AP: No. 2 Senate Republican promotes Gregg at commerce

[Barack_America]

No. 2 Senate Republican promotes Gregg at commerce

By PHILIP ELLIOTT – 28 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate's No. 2 Republican said Sunday that President Barack Obama would be making a wise choice if he picks New Hampshire GOP Sen. Judd Gregg as his commerce secretary, even though the move could deliver Democrats control of the Senate.

Gregg has emerged as the leading contender and an announcement could come as early as Monday, an administration official said. It's unclear, though, who would replace the fiscal conservative in the Senate, where Democrats are on the verge of a 60-vote majority that would allow them to push forward legislation without fear of a GOP filibuster.

Kyl cautioned that it's not a certainty that New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch would appoint a fellow Democrat to replace Gregg. He also doubted that Republicans would lose the ability to filibuster if Gregg left.

"I suspect that Sen. Gregg has thought that through very carefully and would not leave his Republican colleagues in a lurch," Kyl said...

More:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hN8HWJQGPQTNdsctBh54R9bYBujwD962RL4O2


Mmmm. I love the smell of Republican desperation in the morning. Kyl publicly pleading with Gregg to get an assurance from Lynch? Delicious!

[TwilightGardener]

1. What unique gifts would Gregg be bringing to the position? I have not gotten

the rationale for about half of Obama's cabinet picks. I always assume that you pick people who are experts in a particular area to head up that area, but we have Panetta at CIA (??), Hillary at State (??), Ray Lahood at Transportation (??), Napolitano at Homeland Security (??)--and now Gregg. None of these people seem especially knowledgable about the fields in which they now advise the President on. I just don't know what his reasoning is.

[Thrill]

2. Its already been reported, Obama thinks the Cabinet structure is outdated

The people in the Senior WH positions are going to be setting policy and will have more pull. There were a few articles last week about it

[TwilightGardener]

3. That's interesting--did not know that. Thanks.

[rurallib]

4. didn't he win the lottery once? Maybe he has the good luck we need.