Gregg pulls out of nomination - NOT ENOUGH TAX CUTS

[Lunar]

Maybe he wants to end his career and not be in the extreme minority for two years

Gregg's more than competent.  If Obama wants to appoint Collins or some of the other cats, that'd be chill too.

[Lunar]

The 60-vote margin is fictional people. You'll never get all Democrats and all Republicans on different sides of a cloture vote except on super-rare circumstances.

It's a sneaky way to steal a vote, not a 60-level vote.

Although I think the sneakiest aspect of it is an attempt to remove the 59-60 issue from the statewide campaigns in 2010.  Every vulnerable Republican otherwise will claim that his seat will make the blank-check difference of control.

Awfully sneaky way for the Democrats to reach a filibuster-proof majority.

Thanks for another contributive quotation btw.

[Lunar]

AP is rollin' with the story too
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hXucyd-OL6DWZU60JZoZ9stZJSZgD9616QHO0

[Lunar]

What if Lynch appointed a Republican placeholder or easily-defeatable pipsqueak as part of the deal?

[Lunar]

I don't know if Sununu has it in him, but what is the GOP bench like?  Our favorite Lebanese ex-Senator born in Cuba from New Hampshire would certainly be a favorite in the primary, although I disagree with Philly about his strength in the general so soon after so many voters voted not-him yet voted yes-his-opponent.

We'll see.

Lunar doesn't expect Gregg to take the job, I don't think Gregg wants to give the finger to Cornyn...unless he does.

[Lunar]

Obviously I support this brilliant idea.

I also support creating five or six new Cabinet departments that Republican Senators can be appointed to.

Specter, Grassley, Collins, etc. can be appointed to Obama's inner council of "cool people" consulted annually

[Lunar]

Gregg is refusing to answer questions on the subject.

I think he's willing to do it, but he wants his name floated as a weather balloon first so he can gauge the potential outrage.


I'm thinking that Lynch might appoint an independent placeholder but we'll see.  He's probably thinking about it.

[Lunar]

Ah, that would make sense.  Someone who would vote with the Democrats but is nominally not the 60th would maintain the best goodwill.

btw this is his office's statement today (Gregg's):

You must be logged in to read this quote.

lol honored

[Lunar]

There have been reports about Obama courting Snowe and Collins since the day after he was elected, but they both claimed they were not interested.  I guess Gregg was next in line.


BTW according to reports it's almost a certainty that Lynch will appoint a Democrat in his place.

I don't believe the reports that it's certain.  Lynch is no partisan

[Lunar]

if Lynch appoints a Republican, the DNC should cut him off for eternity.  make sure he goes no further than Manchester.

It'd be a faux-Republican that would vote with the Dems anyway.

He should appoint a liberal Independent IMO

[Lunar]

if Lynch appoints a Republican, the DNC should cut him off for eternity.  make sure he goes no further than Manchester.

It'd be a faux-Republican that would vote with the Dems anyway.

He should appoint a liberal Independent IMO

why?  what's the point in placating an opposition that is deceased?  Lynch has the mansion as long as he wants it.  if he wants the Senate seat in 2010 just appoint some Ted Kaufman-type bro.  make it a black lesbian for good measure.

Because that might be a necessary part of getting Gregg to concede.  Lynch would probably appoint an elderly placeholder if he's going to go with a Republican or Independent.

Obviously it's *really* useful for the Democrats to reach the fake "60" number before 2010 so that vulnerable Republican seats (open or not) can't claim that they are the difference between a blank check and not


Getting the NH seat in 2010 > having to actually fight for it and be at a disadvantage at that

[Lunar]

I doubt he'd take the job unless Lynch agrees to appoint someone that's not a Democrat.  I don't think Gregg would want to become passionately hated by his own party.  I don't know if Lynch would play ball though.

And Lynch has lots of friends among fairly prestigious has-been liberal Republicans in New Hampshire politics

[Lunar]

Lynch doesn't seem to be that kind of partisan hardball player and Gregg could almost certainly get what he wants if he requests it as part of the deal, so why wouldn't he

[Lunar]

Gregg is competent and is not the "Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging"

I'm afraid that the appointed Republican will not have the gravitas of Judd Gregg, thus losing reelection in a Democratic leaning state.  Paul Hodes should be able to beat pretty much any Republican other than Gregg.

The appointed person, should they be a Republican, will almost inevitably be a liberal/moderate Republican who won't be able to survive a serious primary challenge and has a good chance to old enough that they'll simply be a seatwarmer for an open seat.

A liberal Republican is a concession to the GOP without Lynch having to give up on his ideals

[Lunar]

McConnell just stated "Senator Gregg has told me that if he were to take this appointment, it would not alter the makeup of the Senate in terms of the majority and the minority,"

[Lunar]

Get ready for more of it because I doubt Republicans will like the Lynch appointment -  hell, the Republican will probably be more liberal than Lynch

[Lunar]

I agree that Sununu would be the most ethical replacement.  Hell no on it actually happening though.
 

Lynch needs to appoint Sununu. End of story. 

I would support it. It was be an easy win for my party in 2010.

I think Sununu would be slightly favored, although you can't discount the psychological issues with people only two years ago voting him down.  Phil comes from Pennsylvania where you have to run and be rejected twenty to twenty-five times before voters accept you - but then they love you.

[Lunar]

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.

- Gibbs

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0209/White_House_blames_Gregg.html

[Lunar]

The census issue had been known for quite sometime and Obama's Keynesian ideas are not exactly a secret, yet Gregg waits till now to withdraw. Still, better late than never.

Not only that, but the stimulus package has moved in a conservative direction since he started this process

[Lunar]

Does this mean that he will vote on the final stimulus bill?  Not that it matters...

He will be able to.  He might recuse himself because of this flap, but who knows

[Lunar]

Hey J.J. doesn't make idiotic predictions that are constantly proven wro... uh... rainbows are nice.

[Lunar]

She was always going to retire. I feel worse for Bill Richardson's lt. Governor who really needed that experience to be ensured the nomination in 2010.  Now she might lose to fucking Val Kilmer.

[Lunar]

Also, Gregg doing this is is a big big dis to Lynch, who risked a lot to appoint another Republican to replace him.