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SHOCKER: Sebelius removes name from Cabinet consideration

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who was a finalist for vice president last summer and under consideration for several Cabinet posGov. Kathleen Sebeliusts in a Barack Obama administration, today withdrew her name from the selection process.

The surprise move ends intense political speculation that Sebelius was on her way to Washington and that Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson was about to become the state's new chief executive.

In a brief statement e-mailed to reporters at 4 p.m. today, Sebelius cited the state's worsening budget situation in the wake of the nation's economic crisis as her reason for staying.

“Given the extraordinary budget challenges facing our state, and my commitment to continuing the progress we’ve made in Kansas, I believe it is important to continue my service as governor of the great state of Kansas; a job that I love and have been honored to hold. The possibility of joining President-elect Obama’s team is exciting and compelling, but my service to the citizens who elected me is my top priority in these difficult times.

“The good news for Kansans is that we will soon have a partner in the White House working with us as we face our unprecedented economic challenges.”

Sebelius' abrupt withdrawal even as the FBI reportedly was conducting background checks will surely fuel speculation that the governor did not get the Cabinet post she wanted or was rejected for the Cabinet altogether.

The governor, who endorsed Obama early in the Democratic nomination process, was not available Saturday for questions.

Even today, national news organizations were still mentioning Sebelius, 60, as a possible secretary of energy or labor. Sources close to the governor had said she was interested in joining the Obama team, and sources close to Obama said the president-elect held Sebelius in high regard.

As a consolation, Sebelius will now face the challenge of wrestling with a pending budget deficit of tens of millions of dollars and making cuts that will be unpopular for many.

Submitted by Steve Kraske on December 6, 2008 - 4:20pm.
Kansas | login or register to post comments | 3231 reads

Good for her

Submitted by liberal socialist on December 6, 2008 - 9:21pm.

And how refreshing. An elected official who actually thinks she should do the job she was elected to do.

How about some swamp land in Florida?

Submitted by Herbert Spencer... on December 6, 2008 - 10:29pm.

If you're gullible enough to believe Sebelius, you'd be a real sucker for the land deal. Bottom line is that Sebelius is a nobody with a record of sleaze. The Star may cover up for her, but obviously the vetting committee did their homework.

Third most popular governor in the USA

Submitted by liberal socialist on December 6, 2008 - 10:39pm.

But you can just ignore that fact if you want. No surprise actually.

I got one word...

Submitted by jeetzwillager on December 6, 2008 - 10:51pm.

Damn!

Not the right time for the right job

Submitted by MonkeyHawk on December 6, 2008 - 11:50pm.

Sebelius would be a good choice for HHS if healthcare reform were a slam dunk.

Insurance is in her political DNA, but it'll be a fight and Daschle is the better choice to advocate for the necessary legislation.

She knows a post such as Secretary of Agriculture would be a cliche appointment (Kansas = Agriculture) but it's really not her area of expertise and it's not a prestige cabinet position.

With the Republic Party dominated legislature, Sebelius has a chance to wedge between the trads and the twice-born wing-nuts and marginalize Brownback's base in 2010.

I still am not convinced Sam the Sham will retire from the Senate. He'll conjure up some "the nation needs me in Washington" excuse and try to re-up for another six years away from his semi-lovely wife.

He'd have no Opus Dei outlet for his religious self-flagellation if he's living at Cedar Crest.

Ah

Submitted by Herbert Spencer... on December 7, 2008 - 10:09am.

so you can see through the phoniness in a hypothetical Brownback claim to stay in the senate, but not the silliness from this scandal ridden pile of manure.

How gullible do you have to be to believe this nonsense? And, if the locals would actually cover Sebelius instead of covering up for her they wouldn't be so shocked when Obama's vetting team sent her packing.

Corrupt newspapers, corrupt politicians.

And I am sure you will post proof

Submitted by liberal socialist on December 7, 2008 - 10:15am.

that Obama's vetting team sent her packing, Herbie? Or admit that is just a figment of your insane imagination.

Oh please

Submitted by Herbert Spencer... on December 7, 2008 - 10:37am.

let's not get childish. But if you want to tell me that you actually believe this nonsense, be my guest.

