Gregg withdraws self from Commerce Secretary

[Manedwolf]

Damn. He found a spine! Even managed a nice little backhanded slap that it's obvious that Obama wants an echo chamber of socialists around him, which he does.

GREGG WITHDRAWS NOMINATION FOR COMMERCE SEC
Thu Feb 12 2009 16:18:14 ET

For Immediate Release:
Thursday, February 12, 2009

Senator Gregg Statement on His Withdrawal for Consideration of U.S. Commerce Secretary

Sen. Gregg stated, I want to thank the President for nominating me to serve in his Cabinet as Secretary of Commerce. This was a great honor, and I had felt that I could bring some views and ideas that would assist him in governing during this difficult time. I especially admire his willingness to reach across the aisle.

However, it has become apparent during this process that this will not work for me as I have found that on issues such as the stimulus package and the Census there are irresolvable conflicts for me. Prior to accepting this post, we had discussed these and other potential differences, but unfortunately we did not adequately focus on these concerns. We are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy.

Obviously the President requires a team that is fully supportive of all his initiatives.

I greatly admire President Obama and know our country will benefit from his leadership, but at this time I must withdraw my name from consideration for this position.

As we move forward, I expect there will be many issues and initiatives where I can and will work to assure the success of the President's proposals. This will certainly be a goal of mine.

Kathy and I also want to specifically thank Governor Lynch and Bonnie Newman for their friendship and assistance during this period. In addition we wish to thank all the people, especially in New Hampshire, who have been so kind and generous in their supportive comments.

As a further matter of clarification, nothing about the vetting process played any role in this decision. I will continue to represent the people of New Hampshire in the United States Senate.

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

[HankB]

This is a *big* slap in the face for Obama.   

. . . on issues such as the stimulus package and the Census there are irresolvable conflicts for me . . .We are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy.

Translation: I'm not going to be his b***h.   

[AZRedhawk44]

Good for him.

And good for the count in the Senate.

[charby]

I read the headline on Drudge..

All I can say is "hee hee hee"

[Manedwolf]

This could also, perhaps, be called "Getting off the Titanic at Queenstown"... 

[seeker_two]

Wow....a Democrat Senator that actually deserves RESPECT....we live in interesting times.... 

[Manedwolf]

Wow....a Democrat Senator that actually deserves RESPECT....we live in interesting times.... 

Republican. RINO in a lot of ways, but not like Olympia Snowe, who is rolling around at the Obamites' feet.

[MicroBalrog]

It's nice, but take it for what it is - a poltiical move.

[Manedwolf]

I also, out of curiousity, checked the usual suspect sites, where they're all dancing in the streets and crowing that now there can be a real liberal commerce secretary.

Go ahead and keep splashing gasoline around and dancing with matches, morons. The smart conservatives will be waiting to put out the fire....AFTER you burn yourselves up.

[MicroBalrog]

Go ahead and keep splashing gasoline around and dancing with matches, morons. The smart conservatives will be waiting to put out the fire....AFTER you burn yourselves up.

In the same way 'smart conservatives' put out the fires that FDR and Carter lit, right?

And in the same way that Bush put out the firest that Clinton lit?

[RaspberrySurprise]

I also, out of curiousity, checked the usual suspect sites, where they're all dancing in the streets and crowing that now there can be a real liberal commerce secretary.

Go ahead and keep splashing gasoline around and dancing with matches, morons. The smart conservatives will be waiting to put out the fire....AFTER you burn yourselves up.

Will there be a country left to put out when their done?

And in the same way that Bush put out the fires that Clinton lit?

Bush was no conservative.

[Manedwolf]

In the same way 'smart conservatives' put out the fires that FDR and Carter lit, right?

Yes. For a time.



Remember this guy?

Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.

-Ronald Reagan

[MicroBalrog]

I remember this guy very well. I remember also that government was never reduced to pre-FDR levels, that none of the major New Deal programs were abolished, that the GOP fought against Reagan's nomination tooth and nail, that Bush single-handedly destroyed most of Reagan's deregulatory legacy, and that he is the only example you can bring up.

