Why Gregg quit.

[kstewart33]

Andrew Sullivan:

Byron York confirmed that it was Republican partisan pressure that forced Gregg to pull out. The idea that a Republican could help give Obama cover on entitlement reform and that he would preside over a big increase in Hispanic representation in the Census was too much for the Rovian partisans. Shill Kristol lets the cat out of the bag:

'they were worried that clever “post-partisan” or bipartisan tactics by Obama could split and weaken an already uncertain and demoralized GOP.'

Party first. Country always always last. Welcome to today's Republicans.

On edit, link: http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/

[Renew Deal]

1. That still doesn't explain why Gregg quit

Unless he is so ideological that he cared about this.

[MADem]

4. The GOP probably have dirt on him, and that's what they held over his head.

It's how they roll.

[ThoughtCriminal]

16. Ever get the feeling that there's an initiation?

And they film it? Sure would explain a lot.

[MADem]

21. Heh....sure would! nt

[jberryhill]

12. I Agree - if he took the job, it wouldn't have mattered

It's not as if he needed R support for his reelection if he became Commerce Secretary.

Something else is going on.

[Avalux]

19. He's got Abramoff stench.

I'm sure the Pukes threatened him.

[MADem]

2. He's screwed. Gregg managed to fuck over the woman who was to replace him, and she's rather highly

regarded on both sides of the aisle, from what I understand--she was a clean up woman at UNH--took over as temporary head and fixed a lot of issues.

It makes Gregg look like a total wuss, particularly coming from the "Live Free or Die" state.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

3. That's probably partly true,

but the recent news of an indictment of a former Gregg staffer who is embroiled in the Abramoff matter just might have a whole lot to do with his announcement that he won't be running for re-election, an odd thing to announce at a time like this.

[glitch]

7. Yes, & "bipartisan tactics by Obama could split and weaken an already uncertain and demoralized GOP"

none of their reactions will help them on that score. They are so screwed, and their only response is to double-down.
:rofl:

[Tangerine LaBamba]

13. Isn't it interesting?

In the language of the B&D crowd (I know this from a friend, OK?), Obama is "topping them from the bottom."

It's getting interesting, isn't it?

[glitch]

15. Very, and in a good way :) nt

[ooglymoogly]

11. I think you have your thumb on the matter.

just goes to show you all pugs are corrupt by their very nature..... including DINO's

[Tangerine LaBamba]

14. This is what I know

from friends who are close to the Abramoff matter in DC, and that is that the Feds have been dragging their feet as much as possible on this matter, waiting for Chimpy Fucknuts to vacate the Oval Office because they were convinced that any indictments they might have brought if he were still pResident might have been disappeared via Presidential pardon.

So, the next few months might turn out to be very, very interesting. Word is that Abramoff, whose adjusted sentence is contingent on his singing, has been an unbelievable source of information. The guy apparently has close to eidetic memory.

Stay tuned, and keep the popcorn warm

:popcorn:

[Joanne98]

5. I think he was trying to get control of the census. Remember 2000

There was a huge fight about it. The thugs don't want us to count people because if we do they're screwed.

He's was a mole. A census destroying mole. Obama said no. End of operation.

[glitch]

8. Ah! That I missed. nt

[newtothegame]

6. He said yesterday why he quit.

Sorry, there's not a deep dark conspiracy behind every little thing. Life's not as interesting as some people want to think it is.

[riverdeep]

17. I think there is more to this story than his sudden 'come to fiscal Jesus' moment.

For example, why are their stories different? According to the Reuters and other sources, Gregg said that Obama courted him, but Obama says otherwise:

"In a scathing rebuke, the White House said that it regretted that Gregg withdrew after he had pursued the job.

"He was very clear throughout the interviewing process that despite past disagreements about policies, he would support, embrace, and move forward with the President's agenda," said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs."

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE51B6SW20090212?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

And here it is in Obama's own words, from the State Journal Register via Huffington Post, Obama saying that Gregg approached Obama's team:

"It comes as something of a surprise, because the truth, you know, Mr. Gregg approached us with interest and seemed enthusiastic."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/12/judd-gregg-withdraws-comm_n_166502.html

In light of this, the idea that he just discovered that he has ideological differences now, is really too much to for a rational mind to consider. It's far more likely that he was pushed out of it by his colleagues who are in an all out war on Obama right now. They want to destroy him in the cradle, before he gains too much traction with the public. The most likely reason is the census coming up and the fact that Gregg would have been in a power position in that regard.

[tomp]

20. and you apparently believe anything a republican says.

how naive.

[Riverman]

9. He quit because of his Abramoff connections

See the posts above on this forum

[DCKit]

24. AND because the Census was yanked from his grasp.

The census was his only reason for taking the job, and somebody at the WH figured that out.

[Pisces]

10. A top Repub with balls, who care for this country needs to step up and speak out.

Maybe that is a fairy tale, but someone like Hagel needs to speak out. The repubs are idiots catering to their weak 26% base. The are losing the independents and the youth vote with every move they make. Good luck in 2010 and 12 you are toast racist, ignorant Repigs.

[Mike 03]

18. Okay, but why is he not running for re-election? At first I agreed with the assessment in the OP,

but my parents pointed this out to me today, that the guy is not running for re-election, which would tend to suggest the possibility of a scandal.

[chill_wind]

22. That's what jumped out at me, too.

eom

[DCKit]

25. It appears they believe that "retiring to spend time with the family"...

makes them immune from prosecution.

Here's hoping that little delusion is disproved, with prejudice, many, many times over.

[Laelth]

23. Not just today's Republicans.

It has been this way since Nixon.

The United States is a LIBERAL Country.

:dem:

-Laelth