A series of attempts to put Obama's slap-in-the-face moments in perspective. I'm told being contrarian is good for your career.
Surely Gregg's desire to replace himself with somebody who will often oppose his new boss's agenda is evidence of his deep commitment to the administration, the cabinet, and the agency he appears poised to head.
Or maybe it's just party loyalty. But despite kvetching about Gregg's appointment, and particularly that it appears* New Hampshire Governor John Lynch is going to appoint a Republican to the seat, this move is still a net-win for progressives. A few points:
One, the Commerce Department really is a backwater, and while it will be useful in a bully pupit fashion, developing relationships with the business community and pushing for "fiscal responsibility," ultimately Gregg will be able to do very little damage there. It's a technocratic agency and Gregg is something of a technocrat. Ask yourself this: What did you expect Bill Richardson to actually do at Commerce? If some Democratic mediocrity had been found for the position, what would you have expected that person to do?
Two, Senate Republicans aren't happy about this. They know Gregg was a big deal for their side, someone who could move votes and was well-versed in the nuances of Senate politics and the budget, a ranking member with several terms experience. In return, they're getting another GOP member, but someone who is a caretaker, who is very moderate -- likely someone who supported Lynch in his 2006 run -- and who not ony will vote with the president fairly often, but will not be able to present GOP arguments or marshall GOP votes. It's like subbing in the third string quarterback. Sure, they'll make some passes, but the presence on the field isn't the same.
Three, even if New Hampshire Democrats aren't super pleased about maintaining a Republican senator for two more years, an open-seat Senate race suits the DSCC just fine. I would say the odds of another Democratic pick-up in 2010 just went up a notch (though it's by no means guaranteed). Gregg was in a tough spot already, and now whoever his replacement is on the Republican side will have to make his or her way through a tough primary, raise money in a difficult environment for the GOP without the benefits of incumbency, and beat a Democrat who is likely already elected and an experienced campaigner.
Meanwhile, Gregg will put a GOP- and business-friendly face on Obama's policies that could pay off in the long run. And yes, the move fulfills MSM demands for bipartisanship in a very painless way. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see how the whole thing shakes out.
* Weirdly, in his statement Lynch doesn't actually promise to appoint a Republican (is that illegal?) he just recognizes Gregg's concerns. While it would be out of character for the moderate Granite Stater, wouldn't it be hilarious if Gregg resigned and was confirmed and Lynch just appointed a Democrat anyway?
-- Tim Fernholz
Previous Apologies: 1/27/09
