I was disappointed earlier in the week when news broke that Eric Holder had been picked for AG over Gov Janet Napolitano (D-Ariz.) - not for any particular reason, other than the fact that I think she's cool and have been following her career with interest.
Then last night I read that Napolitano had been selected for Secretary of Homeland Security. WOW. She has experience as a U.S. Attorney and the state's Attorney General, and has done a lot of work on immigration (which falls into DHS jurisdiction). However, I thought that they would pick someone with intelligence and/or military experience, like Jack Reed (D-R.I.) for example.
The DHS has only existed for a few years, so saying that Napolitano will be its first female head isn't a big deal... except when you consider that even if it had been around for 100 years, she probably still would be the first. Did Obama miss the memo that women are supposed to handle only issues like education, health care, and other motherly things?? ;-)
Also... elephant in the room... Napolitano is 50 and single (unusual for a politician), and looks pretty damn gay. I don't want to judge based on stereotypes, but she's definitely the most prominent gay-in-waiting politician in the country. If she wants to keep this private, or, in fact, is not gay, I totally understand and support her. However, if she is gay, that makes her appointment - to no less than the Department of Homeland Security - pretty awesome.
But whatever. Congrats to Gov. Napolitano. She has had a really outstanding career, and this is an excellent move. I tend to think that, unfortunately, America's first female president will have to be more like Sarah Palin (fitting of our stereotypes, young, attractive) than Napolitano (threatening to our notions of gender roles, not getting the Republican male base hot and bothered). Might as well keep hoping, though.
