Why Gregg Withdrew
I won't claim to know the precise reasons why Judd Gregg, who last week stood with President Obama, and vowed to work with him as Commerce Secretary is now withdrawing. But a couple of sources in New Hampshire politics chalk it up to the abuse Gregg was taking over the past few weeks, first from some on the right for going into the liberal Obama administration and then from all sides for being too cute about the stimulus package, abstaining from voting for or against it. Gregg was ridiculed in New Hampshire's most important newspaper, the Union Leader.
The situation creates headaches for everyone. Back home, Gregg might come to be seen as principled for staying in his seat but at the moment he looks weirdly indecisive and he still faces a tough reelection bid in 2010 if he chooses to run again. He's embarassed a popular governor, John Lynch, who took some political risks by nominating a Republican to fill Gregg's seat. But the biggest fallout is probably for the Obama administration which has seen two other cabinet nominations (those of Tom Daschle to be HHS Secretary and Bill Richardson to head Commerce) blow up on the launch pad.
It's hard to see why the differences with Obama had somehow become irreconcilable for Gregg. The stimulus package has moved in a conservative direction since the days when he was named to the Commerce post. And if he's feeling neutered over the decision to make the Bureau of the Census appointment, which I wrote about at the time, a White House-appointed position, surely he could have worked behind the scenes to make sure someone sufficiently politically independent got the slot. He didn't have to switch caree to guarantee someone who met with his approval got the Commerce slot.
The withdrawal would seem to be very different than that of Tom Daschle's in most ways. There was no hint of financial or personal misdeed about Gregg. But the two withdrawals are similar in the sense that the person's peer group started to come down on them. In the case of Daschle, it was the New York Times and the chattering classes who had begun to transform him from aw-shucks good guy to limousine villain. Likewise, Gregg's peer group was giving him crap back in New Hampshire and he, like Daschle, withdrew although Daschle at least gave the White House a few hours to scramble so they could release simultaneous statements of regret. This time, the White House had no heads up, so far as I have heard. You have to wonder what the president will think about his outstretched hand after its been slapped like this.
Late Update: Gregg has reaffirmed to the ABC affiliate in New Hampshire that he is not running for re-election in 2010. (e.k.)
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
In terms of a fall out for the Obama administration. I just don't see it since it wasn't over vetting or taxes or anything like that.
I think that it is a 2 day story if that. Tomorrow will be all about the stimulus vote and then there is a 3 day weekend. Monday, President's day, Obama will sign the stimulus package into law.
February 12, 2009 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
True. When Dachle dropped out many thought it was the end of the world (I'm stretching it a bit) but I don't think anyone gives it a second thought now.
This will be even less of a news getter.
February 12, 2009 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
depends on how intent the closeted conservative villagers are on adding to their "obama's already failed presidency" meme.
common sense says that gregg is an idiot for trying to pretend that he just now realized that he's got ideological differences with obama, or that they didn't hammer out the details of the job beforehand; but as they say, "common sense isn't so common," and nowhere is it less common than amongst the beltway pundits.
February 12, 2009 5:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just read this:
"Gregg stepped down after the Republicans threatened to file a lawsuit against Obama for his unconstitutional usurping of power regarding the census."
Does anyone know if it is true?
February 12, 2009 7:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have to disagree with you about the target of the biggest fall out. It isn't the White House. It's the Republicans. I imagine the American public is going to see Obama as reaching out, repeatedly, to the Republicans, and this Gregg decision just another Republican slapping it away.
Republicans are going to pay a price for this, not the White House (although they are now 0 - 2 in terms of nominating a commerce secretary).
February 12, 2009 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Very much agreed. I'm really scratching my head here trying to figure out how this is supposed to be bad for Obama. I'm not coming up with anything.
February 12, 2009 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep. Republicans are the ones that come out here looking petty and dimwitted. He withdrew because of differences in philosophy? That somehow changed SO much over a couple weeks? No. Most people will see it as yet another case of the Republicans being petty and hyperpartisan and......lame.
February 12, 2009 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly.
This will only add to the President's room to come down the mountain with a serious head of steam against the GOP when needed, and can do so with near impunity since the entire planet has watched the GOP repeatedly shaft him when he reaches across the aisle.
February 12, 2009 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Co-sign.
February 12, 2009 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree that the biggest fall out is to the Republicans. It is obvious to Americans that Obama is trying to reach out his hand out and try to be bipartisan but it keeps being slapped back.
Why should Obama even bother with Republicans? That's the question that the media should ask.
