Gregg Withdraws His Commerce Nomination
Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) has just withdrawn his nomination to become Commerce Secretary -- citing the growing controversy over his administration of the Census. Here is Gregg's statement:
I want to thank the President for nominating me to serve in his Cabinet as Secretary of Commerce. This was a great honor, and I had felt that I could bring some views and ideas that would assist him in governing during this difficult time. I especially admire his willingness to reach across the aisle.However, it has become apparent during this process that this will not work for me as I have found that on issues such as the stimulus package and the Census there are irresolvable conflicts for me. Prior to accepting this post, we had discussed these and other potential differences, but unfortunately we did not adequately focus on these concerns. We are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy.
Obviously the President requires a team that is fully supportive of all his initiatives.
I greatly admire President Obama and know our country will benefit from his leadership, but at this time I must withdraw my name from consideration for this position.
As we move forward, I expect there will be many issues and initiatives where I can and will work to assure the success of the President's proposals. This will certainly be a goal of mine.
Kathy and I also want to specifically thank Governor Lynch and Bonnie Newman for their friendship and assistance during this period. In addition we wish to thank all the people, especially in New Hampshire, who have been so kind and generous in their supportive comments.
As a further matter of clarification, nothing about the vetting process played any role in this decision. I will continue to represent the people of New Hampshire in the United States Senate.
Late Update: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is elated to have one of his most trusted counselors back in the GOP fold. McConnell says:
Sen. Gregg made a principled decision to return and we're glad to have him. He is among the smartest, most effective legislators to serve in the Senate--Democrat or Republican--and a key advisor to me and to the Republican Conference. It's great to have him back.
Late Late Update: Senate GOP Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander (TN) adds his relief:
Judd Gregg would have been a strong Cabinet member, but it is good for the country and the Senate that he will continue to be a Republican senator.
Late Update, Cubed: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) not too mad about it, either. He was one of the first who suggested Gregg for the job:
I applaud President Obama for asking Sen. Judd Gregg to guide our nation's commerce at a critical time for our economy and for reaching across the aisle to include another Republican in his Cabinet. Senator Gregg has been a personal friend of mine for a long time, and I respect his decision. I look forward to continuing to work with him in the U.S. Senate to develop bipartisan solutions to the serious economic problems facing our nation.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
Too bad...he was clear on his taxes and everything!
February 12, 2009 4:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Right, SFC -- t'would be so much more honorable for an Obama nominee to hide funds through a corporate PO box in the Cayman islands like a Bush nominee...
February 12, 2009 4:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
...oh, I see...the only reason Obama's nominees are having tax problems is because they weren't smart enogh to "hide" the money they tried to cheat us out of...that's soooo much better.
February 12, 2009 4:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was being sarcastic, Sherlock. Main point is, Repubs are hardly in a position to be holier than thou when it comes to taxes... Would be most entertaining to see a Repub call for companies to pay their US taxes as a patriotic way to, um, ah "Support the troops" perhaps.
February 12, 2009 4:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
(And the reply from the sorry Republican is silence...of course.)
There is no question at all that Gregg looks like a fool from this (guess he can join Eric Cantor (R-"I want to be George "Macacca" Allen") in that). Obama reached out to a Republican, they refused...again! The Republican lose face again while the overwhelming majority of Americans support Obama. Not a day goes by without the Republicans and their supporters looking more trivial! Gottta love their collective ineptitude!
February 12, 2009 5:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just saw that. This is bull...
Now I guess Obama will be blamed for this too. But this should all be on Judd Gregg's shoulders. He knew damn well that he probably didn't agree with POTUS on most things, so he should have refused the job...period!!!
The Obama administration did not force him to accept the nomination. I hope the voters of NH show Gregg how disappointed they are.
February 12, 2009 4:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
My guess is that he saw the poll numbers where John Sununu would run for his seat and get his ass handed to him again. Surely that was too much to take.
