Perhaps picking a Replican Senator, and causing NH to replace him with a Dem (it's possible), might just possibly have some strategic value, donchathink? A fillibuster-proof senate? (Assuming Franken ultimately prevails)...
That said, Obama publicly claimed he'd have Republicans in his administration and he's actually picked very few.
Jeff --- nice find on the video; HILARIOUS. I've got nothing in particular against Daschle, but this thing shows how far the guy was removed from his roots....
lazespud - that "Dem replaces the Repub senator" idea was floated over a week ago. Good strategy, but it's not gonna happen now.
Gregg said he would ony step down if the NH gov replaced him with aRepublican place-holder.
THAT is what bothers me...
As usual, Jon Stewart's writers had the best take on the Daschle tax thing: he owes $100K in TAXES for the chauffeur for 3 years. Just the taxes, not the salary paid. This was for someone no longer holding office and having to dash to various functions.
Although it appears, sadly, that Daschle has withdrawn because of it. I say sadly, because the one person who was best prepared to actually getting a national health coverage plan onto Obama's desk for signing is now gone.
TheCahuengaKid - you need to take a longer view.
With the Republican incumbent no longer around for the 2010 elections, the state Dems might be able to field someone who can actually win the next time (and not a 94 year old "Granny" who lost 34 to 66%).
Gregg is a major party loyalist (he played Gore and Kerry in the debates for Bush) and this was the only way he would accept.
The best thing that could come out of this setback would be if Dr. Howard Dean were offered HHS Secretary. It's the one position in Obama's administration he asked to be considered for, and AFAIK, he wasn't even interviewed. As a Dean supporter, I was very dismayed to see him kicked to the curb after all he did for the Democratic Party; Obama may have won on his own laurels, but neither the '06 nor '08 elections would have been landslides without Dean's 50-state strategy. (It's infuriating that slimy Rahm Emanuel continues to take credit for those victories after all he did to undermine Dean's chairmanship at the DNC.) It's just unfathomable that Dean ended up like Moses -- delivering his party to the promised land but wasn't allowed to enter. Just imagine ... turncoat Joe Lieberman got to keep his post, but Dean wasn't even invited to the coronation ceremony of his DNC successor, Tim Kaine.
CahunegaKid, the woman John Lynch will appoint to repleace Gregg will be a caretaker, and Rep. Paul Hodes will almost certainly win the seat for the Democrats in 2010. I mean I don't even understand what you mean about strategy- if Obama hadn't appointed him, he'd stay in the Senate. Nothing changes, except for now the GOP doesn't have a surefire winner in 2010.
I read that commerce secretary historically has been a cabinet-level version of the meaningless patronage job given as payback to supporters and rich friends. I doubt that Gregg is going to be able to do anything of significance that is counter to Obama's overall domestic vision and it makes for good PR. Sounds like good strategy to me.
That video and today's news of his withdrawal makes me sad. Sad that we are losing his expertise in an area where we really need it, but also sad at how obviously out of touch he must have become over the years for a situation like this to arise.
He's basically spent the last five years getting rich as a lobbyist-in-all-but-name, which is legal and fine and all, but not exactly anything to be proud of. Least he could have done is get his fucking taxes right. This shit is not that complicated.
And isn't it convenient how we never hear about rich fuck politicians accidentally overpaying their taxes. The "mistakes" are always in their favor!
Looking forward to Michael Steele pounding us with this bullshit distraction for the next two months. Just the kind of shit we need right now. Thanks a lot.
Nate Silver gave Steele some props over at fivethirtyeight.com. Personally I know little about him.
This clip on last night's Daily Show did a pretty good job doing a takedown on him though - the first half rips on Daschle, then he goes after Steele, and it's all pretty good stuff. Judging by his statements, he looks like more of the same, but black!
comment #1
JHR
says ...
So we know at least one thing he didn't spend his unpaid taxes on...
Posted by JHR
at February 3, 2009 10:11 AM
comment #2
TheCahuengaKid
says ...
I'm more worried about Commerce Sec'y-elect Judd Gregg's replacement in NH. Another Republican? Does Obama have a long term strategy that I don't see?
Posted by TheCahuengaKid
at February 3, 2009 10:14 AM
comment #3
lazespud
says ...
To CahuengaKid;
Perhaps picking a Replican Senator, and causing NH to replace him with a Dem (it's possible), might just possibly have some strategic value, donchathink? A fillibuster-proof senate? (Assuming Franken ultimately prevails)...
That said, Obama publicly claimed he'd have Republicans in his administration and he's actually picked very few.
