The annointed Captain of Commerce

[YOhio]

has abandoned ship. I imagine that morale amongst the fine federal bureaucrats in that department is quickly sinking.

http://www.drudgereport.com/flashgg.htm

[myboynoah]

has abandoned ship. I imagine that morale amongst the fine federal bureaucrats in that department is quickly sinking.

http://www.drudgereport.com/flashgg.htm

At exactly the wrong time, too.

What happened to bipartisanship?

[Goatnapper'96]

At exactly the wrong time, too.

What happened to bipartisanship?

Republicans got to vote no, so quitchyer bitchin' Joe Cool!

[PaloAltoCougar]

Gregg's statement is a curious admixture. "I greatly admire President Obama and know our country will benefit from his leadership." If he really believes that, on balance, the country will benefit from Obama's leadership, why would he feel the need to step down unless he considered himself an impediment to that benefit?

I'm cynical enough to guess the real reason is one of two possibilities: (i) there is something in his history he didn't want to come out, or (ii) he has become convinced the foreseeable future will be so bad he doesn't want his fingerprints on any failed efforts to improve it (making the quoted statement a lie, but i forgive the politispeak).

[il Padrino Ute]

Gregg's statement is a curious admixture. "I greatly admire President Obama and know our country will benefit from his leadership." If he really believes that, on balance, the country will benefit from Obama's leadership, why would he feel the need to step down unless he considered himself an impediment to that benefit?

I'm cynical enough to guess the real reason is one of two possibilities: (i) there is something in his history he didn't want to come out, or (ii) he has become convinced the foreseeable future will be so bad he doesn't want his fingerprints on any failed efforts to improve it (making the quoted statement a lie, but i forgive the politispeak).

You're probably correct about one of these - and my fear is that it is (ii).

Of course, it could also be that he doesn't want to incur the wrath of Obama's sycophants in the media by saying "The guy's a dumbshit."

[Goatnapper'96]

You're probably correct about one of these - and my fear is that it is (ii).

Of course, it could also be that he doesn't want to incur the wrath of Obama's sycophants in the media by saying "The guy's a dumbshit."

I think it is ii and the fact the he probably thinks ii will result in him being fired either because Obama is fired in 4 years or because Obama needs a fall guy in year 2 or 3. As an incumbent Senator he is probably there for as long as he wants to be.

[myboynoah]

Gregg's statement is a curious admixture. "I greatly admire President Obama and know our country will benefit from his leadership." If he really believes that, on balance, the country will benefit from Obama's leadership, why would he feel the need to step down unless he considered himself an impediment to that benefit?

I'm cynical enough to guess the real reason is one of two possibilities: (i) there is something in his history he didn't want to come out, or (ii) he has become convinced the foreseeable future will be so bad he doesn't want his fingerprints on any failed efforts to improve it (making the quoted statement a lie, but i forgive the politispeak).

(iii) he has come to realize he has basic philosophical differences with Obama on policies and priorities that cannot be reconciled.

If so, then I ask again, what of bipartisanship?

Edit:

Gregg withdrew his nomination to be President Obama's commerce secretary on Thursday, citing "irresolvable conflicts" over issues

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said it was Gregg who first "reached out to the president" and offered to be commerce secretary. Gibbs said in a written statement that Gregg made it "very clear throughout the interviewing process" that he could "support, embrace and move forward" with President Obama's agenda, despite "past disagreements about policies."

But it became clear after Gregg was nominated, Gibbs said, that Gregg could not support some of Obama's "key economic priorities."

. . . . .

Gregg said his and Obama's policy views are too different.

"We are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy," he said in his written statement. "Obviously the president requires a team that is fully supportive of all his initiatives."

Sounds like Obama is looking for Yes Men.

[il Padrino Ute]

(Sounds like Obama is looking for Yes Men.

Can you blame him? He was surrounded by yes men during his entire campaign. He's probably grown accustomed to being told about his Messianic qualities on a daily basis.

[myboynoah]

Can you blame him? He was surrounded by yes men during his entire campaign. He's probably grown accustomed to being told about his Messianic qualities on a daily basis.

Apparently he's much better at organizing communities than organizing presidential cabinets.

[il Padrino Ute]

Apparently he's much better at organizing communities than organizing presidential cabinets.

A presidential cabinet would cost less than a community organization. Perhaps Gregg didn't demand enough wasteful compensation and thus, the impasse.

[YOhio]

Gregg's statement is a curious admixture. "I greatly admire President Obama and know our country will benefit from his leadership." If he really believes that, on balance, the country will benefit from Obama's leadership, why would he feel the need to step down unless he considered himself an impediment to that benefit?

I'm cynical enough to guess the real reason is one of two possibilities: (i) there is something in his history he didn't want to come out, or (ii) he has become convinced the foreseeable future will be so bad he doesn't want his fingerprints on any failed efforts to improve it (making the quoted statement a lie, but i forgive the politispeak).

You've become the worst Obama sycophant. SU was right about you.

[thesaint258]

Gregg's statement is a curious admixture. "I greatly admire President Obama and know our country will benefit from his leadership." If he really believes that, on balance, the country will benefit from Obama's leadership, why would he feel the need to step down unless he considered himself an impediment to that benefit?

I'm cynical enough to guess the real reason is one of two possibilities: (i) there is something in his history he didn't want to come out, or (ii) he has become convinced the foreseeable future will be so bad he doesn't want his fingerprints on any failed efforts to improve it (making the quoted statement a lie, but i forgive the politispeak).

It could've also been not wanting to take a Republican out of the Senate. I think the NH governor gets to name a replacement in the event of a vacancy and that would've been handing a Republican seat to the Democrats.

[il Padrino Ute]

It could've also been not wanting to take a Republican out of the Senate. I think the NH governor gets to name a replacement in the event of a vacancy and that would've been handing a Republican seat to the Democrats.

Good call.

[myboynoah]

It could've also been not wanting to take a Republican out of the Senate. I think the NH governor gets to name a replacement in the event of a vacancy and that would've been handing a Republican seat to the Democrats.

Gregg originally accepted the appointment based on an agreement that the NH Governor would replace him with a Repub.