February 12, 2009 4:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
This guy was up to something all along. He'll not use the census as a reason why he's withdrawing in order to hurt the Obama Administration as he goes out the door. This guy was a face in the crowd before the nomination, now he'll use the notoriety to bury Obama on all of the infotainment shows and use this name value stature to win re-election in 2010.
"I was good enough for Obama, so I should be good enough for New Hampshire".
February 12, 2009 4:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think that the census power yanking by the Obama administration was a huge faux pas. It's saying that we nominate you, but we don't trust you. You don't nominate someone and then take part of their power away before they even go up for confirmation. It's just rude. If I were Gregg, I'd be pissed, and maybe he couldn't get beyond that.
February 12, 2009 6:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's a faux pas only if a Democrat is nominated and the caveat is rescinded.
February 12, 2009 8:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
No disrespect, and I think you're projecting. It was likely something more basic-and-disqualifying.
February 12, 2009 9:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Of course I'm projecting--but it could have been a 'Crap, I'm going to be the Colin Powell of the administration' kind of moment.
February 12, 2009 10:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
The news from today suggests you were dead accurate on this one and it was I who if anyone was projecting. (Guessed I Overreached this; maybe that irksome Rahm irritated him in suggesting he get with the program or some such, consistent with your view.)
The post-mortem is only beginning, so we'll know more -- bet there'll be some colorful stuff. As you know, Gregg's seat faces an election in 2010 and should he run, he stands an *excellent* chance of having his hat handed to him. Some now say he won't run. Why can't he embrace the power of positive thinking a bit more, I'd rather see him lose than forego the opportunity to lose -- oh well!)
February 13, 2009 4:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Am I honestly the only one who saw this coming?
The whole prospect of Obama's appointing Judd Gregg to anything important (without getting something mammoth back, like another Democratic Senate seat) never passed the sniff check out here.
February 12, 2009 4:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
For the conspiracy theorists:
Gregg accepted in order to avoid having to vote on the stimulus. He knew that voting against it would get him no points in NH, so by recusing himself, he effectively cast a NAY vote without having to do so.
February 12, 2009 4:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Makes as much sense as anything else I've read. . .
February 12, 2009 4:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
i actually think this is for the best. with lynch willing to appoint a republican, and without gregg's support on the stimulus, i failed to see the logic behind appointing gregg.
maybe now we'll get someone who doesn't think commerce should be abolished to run the department.
February 12, 2009 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Shorter Gregg: I wish to return to my obstructionist brethren where I feel I can most effective.
February 12, 2009 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Now I guess Obama will be blamed for this too."
Well, actually, why shouldn't he be blamed? He went out of his way, yet again, to reach out to the Republicans and yet again he gets slammed. The man is an out-and-out s&m freak.
Obama needs to grow up . . . fast. This is getting really, really ugly.
February 12, 2009 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama's not the one who has to grow up.
February 12, 2009 4:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Would you concede that there are advantages to dancing with them that brung you?
The point of assembling parties is that the people in them tend to share more principles than they do with the people who choose the opposite party.
Only the very young or naive or those who have paid little attention to politics believe that this is simply a case of the red shirts versus the blue shirts. There are differences of opinion which lead to different policy choices and when you are conducting the government you often have to choose between these policies -- there may be a compromise but there may not -- you may choose to get across Niagara Falls either be constructing a bridge or using a helicopter but half a bridge and half a helicopter is commonly known as a disaster.
February 12, 2009 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good analogy. Bipartisanship is a nice concept, but in reality it produces crap (Exhibit A: The final stimulus plan).
February 12, 2009 5:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is crazy! Now Gregg gets to run for re-election with bipartisan creds too, don't you think?
February 12, 2009 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
How does he have bipartisan creds? He just refused to work with someone from the other party!
February 12, 2009 4:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Congratulations, you win the "Funniest new avatar" award!
February 12, 2009 4:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
seconded. good one.
