Salazar out; Schweitzer in?

Montana is not Oregon but it could look more like Colorado next cycle.

NPR is reporting that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is leaving in March. From an AP story in the Missoulian:

He is the latest Cabinet secretary to leave the administration as Obama heads into his second term. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Pentagon chief Leon Panetta, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis are also leaving. The administration official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the announcement of Salazar's departure has not been made.

interested party has learned that former Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer is at the top of the list to replace him: he is on several Cabinet short lists and would be foolish not to entertain a post with the Obama Administration.

In an interview with Dan Testa, Schweitzer said about being Secretary of Energy:

I wouldn't be a very good secretary. I can't even type. I want to change the world and I'm afraid that putting your feet in concrete in Washington D.C. is probably not the place to change the world.

Looks like former Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire is at the top of the list, too.

Most Montana watchers expect Senator Max Baucus to have a primary contender after he announces a 2014 Senate run later this year. Gov. Schweitzer would devastate Baucus in a primary as he can make money very quickly and win in a really ugly campaign.

Won't happen: Schweitzer will not run against Max. Either Baucus retires or the Gov. finds something else to do.

Former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford announced a run for his state's US House seat: recall that another former governor, Bill Janklow won South Dakota's House seat and held it for a disastrously short time. Some say a better idea for Schweitzer might be to run for the House seat Steve Daines will have fucked up in two years.

You have to admit it would be a bag of fun watching the Gov. in a Senate confirmation hearing; and, if anyone could bring some credibility to Interior Schweitzer could even though he knows that living in DC sucks regardless in which post he chooses to serve.

USDA should be split among Interior, HUD and HHS. Forest Service should go to BIA Forestry and look more like hybrid between US Fish & Wildlife Service and Bureau of Reclamation. BIA Forestry and the Park Service are cooperating on some projects. DHS is assuming many firefighting roles leaving the FS with far less budget leverage. Such an opportunity would help tribes like CSKT and many others to become better stewards of land as part of heritage. Would love to see a name change that solidifies those communities’ futures.

The United States Geological Survey is losing its director, Marcia McNutt as she announced her departure.

Oh, and by the way: the KeystoneXL pipeline will never be built regardless of its convenience as a political football.

Update, 17 January, 11:00 MST: Schweitzer mentioned; Grijalva choice of enviros according to MSNBC.

14:32 Energy's Chu stepping down: The Atlantic.

Update, 22 January, 12:31 MST: former Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal on earth haters' wish list.

Update, 23 January, 11:00 MST: former Michigan Governor Granholm could be DoE head.

Mr. President: please put Gov. Gregoire in EPA and Gov. Brian at Interior.