Bush Nominates Ed Schafer As New Ag Secretary

Ken McCracken • October 31, 2007

Wow…

WASHINGTON – President Bush will nominate Ed Schafer, a former two-term Republican governor from North Dakota, to be his next secretary of agriculture, a senior administration official said today.
Schafer, who chose not to run again in North Dakota in 2000, will replace Mike Johanns, who resigned as U.S. agriculture secretary last month to launch a bid for the Nebraska Senate seat being vacated by Republican Chuck Hagel at the end of next year.
Bush will make the announcement at 2 p.m. EDT in the Roosevelt Room.

Schafer (who, I might add, is a frequent reader of this blog via Super Alerts) deserves this. He’ll be appointed quickly, because I can’t imagine on what grounds anyone could oppose him.
I’m a little disappointed that Ed didn’t mention this while we were on the New Media Panel together this last weekend at the NDGOP Roundup. Ed, if you’re reading this, how about helping a lowly blogger out with a scoop now and then?
Update: Good point from the comments:

It is noteworthy that Bush has nominated many SITTING governors in the past (Johanns, Ridge, T. Thompson, et. al). I wonder what kind of gyrations are going on in the ivory tower in Bismarck at this news.

Who knows. Hoeven may not have wanted the job, or maybe the Bush administration passed Hoeven over after he snubbed their advances to get him to run against Senator Conrad.
Update: By the way, Schafer is a good pick for Ag Secretary not just because he’s a nice guy and was a very popular Governor here in North Dakota, but also because his political philosophy is grounded in sound trade and export philosophies.

Governor Schafer is strong supporter of trade and exports as a way to bolster the ag economy, a politically brave position to take in a state where too many politicians promote protectionism and subsidy as the sole path to prosperity. We would expect him to become another strong advocate of the pending free trade agreements, especially with the Latin American countries. The governor has traveled extensively abroad and speaks fluent Spanish.

This is a nomination conservatives should be very, very happy about.
Update: Here’s the White House fact sheet about Schafer.
Update: In the extended entry is the text of Schafer’s press conference with the President.

Tags: Domestic Issues, North Dakota News, Politics

Maniac Conservative

If Dorgan and Conrad to want to prove how powerful they are, they will get this confirmation on the fast track to be done before they take Thanksgiving recess.
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

This is a Bush nomination that's going to be tough for them to oppose. Ed Schafer is hugely popular in ND (more popular, I would say, than even Dorgan and Conrad).
http://www.donkephant.net/ donkephant

Doesn't mean they won't try. I sometimes wonder if either one of them listens to anyone in North Dakota. Course, they pass as much Farm Aid as possible to keep the state happy. That'll only work for so long though.
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

It has worked for a very long time already.
Maniac Conservative

It is noteworthy that Bush has nominated many SITTING governors in the past (Johanns, Ridge, T. Thompson, et. al). I wonder what kind of gyrations are going on in the ivory tower in Bismarck at this news.

There must be some pretty upset folks down there who think that the current governor should have been picked for this. Maybe the folks in DC decided a big spender isn't what they want—finally.
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

There must be some pretty upset folks down there who think that the current governor should have been picked for this. Maybe the folks in DC decided a big spender isn't what they want—finally.

Maybe George Bush hates us….
george

Ed is a great pick and will serve this nation and North Dakota well.

As for gyrations in the ivory tower, I doubt you will find anything but very pleased people for the very reason stated above. Even if offered, few, if any elected officials, especially those with announced election intents, would accept such an limited term appointment.

Just another reason Ed is a good choice and I wouldn't be surprised to find out that Hoeven put in a good word to the White House.

Seems some in this group will take any opportunity to take a shot at Hoeven and dismiss any opportunity to give him credit. What is your agenda…advancing conservativism or ouster of Hoeven. Seems the Dems are loving your help to take back the legislature and Governor's office.
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

Seems some in this group will take any opportunity to take a shot at Hoeven and dismiss any opportunity to give him credit. What is your agenda…advancing conservativism or ouster of Hoeven.

You assume that the two are mutually exclusive.

If Hoeven started leading like a conservative, there would be no reason for conservatives like us to "take shots" at him.

And I'm willing to bet that Hoeven doesn't have a lot of credibility with this White House after he snubbed them on running against Conrad. Snubbed them, that is, after he kept everyone on the hook waiting to see what he'd do.
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

Maybe the Bush administration didn't want to have someone working for them that ignores anyones legitimate concerns.
Maniac Conservative

I think the fact that Bush sent Karl Rove to ND to ask Hoeven to run against Conrad, and Hoeven declined, played a MAJOR role in this. People will say not to read into this, but this is a MAJOR snub against Hoeven.

Maybe Hoeven's recent support of SCHIPs and Bush's fierce opposition played a role as well.

Hoeven's track record of supporting liberal causes in the name of popularity over good policy may be catching up to him.
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

I'm sure the Bush camp was afraid that Secretary Hoeven would take credit for everything good happening.

Oh wait, that's not fair, it's Hoeven's Proxie's that have been playing that game.
Pomerdorgrad

Yeah, but remember Ed snubbed the White House too.

This is a much less attractive job for a sitting governor now than a few years ago. Fact is, it's only another 15 months or so. A former governor is in a perfect place to take the post.

I reckon Hoeven isn't that beloved in the White House, but he probably doesn't care except in the grand "want to be popular with everyone" sort of way. Ed, at least, had a personal connection with Bush before Bush became president, so there's a bigger reserve of appreciation for Ed in the White House.

Nice remarks by both of them, Ed and the Prez.
Steve Cates

Yeah, but remember Ed snubbed the White House too.

Fair enough. But then, Ed didn't keep everyone on the hook waiting for a decision until the last minute.
2Hotel9

From all I have read about Gov Schafer this is a good thing. He has a solid record as far as pushing legitimate ag concerns and a solid understanding of the ag industry. This makes me nervous, everytime W does something smart he turns right around pisses on the electric fence. Kinda scary.
george

You are working awfully hard to make this a snub or assualt on Hoeven. How ridiculous is the thought?

It is a great thing for ND, but I doubt snubbing Hoeven had anything to do with the decision. Nor did GW play petty games with his appointment. Nor is Hoeven anything less than pleased to have a ND connection to this incredibly important office.

And you have to be crazy to think Hoeven should of run against Conrad in the tidewave election of 2006.
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

And you have to be crazy to think Hoeven should of run against Conrad in the tidewave election of 2006

Right because if he had won he wouldn't have been around to put North Dakota on the road to big government and high taxes.
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

That is what you meant, right Goerge?
2Hotel9

Nobody has to work at that, george, his leftarded policies and politics take care of that. Hell, I live in PA and know what a wanker Hoeven is. My 8 week old kitten is more conservative than Ho is.
Kari

He needs to stop classifying rabbits as "poultry." He needs to include all poultry as well as rabbits in the Humane Slaughter Act.
2Hotel9

Do you slaughter and cut poultry(including rabbits) for a living?

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