Obama praises new Colorado senator, Michael Bennet

By GottaLaff

Soon-to-be Senator Bennet got the Obama stamp of approval:

President-elect Barack Obama Saturday praised Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter's choice of Michael Bennet as that state's next senator [...]

"Filling Ken Salazar's boots in the US Senate is a tall order. But in selecting Michael Bennet, Governor Ritter has made an excellent choice," Obama said in a statement released by his transition office.

"Michael Bennet perfectly reflects the qualities of the ruggedly independent state he has been chosen to serve. An innovator in the public and private sectors, he has shown himself willing to challenge old thinking and stale policies," Obama also said.

I wonder if Bennet wears big cowboy hats too.

Bennet replaces Salazar, above, Obama's choice for interior secretary.

Denver schools superintendent Michael Bennet to replace Ken Salazar

By GottaLaff

Photo by Linda McConnell

MSNBC just reported the following:

Denver Public Schools superintendent Michael Bennet is expected to be named Saturday as the future U.S. Senate replacement for Interior Secretary nominee Ken Salazar, according to two Democratic sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Gov. Bill Ritter is expected to name his U.S. Senate replacement pick on Saturday, ending a brief but frenzied period of speculation about who will take the seat of Interior Secretary nominee Ken Salazar. [...]

The selection would be preliminary, since Salazar is not expected to resign his U.S. Senate seat until sometime after Jan. 15, when he faces a confirmation hearing — and later vote — to become President-elect Barack Obama's first Interior Secretary.

More here.

President-elect Obama announces Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture

Obama to name Ken Salazar as Secretary of Interior

By GottaLaff

Secretary of Interior Salazar. That's a mouthful:

A transition official for President-elect Barack Obama says Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar will be named Interior Secretary later this week. [...]

Salazar is a first-term Colorado Senator who has established a name for himself on public lands and energy resources issues. He headed the Colorado Natural Resources Department from 1990 through 1994. The Interior Department has broad oversight over the nation's energy resources and environment. It oversees oil and gas drilling on public lands and manages the nation's parks and wildlife refuges.

Here's his Senate voting record. He's anti-drill, drill, drill baby drill.