February 12, 2009 4:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good riddance to bad rubbish. Obama's luck seems to be holding up- he's been conveniently relieved of a bad appointment.
February 12, 2009 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Second.
Now he could, oh, I don't know, maybe nominate a progressive or something. Or at least a f'ing moderate.
February 12, 2009 11:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good riddance
We need a progressive in Commerce.
February 12, 2009 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did Sen. Gregg not realize that he would be working for Pres. Obama and carrying out Obama's agenda, not his own? This is like a pro-lifer taking a job at Planned Parenthood then pretending to be shocked that he was expected to provide counseling on abortion options.
February 12, 2009 4:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, but who would offer a pro-lifer the head job at PP in the first place?
February 12, 2009 4:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good point. I've never liked the nomination myself; I'm just pointing out that Gregg's claim to be surprised at the impasse seems disingenuous.
February 12, 2009 4:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's leaving to spend more time losing reelection in New Hampshire.
February 12, 2009 4:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Spoke too soon.
February 12, 2009 6:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
By beat is that Gregg took a bite at the apple over the prospects of gaming the census to help the GOP gerrymander their way back form electoral doom, and when Gregg saw the writing on the wall that he would not have free reign over the census, he took his ball and went home.
February 12, 2009 4:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
"beat"?
Ugh..
"bet"
February 12, 2009 4:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Even if they left the census in Commerce, I don't think he could have had much influence on it anyway.
Could be the GOP leaned on him. They're going to have enough trouble defending open seats in OH, MO and FL in 2010.
February 12, 2009 4:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
"he took his ball and went home"
Maybe it's more like he realized he didn't have a ball and went home.
February 12, 2009 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Point taken.
Of course I meant more about the sulking and leaving the field. So in this case it is more like him sulking and leaving the game because he wasn't going to be allowed to be the starting pitcher, and only a designated hitter, and so left in a huff. Or a minute and a huff (as Groucho would have said).
February 12, 2009 5:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Theory I have is that Obama isn't setting himself up for disappointment as much as making Repugs decide whether they really are bi-partisan. He lobs the ball into their court and they fumble...or some lame sports analogy.
February 12, 2009 4:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am sad to say it, but this is a major Obama mistake. He should never have nominated him. It has always been obvious that he was philosophically diametrically opposed to the new administration. Now the 'Centrists' are strengthened, Gregg is greatly enhanced and Obama appears the fool. He deserves to.
I suspect this was Gregg's strategy all along he is known to be cunning, I am surprised that Rahm or Biden did not step in earlier.
February 12, 2009 4:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gregg isn't greatly enhanced. He looks like a moron for even accepting the nomination in the first place.
February 12, 2009 4:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama appears the fool?
Hardly. He extended a hand to a Republican, and a Republican has slapped it away, again. This isn't going to go over well with the American public because another Republican, yet again, is refusing to put aside differences and work for the American public.
February 12, 2009 4:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
And I can't imagine it's going to help Gregg in NH. He comes off like a doofus.
February 12, 2009 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
I stand by my comment, Obama appears inept for selecting Gregg. Check out the WH's defensive 'not uh he did it' response. Gregg timed this to overshine the news of the Stimulus package and set the the stage for the republican 'principled' stands that are going to follow. Obama pissed me off by nominating Gregg to start with and now we see that Gregg was poisoning the well of bi- partisanship. The F--ker didn't even call the president, and planned a press conference.
The American media is far more biased towards republican talking points, and now Gregg will be treated as a voice of principle, kinda like Jim Jeffords was. Obama can't badmouth him without it reflecting badly on himself for choosing him, and I am sure that Gregg will go out of his way to praise Obama. The guy is sleazy, but this will dominate the news cycle now, not the passage of the Stimulus package. Machiavelli would be proud. Obama screwed up.
