Texas: Ron Kirk

We'd be remiss if we didn't at least make mention of this today, even if a bit late. Former Dallas Mayor and 2002 US Senate candidate Ron Kirk was confirmed by a vote of 92-5 in the US Senate to join President Obama's cabinet as US Trade Representative. Both of Texas' Senators voting in favor of confirmation.

Those opposed?

GOP Sens. Kit Bond of Missouri, Jim Bunning of Kentucky and Johnny Isakson of Georgia opposed the nomination, as did one Democrat, Robert Byrd of West Virginia, and Vermont independent Bernie Sanders.

The Senate voted 92-5 to confirm Ron Kirk, the former Dallas mayor, as the new U.S. Trade Representative, a cabinet-level post that comes with the title "ambassador." The final tally was announced at 2:28 p.m., Capitol Hill time.

Both Texas Republicans voted for Kirk, Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, who beat him in the 2002 Senate race.

The five no votes came from three Republicans (Kit Bond of Missouri, Jim Bunning of Kentucky and Johnny Isakson of Georgia), one Democrat (Robert Byrd of West Virginia) and one independent (Bernie Sanders of Vermont).

Unclear what their beef is with the guy who'll be in charge of beef export policy.

The Senate has begun the confirmation hearing for Ron Kirk's nomination as U.S. Trade Representative.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is the first senator at the microphone.

``With some reluctance I will vote to confirm Mr. Kirk's nomination," McCain said. "... It's pretty obvious that Mr. Kirk has been less than forthcoming on a number of trade issues that affect this country, and some of the positions he has articulated are very dangerous."

McCain cited Congress' recent insertion of a "Buy American" provision in the stimulus plan, and its decision to bar Mexican trucks - a violation of NAFTA that prompted Mexico to announce retaliatory tariffs against $2.4 billion in U.S. goods this week, though it wasn't clear why he holds Kirk accountable for that. "The signal that that sends to the world that the united staes is on a path to protectionism," he said.

President Barack Obama is shrugging off the dearth of Southerners in his cabinet. Not a one. Coincidence? He did lose most of the Confederate states in November.

"I love the South," Obama said earlier this afternoon in a wideranging interview with The Dallas Morning News and a few other papers-- including a couple on the far side of the Mason-Dixon Line from Illinois.

Obama noted that he's got some Southern aides, among them press secretary Robert Gibbs, an Alabama native, but said geography wasn't top of his mind as he assembled his team.

"I've got to admit that we have thought a lot about finding the very best people for the jobs, and haven't been thinking with great intensity about regionalism," said the Hawaii-born president.