Gregg pulls out of nomination - NOT ENOUGH TAX CUTS

[Keystone Phil]

I just saw this on Politics1. What a very clever move by Obama. I hope to God that Gregg doesn't take it. As expected, the Republicans are giving him hell about this.

[Keystone Phil]

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

Well, I obviously wouldn't be happy with the latter but the former would be fine. Then we can have Sununu run again in 2010.

[Keystone Phil]

Sununu again? You're dreaming.

Uh, why?

Sununu is young, didn't get totally demolished in a very bad year and could be a very strong candidate in a midterm election year. If he's interested, he'd obviously have a good shot (especially against a lower tier candidate like Hodes).

[Keystone Phil]

So what happens if Obama doesn't push for a Republican (or even an Independent) to replace Gregg? Curious how Obama's first choice (Snowe) was another Republican from a New England state with a Democratic Governor.

Hmmmm...think he'll admit that he might not actually really care if Gregg gets the spot and admit that this was just some hack move to get 60 Democrats?

[Keystone Phil]

So what happens if Obama doesn't push for a Republican (or even an Independent) to replace Gregg? Curious how Obama's first choice (Snowe) was another Republican from a New England state with a Democratic Governor.

Hmmmm...think he'll admit that he might not actually really care if Gregg gets the spot and admit that this was just some hack move to get 60 Democrats?

That's almost certainly a part of it, yeah. But also note that assuming he's going to be picking a Republican Senator he will almost certainly pick a moderate one, and pretty much every moderate Republican Senator is from a state with a Dem governor anyway.

The point remains that if this isn't just a total hack move that he ought to pick up the phone and ask whatever Democratic Governor he's dealing with that a Republican or even an Independent ought to be appointed. If he doesn't do that, that's all the proof we need that this was little more than a silly trick.

[Keystone Phil]

So what happens if Obama doesn't push for a Republican (or even an Independent) to replace Gregg? Curious how Obama's first choice (Snowe) was another Republican from a New England state with a Democratic Governor.

Hmmmm...think he'll admit that he might not actually really care if Gregg gets the spot and admit that this was just some hack move to get 60 Democrats?

That's almost certainly a part of it, yeah. But also note that assuming he's going to be picking a Republican Senator he will almost certainly pick a moderate one, and pretty much every moderate Republican Senator is from a state with a Dem governor anyway.

The point remains that if this isn't just a total hack move that he ought to pick up the phone and ask whatever Democratic Governor he's dealing with that a Republican or even an Independent ought to be appointed. If he doesn't do that, that's all the proof we need that this was little more than a silly trick.

Would you be saying the same thing, that it was a hack move if the GOP had 59 Senators & the Republican President picked a Democrat for his cabinet in a state which had a GOP Gov & didn't insist that the replacement was a Democrat or Independent??

I'm a strong believer in passing laws that mandate the appointment (if we keep this process) be of the same political party of the Senator leaving office so that ought to give you a clue as to how I feel. I also don't support Senators changing parties during their term that could effect the balance of power (or, in this case, provide a significant advantage for a party in terms of procedure).

A little bit of the partisan inside of us gets excited by this stuff. I was the same way in late 2004 when Bush was thinking about appointing Ben Nelson to serve as Agriculture Secretary. It would have meant 56 Republican Senators. However, ever since the Jeffords situation, my position about keeping the party composition the same has been consistent.

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Ok, I know that's what you want this debate to be about but it's not.

[Keystone Phil]

Lynch needs to appoint Sununu. End of story. 

[Keystone Phil]

Lynch needs to appoint Sununu. End of story. 

His loss 2 months ago only confirms the fact that he's a popular guy.

Losing and how long ago it occured doesn't mean he's terribly unpopular. He only lost by seven points when he was expected to get blown out.

[Keystone Phil]

Lynch needs to appoint Sununu. End of story. 

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

LOL

He only loses by seven in a horrible year and you think it would be an easy win in a midterm year? Ok.

[Keystone Phil]

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.

That only happens in the primaries. 

[Keystone Phil]

How in the hell is Sununu the "most ethical replacement"? New Hampshirites (or whatever you call them) just overwhelmingly made it clear that they don't want the guy representing them. To appoint him to Gregg's seat would be an insult to the democratic process.

Overwhelmingly? He lost by seven points. That's not a lot considering he was supposed to be demolished.