Posted on 11/04/2010 7:49:25 PM PDT by MplsSteve
President Obama did not let Rep. Jim Oberstar’s 35-years in Congress pass without comment – or without prompting rampant speculation about his future.
An aide to the Iron Range DFLer, known as "Mr. Transportation" in Washington, said the president called at breakfast Wednesday morning as Oberstar was digesting the news of his first loss in 19 elections. It appeared to be part of a long round of calls to defeated Democratic lawmakers.
Staffers who were gathered with Oberstar at the Duluth Holiday Inn heard Oberstar tell Obama, “Mr. President, I want you to know that while my service in Congress has ended, my commitment to public service has not, and I’m ready to assist your administration in any way.”
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
From a purely Dem perspective (not mine, of course), it'd make sense for Obama to nominate Oberstar. He is well-versed in transportation issues and knows the ins and outs of DC.
OTOH, I'd love nothing better than to see Jim Oberstar walk away for good and retire to some lake in northern Minnesota and never be heard from again.
Comments or opinions - anyone?
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Oberstar’s friendship to aviation was shot-down by anti-aircraft fire from his votes for Obamaism.
Congratulations on defeating Oberstar. I didn’t see that coming at all.
Also, a possible congratulations on the Governor’s race.
Look at it this way:
Any of the rats who accept an administration position will be tied irrevocably to its failures. Imagine carrying on the legacy of LaHood. I know: highspeed rail to Duluth.
Oberstar will be committing political suicide, given enough rope.
Bike paths! Bike paths for everyone!
I love the idea! Appoint Oberstar to head the DOT. Then - the new House can defund that unnecessary department. Have to balance the budget somehow, and along with whacking Energy, Interior, Education, Agriculture, Commerce, and the EPA - I think a lot of money can be saved.
Where is the BARF ALERT on this one! Good grief!
He can’t be worse than LaHood.
Bike paths! You could use them 4-5 months out of the year. Dig a canal the 28 miles or so between Duluth and the St. Croix River along the Wisconsin line. You’d be able to ice skate on it 4-5 months of the year and canoe the rest of the time, except when the ice is too thin to skate on and too thick to canoe through.
So is Secretary of Tranportation, Ray LaHood being thrown under the bus?
Yup, Obi can lay bike path down like there is no tomorrow.
He and Ray TheHood are both anti-car bike nazis.
You laugh but it was Jeno Palucci’s dream to dig a canal from Duluth to the Mississippi River. Called it the Missing Link Canal.
BTW, It is an amazing geographical fact that you can paddle a canoe around the entire eastern third of the continent without ever leaving the water except for a few mile portage in Ws. (Brule to St. Croix) or Mn. (St. Louis to Mississippi)
He would actually be an improvement compared to LaHood.
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