Johanns wins Journal Star endorsement
Mike Johanns is well-suited to represent Nebraska’s interests and values in the U.S. Senate.
Nebraskans, especially Lincoln residents, are familiar with Johanns’ blend of talent, temperament and political philosophy.
He survived, learned and flourished in the spotlight of local government, where he served on the Lancaster County Board, the Lincoln City Council and at the mayor’s office. He did the same when he moved several blocks east to the governor’s office.
Nonetheless, there were no guarantees that Washington, D.C., wouldn’t chew him up and spit him out when President Bush plucked him from the Statehouse to put him in his cabinet as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
His Beltway start had a jarring note when the president referred to him as Yohanns in a White House introduction.
By the time Johanns left, however, he had won positive reviews from such unlikely sources as the New York Times, which referred to his farm bill proposal as “remarkably promising.”
The Washington correspondent for Feedstuffs magazine described his departure from the agency this way: “Three years ago, at Johanns’ introduction, the applause had been courteous and somewhat cautious as he first stepped forward to succeed Ann Veneman.
Last week, though, as he walked in to say his goodbyes, spontaneous applause rocked the roof.”
The seasoning that Johanns experienced as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture should help him be more effective as a senator. Johanns’ assignments as ag secretary included stints as a trade negotiator, for example. He won’t be a newbie. He’ll know how to get things done.
Obviously Johanns will have expertise in representing Nebraska on agricultural issues.
Throughout his career, Johanns has earned a reputation for fiscal responsibility. After an era in which the Republicans running Washington ran up huge deficits, a return to tight-fisted spending policies would be welcome.
Johanns has a sensible perspective on the future role for the United State in Iraq. He rejects a timetable for troop withdrawal, noting that pulling out troops prematurely could lead to devastating turmoil in the region.
But perhaps the best reason to expect Johanns to do well as senator is his track record at other levels of government.
Johanns was an effective problem-solver as a local county board member and in the president’s cabinet. That’s a strong predictor that he could do the same in the U.S. Senate.
Nebraska Republicans should not have to think twice about filling the oval in front of Johanns’ name for advancement to the general election. The Journal Star has no reservations about handing him the Journal Star’s editorial board endorsement.
Nebraskans, especially Lincoln residents, are familiar with Johanns’ blend of talent, temperament and political philosophy.
He survived, learned and flourished in the spotlight of local government, where he served on the Lancaster County Board, the Lincoln City Council and at the mayor’s office. He did the same when he moved several blocks east to the governor’s office.
Nonetheless, there were no guarantees that Washington, D.C., wouldn’t chew him up and spit him out when President Bush plucked him from the Statehouse to put him in his cabinet as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
His Beltway start had a jarring note when the president referred to him as Yohanns in a White House introduction.
By the time Johanns left, however, he had won positive reviews from such unlikely sources as the New York Times, which referred to his farm bill proposal as “remarkably promising.”
The Washington correspondent for Feedstuffs magazine described his departure from the agency this way: “Three years ago, at Johanns’ introduction, the applause had been courteous and somewhat cautious as he first stepped forward to succeed Ann Veneman.
Last week, though, as he walked in to say his goodbyes, spontaneous applause rocked the roof.”
The seasoning that Johanns experienced as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture should help him be more effective as a senator. Johanns’ assignments as ag secretary included stints as a trade negotiator, for example. He won’t be a newbie. He’ll know how to get things done.
Obviously Johanns will have expertise in representing Nebraska on agricultural issues.
Throughout his career, Johanns has earned a reputation for fiscal responsibility. After an era in which the Republicans running Washington ran up huge deficits, a return to tight-fisted spending policies would be welcome.
Johanns has a sensible perspective on the future role for the United State in Iraq. He rejects a timetable for troop withdrawal, noting that pulling out troops prematurely could lead to devastating turmoil in the region.
But perhaps the best reason to expect Johanns to do well as senator is his track record at other levels of government.
Johanns was an effective problem-solver as a local county board member and in the president’s cabinet. That’s a strong predictor that he could do the same in the U.S. Senate.
Nebraska Republicans should not have to think twice about filling the oval in front of Johanns’ name for advancement to the general election. The Journal Star has no reservations about handing him the Journal Star’s editorial board endorsement.
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