Posted on 01/31/2009 10:13:00 AM PST by lewisglad
New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg “would never allow his seat to go to a Democrat,” says a Republican close to President Obama’s presumptive pick for Commerce Secretary. “The only way he would allow it is if he died.” Buzz today is that if Gregg took the gig, his replacement would share parties with New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch, a Democrat. (If Al Franken is deemed the winner here in Minnesota, the Dems would then secure a veto filibuster-proof majority.) But The Hill now reports that Republicans are saying Gregg will only take the job if he’s guaranteed that the seat will stay in GOP hands. A Commerce Secretary Gregg, then, seems pretty unlikely. Lynch would face political backlash for appointing a Republican, and Gregg probably won’t unconditionally take the cabinet post. The Hill’s un-named Republican says Gregg would “consider it to be a breach of trust to people who elected [him].”
Yea, right, we’ll see who tugs the hardest.
If he took WHAT gig? This doesn’t make sense to an outsider ...
I can't believe that the Senate GOP is so empty-headed that it would even be contemplating getting rid of one of this members.
Though if John McCain was offered the position, I would make an exception.
“The only way he would allow it is if he died.”
Hmmmm.
Based on the “thuggishness” which has clearly been on display by this administration after just ONE WEEK, I’d be careful about making a statement like that.
Supposedly Warren Rudman would take the seat and promise not to run in two years. (whether he would participate in the GOP cloture votes is another matter)
interesting how of ALL THE PEOPLE Obama knows for this cabinet position, he “feels the most qualified person” is a Republican Senator from a state which has a Democrat governor!
I am already SICK TO DEATH of this man!
The Weekly Standard’s take... Does it really matter if the Republicans have 41 votes or 40? After all, there are likely to be a number of bad bills on which a few liberal Republicans—Specter, Snowe, Collins—side with the Democrats and render any GOP threat to filibuster moot. Of course, there will be some truly atrocious left-wing measures—card-check, taxpayer-funding of abortions, etc.—where almost every Republican will be willing to filibuster and the GOP has a good chance of plucking off the small number of Democrats needed to thwart the bill. These are the kind of votes where having, or not having, Judd Gregg in the Senate could make all the difference.
Posted by John McCormack on January 30, 2009 07:19 PM |
http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/01/gop_to_sen_gregg_please_dont_g_1.asp
Commerce Secretary........If Senator Gregg accepted the position then it would leave his Senate seate open in Minnesota. That would then allow the state governor to appoint whomever he wants to the position. Just like what's happening in Illinois.....
Unfortunately, I think this is a tempest in a teapot. Merely having 40 or 41 Republicans in the Senate won’t guarantee anything.
The alleged “common sense, fiscal conservative” Red-state Democrats like Tim Johnson, Jon Tester, Blanche Lincoln, etc. etc. will vote for unlimited Obama spending in lockstep with Harry Reid.
But can we count on Snowe or Specter or Collins or Voinovich joining a filibuster against anything? I don’t think so.
Gregg is from N.H. Coleman is from Minnesota.
The only way Gregg can get into BO’s cabinet is to first prove that he is a tax cheat.
Yup, I tell you what.
Card check bill just went down in flames if this is true.
Indeed. 0bama thinks we’re all a bunch of ‘tards.
"Take the Sec. of Commerce job or we will run someone strong against you will be out of a job in 2010. At least at Commerce you will have the job as long as you like, and will make lots of connections in business who will give you a good job when you leave. Otherwise, in two years you are simple going to be a defeated U.S. Senator."
They made him an offer he could not refuse.
Political Brilliance.
Exactly. They will get him to resign and then get a Dem in their to get their majority. That is a lot more valuable than some GOPer in the cabinet.
Who would want to abandon a senate seat to take a second-tier cabinet position in a corrupt regime? You’d think that one would much prefer serving at the pleasure of the people than at the pleasure of Obozo.
Gregg will be retired in 4 years and is looking at a tough re-election battle. Zero is picking the lowest hanging fruit off the tree here...the Chicago way!
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