February 12, 2009 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I disagree. To get Rovian for a minute -- and I think the Republican behavior/positioning during the stimulus debate says those politics aren't of a bygone era just yet -- I think Republicans could make a good case that Obama has established a narrative of rejected nominations that shows the incompetence and clear failure of the Obama administration.
Just wait for the columns tomorrow. Daschle, Richardson, now Gregg...Obama fails.
But if you want to operate on facts and reasonable assumptions, then they've probably got nothing.
Sucks he pulled out. Might have been a good moderating force, and he's apparently not the most awful senator in the world.
Any guesses as to who the next nominee will be?
February 12, 2009 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think they will certainly try and make that case, but how on earth can they, with a straight face, lay this on Obama, when it's now known that Gregg campaigned actively for the job, was pressed repeatedly about how he would react to the policy differences, and now refuses to work with Obama?
The Villagers will probably see it the way Republicans see it, but I seriously doubt the American public will.
February 12, 2009 5:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're more optimistic than I :D. But I hope you're right.
February 12, 2009 5:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gregg = putz
I see no fallout on the Obama administration on this one.
February 12, 2009 4:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope Obama starts slapping back.
February 12, 2009 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
"a couple of sources"
"so far as I have heard"
*sigh*
February 12, 2009 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just makes the GOP look more petty and obstructionist.
How many bullets in the President's ammo belt now does he have so when he needs to, he can shit-hammer the GOP and do so with impunity because he tried not once, not twice, but numerous times to reach across the aisle and got nothing but the middle finger in return?
The GOP are slitting their own throats, which in my view, is not at all a bad silver lining to this.
February 12, 2009 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't see anything but upside
The perfect job for Howard Dean
They reject bi-partisanship in a traditionally partisan position, Howard is just what the doctor ordered as it were
February 12, 2009 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
For commerce?
I don't see Dean as being Secretary of Commerce. HHS, absolutely.
February 12, 2009 4:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yup Commerce
The man would be a disaster at HHS and giving him the Commerce post would silence the Deaniacs and put paid their latest quixotic quest
February 12, 2009 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
yeah, sure, JohnMcCSF, a Deaniac "quixotic quest", like building a 50-state Democratic Party for the first time in 30-plus years, for being crucially instrumental in gaining both houses of Congress and now the Presidency, and for at least temporarily wresting control of the Party from the DLC's mind-numbing Republican Lite philosophy that guaranteed junior partner status in governing this country.
yea, sure, JohnMcCSF, that's sure quixotic all right.
I think you'd better look up that word. It doesn't mean "correct all along", "ahead of the curve", "indispensable", "brilliant", and "ballsy" like you must think it means.
sometimes I think people like JohnMcCSF couldn't think for themselves if they had to.
February 12, 2009 6:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
This better well be the end of reaching out to the right/GOP, or at least members of the GOP not named Collins or Snowe. Enough. They had their chance to play the bi/post-partisan game and they acted like the same old douchebags they've always been. Now let's get a good progressive in that slot and move on.
February 12, 2009 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
i disagree. The more BO extends his hand and is slapped by the Republicans thats a win for the Obama Administration and by extension the Dems in congress. the public perception of the Republicans as obstructionist and mean spirited is already starting to seep into the mainstream media. Let them keep it up
February 12, 2009 5:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Word.
February 12, 2009 5:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agree.
February 12, 2009 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Word +. Obama said this was a long process (reaching out to the republicans) and he was going to keep trying.
MSM, true to their instant gratificaion natures, are yelling to high heaven that the bipartisan era is over. Jeez.
February 12, 2009 5:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Reich is losing the PR campaign, except among their base. That base is not strong enough at this time to win. Gregg knows he is losing in 2010. The Maine Senators know if they do not dance, they'll be leaving Congress too, as does Specter.
2010, we go beyond filibuster. The Reich, not being able to make any compromises, is ensuring their elimination. They could have taken credit for having tax cuts included with the StimPack, but they continued with their all-or-nothing attitude. Since they cannot have it all, they are accepting nothing. I'm happy each time they let an opportunity pass.
February 12, 2009 6:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, I think Obama stated in an interview is that republicans were initially impressed with the original bill due to the tax cuts he included in it, and that perhaps what he's learned most from the process is next time to leave the tax cuts out so rethugs can take credit for it.
That's ultimately what they were after when John McIdiot decided to draw up his own version of the bill where it was all tax cuts.
February 12, 2009 10:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Damn, what's a guy gotta do to get someone to mind the turkey farm these days?
