Odds seem good that President Bush’s choice to be Secretary of the Interior, Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne (R), will be confirmed. Before becoming governor in 1999, Kempthorne served six years in the Senate. Environmentalists criticized the nomination. But former Senate colleagues, including top energy committee Democrat Jeff Bingaman (N.M.), say that they expect Kempthorne will be approved. He would succeed Gale Norton as Interior secretary.