GOP leaders know more about Gregg's withdrawal than does the WH.

[Barack_America]

And that right there should tell you about why this was done.

I have been a big proponent of at least giving the appearance of bipartisanship.

No more.

The GOP has shown that they are going to be obstructionist at. every. possible. turn.

It's time to kick them aside, for the good of the country.

Rahm, it's time for hardball. Get your swear on.

I hear a rumor that one of Gregg's top aides was tied to Abramoff.

You might want to start there.

[Parker CA]

1. I believe this may be the move that brings out the ruthless side of the Obama administration.

Get ready, this could be very interesting.

Too coincidental that this move occurs while Obama and the top press figures are out of DC and in the middle of Obama speaking about the benefit of the stimulus. To the minute of the speech commencing, MSNBC broke it.

Bullshit. The adversarial relationship has just been ratcheted up a good number of notches.

[Barack_America]

4. That's a good point. This has ambush written all over it.

But, in the end, I feel this will have been a very stupid, stupid move on behalf of the GOP.

[Parker CA]

10. No doubt. I agree, Epic Fail.

[Life Long Dem]

2. Yeah, that's Gregg for you.

Which is why I said no big deal for Gregg to be in the Obama administration.

[K Gardner]

3. Ditto here. I was willing to give bipartisanship a try, but they've declared WAR on Obama AND

America. No more "nice guy". No more support from me for a "bipartisan approach".

This is a battle for the heart and soul of this country, and they've done enough damage. It's time to play Hardball, down and dirty.

[AndyA]

5. That's it! Gregg withdrew because he knew he'd never make it...

too many connections to Abramoff!

Honestly, Obama and the Dems in Congress should see the writing on the wall at this point. Kick the GOP aside and tell them to get out of the way if they aren't going to help. They created the problems we're plagued with today, they can damn well help right them or stop obstructing progress!

Call it what it is.

[tekisui]

6. I'm just happy he;s out. So long, typical repuke.

[ej510]

8. The repukes were worried about losing his seat in 2010.

[Phx_Dem]

12. I thought he wasn't going to run again anyway?

I could be wrong, but I thought I heard that.

[Barack_America]

9. It's good that he's out.

But this has the potential to be damaging to the stimulus passing.

[ErinBerin84]

7. I've tried to have an open mind about it too

But this is fucked up. Hopefully this will be a lesson learned by Obama. Also, I remember Obama talking about being less divisive and trying to reach consensus on things, but honestly, I think the media overplays the role that Obama said bipartisanship would have in the administration. Post partisanship and bi partisanship is not the same thing. If the repukes are being too obstructionist, fuck em. I began to suspect things when the media started to chime the tune "Remember Obama, it's a CENTER RIGHT country", right after he won. Time to play a little hardball.

[Phx_Dem]

11. But it doesn't make sense from their perspective

It doesn't change the votes on the Stimulus bill and it doesn't change the make-up of the Senate because his replacement was a conservative Republican. What it does is show that the No-Party doesn't want to work with Obama to get the country back on track, even if they disagree with him ideologically, they simply don't want to help. And that's good for us and bad for them so if this was a "plan" it appears to be a really dumb one.

I think he has a skeleton in his closet -- maybe the Abramoff rumor is it or maybe something else. You can bet any reporter worth their salt (that would have to be a blogger) will be digging to China to get the skinny.

[Barack_America]

15. It very well may affect a few GOP votes on the stimulus. nt

[seafan]

13. It's not a rumor: Former Gregg staffer caught up in Abramoff corruption probe

Former Gregg staffer caught up in Abramoff corruption probe, February 4, 2009, Boston Herald


Gregg Withdraws as Commerce Nominee

By Chris Cillizza and Michael Shear
February 12, 2009

New Hampshire Republican Sen. Judd Gregg has withdrawn his name from consideration as President Obama's commerce secretary, a major blow to an administration seeking to put a series of Cabinet problems behind it.

"It has become apparent during this process that this will not work for me as I have found that on issues such as the stimulus package and the census there are irresolvable conflicts for me," Gregg said in a statement to be released by his office. "Prior to accepting this post, we had discussed these and other potential differences, but unfortunately we did not adequately focus on these concerns."

Gregg abstained from the Senate vote on the stimulus package, which passed the chamber 61 to 37. He had not previously offered any public comment on the White House's plan to have the Census director report to White House officials. Many Republicans, however, had voiced serious concerns about the potential politicization of the department given that move.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) praised Gregg's decision as "principled" and added: "It's great to have him back."

Just days ago, Gregg stood side-by-side with the president to accept the nomination as commerce secretary and declared that partisanship should not get in the way of repairing the country's
problems.

"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," Gregg said on Feb. 3. "This is a time to govern and govern well. And therefore, when the President asked me to join his administration and participate in trying to address the issues of this time, I believed it was my obligation to say yes, and I look forward to it with enthusiasm."

.....

Mitch is glad to have him back, huh?

[Barack_America]

16. Thanks for those links. nt

[Cha]

14. Wonder how New Hamphire peeps

feel about this "taking my marbles home" shit?