Posted on 12/02/2004 9:13:21 AM PST by Bluegrass Conservative
WASHINGTON - President Bush (news - web sites) on Thursday selected Nebraska Gov. Mike Johanns, a Republican attorney who grew up on an Iowa dairy farm, as secretary of Agriculture to oversee the nation's farm and food programs.
Bush said Johanns was "an experienced public servant from America's agricultural heartland" with a long record of being "a faithful friend to America's farmers."
Johanns, 54, would succeed Ann M. Veneman, who recently announced her resignation despite saying earlier that she wanted to stay.
So far, seven of Bush's 15-member Cabinet have announced they won't be part of the second term. More are expected, and administration officials say Health and Human Services (news - web sites) Secretary Tommy Thompson appears to be next.
Bush announced his intention to nominate the two-term governor in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.
The nomination, which requires Senate confirmation, reflects the administration's desire to focus heavily on farm trade over the next four years.
As his wife Stephanie looked on, Johanns thanked Bush for inviting him to serve, saying "I have enormous respect for you."
"I look forward to advancing your rural agenda for the 21st century," Johanns said.
Born in Iowa and raised on a dairy farm, Johanns became a lawyer and served in county and city government before becoming mayor of Lincoln, Neb., in 1991. He won the governor's office in 1998 and in 2002 became the first Republican to win re-election in more than four decades.
"I'm very proud of my ag background. I do feel that those years on that dairy farm did much to define who I am as a person," Johanns said.
As governor, Johanns led a delegation of Nebraska's farm and business leaders on a trade mission to Japan, Taiwan, China, Singapore and a half dozen other countries.
Bush said that in his second term, he would put a high priority on helping farm families, including keeping taxes low and working to repeal the estate tax.
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Associated Press writer Libby Quaid in Washington contributed to this story.
Hopefully he will support a big increase in testing for MCD. Testing and tracking of US beef will be a good way to regain world confidence.
OK, what's really going on here? Ben Nelson turned it down, so they are going with the current sitting governor? Is Johanns going to be able to run for Nelson's seat in 2 years with the help of this appointment, or is he looking to stay there for 4 years? Anyone know what the political calculation is here?
I have to think that he will be very friendly towards whatever the beef producers want. I think they have been big supporters of his in Nebraska and you have to think that's a powerful lobby there.
I was wondering that myself. From what I understood, Johanns was already beginning an active campaign against Nelson in '06. My bet was that the offer was made to Nelson that "We'll get Johanns out of the race if you agree to switch parties." I expect Ben Nelson to be a Republican in the near future.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1292749/posts
now i wish he would appoint our RINO governor bob riley to something ... anything...just get him out of here , and save us a nasty primary
Well I don't know much about Mike Johanns, but considering Dubya's obsessive compulsion to undermine our domestic businesses with his trade policies, I suspect Johanns is just another "moderate" RINO puppet of the transnational food giants: Archer-Daniels, ConAgra, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Kelloggs, General Mills, etc. etc.
Actual farmers are gonna get screwed big time.
Can we call him Ben "Nighthorse" Nelson if that happens?
Agreed.
I usually don't expect a switch, but everything fell in line a little too perfectly here. Nelson may very weel be on the move to our side....
It only makes sense. Nelson fits in with the Republicans ideologically already and it would make his re-election bid a HECK of a lot easier if he were a Republican. Everybody gets what they want: 1) Johanns has something to move into after being Governor (he was term-limited) 2) Nelson is re-elected as Senator and 3) Tom Osborne is able to run for Governor.
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