Can anyone explain the genius of the chess move whereby we have the chance to get a 60th seat ......

[Stinky The Clown]

.............. and we pass it up.

Explain that to my feeble fucking brain.

I know I'm not as smart as so many here who follow this shit more closely than me. I know I'm just a bulging eyed radical fuckwit angry clown.

So elucidate the fuck out of me.

What the hell is right with this?

[merh]

1. are you talking about gregg?

didn't gregg say he wouldn't vacate his seat unless a repug was appointed to fill it?

How do you guarantee the 60 if that is the case?

[sam sarrha]

12. governor said he wouldnt seat a democrat

[FrenchieCat]

2. In 2010, the Senate Seat in New Hampshire becomes an open seat....

With the Democratic Governor being the most likely shoo-In.

It's called increasing the size of the Democratic Senator count in the long run,
and it's called bringing a Republican that is more moderate than the current one.

[Juche]

15. Getting a dem elected in 2010 will be easier w/o Gregg

Gregg has a long history in NH as governor, representative & senator. He would be hard as hell to unseat in 2010. However Newman (assuming she runs again) or her replacement will be much easier to get rid of.

So in alot of ways this is a good move politically (if you ignore the fact of putting a right winger in charge of the dept of commerce of course). NH becomes much more competitive in 2010.

Heres another fun fact. Kerry & Obama both carried New Hampshire. Had Gore carried it in 2000, he would've gotten 270 EVs and won the election. Ah New Hampshire. The state has been trending left ever since then.

If Obama took Gregg out of the election of 2010, gave him a position where he has no real responsibility or power and a moderate republican was put in his place who can be taken out in 2010 then this was a good move.

[SteppingRazor]

3. Simple. There was no chance to get a 60th seat...

at least, not without being evil bastards. Gregg would only go to Commerce with the assurance that a Republican would replace him. Thus, without that promise, he wouldn't have gone to Commerce. So, the only way to get the 60th seat would have been to promise him that, then put in a Dem. anyway ... which then turns Gregg into a vicious enemy within Obama's cabinet.

[ProgressiveFool]

4. The New Hampshire seat would have been a good contender for a 2010 D pickup anyway

No need to put another fucking Repub in the cabinet, especially one who fundamentally opposes the mission of the department he is to head.

[gcomeau]

5. We never had any such chance.

Gregg wasn't leaving without an assurance that he wouldn't be replaced by a Democrat. The opportunity you're speaking of exists only in your imagination. Unless you wanted Lynch to lie to the guy, then go back on his word? That would have worked out GREAT for us in the long run, wouldn't it?

In the meantime, we get a more moderate vote in the position, and we don't have to run against a long time entrenched incumbent next election. Boo hoo?

[Taverner]

6. They wouldn't take the job unless a Republican took their seat

So Obama must really want Gregg for some reason

[Dinger]

7. I Want To Hear Dems Support Franken

Who, please tell me who, has helped Franken out?

[anonymous171]

8. Dems don't do lockstep remember. DU says that is a good thing.

[leftstreet]

9. A Democratic Majority threatens our vast supplies of Dry Powder

We must keep it.

It could be Green technology for the future.

We could pipeline it to other countries for energy use.

You just don't understand.

:hi:

[Z_I_Peevey]

11. !

Sickly, sad smile and rueful head nod.

[TahitiNut]

10. Why do DUers chase the delusion of a 60th seat as though it's some Holy Grail???

It's NOT a "filibuster-proof" majority ... NOT with the kind of DINOs eager to exploit and leverage their votes. No Fucking Way.

It's some of the most delusional crap I've read here in years. All that would happen is MORE repeated and sustained anger, resentment, and disappointment at the posturing fucks in the Senate ... on BOTH sides.

Ben Nelson?
Joe Lieberman?
(I could name several others. Does "Gang of Fourteen" ring a FUCKING bell?)

"An 'expectation' is just another word for premeditated resentment."

[eyesroll]

17. Thank you.

That 60-seat myth assumes 100% discipline and 100% attendance among the Dems (and no R defections). When does that actually happen?

[TheCowsCameHome]

19. I wonder that, too.

There are plenty of fence-sitters on both side.

No guarantees, sorry.

[EFerrari]

13. They're betting that the placeholder will lose next time better than the incumbent

could have lost? That's all I can figure out.

[ThomWV]

14. Reports I have read said he was going to be out on his ass next time around anyway

I don't see where we gained anything.

[EFerrari]

20. I don't know anything about the guy.n/t

[McCamy Taylor]

16. Obama would look like a Dick instead of an FDR. Lieberman would switch parties.

The three NE Republican women do not have the balls (figuratively speaking) to veto every single piece of populist legislation that comes down the pipes. Women and children first....when the economy gets bad enough, they are going to crack like a trio of Humpty-Dumpty's, something they would not have done if Obama had played hardball now.

[Still Sensible]

18. You could be absolutely right about Lieberman

he would spin it as doing it for the good of the country so one party doesn't get too powerful or some such shit.

In any event, I can't like the Gregg appointment. I am not convinced there wasn't an equally qualified democrat for that spot.