Secretary of Transportation: Ray LaHood

Republican Senator Ray LaHood was a surprise addition to Obama's team. "Huh?" said Michael Tomasky in the Guardian and "What is Obama thinking?" questioned an incredulous Huffington Post pointing out that the "grumpy" 63-year-old Peoria Congressman is not a moderate Republican, does not have a wealth of experience but does have a "consistently bad record on environmental issues". All this at a time when "between our addiction to fossil fuels, our crumbling infrastructure, the likely collapse of big auto, the popularity of T. Boone Pickens, and OPEC's stranglehold on our means of fueling our vehicles, the role of Transportation Secretary is likely more important than ever".

FIRST POSTED JANUARY 6, 2009