Portman out at OMB
By Mark Kilmer Posted in The White House — Comments (3) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Yesterday, I reported that President Bush planned to veto nine of twelve appropriations bills sent to his desk by Nancy and the Nimrods. One of the key movers behind this, Bob Novak had written, was OMB director Bob Portman, who said that the Democratic Party's Congressional victories last November came in large part because Republicans had shed the mantle of fiscal sanity. The GOP will need to restore that, then.
Word is now in that Portman has quit the Office of Management and Budget to try to become the next governor of Ohio (in 2010) or U.S. Senator from Ohio (2012). It comes from the former rep. himself:
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"I'm going to look at the options … focusing on the possibility of 2010. I also would be looking at 2012 possibly," Portman said, adding that leaving the administration certainly will enable him to "do more politically."
He'll stick around until August, then he'll be replaced by – Nancy and the Nimrods willing – former Iowa Congressman Jim Nussle. Portman will be off to tangle with Ted Strickland or the insufferably obtuse Sherrod Brown.
I've seen no word that this has anything to do with the veto threat. Or with the immigration bill. Or with the Iraq war. Or with recent remarks by UN General Secretary (wannabe) Ban ki-Moon that anthropocentric global warming has caused the genocide in Darfur.
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Portman out at OMB 3 Comments (0 topical, 3 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
even though every ad that his opponent runs will have Portman with pictures of Bush.
Portman, JC Watts, and a few others are former Republican congressmen that I'd like to see doing something in politics.
Romney or Fred.
If he can win statewide office in Ohio, he will be one to watch in future presidential sweepstakes. Being governor is the better lauching pad. Left unsaid in the press release is the Voinovich seat if there is a retirement.
Kasich also is in the hunt, so it will be interesting to see how these two interact.
While I'd be jealous if Ohio had him as governor, we need him in the Senate!