As a Republican, I was never embarrassed to denounce the scandal ridden Bond/Graves administration. Indeed, I felt if nothing else, Kathleen might be a welcome breath of honesty for awhile until her administration succumbed to the money exchangers. No such luck. She didn't even miss a lick. If anything, she anticipated the offer.

People on the national level aren't going to give her a pass for feeding lobster and steak to a man under criminal investigation in the governor's mansion.

Nor will they blindly look the other way at her conduct regarding KU Hospital - conduct that could have drastic consequences for health care for the indigent in Wyandotte County.

Add to that the fact that she's alienated many a Democrat with her All Sebelius Show and Lady Kathleen may not be any more welcome back here than she is out there.

It's one thing to be partisan and defend the cause, it's another thing to be a fool and promote cancer among your own ranks.

Every Democrat I know loves her

Submitted by liberal socialist on December 7, 2008 - 10:55am.

And I am going to guess I probably know a lot more Democrats than you do, Herbie.

I also know quite a few Republicans who think she is a good governor. In fact, the only negative I ever hear about her is from far right folks like you.

Now instead of posting wild guesses from your delusional mind, how about some proof to your claim that Obama's vetting team found something dirty on Sebelius? I have plenty of time to wait for you to do some research.

I like Kathleen

Submitted by rosy67 on December 7, 2008 - 11:19am.

rosy67

She seems to be a very nice person.

As a die-hard Dem,I hope the Republicans vote AGAINST Hillary for S.O.S!

If we wanted corruption "back" in the White House,we would have voted for Billary.

I find the diatribe between

Submitted by JoCoguy on December 7, 2008 - 11:49am.

I find the diatribe between Socialist and Herbert to be hilarious. And Hawk is a moron.

It is most likely that Sebelius withdrew her name because she wasn't going to get a cabinet position. It isn't because she is a bad governor or a "pile of manure", but most likely because Barack can find someone just as competent and Sebelius isn't terribly charismatic.

Hawk- Brownback is running for governor, why in the hell would he stay in Washington? He has already started organizing his staff and raising money for a gubernatorial run. You're an idiot and you shouldn't post anymore.

Wow

Submitted by Herbert Spencer... on December 7, 2008 - 12:07pm.

Jocoguy and I agree. Keep your twenty bucks. That was a super post (except for the pile of manure comment).

The first scandal

Submitted by Herbert Spencer... on December 7, 2008 - 12:12pm.

of Obama's administration would have been the Sebelius confirmation hearing. I guarantee it. And she has been an atrocious governor. Not because she's a liberal (in many ways she's not), but because she's a slime on the office and her party and I never find that to be a good thing.

Personally, I hope that Obama is a great president and I will cheer him on if he is. Certainly in the case of Sebelius his team has made a very wise choice.

Again, Herbie, what's the scandal?

Submitted by liberal socialist on December 7, 2008 - 12:24pm.

Do tell. You seem to have some inside info here. Inquiring minds want to know.

Oh and surely it is not about abortion or Dr Tiller, since even your fellow party members are not in agreement with you on that.

So what's the big scandal, Herbie?

Read Dolph Simons

Submitted by Herbert Spencer... on December 7, 2008 - 12:26pm.

in the JW. Just go to the Journal WOrld web site and run KU Hospital. Simons wrote extensively (as did his reporters) on the various shennanigans and illegalities engaged in by the Sebelius administration.

Also, the Tiller dinner at Cedar Crest is hardly unknown. While The Star and The Sun can dupe the racists who think the "right" babies are being killed, those who have a broader perspective of political principles will find dining with a man under criminal investigation highly unethical.

Then you can amble on over to the Pitch's web site and look up their fine article on her original position on the coal plants (here's a big hint, it's not exactly the same with the one she embraced after her trips to DC and the Pitch was not very kind to her.)

There are many, many sources of highly competent information on national issues, and Sebelius would not be as sheltered as she has been with the amateurs back here in Kansas.

Within days her campaign financing would have been picked apart and the many enemies she has within the Democrat Party who are upset with her embrace of the sleaze element of the Johnson County Republican Party and the corrupt KCMO political establishment would have ripped her to shreds.

The sum total of all of her outrageous conduct would be lumped together in a matter of a couple of days and it would not have been pretty.