Bush surprisingly selects an Ohio rep. as U.S. Trade Envoy!

[Verve]

Moderators please don't move this. I'm interested in why Ohio Republican, Rob Portman, was the surprising choice to be the next US Trade Representative. What are his credentials? Why is it surprising? Is Shrub starting to pay back Ohio repugs that helped him rig the election? What was Portman's role in the presidential election? Any dirt on this guy?

My conspiracy hat may be on too tight but it may be worth looking into. :tinfoilhat:


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=584&e=1&u=/nm/20050317/pl_nm/trade_ustr_dc

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites) said on Thursday he has selected Rep. Rob Portman (news, bio, voting record), a seven-term Republican congressman from Ohio, to be next U.S. trade representative.



"As a member of the House (of Representatives) leadership, Rob has shown he can bring together people of differing views to get things done," Bush said at a White House event to announce Portman's nomination.


The surprise choice, which must be confirmed by the Senate, comes as the White House faces strong opposition in Congress to one of its key trade initiatives, a new free trade pact with five Central American countries and the Dominican Republic.


Bush said the United States would continue to pursue "a bold trade agenda," including the completion of a Western Hemisphere free trade pact and a new world trade deal.

[Verve]

1. He definitely was a yes man for Shrub during the election!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/specials/elections/chi-0406130163jun13,1,5407278.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

Snip of Article in Chicago Tribune:

"I think we Republicans are not talking enough about what's happening with this economy," said Rep. Rob Portman, whose home state, Ohio, is a frequent stop for both candidates.

"You can always find a factory in my state of Ohio that's talking about moving jobs out of Ohio or out of the country," said Portman, who says that ignores the 34,000 new jobs created in his state this year.

Portman said the Bush campaign has been absorbed by Iraq at the expense of promoting recent economic gains.

"Growth and the economy and job growth is what it's all about," he said, noting that it affects every facet of middle-class life.

[Verve]

2. He helped prepare Cheney for the VP debates by role playing Edwards.

http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/10/06/loc_loc1arob.html

Congressman was 'Edwards' for V.P.

CLEVELAND - U.S. Rep. Rob Portman stepped out on to the floor of Case Western Reserve University's Veale Center on Tuesday afternoon and was quickly surrounded by eight reporters from MSNBC to Newsweek to Scholastic News.

-snip-


Everyone wanted to know what ammunition the Terrace Park Republican had given Vice President Dick Cheney during the six weeks of sparring sessions to prepare him for the debate.

Portman wasn't giving up any secrets, slyly demurring with disarming quips about his secrets of portraying Democratic Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina. "I said 'y'all' a lot," he said.

[Algorem]

3. Of course the Bushes are really from the capital of Ohio

Samuel Prescott Bush (October 4, 1863 Brick Church, New Jersey - February 8, 1948 Columbus, Ohio) was the father of Senator Prescott Bush, grandfather of President George H. W. Bush, and great-grandfather of President George W. Bush. (It should be noted that Bush's obituary in the New York Times, February 8, 1948, says that he was born October 13, 1864 on Staten Island, New York.)

Bush was the son of Harriet Fay and the Rev. James Smith Bush. He graduated from the Stevens Institute of Technology in 1884, and married Flora Sheldon on June 20, 1894. They had four children: James Bush, Prescott Bush, Mrs. Frank House, and Mrs. Stewart Clement.

Bush was president (c 1906-1927) of Buckeye Steel Castings of Columbus, Ohio, which (among other things) made railway parts for the Harrimans. The two families were closely associated at least until the end of World War II.

He was the first president of National Manufactures Association, and cofounder of Scioto Country Club and Columbus Academy. He was an avid sports buff...http://www.answers.com/topic/bush-family

[ihelpu2see]

4. i have been scratching my head about all of his recent

appointments, Rice, Rove, The UN guy and now this.... I feel he must believe someone is going to take a shot at Impeaching him and he wants to put all of these unqualified "yes" men in place to pay them back before its too late.... wishful thinking!!!