During the snoozer of a Barackus Caesar Obamus speech in Peoria, Illinois this afternoon, CNN’s “crawl” flashed the news that Senator Judd Gregg had become the second nominee to withdraw from consideration as a potential Commerce Secretary. Which was kind of a buzzkill, since the President was trying to erect a kickstand under the listing idea that his stimulus plan will, you know, help inspire some actual commerce.
Gregg, of course, is a Republican. So it surprised no one when he cited policy differences as his reason for bailing on the Commerce Department job and sticking with life as a Senator. (Countless Commerce Department employees were heard breathing sighs of relief, since Gregg was best known for wanting their whole agency abolished.)
When the Associated Press asked Gregg to share the results of his soul-searching, this is what he came up with:
“For 30 years, I’ve been my own person in charge of my own views, and I guess I hadn’t really focused on the job of working for somebody else and carrying their views, and so this is basically where it came out.”
If I were an arrogant jackass, this is what I might call “a teachable moment.” You see, it’s a really, really good thing that Judd Gregg realized this deep truth about himself and decided to go back to the Senate, where his job has always been to work for somebody else and carry their views.
You know — his constituents? The people of New Hampshire? Memba’ them?
Not that this is a Republican thing or a Democrat thing, mind you. I just don’t think I’ve seen such a good “Exhibit A” for putting term limits inthe U.S. Constitution in a long, long time. Thanks to Deceiver reader Christopher for bringing it to our attention.
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Haha you know they (Senators) all think that! He just accidentally let it slip
Well atleast he is sticking to his own party.
I like that he is making an issue of the White House census power grab. Another embarrassing turn for Obama (and Rahm Emmanuel)
Interesting point, but I took it somewhat differently, assuming Sen. Greg shares the views of his constituents. Don’t know whether that’s true, given the once proud red-state NH’s invasion from the south of blue men from Taxachusetts . . .
This is depressing–not that he dropped off the list, but that his true views, when divulged, are what they are. This is also why I’m veering more and more toward libertarianism and less and less toward being a Republican. The Republicans have thrown their supporters under a series of buses lately, and this is just the latest example.
Meh- poorly worded but his point is quite clear and not hypocritical.
I thought the big hypocrisy was when he agreed to the commerce secretary nomination even though he advocated its abolition. It should be abolished that is, unless he is there to correct things from the inside.
Do the people of New Hampshire have a say-so on whether he can return to the Senate after effectively abdicating his seat?
I hear ya Beige!
“where his job has always been to work for somebody else and carry their views”
The job of a Senator mostly entails raising money for re-election, and pretending to pay attention to his constituents.
Of course now in Obamanation, the job entails pretending to reading “stimulus” bills and squandering 9 trillion (and counting) … and then giving his/her constituents 13$ a week!!
I’m actually quite amazed Gregg didn’t take the job even when it became clear he was to to Obamas bumboy on fixing the census.
I figured he quit because it came to light that he did pay his taxes and Obama decided he was not a good fit for his cabinet.
Carlo wrote: “Do the people of New Hampshire have a say-so on whether he can return to the Senate after effectively abdicating his seat?”
I don’t think so since it’s common practice not to tender your resignation until you get confirmation.
That way you can still attend the prom, even if it’s not on the arm of the football captain.
I agree with Hurricane.
What he should have said instead was the real reason he resigned… because Obama is taking over the census. http://www.dcexaminer.com/opinion/39553192.html
Amen to term limits! Both sides have too many people who just take our money and do nothing for it. That reminds me, Congresspeople should pay their own way, like they did back when the nation was founded. Might teach them the value of money.
BTW, libertarian is not a great option. Look at the Modern Whigs instead.