February 12, 2009 5:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
And I stand by my disagreement with your assessment. The American public doesn't get into the nitty gritty details of nominations--just the broad strokes. And the broad stroke of this says: Obama reached out; Republicans rejected it, yet again.
If the public viewed Republicans as so "principled", then why do so many think that Obama is being bipartisan, while Republicans are just being partisan? (Gallup results, earlier this week).
This episode is going to reinforce that.
February 12, 2009 6:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
For what its worth, I hope you are right and I am wrong.
February 12, 2009 6:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, well, I've got bad news for you. When it comes to Obama, I'm wrong, plenty. He obviously has superior political instincts compared to mine (wow! What a stunner, huh??)
I find myself falling into the trap of thinking like a sane person would, and not like Republicans. I just cannot believe that Republicans would want to so damage the country just to regain control.
February 12, 2009 6:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
After eight years, a financial meltdown, and two unwinable wars I am a full blown Paranoid. It gives me insight into the Rovian analysis, but sure makes parties hell.
Like I said, I hope you're right.
February 12, 2009 7:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not an Obama mistake what's so ever. Once again Republicans screwing over Obama.
February 12, 2009 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL
The only thing the President looks foolish for in this is offering the position to a Republican. So how does the President "looking foolish" on that point make it good for the GOP, or conversely, bad for the President exactly?
February 12, 2009 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
See my response above. Its about setting the stage for the battles to come.
Hey I hope I am wrong, I just don't think so. Obama always plays the noble one, and now the repubs are going to try and out noble him. They want him angry. Gregg will go on all the shows and say nice things about Obama, but he stuck him in the back on the eve of his first victory.
Its politics. It may be a risky gambit, but brillant.
February 12, 2009 5:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wonder if Raum hurt Gregg's feelings?
February 12, 2009 4:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Rahm is capable of hurting just about anyone's feelings.
February 12, 2009 8:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are there skeletons in Gregg's closet?
February 12, 2009 4:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Certainly in his aides closet. And that skeleton is named Jack Abromoff.
February 12, 2009 5:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Being nominated for the post of Sec. Comm. in the Obama administration is looking more and more like the political equivalent of being picked as the drummer for Spinal Tap, or the keyboardist for the Grateful Dead.
February 12, 2009 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bravo, my good man. Bravo analogy.
I don't think this is a mistake by Obama. If anything, the mistake by Obama would have been getting Gregg in and watching as Gregg uses his new power to rig the census, thus embarrassing Obama. If anything, it seems Gregg wanted to be able to do X, Y, and Z with the census or whatever policy item, and Obama's people said, uh, no dude, you aren't going to do X, Y, and Z and embarrass us by going against the Chief.
February 12, 2009 5:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Indeed. He just was like a flash of green light . . . And that was it. Nothing was left.
February 12, 2009 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Or wearing a red tunic on the Starship Enterprise...
February 13, 2009 12:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
This really doesn't make a lot of sense. And on a Thursday before a long weekend. After Obama gets a big legislative win. Wonder how the NH Republican who was going to get Gregg's seat feels about this?
February 12, 2009 4:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would be really annoyed about that one.
February 12, 2009 5:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
All that this charade did was raise Gregg's public profile and voice in the Senate. And he's bulletproof because he was nominated by Obama.
Gregg is said to be one of the smartest strategists, and I think he has proven that to be correct.
February 12, 2009 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with Fugitive Pope who posted below. This increases Obama's bipartisanship street cred and further damages the GOP. and hurts Gregg, not helps him.
February 12, 2009 5:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama’s Revenge: Vows Not to Count Judd Gregg in 2010 Census
http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=6157
February 12, 2009 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think this increases Obama's bipartisanship street cred. With Gregg withdrawing it becomes more obvious that the problem is not with the Democratic administration reaching out to Republicans. The problem is that members of the GOP are incapable of compromise or working with the opposition (Democratic Party). Gregg wasn't fired. He quit.
QED. Quod erat demonstrandum.
