The lesson of today, in part, is that people who almost got high-level jobs in the Obama administration are much more opposed, rather than much less opposed, to Obama's agenda. Take Evan Bayh, who was one of three final candidates for the Veep slot, but was passed over in favor of Joe Biden. He went to Joe Scarborough's program this morning to announce the formation of a Senate analogue to the Blue Dog Caucus that's meant to "restrain the influence of party liberals in the White House and on Capitol Hill." In practice, they're mustering opposition to the main items on the Presidents agenda: Health reform, cap and trade, and in particular, the tax changes meant to accomplish both. Just down the hall, Judd Gregg, one of Obama's three finalists for Secretary of Commerce, emerged as the leading critic of the administration's decision to leave open the door to the reconciliation process. "You're talking about the exact opposite of bipartisan," he said. "You're talking about running over the minority, putting them in cement and throwing them in the Chicago River." That vetting process must really be unpleasant. THE SENATE'S SOUR GRAPES CAUCUS.
The lesson of today, in part, is that people who almost got high-level jobs in the Obama administration are much more opposed, rather than much less opposed, to Obama's agenda. Take Evan Bayh, who was one of three final candidates for the Veep slot, but was passed over in favor of Joe Biden. He went to Joe Scarborough's program this morning to announce the formation of a Senate analogue to the Blue Dog Caucus that's meant to "restrain the influence of party liberals in the White House and on Capitol Hill." In practice, they're mustering opposition to the main items on the Presidents agenda: Health reform, cap and trade, and in particular, the tax changes meant to accomplish both. Just down the hall, Judd Gregg, one of Obama's three finalists for Secretary of Commerce, emerged as the leading critic of the administration's decision to leave open the door to the reconciliation process. "You're talking about the exact opposite of bipartisan," he said. "You're talking about running over the minority, putting them in cement and throwing them in the Chicago River." That vetting process must really be unpleasant. 
