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   Dan Savage, the brilliant and foul-mouthed sex columnist, has become one of the most important ethicists in America. Are we screwed?
 The federal government is supposed to issue new rules about debt levels for students in for-profit colleges. In the meantime, the states are working on their own regulations.
 Washingtons budget hawks want to decimate the federal workforce to shrink the deficit. It will have the opposite effect.
 There arent nearly enough counterterrorism experts to instruct all of Americas police. So we got these guys instead.
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December 3, 2008
FIGHT OVER BECERRA?.... By and large, Barack Obama's cabinet selections have been met with very little resistance from the right. There's been some fuss over Eric Holder, but the conservative reactions have been surprisingly muted. It appears, however, that one prospective choice might actually generate some heat. Greg Sargent has the story:
Becerra, who has been active in trade policy debates on the Hill for a while now, hasn't always been predictable. He voted for Nafta, for example, but later regretted it. Becerra opposed the Central American Free Trade Agreement, but supported China's entry into the World Trade Organization, and supported the free-trade agreement between the U.S. and Peru last year. The AEI crowd may be "concerned," but it's worth noting that pro-trade business groups like the National Foreign Trade Council had generally positive things to say about Becerra. "He's been articulate in support of open markets" while also advocating tougher "labor and environmental provisions," said NFTC president William Reinsch. "Within the confines of where the Democratic caucus is, he's been good." Greg noted that it'll be worth "watching closely ... to see how Obama reacts in the face of corporate opposition, should Becerra be the pick and should business groups oppose it." Quite right. But also watch to see if corporate interests end up splitting on this -- if business groups go all out on Becerra, they'll run the risk of Obama picking a Trade Rep. who's even less friendly to their agenda. I can't help but think, AEI complaints notwithstanding, most of the business interests would conclude Becerra is "good enough." —Steve Benen 4:51 PM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (9)
Comments
Does anyone actually care what the American Enterprise Institute thinks? How many votes do they get in the Senate? The Republicans will have to make a stink over SOMETHING. If this is their biggest objection... Posted by: OkieFromMuskogee on December 3, 2008 at 5:11 PM | PERMALINKDamn. I knew Xavier Becerra back when he was a kid in his first political job at the State Capitol in Sacramento. He won a senate fellowship but was "orphaned" when his legislator lost a re-election campaign in 1980. Becerra was shuffled around to various Capitol offices for the balance of his fellowship. He left the Capitol to go to law school and came back a few years later as a new member of the state assembly. After a single two-year term in Sacramento he was on his way to D.C. as a freshman congressman. He's sharp, savvy, and well-spoken. No wonder the Obama team is looking to recruit him. Posted by: Zeno on December 3, 2008 at 6:25 PM | PERMALINKGreg noted that it'll be worth "watching closely ... to see how Obama reacts in the face of corporate opposition, should Becerra be the pick and should business groups oppose it." -- Steve Benen My guess is that Obama's reaction to the corporate opposition will be the same as it has always been to *all* opposition: smile blandly, nod your head politely and do what you'd planned to do, since you've spent a lot of time thinking about your choices and you're pretty sure you know what you're doing. Most of the time, he's been, probably, about 5 moves ahead of the second-guessing crowd -- of both critics and idolaters. He reminds me of the "caravan" in the Polish (?) saying: "desert dogs bark, but the caravan walks on" Posted by: exlibra on December 3, 2008 at 6:44 PM | PERMALINKGee, just what the Republican need to do to get back in the game! Attack a Hispanic nominee who is skeptical about our past trade agreements! That'll help bolster their position in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Michigan, Ohio, etc.! Posted by: David in NY on December 3, 2008 at 6:57 PM | PERMALINKWe won. They lost. We get to choose the trade rep we want, they only get to bitch and moan about it. I like our position better. Posted by: seriously on December 3, 2008 at 8:00 PM | PERMALINKIf the likes of the AEI aren't screaming, Obama isn't doing what he was elected to do. Posted by: kth on December 3, 2008 at 8:01 PM | PERMALINKYet they continue to get privileged prime time coverage for their screeching. If you read how their complaining is presented, it's also clear how much weight (the weight of 'serious people'?) their whining is allowed, i.e., the implication is clear: that Becerra has to 'prove' himself worthy to his natural masters. I mean, everyone knows how unfettered 'free trade' is a god given right, right? Right? Posted by: Conrads Ghost on December 3, 2008 at 10:26 PM | PERMALINKmeh, how bout Baucus for USTR so we can get that schmuck away from health care. or how about Rep. Adam Smith? dont know anything about him but he has a name nobody in the trade field could be against. Sander Levin would actually be a good pick or possibly Tubbs Jones. Posted by: Pindar on December 4, 2008 at 12:01 AM | PERMALINKBecerra is a company man. He votes as Pelosi - or whoever happens to be in her position - says to vote. I have not been impressed by him since I moved to his district. Posted by: jen f on December 4, 2008 at 9:18 AM | PERMALINK
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