BREAKING- GREGG WITHDRAWS NOMINATION FOR COMMERCE SEC

An honest truthful statement from a Senator? wow I commend you Senator Gregg!

Ethics in Washington?!

I'm feeling a little dizzy...

The future is a ugly place.

Do not fall for the ruse. He's obviously got something to hide.

New Hampter must have something in water....lol...or lack of it. I used to kinda goof on em...ala New Hampster, but maybe I should re-evaluate. I do know someone who lives there...and they own a MA-Duece...even that alone is worth some points...;)

wow. how will obama spin this...

This is fantastic News...we can not afford to lose another Republican senator, and thank God Gregg chose the right path. He did it diplomatically , O-man is still gonna be pissed that his shrewd plan to prevent a filibuster proof senate has failed.

It spins itself..."Ok so some Republican asshole who couldn't stand "Change", won't try and be nice again to them assholes!" easy peasy....

THANK YOU SEN GREGG IN YOUR FACE OBAMA

The NH Gov had promised to appoint another Rep in his place...maybe he caught wind of something, hard to say, but he wasn't happy about the census thing, hard to blame him on that.

I'm still skeptical. I'm glad Gregg told Obama to shove it, but some republicans are republicans in name only. The senate turncoats are 3 examples.

you forgot all the umm's and ahh's that would be in that sentence

I wonder if O-man would have passed the koolaid to Lynch and change his mind, I am sure they would find a perfect reason. Oh well, I am glad we don't have to count on it.

That census thing a another frightening prospect. He sure is doing a lot of power grabbing in a very short time.

The Census was the DEAL Breaker.

Those New Hampshire folks are acting mighty uppity lately. The Obama might just have to knock 'em down a couple pegs.

Oh yeah, that is why he removed his name (this, that and the other excuse)...
Could never be because of this:

NH Sovereignty Bill on table-
NH to US Government - enough is enough:
[link to newsusa.myfeedportal.com]

An honerable and honest person in Washington somewhat of a rarity these days. I wonder though what would have happened if his seat were given to a DEM. Perhaps this could also be part of the reason for his decision.

Pretty sure that no matter who he picked they would caucus with the Reps, so it wouldn't have changed much, it would have defentely given the Dems a better shot at the seat in 2010 though and they had/have a good shot at it already... Gregg's stock might have just went up, so that would also be the reason behind Obama looking Uber pissed off...lol...welcome to the NFL rookie..;)

:opissed:

Gregg will also be a very loud voice against the census being taken over by the WH which is a very bad and very devicive thing to have happen IMO....Reps had better stand strong on that one and if he does do that? I really hope the country screams like we got a pair about it.

Thats what I was thinking too....didnt wanna be called out on back taxes or something.

lmao...smartass.HEHE

Lol...yeah they are...that New Dem Senator lady is probably getting an ear full too from the peeps there...;)

Actually he was one appointment that was expected to sail through easily, former Governor too....so I would doubt that he had squat to hide.....especially since he was already done with the vetting process and all they found to question was some former staffer from a long while back that was linked to Abrimoff...and the Whitehouse already stated it didn't mean anything as far as he was concerned.

He was pissed off about the Census being taken, said so, and wasn't happy about the way the Obama Admin is playing politics. Perhaps he felt like a token Rep in the position and saw it being downgraded and said screw this....

So you can file that whimsical hope there was some sinister forces in the dream on box..;)

That's the first thing I thought of when I read it too.

maybe Gregg knows something we don't and sees the writing on the wall,

he does not intend to go down with the ship

SHR, when I first started coming to this forum, I thought you were just a thug. You are pretty shrewd for a crab face.

Nice thread.

I vote that one goes into the free for all Smilies, it's a new classic.

He can not come to terms with Obama heavy hand in power and senses big trouble soon.So seeing the stimulus for what it really is,Doom to the country,he is getting out while the getting is good. This is what the General has warned us to give Obama support he will need it. We are in a slow cooker with the heat being turned up faster everyday.

This is crazy... how many will withdraw!? What else is being presented to them?

Judd Gregg withdraws as U.S. commerce nominee
By Jeff Zeleny
Published: February 12, 2009
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WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama's choice for commerce secretary, Senator Judd Gregg, withdrew his nomination on Thursday, saying there were "irresolvable conflicts" between him and the administration.

"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," Gregg said in a statement. "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."

At a Washington news conference soon after his statement was issued, Gregg said it had become clear that he had made a mistake in accepting the president's offer to join the cabinet. "That was my mistake, not his," the senator said, adding that he admired Obama and the team he has assembled.

"Bottom line," he concluded, "this is simply a bridge too far for me."

Gregg said that the Census had been "only a slight issue" in his decision to withdraw. Nevertheless, the Census has been a big issue between Republicans and Democrats for years, and Gregg has been involved in the dispute. A decade ago, he resisted efforts by President Bill Clinton to increase financing for the 2000 Census.The abrupt withdrawal comes one week after Gregg was selected to be the third Republican member of the Obama cabinet. And he is the second nominee for commerce secretary to withdraw.
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Obama did not mention the shakeup as he delivered an economic speech on Thursday afternoon in Illinois. But in an interview with The Springfield Journal-Register, he said, "It comes as something of a surprise, because the truth, you know, Gregg approached us with interest and seemed enthusiastic."

Moments after the stunning announcement, Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, issued a statement that Gregg had "reached out to the president and offered his name for secretary of commerce."

"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," Gibbs said. "Once it became clear after his nomination that Senator Gregg was not going to be supporting some of President Obama's key economic priorities, it became necessary for Senator Gregg and the Obama administration to part ways."

Although Gregg, a Republican of New Hampshire, had not resigned his Senate seat, he has been away from the Senate floor this week — presumably preparing for his confirmation hearings — and he did not vote on the administration's $789 billion economic stimulus plan agreed on by the House and Senate.

Last Tuesday during a brief ceremony at the White House, Gregg stood by Obama as the president touted his nominee as a fiscal conservative who could help "shore up our financial system and revitalize our economy."

The president selected Gregg exactly two months after he nominated his first choice for commerce secretary, Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, who withdrew from consideration because of a federal investigation into state contracts. It was the first of several controversies surrounding the president's top nominees.

In announcing his withdrawal, Gregg released a statement through his Senate office. The surprising move was not announced by the White House, although aides said the president had been informed of Gregg's decision.

"Obviously the President requires a team that is fully supportive of all his initiatives," Gregg said in a statement. "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."

He added: "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."

The once-a-decade Census has enormous implications, both social and political. It is used to distribute federal money to states and cities based on population, and it is used to redraw congressional districts — determining how many seats in the House of Representatives that growing states like California and Florida will pick up at the expense of states whose populations are relatively stagnant.

The Commerce Department under the Clinton administration wanted to use statistical sampling in the 2000 to arrive at population figures on which congressional districting would be based. Republicans resisted furiously, arguing that only a true head count was proper. Political analysts believed that statistical sampling would help Democrats by adding more urban and minority people to the totals.