Saturday, July 13, 2013

Janet Napolitano to resign as head of Homeland Security… To Head Up University of California

Marion Algier – AskMarion

Yes, Big Sis is getting out of DC while the getting is good…  U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano confirmed (today) Friday 07.12.13) that she will leave her position to lead the University of California and thanked President Barack Obama for the chance to serve the country as part of his Cabinet.

With things like Fast and Furious, the NSA scandal, the AP scandal and numerous others brewing around the Obama Administration, seems she's decided it might be smarter to get out of Dodge for awhile.

And where's she headed? Where do all failed political figures from Democrat administrations go? If not to the media, than to academia… the place where they can make sure to turn out another crop of Progressives.

"I will be nominated as the next president of the University of California to play a role in educating our nation's next generation of leaders," she said in a statement. "I thank President Obama for the chance to serve our nation during this important chapter in our history."

Big Sis has been named to be the next president of the 10 campus University of California system, at three times the salary she now makes.  Her proposed salary has not been released, but current U.C. President Mark G. Yudof makes $591,000, according to the U.C. website, significantly more than Napolitano's $200,000 Cabinet position.

Napolitano’s nomination by a committee of UC regents came after a secretive process that insiders said focused on her as a high-profile, although untraditional, candidate who has led large public agencies and shown a strong interest in improving education, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Being a UCLA alum, my heart sank as I heard the news.  It took be back to the Angela Davis years…

Why Napolitano? Oh, the L.A. Times article provides a few perhaps unintended hints:

UC officials believe that her Cabinet experiences –- which include helping to lead responses to hurricanes and tornadoes and overseeing some anti-terrorism measures -- will help UC administer its federal energy and nuclear weapons labs and aid its federally funded research in medicine and other areas. [...}

Robert Powell, the chairman of UC’s system-wide faculty Senate and who consulted on the UC search, said Napolitano stood out among the more than 300 potential candidates. She “has demonstrated an outstanding ability to deal with complex organizations under demanding circumstances,” he said.

Acknowledging that she will be a departure from UC’s traditions of having a president with strong records in campus administration or academic research, he stressed that her political skills will be important. “When she goes to Sacramento, clearly the conversations will be on a different plane,” he said.

Yes, it's all about the Federal and State ‘benjamins’.

Interestingly enough, a Times poll at the link showed that 77% of the locals think she's a bad choice to head the UC system, as of 9 AM PST this morning.

Janet Napolitano

While it will be a fresh breath of air to be rid of her, we can be assured that President Obama will certainly pick someone even worse to fill her slot.

No comments: