I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
In a flow chart (though one commenter notes it’s a org chart) that is making its way around Washington, D.C., and the Internet, there are two prominent New Mexicans who look to be on the short list for Cabinet-level appointments under President-elect Obama.
Sen. Jeff Bingaman, a Silver City Democrat, is listed as a possible secretary of energy while Gov. Bill Richardson is on the shortlist for secretary of the Interior. It is of note that Richardson is not listed as a possible secretary of state, a position which many have believed the governor might be named to by Obama.
Bingaman, meanwhile has repeatedly said he does not want the position of energy secretary. Bingaman is the only member of New Mexico’s congressional delegation with any seniority following last week’s elections.
The U.S. News and World Report’s “Washington Whispers” blog showed the chart which also shows some prominent nationally recognized names. Gen. Colin Powell, soon-to-be ex-DNC Chairman Howard Dean, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Caroline Kennedy are all on the list of Cabinet-level and other key positions.
Richardson’s competition for head of the Department of the Interior are, supposedly, U.S. Rep. James Inslee from Washington, former Solicitor-General in the Department of the Interior and current law professor John D. Leshy, former Deputy Secretary of the Interior David J. Hayes and Montana’s Gov. Brian Schweitzer. If it means anything, Richardson is at the top of the list.
Bingaman is one of three names listed as potential secretary of energy. The others are former Indiana congressman and current president of Resources for the Future Philip Sharp and California congressman Jerry McNerney.
Also of interest on the list was a position for Al Gore — Climate Czar. But The Washington Times is reporting Gore will not take a position in the Obama administration.
We will have a few more weeks to speculate on who belongs where, at least according to Marc Ambinder, blogger for the Atlantic. Ambinder writes:
Podesta said that agency review teams would be in place by November 18, and he hinted not to expect major cabinet appointments before Thanksgiving. As for when Obama would be interviewing potential cabinet appointees, Podesta joked that reporters would just have to get out their binoculars and snoop around.
Replying to Podesta’s comments, New York Times’ Opinionator blog wrote snarkily, referring to the binoculars, “John, you don’t think they have them in hand already?”