February 12, 2009 6:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wonder if Gregg was holding the "whitey" tape and Obama, after recovering it, told Gregg to take a hike.
February 12, 2009 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
That is a misfired joke, yes?
February 12, 2009 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
misfired? I thought it was pretty damn funny.
February 12, 2009 5:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
no one with any sense ever gave any whitey tape more than a bored 1/2 second thought, so anyone getting any humor from the 'joke' must be white and Republican and sore loser.
you, maybe?
February 12, 2009 6:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
HDD?
February 13, 2009 12:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
ROTFLMAO!
February 12, 2009 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Union Leader is a very conservative newspaper. It would have been trying to gun him down if he voted for the stimulus (especially after accepting the Commerce nom)
Gregg has now likely caused himself grievous political harm. But we shall wait and see.
February 12, 2009 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thats why his move is even the more stupid. he just made his 2010 reelection bid harder.
February 12, 2009 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
As some one from NH Greg is my Senator. My guess ( and it is only that) is this won't play well with the voters. He was going to face a tough re-election anyway and I think it just got tougher. This makes him look small and beholden to the likes of the Union Leader and a rather weak state Republican party.
Another take his replacement was going to be a very moderate Republican and this may have truly scared Republican leaders in the Senate which in turn leaned heavily on Gregg. What they don't want is another Snow or Collins.
February 12, 2009 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
February 12, 2009 5:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good fucking riddance.
The real issue here is how in the world Obama nominated this complete right-wing zero.
February 12, 2009 5:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Commerce Curse! What the heck where the Bush appointees doing over there? Sacrificing goats?
February 12, 2009 5:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!
February 12, 2009 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, joe, joe, joe, that is too funny!
February 12, 2009 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with the commentators who have opined that this is really not bad news for the Obama administration.
It is bad news for Gregg who, it seems to me, comes off as a weenie. I'm not swallowing the line about serious differences with Obama relative to the so called stimulus. What has changed in the last week? Nothing.
It will be interesting to learn more over the next few days. I suspect there is much more to come.
February 12, 2009 5:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think that Gregg was pressured by the Republicans to withdraw and he did. Gregg is a WIMP.
Also, he should of have the respect to notify the Obama camp first before he withdraws. What an asshole.
This will piss off Democrats in New Hampshire.
February 12, 2009 5:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm thinking everyone will be disappointed in NH. But again, if the reich thinks they are scoring points by staying on the sidelines, which is how they appear, let 'em! To my eyes, they are not in the game, developing good policies, they are having tantrums on the sidelines.
February 12, 2009 6:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am SO happy about this. This "bipartisan" triangulation thing is NOT working, and this gives Obama a Mulligan to change course and stop pandering to the rightwing, who will not support him regardless. He can work with Republicans, if that is what he's hellbent on doing, without favoring them with presitigious and powerful cabinet positions that rightfully should go to Democrats. After, the Democrats won this election. And Bush did NOTHING to accommodate Democrats or their policies whatsoever. In fact, he reveled in stiffing and humiliating them. So: this is good thing, a do-over. Please, BO, don't blow it again by dredging up another Repuglican for this position.
February 12, 2009 5:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
This isn't bad news for Obama. He's tried to be bipartisan, and the Republicans aren't reciprocating at all. All this strongly suggests that Gregg's move was calculated partisan politics, and it underscores this fundamental truth of modern politics: the Republican Party can not, and will not, put partisan politics aside for the good of the country.
February 12, 2009 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Another needless distraction we didn't need in the middle of the stimulus debate. I'd say never count on a Republican, but Daschle of course was a bigger fiasco.
While I'm happy this moron dropped out, I think we have enough cases to say Obama administration nomination process was a occasional hit and a frequent miss.
How many withdrawals did we have so far? 6?
February 12, 2009 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
From the tail end of an AP report released within the last twenty minutes, or so.
February 12, 2009 5:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gregg was going to be replaced by a faux Repub who would vote with the Dems in a Bernie Sanderish kind of way. That, plus the inevitable outcome in MN would have given the President the 60 votes he needs. Game, set match. My theory: someone got to Gregg.
February 12, 2009 5:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I read Cooper to be suggesting that somehow this looks bad for Obama. You know, a Republican slaps Obama's outstretched hand, and that's bad for ... Obama.
In other words, THIS IS EXCELLENT NEWS FOR REPUBLICANS!
It's really reflexive, isn't it?
February 12, 2009 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Made me scratch my head too. I mean come on people, the republicans look like infants. And that is in the K-6 playground of the congress.
