Ever since I saw Obama nominate Senator Judd Gregg as his potential Commerce Secretary, red flags started to appear. Certainly his advocation for the abolishment of the Commerce Department a couple of years ago was one of those ominous signs. In the last two weeks of the stimulus debate, the guy was absent from nearly all of the activity and today he pulled a fast one on the President, becoming the second man to turn down the job.
From The NY Times:
Yeah yeah, bipartisanship, rah rah. Hooray for camaraderie across the political spectrum.Mr. Gregg said he alerted Mr. Obama to his decision “several days ago,” but administration officials said the senator’s withdrawal had taken them off guard.
The White House sought to contain the political fallout, issuing a terse statement and pointing out that Mr. Gregg had said he would “support, embrace and move forward with the president’s agenda.”
Mr. Obama, traveling in Illinois, told reporters that he had spoken to Mr. Gregg on Wednesday but that he did not know he planned to withdraw until Thursday. He said that the senator had had a “change of heart” and that he intended to keep his pledge of a bipartisan cabinet.
With all due respect Mr. President, that game is not working at the moment. If Republicans actually played the game of give and take, not just take and take and take, then the issue of bipartisanship should be taken seriously. The reality is that only one side has tried to make compromises, while the other has gone kicking and screaming the whole way for the last three weeks. It is time that we have someone at Commerce that can actually, you know, stand up for the Commerce Department. Whether that be Robert Reich, Lee Stranahan or anyone that can think competently for the betterment of our government and nation, I am glad to hear what they have to say. Chances are, after the last eight years, it would be a good idea to make sure that person does not fall in line with the failed policies of the past.
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