I’m not a big fan of making Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) the next Secretary of Commerce. But it’s tiresome to hear blogger after blogger after blogger criticize the decision because Gregg is recusing himself from voting on the stimulus. Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Ken Salazar, and Hilda Solis all stopped voting on most issues once they had been nominated to Obama’s cabinet. In fact, I was surprised to see that Solis voted for SCHIP today, but that may be more of a reflection of the GOP’s stalling her confirmation than anything else. It would be unseemly if Gregg appeared to be voting with the administration as some kind of quid pro quo.
What will the Obama administration get out of the Gregg nomination? They’ll have an easier time taking over his senate seat. They make it more difficult and less plausible to paint his administration as some kind of radical leftist departure from precedent. They get Jeff Sessions as ranking member of the Budget Committee. (Republicans are confused about that one because Sessions is so conservative. He’s also a hapless buffoon whose opinion is irrelevant and whose mastery of procedure is non-existent). They take one of the view talents in the GOP caucus and make him their own. They continue the process of absorbing Yankee Republicanism into the Big Tent.
Is all that enough? Not in my opinion. The only way the Gregg pick really pays off is if his replacement refuses to join Republican filibusters. And that remains to be seen.
ehem, that isn’t the only reason this appointment is being criticized. One, Gregg only agreed to take it providing he had a republican was appointed as a replacement, so the likelihood that this republican replacement will not participate in republican filibusters is low. Two, the guy wanted to abolish the office of commerce, so why put him in charge of it? Remember Katrina? The reason it happened is that republicans don’t believe in Government. 3)Obama is sending a message that republicans are more competent at economic policy than real Democrats. He has also done this with foreign policy, when he retained Robert Gates. There are democrats working on those areas to, but most are Democrats that agreed with Republican policies in the past. Most people voted for Obama because the WANTED CHANGE, primarily in those two areas. Why can’t we have a radical left departure from the STATUS QUO?
I am sure that semi-permanent majority is not such a bad thing in these times that require less deliberative decision making. Adding more granite to the bedrock of the party does loads for ensuring the Obama wing of the party continues to rule.
An aside: Are people serious about Kathy Sibelius for DHHS? An insurer running our healthcare show? B-as-U! Then again, that was all Obama promised in the campaign: status quo with mandates!
I thought it was Hillary that wanted mandates. You know, don’t buy insurance, go to jail.
She wanted more mandates. His is for children. Hers was a near total mandate. Both are nasty ideas, IMHO.
Kos hits it:
The only way the Gregg pick really pays off is if his replacement refuses to join Republican filibusters. And that remains to be seen.
I agree. On the surface, there’s nothing there for Obama. There’s seemingly nothing there for Gregg, either.
As you alluded to yesterday, there’s some sort of deal in the works, and nobody seems to know what that deal entails.
Which leads to the question “Why is Obama cutting crappy deals with the GOP two weeks into his term?”
Could Obama want to end the Commerce Department so this is how he does it?
How about former staff member of Gregg’s dirty ties to Trader Jack?
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/02/04/washington/AP-Lobbying-Scandal-Obama.html?_r=1
this could well prove to be another embarrassment to obama as well.
it seems an ex-aide to gregg is linked to the abramoff scandal…
the 6º of separation argument is in effect…more closets, more skeletons.
is there an honest pol left in dc?
Gotta say: I couldn’t care less about Judd Gregg. It’s another in a long line of stupid distractions for the blogosphere, but coming now at a time when we need to pass this damned stimulus package. Don’t have 60 votes? Lard it up with spending in Ohio, Maine, Pennsylvania, and anywhere else vulnerable Republicans sit; or throw out the 60-vote rule — whatever. Just pass the damned bill.
Don’t read the blogisphere if you don’t like it. We have nothing to do with what the congress passes.
I like the blogosphere just fine. What I don’t like is seeing it sidetracked by idiocy. Judd Gregg is a washed-up Republican from New England who was probably going to lose anyway, and who has been appointed to a position usually reserved for one of the President’s top fundraisers.
We have a great deal to do with message, which is what the Democratic side of Congress is sorely lacking right now. We also have, you know, congressmen and senators who should be getting an earful.
when the Republicans talk about stalling Hilda Solis nomination, the Democratic response should be “Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, and Florida..you Republicans will never learn, will you?”
“They make it more difficult and less plausible to paint his administration as some kind of radical leftist departure from precedent.”
Someone, somewhere had better start departing from precedent.
If you’re including Lieberman in the 60 then Gregg’s replacement is irrelevant – we’d still be at 59 on a cloture vote…
Just finished watching Rachel Maddow and she was wondering, as I have, just what is the transcendent, inimitable wonderfulness of Judd Gregg? Was there no one else who could have done this job? I just can’t find the specific terrificness of the Juddster. (Does he have something on somebody or what? Does somebody have something on him?)
Anyone see Rachel Maddow’s show tonight? Apparently Gregg’s Chief of Staff (or some other staff person) was working with Abramoff. How bad can this get?
I wouldn’t mind if Gregg voted for cloture, and then recused himself from the actual vote on the bill. But a present bill on cloture is the same as a no vote; they Senate needs 60 yes votes to pass it, and that isn’t reduced just because he’s recused himself.