–updated–
CNN broke the news not long ago.
Commerce is becoming the black hole. Gregg was a horrible choice, in my opinion, which was telegraphed when the Obama team pulled the census from his purview. From Cilizza:
“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.”
UPDATE: Gibbs statement, in case you haven’t seen it. Shorter: Don’t look at us; he wanted the gig.
“Senator Gregg reached out to the President and offered his name for Secretary of Commerce. He was very clear throughout the interviewing process that despite past disagreements about policies, he would support, embrace, and move forward with the President’s agenda. Once it became clear after his nomination that Senator Gregg was not going to be supporting some of President Obama’s key economic priorities, it became necessary for Senator Gregg and the Obama administration to part ways. We regret that he has had a change of heart”. – Robert Gibbs
Good riddance, and good luck in 2010.
buh bye… the bipartisan thing has run it’s course.
Dems are saying they’re “shocked.” Well, once the Census was pulled what did they think was going to happen? That’s a huge deal for Commerce & Gregg. It was ridiculous to nominate him in the first place. Obama’s learning the hard way on some of this “bipartisanship” mumbo jumbo.
Good – one less republican to worry about.
now can we get a dem in there? geez.
2010 census:
“only 12 Republicans left in the U.S.”
YEEEEEEEESSSSSSSS !
I love this …. Faux Noise were starting to bitch about Prez Obama politicizing the Census by taking off the hands of the Commerce Dept.
Now he can pick a Democrat and they can whine ALL THEY WANT !
I REALLY LOVE THIS…
Now we get to kick his butt out of the Senate ALSO …
Well I guess we all know why the Repugs want to control the census. Good residence. Gregg turned me off when he said he would only take the post if a Repug was appointed to his seat. Isn’t that pay for play? Blago-lite?
President Obama’s own Lincoln obsession is causing his first days in office to look more haphazard than it would have looked had he picked STRAIGHT DEMOCRAT …
hc4bo Says:
February 12th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Now we get to kick his butt out of the Senate ALSO …
Sarah Palin?
I never thought Gregg was a good pick. That said don’t you think they would have discussed the census before announcing his appointment?
CNN is reporting that Reid suggested Gregg to Obama. Go figure.
everyone’s yelling for Krugman, I doubt that one.
CNN reporting the military has lost tens of thousands of American weapons that the Taliban may have.
Sorry Taylor it’s OT but it seemed important.
# GeoT Says:
February 12th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
everyone’s yelling for Krugman, I doubt that one.
Maybe 3rd try will be the charm …
Heck he can offer it to me … I will do the job for half price …
kris Says:
February 12th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
CNN reporting the military has lost tens of thousands of American weapons that the Taliban may have.
LOST they say ….
Are they sure nobody made any money off those “LOST” weapons ???
Kos is reporting he stiffed the white house and didn’t warn them.
gregg just announces to nh gop-he wont run for re election either.
This is a partisan pissing match. From the WH:
Senator Gregg reached out to the President and offered his name for Secretary of Commerce. He was very clear throughout the interviewing process that despite past disagreements about policies, he would support, embrace, and move forward with the President’s agenda. Once it became clear after his nomination that Senator Gregg was not going to be supporting some of President Obama’s key economic priorities, it became necessary for Senator Gregg and the Obama administration to part ways. We regret that he has had a change of heart.
Gregg holding a news conference in a few.
Audiegrl Says:
February 12th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Yeah, Gregg was all “This shouldn’t be about politics … but I want a Republican to replace me.” I really don’t think these guys have any sort of “irony meter.” Like Boehner today quoting Lincoln (“malice toward none and charity for all) and then, an hour later, bashing the stimulus as having too much “pork.” Oh, if only Boehner would define “pork” for us – I’m certain his definition would grow increasingly malicious the more charitable the pork sounded …
# justlen Says:
February 12th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Kos is reporting he stiffed the white house and didn’t warn them.
_____
I said on the last thread that Gregg punked Obama. Rush put out the hit yesterday on his show.
YAY!!!
justlen Says:
February 12th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
This is a partisan pissing match. From the WH:
Senator Gregg reached out to the President
________
he went looking for the job? interesting.
# texan4hillary Says:
February 12th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
gregg just announces to nh gop-he wont run for re election either.
_______
come on, there’s gotta be some skeleton’s in the closet.
Gregg on CNN right now.
I think it was the census, despite what he is saying.
He sounds like an idiot.
Well, I think it’s now time for the President to say he tried to reach across the aisle but it just doesn’t work. And after listening to Rash, Shame (Sean), and all the other idiots on the right, I think Obama needs to remind them all “I won”, and now I’m through with trying to reach out to you idiots. We’ll do it my way.
And watch him vote against the stimulus now.
justlen Says:
February 12th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
And watch him vote against the stimulus now.
___
nail on the head
Geo~
come on, there’s gotta be some skeleton’s in the closet.
I think you are on to something. However, everybody on both sides is praising him as a stand up guy.
I meant to say on Hardball.
he just figured out what he “stands for” some kinda of last minute revelation. gimmie a break.
justlen -
Did he recuse himself in the Senate vote? I thought he voted against it.
# Lake Lady Says:
February 12th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Geo~
come on, there’s gotta be some skeleton’s in the closet.
