You made it very clear that in order to grow through this recession that you not redistribute the wealth of the people of this nation.

Awesome. Does this mean he'll be calling for all of those Wall Street Bankers to return their bonuses?

One has to believe that the Obama Administration would know who Gov. Lynch would name to replace Sen. Gregg, otherwise it makes little sense. I mean is Gregg really the best person for Commerce, head and tails above the rest after an exhaustive search? So much so that having him replaced by another Republican would be worth it?

I still think the plan is for Gregg to turn it down at the request of Senate Republican leadership to out themselves as playing partisan games. Gregg will have a hard re-election challenge in 2010, and might want to go out this way, rather than losing his seat. Also after being part of a Democratic Administration, he could run again with bonafide cross party credentials. Heck, just playing along with Obama now will give him something to run on in two years time when trying to hold his seat.

The Senate GOP will try and get a read on Lynch as well - but given the recent Blago mess, everybody will be tiptoeing around any such probing. The Obama Administration saying they don't know who Lynch will name, and that he could very well name a Republican is playing the game (at least I hope so).

"I thought it was very important to send a signal, and you sent it loudly, very clearly, that this party, the leadership of this caucus, would stand first and foremost with the American people. You made it very clear that in order to grow through this recession that you not redistribute the wealth of the people of this nation."

How is voting down the stimulus "standing with the American people"? It's blatant politicking. But i guess that's what the Party Chairmen have to worry about first and foremost.

Steele isn't above trying dirty tricks to win elections, he's pretty much anything goes - so Kaine and the DNC better be on their toes.

Daschle is going to have a lot of problems because powerful people don't want him in the position and generally want to throw a wrench into Obama's healthcare plans. What the hell is wrong with people not paying their taxes? Did the Bush Cabinet have these tax issues? It's ridiculous.

"Commerce Secretary Gregg .... hmmm. Has a nice ring to it." I bet that's exactly what he's saying to himself right about now. Gregg's taking it. No way he leaps at the first opportunity. The post is a plum position which will secure Gregg's lobbying future or maybe a career in giving speeches in Dubai or Shanghai or New Dehli. Or perhaps he go off and be an economics school provost somewhere in New Haven or Cambridge or London--all just in case he decides to leave politics. He sees that the GOP is a sinking ship, he's jumping.

For every Republican senator attacking him as Sen. Benedict Arnold there'll be two others wishing it was them. What does it matter that you'll be persona non grata among some Republican circles when the GOP has a persona non grata problem the size of Rush Limbaugh's ballooning head. After all, the Obamites delivered a cruel blow to the Republicans by branding them all comedians. Rush Limbaugh and the Republicans' traveling band of old, white, privileged, pill-popping, womanizing, mananizing, teenanizing crochety and Jesus-freaked out men. It must really suck to be a Republican right now. There's no Rove to turn to. Conyers is going to have him up on the Hill or in handcuffs.

There's very little downside for Gregg. he was no shoe-in for re-election in an increasingly democratic state. No doubt he sees factionalism and loss of influence that beset Besides, he'll be seen as a bipartisan knight. And he'll get himself written into the annals of history for serving on a historic Presidential cabinet. He'll be on Obama's grecian urn.

The Obama administration has proven they're no amateurs.

I hate to say "I told you so" but I told you that Gregg was a real pick not a Reid bungle

Now I am in great spiritual pain because I do so hate doing what I just did

The republicans weren’t looking out for the American people they never do, they were looking out for their own narrow, outdated and dangerous political agenda that was proven wrong by the American people. Steele is the perfect guy to keep the republicans in the wilderness for a very long time. By the way where were the republican’s solutions and ways to get our economy on track? Oh yeah have none. They just said no.

Gee, I wonder why the vast redistribution of wealth UPWARD -- which has been going on since about 1980 -- never seems to bother these guys, if they think redistribution is so vile. There's a mystery...

I sure hope the Senate does a good job and get some of the spending out of that plan that doesn't directly target job creation to help get the most votes possible. Not saying that some of those programs are good,

Now isn't the time for a lot of that spending. I'm with Claire McCaskill on this. The Democratic House got a little too excited with this.

I have an excellent idea for a jobs bill. Pass a bill that taxes the shit out of corporations that export jobs overseas. Don't give them a tax break. Tax them. That will create job growth instantly.