Jeff --- nice find on the video; HILARIOUS. I've got nothing in particular against Daschle, but this thing shows how far the guy was removed from his roots....
Posted by lazespud
at February 3, 2009 10:24 AM
comment #4
TheCahuengaKid
says ...
lazespud - that "Dem replaces the Repub senator" idea was floated over a week ago. Good strategy, but it's not gonna happen now.
Gregg said he would ony step down if the NH gov replaced him with aRepublican place-holder.
THAT is what bothers me...
Posted by TheCahuengaKid
at February 3, 2009 10:54 AM
comment #5
Deathtongue_Groupie
says ...
As usual, Jon Stewart's writers had the best take on the Daschle tax thing: he owes $100K in TAXES for the chauffeur for 3 years. Just the taxes, not the salary paid. This was for someone no longer holding office and having to dash to various functions.
Although it appears, sadly, that Daschle has withdrawn because of it. I say sadly, because the one person who was best prepared to actually getting a national health coverage plan onto Obama's desk for signing is now gone.
TheCahuengaKid - you need to take a longer view.
With the Republican incumbent no longer around for the 2010 elections, the state Dems might be able to field someone who can actually win the next time (and not a 94 year old "Granny" who lost 34 to 66%).
Gregg is a major party loyalist (he played Gore and Kerry in the debates for Bush) and this was the only way he would accept.
Posted by Deathtongue_Groupie
at February 3, 2009 11:21 AM
comment #6
arturobandini2
says ...
The best thing that could come out of this setback would be if Dr. Howard Dean were offered HHS Secretary. It's the one position in Obama's administration he asked to be considered for, and AFAIK, he wasn't even interviewed. As a Dean supporter, I was very dismayed to see him kicked to the curb after all he did for the Democratic Party; Obama may have won on his own laurels, but neither the '06 nor '08 elections would have been landslides without Dean's 50-state strategy. (It's infuriating that slimy Rahm Emanuel continues to take credit for those victories after all he did to undermine Dean's chairmanship at the DNC.) It's just unfathomable that Dean ended up like Moses -- delivering his party to the promised land but wasn't allowed to enter. Just imagine ... turncoat Joe Lieberman got to keep his post, but Dean wasn't even invited to the coronation ceremony of his DNC successor, Tim Kaine.
Posted by arturobandini2
at February 3, 2009 11:33 AM
comment #7
BurmaShave
says ...
CahunegaKid, the woman John Lynch will appoint to repleace Gregg will be a caretaker, and Rep. Paul Hodes will almost certainly win the seat for the Democrats in 2010. I mean I don't even understand what you mean about strategy- if Obama hadn't appointed him, he'd stay in the Senate. Nothing changes, except for now the GOP doesn't have a surefire winner in 2010.
Posted by BurmaShave
at February 3, 2009 1:57 PM
comment #8
BurmaShave
says ...
* replace, obviously. And damn straight, bring on Dr. Dean.
Posted by BurmaShave
at February 3, 2009 1:58 PM
comment #9
NotImpressed1Yet
says ...
I read that commerce secretary historically has been a cabinet-level version of the meaningless patronage job given as payback to supporters and rich friends. I doubt that Gregg is going to be able to do anything of significance that is counter to Obama's overall domestic vision and it makes for good PR. Sounds like good strategy to me.
That video and today's news of his withdrawal makes me sad. Sad that we are losing his expertise in an area where we really need it, but also sad at how obviously out of touch he must have become over the years for a situation like this to arise.
He's basically spent the last five years getting rich as a lobbyist-in-all-but-name, which is legal and fine and all, but not exactly anything to be proud of. Least he could have done is get his fucking taxes right. This shit is not that complicated.
And isn't it convenient how we never hear about rich fuck politicians accidentally overpaying their taxes. The "mistakes" are always in their favor!
Looking forward to Michael Steele pounding us with this bullshit distraction for the next two months. Just the kind of shit we need right now. Thanks a lot.
Posted by NotImpressed1Yet
at February 3, 2009 2:08 PM
comment #10
BurmaShave
says ...
Michael Steele is the best decision the GOP has made in a decade or more. A worthy adversary.
Posted by BurmaShave
at February 3, 2009 2:19 PM
comment #11
NotImpressed1Yet
says ...
Nate Silver gave Steele some props over at fivethirtyeight.com. Personally I know little about him.
This clip on last night's Daily Show did a pretty good job doing a takedown on him though - the first half rips on Daschle, then he goes after Steele, and it's all pretty good stuff. Judging by his statements, he looks like more of the same, but black!
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=217026&title=elephant-in-the-room
Posted by NotImpressed1Yet
at February 3, 2009 2:29 PM