By all reports, Republican Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) currently tops Obama’s short list for the Secretary of Commerce position. Theoretically, such an appointment could in one fell swoop boost Obama’s bipartisan bona fides while, should a Democrat take Gregg’s seat, removing yet another Republican from the Senate. The prospects are delicious and, for the far right, practically delerium-inducing (“Gregg can go down in history has the biggest traitor since Benedict Arnold” – really?!). But it’s not time to buy Obama a lab coat and a hairless cat just yet – Mitch McConnell basically won’t let Gregg leave and, according to “Politico,” Gregg’s likely successor, Bonnie Newman, is still a Republican. Just a fairly centrist one. Too bad.
In other news, if you missed this clip on “The Daily Show” a few weeks back, watch it… now:
The headline I keep seeing is that Gregg won’t accept the nomination unless the governor of New Hampshire appoints a Republican to replace him. Is the next four years just gonna consist of the Republicans being obstructionists while they try to rebuild their ‘brand’? Note to Gregg- your president is asking you to serve your country. That used to imply some kind of honor that was beyond partisan politics. Here’s a tip for the rest of the Republicans in Congress… The country just told you they don’t give a crap about your party, and as long as you continue to put your own interests above theirs, you’re going to lose.
Posted by MarshallDog | February 2, 2009, 12:35 pmYes. He’s an evil genius. He knows exactly what he’s doing to the Republican party.
http://powerfulbeyondmeasure.wordpress.com/2009/02/01/just-the-tip-just-for-a-minute-just-to-see-how-it-feels/
Posted by ReyMac | February 2, 2009, 2:04 pmOn a more practicle note – NOAA is 65% of the Commerce Departments budget in non-census years. I have looked high and low, and I can’t seem to find mr. Gregg’s credentails in ocean policy, weather forecasting, climate modeling or coastal habitat restoration. While he may be a brilliant guy, he still doesn’t have th ebackground to know, once he get’s into the building – what it is his Department really does.
Posted by Philip H. | February 3, 2009, 11:31 am