the Army’s 10th Mountain Division. The north country district he represents is usually pretty conservative. I worked with a lot of guys who were from those areas. They’re hunters, snowmobilers, hockey fans, etc. These guys liked their beer, and were tough. One of the toughest run maximum State prisons in the north is Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora. At least it still was when I retired in 2003. We’d get guys from Clinton who had been promoted to Sergeant or above. The affectionate name we had for them in the prison system was “Frozen Brains.” They liked to scrap, and didn’t take any crap from the convicts.
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Some noteworthy articles about politics, foreign or military affairs, IMHO, FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.
Let them all go. We will find our own people to represent us and it sure won’t be these pantywaist.
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