February 12, 2009 5:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gregg's withdrawal is a loss. He is a competent, level-headed Republican with experience, and a decent record on environmental issues. He was ready to commit to working in a bi-partisan manner. Attempting to characterize it any other way looks foolish.
Moreover, Gregg's withdrawal helps Obama and the Democrats. The more the extreme elements of the Republican party clearly pulled a moderate to the right. The extremists do not want to compromise, participate or even discuss, which are the hallmarks of some of the great legislative achievements. That weakens the Republican party in several ways: fleeing from compromise makes them look like obstructionists; rejecting good ideas denies Republicans any credit once they succeed; and, most importantly, the country has already rejected the extreme brand of the Republican party and, I believe, will continue to do so.
Getting past the current partisan entrenchment will take some time and commitment, with many bumps in the road. I do not agree that we should give up or only work with certain Republicans.
As an aside, the Union Leader is hardly the "most important" NH newspaper. Most people from NH know it for its harshly conservative bias. It is unfortunate if its criticism - or the criticism of other right wingers - had an effect on Gregg.
February 12, 2009 5:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
I fail to see how Gregg's withdrawal can be considered a loss since he has yet to explain why he wanted to get rid of the DOC before. And clearly he was not ready to work in a bipartisan manner at all since he withdrew due to apparent differences. That is anything but being bipartisan. Once again, the Republicans failed to act in a bipartisan manner. First Eric Cantor, now Gregg. Sorry, but anyone who wishes "to characterize it any other way looks foolish" indeed.
February 12, 2009 6:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think you actually agree with what I wrote, and are just reacting to the word "foolish." Clearly, when a good person withdraws, it is a loss for a bi-partisan agenda, and for the country. Gregg was good for the reasons I gave in my previous post. Unfortunately, his withdrawal is further evidence that the right wing is driving the Republican party, and the moderate members are succumbing.
February 12, 2009 6:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Except, apparently he wasn't.
February 12, 2009 6:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Calm and wise words AP16, Thank you
February 12, 2009 5:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
George Soros for Commerce and watch the wingnut heads explode!
Donald Trump anybody? Hair apparent at Commerce?
February 12, 2009 6:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
i don't know-i got a weird feeling that
the final stimulus bill could get unstuck
if gregg gets next to lieberman,collins and snowe.
say he does the oh boo-hoo i tried to be bipartisan
but obama led me on routine.
there's no limit to the republican senate's
sense of victimization. i think this is not over.
February 12, 2009 7:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stop reading this blog and move on the update. Gregg didn't withdraw, he was booted, and hard. Gibbs stated:
"Senator Gregg reached out to the President and offered his name for Secretary of Commerce. He was very clear throughout the interviewing process that despite past disagreements about policies, he would support, embrace, and move forward with the President's agenda. Once it became clear after his nomination that Senator Gregg was not going to be supporting some of President Obama's key economic priorities, it became necessary for Senator Gregg and the Obama administration to part ways. We regret that he has had a change of heart."
Gregg wouldn't play ball so he was benched. Good call by the coach.
February 12, 2009 7:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good Riddance!
This was never a great pick, it's much better to have a Democrat running Commerce.
On some other blogs, people have floated Robert Reich's name, who I also think would be a great pick.
He's a Democrat, he's run a large Cabinet agency before, and folks, wouldn't be great to have leaders who are actually for the working class at both Labor and Commerce?
Regards,
February 12, 2009 7:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Happy dance, happy dance, another clusterf*** by the GOP! While I agree with the above comment that the Onion Breeder isn't as important newspaper as the article indicates, it's still the Bible for the NH Repubs. Which of course is simply another sign of complete meltdown across the entire party.
Couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch of people.
February 13, 2009 9:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nothing much has happened in the two areas cited by Gregg as the reasons for his withdrawal in the period between when he accepted the appointment and when he withdrew. In fact, Gregg even stated that the stimulus package improved as it wound its way through Congress. Gregg's reasons, in other words, don't wash with the facts. Is Gregg hiding something? Does he have a skeleton in his closet that he doesn't want exposed? He also decided to not run for re-election. There is more to this story than what we have been told to date. Could he be another Larry Craig or have ties to Abramoff, for instance. There is something and it is serious.
February 13, 2009 9:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
if the taxes TOM DASCHLE didn't pay was over$100,000 for two years, just how much do limo drivers make?. seems to me like a pretty good way to make a living.
February 13, 2009 12:07 PM | Reply | Permalink