February 12, 2009 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good news for the home team here....if he can't have his own agenda (GOP); he leaves. Better now then later on and he can be replaced with a Sec't of Commerce who will help drive the Obama agenda. In my opinion this is a blessing in disguise and let him stay w/ the GOP and try to win re-election. NH voters may just smell this rat out!
February 12, 2009 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Excellent news. Now Obama needs to put a true progressive in place. Go outside the political mainstream and find a respected progressive economist.
How about James Galbraith, Joseph Stiglitz or Paul Krugman? The guys he SHOULD have picked for Treasury, etc. etc.
February 12, 2009 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Krugman would be an interesting choice. He's certainly smart as a whip (would he be the 1st member of President's cabinet to arrive with a Nobel Prize in his briefcase?) but I'm not sure he's got the political knowhow.
February 12, 2009 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
not all of them need political know-how. But I do think Obama needs to surround himself with a few brilliant communicators--it would be a plus if they were credible statesmen.
Perhaps this Gregg post is too small a forum to discuss the idea of the necessity of bringing in great communicators, but might as well keep it in mind.
February 12, 2009 5:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Krugman communicates very, very well in writing. He's public speaking, not so much. Not sure Commerce really needs a great spokesperson in that regard. Krugman has the knowledge many times over.
Regardless, I want Obama to end his experiment with "bipartisanship". The Republicans play that game too well. It means, give in to their demands, or else. If you don't give the Republicans 100% of their wishes, they won't vote for ya anyway . . . .
Time to be loud, proud and confidently progressive.
February 12, 2009 5:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Krugman has said repeatedly he has no interest in taking a job in any administration. He says his role is that of gadfly to keep the government honest, not running an agency.
February 12, 2009 5:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
all good choices. how about warren buffett?
February 12, 2009 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Warren has too many potential conflicts of interest to pass the vetting. The only way he could be considered is if he were to put all his assets in a blind trust--something I don't think he'd be willing to do.
February 12, 2009 8:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Neither Stiglitz nor Krugman would take the job, which would be a demotion from what they're doing now. The Galbraith suggesting is a good one, though.
February 12, 2009 5:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think this is worthy of a narrative one way or another. The media will spin it out to be more of an event than it actually is. The once-important Sunday beltway shows will make chatter but the more I think about it, the more they're all just talking to themselves and not the American people.
February 12, 2009 4:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe it had something to do with his aide who was tied w/ the Abramoff scandal???? Maybe the rest of the story will be told...
February 12, 2009 4:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
You might have something here. He's not seeking reelection either ... interesting.
February 12, 2009 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
According to who?
February 12, 2009 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
A live boy or a dead girl...
February 12, 2009 5:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe Gregg was right the first time. Why do we need a Commerce Dept?
February 12, 2009 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Apparently Gregg campaigned for the job and asked Reid to approach Obama for the job. I think that Gregg just couldn't take the heat from the Republican party.
February 12, 2009 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Okay, I don't care if it's for HHS, Commerce, or frickin' VA. At this point, Obama should just give up and appoint Howard Dean to something. Sure, they've had their differences. Sure, Rahm hates his guts. But how could he be any worse a choice than some of the clowns Obama has already tapped?
February 12, 2009 5:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
My theories:
1. Gregg didn't pay taxes on his lottery winnings.
2. The White House was too confused by the whole "Craig Gregg"/"Judd Gregg" thing, and mail kept getting misdelivered.
3. Judd Gregg is just a [word that led to post being deleted earlier this morning]bottle.
February 12, 2009 5:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Love the Avatar!!
Where did you bury her? !?!?
February 12, 2009 5:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Judd Gregg = Moderate.
Moderate = Wimp
Therefore, Judd Gregg = Wimp.
He folded before the wingnuts.
February 12, 2009 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gregg was never a moderate.
