Bush Names Portman Trade Representative

[Emops]

WASHINGTON - President Bush chose congressman Rob Portman Thursday to be U.S. trade representative — America's top salesman for free-trade agreements around the world — saying the Ohio Republican has shown a deep dedication to free and fair trade.
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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=4&u=/ap/20050317/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_trade_representative_16

[Algorem]

1. Ready for Prime Time (Not.)

Nielsen still remembers a strange conversation she had more than 40 years ago at her children's elementary school in Cincinnati. Nielsen was talking with a secretary when the principal suddenly popped out of his office and asked her if she knew a boy named Rob Portman. Nielsen knew him, but not well.

"Mark my words," the principal told her. "Someday he's going to be president of the United States."
Nielsen laughed and pointed out that Portman was only six or seven. The principal, undaunted, repeated his prediction and walked back into his office.

"And that was the end of the conversation," she says. But not the end of the story...


http://www.cleveland.com/sundaymag/features/index.ssf?/base/sunday_mag/1111228277177591.xml

[skippythwndrdog]

2. Seems to be a good choice.

He is well liked and respected by folks on both sides of the aisle.

[Toucano]

3. Can we get that seat?

The Dems have run the same person against Portman for the last 4 elections, always resulting in the range of 70-30.

Maybe the candidate we offered wasn't that good.

Who's got the scoop?