Judd Gregg appointment first suggested by . . .

[geek tragedy]

Harry focking Reid.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/03/us/politics/03gregg.html?_r=2&hp

Mr. Obama’s secret interview with the senator at transition headquarters last month, aides say, was one of the few serious one-on-one conversations between them. In Mr. Obama’s brief time on Capitol Hill, they barely knew each other, aside from occasional chats in the Senate gym.

The idea of offering the job to Mr. Gregg came, at least in part, from the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada. (The two senators are close, aides to both men said.) Mr. Reid mentioned the idea to Rahm Emanuel, Mr. Obama’s chief of staff, who passed it on to the president-elect.

During the presidential campaign, Mr. Gregg spoke sharply against Mr. Obama’s candidacy. He called the Democratic nominee’s spending proposals “the Obama spend-o-rama.” Then he attacked the principles of the party at a rally in New Hampshire, saying: “We don’t need any more Democrats as president of the United States. We had enough when we had Bill Clinton.”

Harry Reid: Screwing up the Senate and the administration. Heckuvajob, Harry.

[Dinger]

1. Man, Between him & pelosi,

we're fucked.

[camera obscura]

2. Pelosi knows her reps better than Reid knows his senators imo

[geek tragedy]

3. Pelosi is fighting the good fight this time around.

Apparently, Obama has taken to the Harry Reid school of sucking up to Republicans.

[marylanddem]

4. why is Obama taking advice from douchebags?

[thereismore]

5. Dammit I am so sick of Reid. nt

[BobRossi]

6. DLC baby!

We been punked again.

[Critters2]

7. I wondered how they got to know each other.

They're both UCC--well, Obama was--and I found myself wondering if maybe UCC members of Congress got together at times, or if they attended church together, not knowing where Obama attended in Washington. I didn't think that probably played a role, but they do have that in common, if nothing else.

[PBS Poll-435]

20. I thought Reid was LDS?

[Critters2]

23. Judd Gregg and Obama are/were UCC. nt

[Triana]

8. I wish there was a way to sh*tcan Reid and Pelosi both...

..they're both worthless.

[geek tragedy]

9. Why are you lumping Pelosi in with Reid when it's

Obama and Reid who are the ones who refuse to fight the Republicans?

[Triana]

15. "impeachment is off the table" Pelosi ?

I can't imagine...think about it.

[AtomicKitten]

10. Reid got on my last nerve a while ago. n/t

[ClarkUSA]

11. Reid got rid of an incumbent. Now, Democrats are even more favored to win the seat in 2010.

95% of incumbents get re-elected. Now, the placeholder will get a stiff challenge from Paul Hodes or someone else from
the deep NH Democratic bench. Also, President Obama gets a fiscal conservative Republican singing the praises of his
stimulus package (which Gregg did during his acceptance speech at the White House this morning) which should make
his fellow Republicans choke on their BS.

[geek tragedy]

12. So, he removed a pro-stimulus vote from the Senate.

Smooth move.

[ClarkUSA]

13. According to Nate Silver, passing the stimulus shouldn't be a problem.

Nate Silver finds that in the 32 roll call votes to date in the U.S. Senate, Obama has some very reliable allies on the other
side of the aisle. They are: Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Sen. Lisa
Murkowski (R-AK). Whatever Nate says, I believe. The man knows what he's talking about.

Meanwhile, the New Hampshire Union Leader reports Rep. Paul Hodes (D-NH) will announce his candidacy for the U.S. Senate
"within the week." Paul Hodes is a popular and well-known incumbent Congressman who will soon become the next Democratic
Senator from NH. You better believe that President Obama will be campaigning for whoever the Democratic candidate is. In NH,
which Barack beat McCain in the GE, that points to a coattail win, especially if his approval numbers stay relatively high.

Team O, Sen. Harry Reid, and the DSCC are all way ahead of the curve. They're playing political chess while many at DU are
still mastering checkers.

[geek tragedy]

14. Passing a stimulus isn't a problem.

Passing a good one is.

[ClarkUSA]

16. Your previous comment implied that you thought it would be.

As for what's a "good one," that's subjective. All I know is Gregg will be selling Barack's stimulus plan to his former
Senate colleagues, who trust and respect him. He's a means to more than one end. That's it.

[geek tragedy]

17. The stimulus bill is going to get watered down.

Less useful spending, more corporate welfare and tax cuts.

Same old, same old from the Democrats. Obama blew it.

[ClarkUSA]

18. It's called compromise. The little stuff that'll get pulled will end up in other bills.

President Obama is governing for all America, not just for you. He hasn't blown anything. Enough already.

[geek tragedy]

19. It's not compromise, it's spinelessness.

We are the fucking majority party, we won a crushing victory in November mandating change, and Obama is getting his ass handed to him in a policy debate by the people who ruined America.

What he is doing is NOT WORKING. He is getting high approval ratings and failing at everything else.

[ClarkUSA]

21. I beg to differ. I don't want a Democratic version of what happened the past eight years.

Compromising on the little things is wise, because there are big battles ahead. Democrats won't be in the majority for long
if they behave as Republicans did for the past eight years.

How is "Obama is getting his ass handed to him in a policy debate by the people who ruined America"? Do you really think
Americans are that stupid? Why do you think Obama still has high approval ratings while Congress' is in the tank, especially
that of Republicans?

[Arkansas Granny]

22. You and I don't agree on many things, but I think you are exactly right on this.

I didn't like that style of politics when the Republicans played it and I don't think I would like the Democratic version any better. Obama has reminded us time and again that there is not a red America and a blue America and he is using his office to bring that point home. There has to be some compromise if progress is going to be made and Obama is willing to make the first moves. I think that is the right course to take in this situation.

[ginnyinWI]

24. exactly.

Once again Obama is taking a longer view of things. The Dem challenger will have a good chance in two years and Obama will get his 60 vote majority most likely. Check and mate!