February 12, 2009 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
The NH Union leader says Gregg won't run for 2010. At least the D's have another shot at an open seat.
http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Judd+Gregg+withdraws+as+nominee+for+Commerce+Secretary%2c+says+he+won%27t+run+in+2010&articleId=9c31f9b4-6117-4312-8eb0-647e1240e70a
February 12, 2009 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gee, I wonder if it is time to go for ACTUAL PROGRESSES. You know, the dudes who don't game the system, but ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THE COUNTRY!
February 12, 2009 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Whatever the behind-the-scenes political intrigue, I'm glad this guy is history. But I don't see this hurting Obama much or helping Gregg in the long run either.
The real interesting thing for me will be how the GOP deals with their already public demands for the census to stay in the commerce portfolio. What if the new appointee scares them worse than Rham - and Obama gets all "bipartisan" and gives the republicans what they've already asked for?
February 12, 2009 5:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Whatever you want to say about him, this statement is very gracious.
February 12, 2009 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not really.
February 12, 2009 5:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I knew from day one, this guy would not be around long. Frankly, I never thought he would take the appointment and I guess I was right!
February 12, 2009 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
What a great development! I'm delighted at this news.
Obama was saved from his own foolish bipartisan fantasy! Judd Gregg is a horrible choice for anything in the Obama administration. He is a complete right winger made in recent years to seem less extreme only because the right has become so insanely loopy. Good riddance! Now let's get a good Democrat in there who will run the census properly and do a good job as Commerce Secretary.
February 12, 2009 5:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not likely that the census will come back to Commerce. That Pandora's Box has been opened and it would be a huge slap in the GOP's face if it were moved back after a Democrat were nominated.
February 12, 2009 9:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
My God!
Obama's not just playing chess, he's playing STAR TREKIAN 3-D CHESS. He chooses a standard Democrat (Richardson), knowing Richardson will disgrace himself. That step allows Obama to choose a Repugnant (Gregg) to show bipartisanship, knowing the Repugnant will disgrace himself. Now he can choose an ACTUAL PROGRESSIVE, reflecting the will of those WHO ELECTED HIM.
BRILLIANT!
February 12, 2009 5:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm thrilled. When Gregg recused himself from the Senate debate and would not support the stimulus plan or even comment on the need for a plan, I e-mailed the White House and suggested they pull the nomination. I guess I am one influential guy.
February 12, 2009 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Awesome news. That said, I wonder if the Commerce Secretary position is to the Obama White House what the Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers are in the Harry Potter books.
February 12, 2009 5:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ha! That is hilarious.
February 12, 2009 6:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now watch this twit go back and vote against the stimulus.
February 12, 2009 7:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL, he's already pretty much stated that he was against it (by refusing to say that he was for it).
February 12, 2009 10:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Republican Party is like the Mafia. Why do you think the House votes in lockstep? You can't just do whatever you want. They didn't want Gregg to leave the Senate and have another Olympia Snowe on their hands. Period.
Can you imagine the pressure he's been under the past couple weeks? I wouldn't be surprised if they have something on him - or threatened to kill his dog. I wouldn't put anything past these guys. If I were Snowe, Collins, or Spector, I wouldn't be flying in any small planes for a while either.
Obama had better wake up and realize what he's dealing with.
February 13, 2009 1:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
I did not read it in the above blogs, but isn't one of Gregg's aides under investigation?
I hate to be such a cynic, but my guess is that some kind of "We'll stop the investigation at your aide's level if you withdraw" deal... not a change of heart about the position.
And from the past few weeks of paying attention to Obama's reneging on several promises, I wouldn't venture to guess which side (if any) it came from...
February 13, 2009 1:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
I had no opinion of Sen Gregg before, but my reaction now is 'grossly indecisive.'
If this guy was governor and now senator of NH, it only confirms that the people of NH have waaaay too much influence over the presidential selection process. Not impressed at all.
February 13, 2009 2:42 AM | Reply | Permalink