Judd Gregg Won't Vote On Stimulus

by Josh Orton, Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 08:37:21 AM EST

The returns on bipartisanship accruing:

Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH), the president's pick for Commerce Secretary, just revealed during an interview with CNBC that he would recuse himself from congressional votes while his nomination is being considered by his former Senate colleagues.

This is a problem: the Senate bill is already losing steam. As Brian Beutler points out, if Gregg really has deep concerns about some optics problem, he could have simply resigned his seat in anticipation of confirmation (although he'd run the risk of unemployment if a skeleton come out).

So instead we get nothing. Zero.

A theme developing?

Tags: bipartisan, Judd Gregg (all tags)

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21 Comments

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Re: Judd Gregg Won't Vote On Stimulus

Why Obama has made this appointment is beyond me. He should go.

by Coral 2009-02-04 08:52AM | 0 recs
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Re: Judd Gregg Won't Vote On Stimulus

Yeah, a real great team player.

by antiHyde 2009-02-04 11:08AM | 0 recs
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What are they thinking?
Seriously, honest question here.
No snark, no games.
What do they get for the Gregg appointment?
Not a D seat from NH.
Not a stimulus vote.
Not a reward to a loyal supporter.
Not a loyal ambassador to (and fundraiser from) the business community (the traditional role of commerce secretary).
It seems that, at most, they get one news cycle's worth of kudos for bipartisanship and then, nada.
by kosnomore 2009-02-04 08:53AM | 0 recs
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Re: What are they thinking?

This should not be about trades and rewards.  If Obama wants Gregg then he should get him.  Trades are unseemly and cut against the Obama Premise

by Reaper0Bot0 2009-02-04 10:40AM | 0 recs
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Re: What are they thinking?

Wait, you mean he might have picked Gregg because he thinks he would be good for the job?

Why would he make a decision based on such a dated and pointless premise?

:-D

by JDF 2009-02-04 02:52PM | 0 recs
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Then, again, serious honest question - -
no games / no snark - -
if he thought Richardson would be good - -
how could he also think Gregg would be good?
the two come from totally different places - in all ways, by any measure or matrix - - and stand for totally different things - -
like I say, sincere honest question - -
by kosnomore 2009-02-04 05:33PM | 0 recs
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Re: Judd Gregg Won't Vote On Stimulus

Clearly there is a Quid pro Quo here and if no Federal Prosecutor, speaks up, it's a double standard, clearly.

by Ministerbruce 2009-02-04 09:23AM | 0 recs
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Re: Judd Gregg Won't Vote On Stimulus

obama needs to do a natl address-use the bully pulpit and mobilize america behind the measure asap. the stim bill feels liek the immigration bill. libeals have a lukewarm feel to it, gopers dont like it. with gregg now not voting, franken not seated, kennedy not voting on the amendments im not sure what is next. reid of course could ram it through like he did so often under bush-cut off amendments and go. but he has not. i can see congress going back and breaking up the bill and pass it that way.

by art3 2009-02-04 09:27AM | 0 recs
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Re: Judd Gregg Won't Vote On Stimulus

FYI, I meant a Quid Pro Quo, between the Governor and Senator Judd Greg.  Really, what is the difference in Blagojevich in Ill.

A lot of eveidence is in the media and public's discussion.  Let's here the tapes's.

by Ministerbruce 2009-02-04 09:27AM | 0 recs
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Re: Blagojevich sought payment

I don't believe there is evidence at present that Blago specifically sought money for the seat.  He was trying to broker a deal to his advantage, which is exactly what is happening with Gregg (ie, the administration's advantage).  I thought the hue and cry over Blago was about using the ability to appoint as a chit.  Isn't that exactly what is happening here?

by orestes 2009-02-04 09:35AM | 0 recs
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Re: Blagojevich sought payment

It's the difference between personal and political benefit.  You can trade political favors, but you can't try to get a personal benefit, like a cushy job for yourself and your wife (which Blagojevich is accused of).

by Steve M 2009-02-04 10:30AM | 0 recs
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Re: Blagojevich sought payment

But it's OK to get a cushy job for a friend or a political protege? How about a relative?

by antiHyde 2009-02-04 11:11AM | 0 recs
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Re: Blagojevich sought payment

The Blago statements I read in the press are equivocal.  Yeah, they don't sound good, but they aren't per se incriminating.  My sense was that the Dems jumped on him because of the appearance of impropriety (hell, that's why they impeached him).  Do you think that if there is only a political quid pro quo there is no appearance of impropriety?  I don't mean to pose the question argumentatively, I'm a bit tired and not at my most articulate.

by orestes 2009-02-04 02:21PM | 0 recs
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Re: Judd Gregg Won't Vote On Stimulus

I have no idea what's going but I can tell you that employees at DOC are not looking forward to this person's tenure.

by RAULC 2009-02-04 09:28AM | 0 recs
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Re: Judd Gregg Won't Vote On Stimulus

"Blagojevich sought payment"

Last time, I check the law, an agreement to do, or not do something, before accepting a position, dependant on both sides agreeing to a specific outcome, for two positions, one in the Senate and one for leaving that seat, is Quid pro Quo, unless, I read the law, incorrectly and I could read wrong, someone with more law could answer this for us all.

by Ministerbruce 2009-02-04 09:33AM | 0 recs
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Re: Judd Gregg Won't Vote On Stimulus

Look forward to the silence here from kosnomore, bruh3,  and other puma weasels when this passes.  I REALLY look forward to the silence.

by lojasmo 2009-02-04 10:01AM | 0 recs
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Re: Judd Gregg Won't Vote On Stimulus

First, calling other commenters names is inappropriate.

Second, let's reserve judgment about it until we know WHAT, exactly, passes.

by Josh Orton 2009-02-04 10:15AM | 0 recs
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Re: Judd Gregg Won't Vote On Stimulus

Oh, come now.  There are posters here who's only purpose are to badmouth Obama and snipe other commenters.  I'm calling a spade a spade.  I'm not calling names.

by lojasmo 2009-02-04 01:06PM | 0 recs
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Re: Judd Gregg Won't Vote On Stimulus

Why not? What's the rationale for not voting? He doesn't want to be seen voting no? If that's the case, why the hell was he picked for DOC? If he would vote yes, what's worng with that.

by msw4477 2009-02-04 10:30AM | 0 recs
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Franken

Don't you think that Democrats would think the Stimulus was so important that they would work to seat Franken?

I mean, they seated Landrieu and Buchanan. They should not just let republicans hold the line for months and months on this by continuing these lawsuits. Make it provisional until the court case is over.

I don't remember the Republicans being so "bipartisan" when it was a 50:50 tie and Cheney was the tie breaker!

by Hilina 2009-02-04 11:23AM | 0 recs
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Re: Judd Gregg Won't Vote On Stimulus

When/if push comes to shove, i think he might vote for cloture or be pressured to. Extraordinary circumstances and all. That's all that's really needed.

by vcalzone 2009-02-04 11:43AM | 0 recs

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