Judd Gregg for Commerce Secretary? (Franken, vote, ethical, thought)

[tigerlily]

Both Roll Call and Huffington are reporting that President Obama is considering Judd Gregg (R-NH) for Commerce Secretary. If Gregg accepts and Franken wins Minnesota, the Dems will have a filibuster proof majority. What do you think?
Salon.com Politics | Gregg to get Commerce, Dems to get 60 Senate seats?
Clip:
Gregg was the GOP's chief negotiator for the $700 billion bailout of the financial industry. That alone would deliver him a tough re-election bid in a state that has no state income tax and a "Live Free or Die" motto that permeates a state that has proved increasingly tough to Republicans.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...ZJSZgD9618PO80

[golfgod]

Hi tigerlily,

I read this last night and thought to myself, schweeeeet! I know that the Ds are already, or on next Monday, running commercials against him. He's a good guy with little to no chance in '10. This would put him in a good spot in the Obama administration and it's a job that he would be really good at.

Bonus points for getting the gov. to put a qualified D in the seat. I'm not sure about any Ds with a statewide following but NH is a small state and high political participation rates. Probably every voter in the state is familiar with most pols holding elective office higher than dog catcher.

Of all the Rs who are up in '10 he's in the weakest spot. Except those who've already announced they won't run.

golfgod

[tigerlily]

Hi golfgod, remember when Tim Johnson had his stroke. There was a repub governor in South Dakota. The dems thought it would be unethical for him to replace a dem with a repub. So, the repubs will probably scream bloody murder if a dem is appointed to replace Gregg. Of course, now that the repubs are refusing the olive branch extended to them by the president, refusing to negotiate on the stimulus package, I'm fine with it - tit for tat.

[kingtodd]

I thought this was a rather shrewd move myself...President Obama is literally picking the republicans apart right before our very eyes.

[NSHL10]

Well, at least Obama is staying consistent. Hire another person directly responsible for the out of control and ineffective TARP bill to try to fix the economy just like Timmy.

So, let's place bets. What will be missed in the vetting? Unpaid tax bill? Illegal nanny? Unofficial lobbying money? Picture of him in women's underwear?

[kingtodd]

Originally Posted by fopt65

Picture of him in women's underwear?

That's not a pretty visual..

[odanny]

I do wonder what the ultimate idea here is, this attempt at bi-partisanship right now is not bearing fruit, as the Repubs are not reciprocating the love, but damn, in the long run this could be yet another really smart move, this dude is smarter than I thought. Not all of these might pan out, though. He's making some pretty bold moves that could prove really savvy later on

[blacknight04]

The gov has promised to appoint a republican to his seat. I hope he appoints a liberal republican lol.

[seamusnh]

Gregg will not take the position unless The governor appoints a Republican.
I don't believe Gregg is worried about his seat in 2010. Sununu lost his seat in the last election, but that was due to Bush.

If Lynch pulls a dirty trick and appoints a Democrat after Gregg takes the cabinet position, he won't be re-elected governor in 2010. He is in enough trouble for increasing the state budger 17.5% over two years and now having to lay off state workers....

[GregW]

I think we NH Dems could have unseated Gregg anyway. I think we will be able to do the same with any Republican the Governor appoints as a caretaker appointment. FWIW the Stimulus Package for NH will wipe out the false tax increase and balance the budget.