Gregg: Mr. President, I have some issues...

Senator Judd Gregg put on his partisan hat today and announced that he is withdrawing his name as the nominee for Secretary of Commerce. Really?

From WaPo: "It became clear to me to me that it would be very difficult day in and day out to serve in this Cabinet," Gregg said in a press conference late Thursday. He added that in the days since he was nominated he realized that to be "part of a team but not 100 percent with the team" was an untenable position.

Come on. Seriously? Barack Obama hasn't changed his position on the economic stimulus package, so I'm confused. What in the census would be worth quitting over?



The Republican talking point is that Gregg is putting principle over ambition. Did Gregg just grow a set of principles over the last couple of days? My problem with this whole thing is nothing has really changed but Gregg. Was he too awe-stuck to ask questions before? Was he tongue-tied? Or was it that the Obama administration made it clear that the American people would be the first priority, NOT business. Maybe that was the sticking point. Being Secretary of Commerce and putting the American people first would be a terrible conflict in the eyes of a Republican.

I wonder if this was all a ploy to make the new president look bad. Another cabinet post bites the dust. This is Obama's third appointment requiring replacement (Daschle, Richardson). Or was this a local problem? There were some reports out of New Hampshire that Democratic Rep. Paul Hodes was looking very strong for 2010. I know I'm dwelling on bad motives, but sudden moves like this make me very suspicious.

I found this interesting -

Judd Gregg last week on the Obama fiscal boost plan:

We need a robust [bill]. I think the one that's pending is in the range we need. I do believe it's a good idea to do it at two levels, which this bill basically does, which is immediate stimulus and long-term initiatives which actually improve our competitiveness and our productivity.

Judd Gregg today:

Republican Sen. Judd Gregg is putting a final exclamation point on his withdrawal as Barack Obama's designee for Commerce Secretary with a promise to vote against the president's economic stimulus package. Gregg's office confirmed the decision Friday.

Gregg waffled on this reason for pulling out of the Obama Cabinet today, saying that it really wasn't about the census after all.

But in an interview with CNBC today, Gregg suggested that the census procedures weren’t much of an issue to him. “The way it was explained to me is that the Census would still report to the Commerce Secretary, but the White House wanted to have a major interest in the census process also,” he said. Gregg even praised the White House:

GREGG: The person that the White House has proposed to manage the Census, Ken Pruitt, did it in 2000 when I was chairman of the Appropriations Committee that had oversight over Commerce Dept. And I thought he did an excellent job. So I thought the people were going to be in place to do a pretty good census.

So, can you make any sense out of this?

Judd Gregg Withdraws As Commerce Secretary

Just saw it on MSNBC.

The reason why the Commerce Secretary is important this time, is because of the 2010 Census. Getting folks accurately counted, and holding onto Black political representation - through Congressional Districts - is important to me. That’s why I thought it was a positive to see The Census moved into The White House.

Also, the Commerce Secretary also holds the office of the SBA, if I’m thinking correctly. And, if there’s anything Black folk need, it’s more businesses in the community.

So, that’s why I think the Commerce Secretary is still needed.

I’m not sad about Gregg leaving. I believe there has to be a business-minded Democrat, interested in improving AMERICAN Businesses, that could be chosen. I admit that I'd like to see a Black businesswoman get the post.

Judd Gregg for Secretary of Commerce?

From CNN.com

GOP's Gregg accepts commerce secretary post

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Obama extended a political olive branch to the GOP on Tuesday, nominating Sen. Judd Gregg, R-New Hampshire, to head the Commerce Department.


GOP Sen. Judd Gregg accepted President Obama's nomination as commerce secretary Tuesday.

"Clearly, Judd and I don't agree on every issue, most notably who should've won the [presidential] election," Obama joked in announcing the nomination, "but we do agree on the urgent need to get American businesses and families back on their feet."

Gregg will be an "able, persuasive ambassador for industry" because he is a skillful negotiator and a "master of reaching across the aisle to get things done," Obama said.

We are ... in the middle of a very difficult economic time," replied Gregg, who has chaired a key Senate commerce subcommittee.

Gregg, a third-term Republican known for being fiscally conservative, thanked Obama for taking the "rather extraordinary step of asking me to join your administration." He lauded Obama's "bold and aggressive, effective and comprehensive plan for how we can get this country moving." Watch why Gregg joined Obama's team »

"This is not a time for partisanship. This is not a time when we should stand in our ideological corners and shout at each other," he said. "This a time to govern, and govern well."

Gregg's decision to accept Obama's offer represents a stunning turnabout -- he voted to abolish the Commerce Department in 1995. If confirmed, he will be the third Republican to join Obama's Cabinet, following Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Rest of article at link above.

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What do we get out of this?

We don't get a 60th Democratic Senator.

We get Sessions of Alabama as the lead Republican on the Budget Committee now.


We get someone who wanted to abolish the Commerce Department.

And going into the 2010 Census, is THIS the person we want heading things, as reapportionment rears its head?

I'm just trying to figure out why THIS Republican was such a good choice over numerous Democrats who would have been more than willing to be supportive of small business.

Judd Gregg As Commerce Secretary - A Smooth Move By Obama

Republican Senator Judd Gregg is being considered for Commerce Secretary... a move that could put the Democrats in reach of a majority in the Senate. This is championship chess playing by Obama... If the Democrats would have played like this years ago we may not have had to endure 8 years of George W. Bush.

But I am pretty sure that the Republican leadership will instruct Gregg to turn it down... for strategic reasons. And like I mentioned a couple of weeks ago... the Republicans are very disciplined...they don't cave and they don't think for themselves... like obedient slaves, they stay in lock step with their leaders in Congress. The recent vote on the so-called "stimulus plan", where no Republicans voted for the legislation was a demonstration of the kind of Republican discipline I often mention here. So I fully expect Gregg to decline the offer. Even if he disobeys his Party leaders and accepts the position, there is no guarantee that Democrats will have a majority with no problems. It still won't be a true majority. There is always the problem of Joe Lie-berman... he may help the Republicans obstruct legislation. Or he may even be forced to switch Parties. I actually thought that Lieberman would have switched to Republican by now..... this development could force his hand.