Judd Gregg - Secretary of Commerce
After Obama's first choice for this position, democrat Bill Richardson, was eliminated because of his looming arrest for bribery while governor of New Mexico, Obama is about to name Republican senator Judd Gregg as a replacement.

Gregg, born in 1947, is a former governor of New Hampshire. He was also a member of the House of Representatives. After being governor, he decided to run for the US Senate. You see, governors in New Hampshire only serve two-year terms. It's difficult to have a career in politics, if one must be reelected every two years.

Gregg is a moderate. About his only conservative belief is being pro-life. No scandal is associated with this choice, which at first glance makes one wonder why Obama would choose him. Then it becomes quite clear. The current governor of New Hampshire is a democrat. Gregg's senate seat will need to be filled when he becomes Secretary of Commerce. Replacing Gregg in the senate with a democrat would give the senate a filibuster-proof majority.

Gregg has said he will not accept the position, unless Governor Lynch promises to appoint another Republican to fill his seat.

Updated 02/12/2009 Citing "irresolvable conflicts," Judd Gregg withdrew his name from contention for Secretary of Commerce. Gregg had abstained from voting on the democrat spending bill saying that it would be a conflict of interest while his nomination was pending. This drew anger from his constituents that demanded he either do his job or resign from the senate. After Bill Richardson withdrew due to mounting pressure of his pay-to-play scandal, Obama made the shrewd decision to nominate Republican senator Gregg. Vacating Gregg's seat would allow New Hampshire's democrat governor to appoint his replacement. However, Gregg saw that coming and demanded that another Republican be named for his senate seat or he would refuse the nomination. Obama and the New Hampshire governor, forced to take the high road, agreed to Gregg's demand. Obama later realized that having a Republican in charge of the Commerce department was an error as that is the department that takes the US census every ten years. Obama then suggested that the census counting be taken away from the Commerce department and given to his Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel. Finally, ethics made it clear to Gregg that he should remain in the US senate. Obama has lost his second choice for Secretary of Commerce. This is the fourth Obama nomination that has failed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Care to Comment?