[Perd Hapley]

It's nice, but take it for what it is - a poltiical move.

I'm curious to know what you mean.  What other kind of move would it be?

[MicroBalrog]

I'm curious to know what you mean.  What other kind of move would it be?

What I mean is that Gregg is not doing it because he's opposed to Obama's moves on some form of principle, he's doing this because he thinks he and his party can derive political benefit from the move. It's not a bad thing by any means, but it is important to realize the difference.

[longeyes]

Yes and no.  Politics is, ideally, about principles.  But it's also theater.   

Gregg just changed the script--without consulting the director.  And he made clear why.

It's huge.

[Manedwolf]

Of course, there's people yapping on some boards about "It doesn't matter, turn NH blue in 2 more years!"

I want to find them and punch them. Hard. Freaking locusts...

[MicroBalrog]

Of course, there's people yapping on some boards about "It doesn't matter, turn NH blue in 2 more years!"

I want to find them and punch them. Hard. Freaking locusts...

Gregg won't be seeking re-election.

I'm sure a better Republican can be nominated to fill his  spot.

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

Attaboy, Gregg!

This census thing oughta scare the bejeesus out of everyone.  I'm glad Gregg has the sense to see it for what it was and run like hell from it.

[Waitone]

Did republicans just blindside Obama?  This has all the earmarks of a setup.

Naah, we're expecting too much out the The Stupid Party.  It is refreshing to at least think we just saw an example of spontaneous generation of various biological systems previously thought to be lacking in the republican party.

[MicroBalrog]

Obama's approval rating reacted. It rose to 61% today. :rolleyes:

[Perd Hapley]

Mr. Microbalrog,

What is the purpose of pointing out, for the umpteenth time, that the Republican Party and the American Conservative movement are not perfect, have not been as successful as most of us would like, and that they can't very easily overturn things as sensitive as Social Security, etc? 

We all know.  We don't like it either.  You don't need to constantly harp on it. 

You might at least acknowledge that people like Reagan, Buckley, or whoever else you don't like, have done more for America and for freedom than you or I have so far. 

[MicroBalrog]

What does Ronald Reagan have to do with it? I greatly admire Ronald Reagan. My Reaganite credentials are solid, I think.

But that is not the issue here. The issue here is that a lot of people seem to be treating this like a sports game, where they still cheer for their team, even though the coach and players have long been replaced.

It seems to me some of the posters in this thread have allowed Gregg's move  to overshadow his previous accomplishments as a RINO. Such attitudes are counterproductive because they allow men like Greg to continue as they were.

[Perd Hapley]

Fine.  Then respond to the meat of my post, not to the post script.  Here it is again:

Mr. Microbalrog,

What is the purpose of pointing out, for the umpteenth time, that the Republican Party and the American Conservative movement are not perfect, have not been as successful as most of us would like, and that they can't very easily overturn things as sensitive as Social Security, etc?

We all know.  We don't like it either.  You don't need to constantly harp on it. 

Also,

Whether "smart conservatives" put out fires has nothing to do with Gregg. 

[MicroBalrog]

I think I've stated the problem quite succintly.

The problem is that American conservatives (and, as I often notice, conservatives in other countries, too), are insufficiently aggressive. You take pains to remind me that you are (like me) a believer in objective morality. Yet, if we are facing an immoral system (yes, here: There is a System and there is a Man, I said it), then it is our sacred moral duty as human beings to struggle to overthrow it. By this of course I do not mean that we must grab our rifles and rise up, I mean that we must constantly practice political aggression - repeal, de-regulate, de-fund and destroy the welfare state.

However, it seems a lot of people have resigned themselves to this being supposedly impossible. We are all too willing to forgive people who are on our side if they use our rhetoric or pay lip service to our ideas.

Now, it is not that I am a third-party voter. I voted for a moderate party only two days ago. But it is important to realize that there are moderates and then there are moderates. I have no problem with a man who wants less change than I want. I have a problem with a man like Gregg who wants to essentially be a Progressive but call himself a Republican.