I think you are on to something. However, everybody on both sides is praising him as a stand up guy.
_____
the fact that he’s already saying he won’t run again is suspicious, but if there’s anything there I’m sure it will come out.
He recused himself on the first vote, which enraged the Republicans.
Well no wonder I heard today that Reid is calling Repub Senators trying to see if he can get more votes for Saturday. Ted Kennedy evidently is not coming back to the Senate to vote and if Gregg votes no there really is no margin for error at all.
A Democratic Hill staffer writes in:
It’s hard not to think that Gregg’s withdrawal, with the grumbling about the census and the stimulus, was not timed to cause the most damage possible to the Obama administration. Releasing the statement just as Obama took the stage in Peoria was clearly designed to undermine the President’s event. The fact he scheduled a presser only seems to confirm it. The classy exit would have been to wait til tomorrow afternoon to quietly bow out. Basically Gregg decided not just to politely decline, but rather to blow shit up and burn the bridge behind him. Do not think this portends good things for the wider political climate.
If the larger GOP strategy can be describe as putting all of their chips on “FAIL”, this has to be seen as a significant addition to that pile, no?
I say he had his kneecaps whacked, politically, and ran for cover. Motivated by politics not philosophical differences.
Andrew Sullivan:
It gets clearer. When Judd Gregg approached the Obama administration to see if he could be a part of it, he was assuming that his own party wasn’t going to adopt a policy of total warfare against the newly elected president in a time of enormous economic peril. Between that moment and the current all-out ideological assault on Obama, his position became untenable. His recusal on the stimulus package provoked fury at home (check out the comments here) and dyspepsia among the GOP who are intent on responding to an open hand with a clenched fist.
I have to say even I am a little taken aback by the force of the Republican assault. Even in a downturn as swift and alarming as this one, even after an election that clearly favored one approach over another, even after the most conciliatory efforts by an incoming president in memory, these people have gone to war against the president. The president should stay cool. The rest of us should realize what motivates the GOP: the opportunism of selective ideology.
oh good point from HuffPo. Was his replacement sworn in?
Gregg hadn’t resigned yet.
I’m going out on a limb and saying there’s more to this story…
oh BTW: wasn’t their some kind of contest at TM.com around election time? out did that turn out, I missed it?
On a totally unrelated note, I just found the ultimate ringtones for my phone:
http://tinyurl.com/cvrbap
justlen Says:
February 12th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
On a totally unrelated note, I just found the ultimate ringtones for my phone:
__
those sound waaaaay to real.
GeoT Says:
February 12th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
those sound waaaaay to real.
They ARE real. Those are quotes from his book, and he got a Grammy for doing the book on tape.
They ARE real. Those are quotes from his book, and he got a Grammy for doing the book on tape.
LOL oh wow… I had no idea.
which means I haven’t read the book.
From TPM, ransom note from Deutche Bank to the US Government:
One main stumbling block to the purchasing of troubled assets has been pricing, specifically how does the government price a diverse set of assets in a way that does not put the taxpayer on the hook. However, this should not be the standard by which we judge the efficacy of the plan, because a more prolonged deterioration in the
economy will result in a higher terminal unemployment rate and a greater deterioration of the tax base. As such, the decline in tax revenues will crimp many of the essential services provided by the government. Ultimately, the taxpayer will pay one way or another, either through greatly diminished job prospects and/or significantly higher taxes down the line to pay for the massive debt issuance required to fund current and prospective fiscal spending initiatives.
We think the government should do the following: estimate the highest price it can pay for the various toxic assets residing on financial institution balance sheets which would still return the principal to taxpayers.
my fav:
http://www.aprilwinchell.com/media/audio/OBAMA_FRIES.mp3
justlen Says:
February 12th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
I say 38 cents on the dollar.
Bye bye Gregg, we sure won’t miss ya. Maybe now Obama will get on with it and put a strong Democrat in this office, and be damned the repugs. Enough is enough.
It should be clear to everyone that repugs are going to obstruct, fight, lie and do anything they can do to make sure Obama fails. They don’t give two shits about the people of this country. The only thing they care about is gaining control of congress in two years. They will do everything they can to see more people lose their jobs, housing and healthcare, so they can say see, Obama and Democrats have failed. These people are really the bottom feeders of the human race.
Greggie boy, the Republican cult owns your soul. There’s no hope for ya.
Today, us Texas state employees received an email from the capital, Austin, in which Lt. Governor Dewhurst asks our state chief (shall remain nameless for now) to cut expenditures or face job cuts.
In Dec. ’08 Gov. Perry was bragging about our state’s 10 billion dollar surplus. A month later, we’re in the hole? This bozo and his cronies are gonna milk this state for all its got, with the help of returning Texas resident FAILURE#43.
Take a look at Perry’s website: http://www.nogovernmentbailouts.com/
Yep, he thinks he will save the Repubs in 2012 by running against Obama. The thing is that they are losing Texas real fast, and they really fear the next presidential election. Polls confirm this overwhelmingly. Texas will be BLUE.
I agree. This is the dreaded position, now.
Obama tried to finesse.
It failed.
Whatever, I simply don’t care.
He wants to control the census?
Let him.
It’s about like giving ACORN money when they are under investigation in multiple states.
There are bigger fish to fry.
I say, let him flounder with this one.
*haha