Mitch McConnell just said on Face the Nation

[malaise]

that Judd Gregg assured him that if he takes the Sec of Commerce post a Rushican or an independent will be appointed.

Is this scumbag lying on TV or is this true?

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. When Republics open their mouths, our first assumption must be a lie.

[TwilightGardener]

2. Obama had better be getting some reassurances from the Gov of NH

that a Dem will fill the seat, or it's not worth it. I mean, why Gregg, and not better (Dem) candidates who don't subscribe to political and economic philosophies that have totally fucked up this country?

[Snotcicles]

5. Obama should tell Gregg, that offer was no strings attached . nt

[Barack_America]

3. Last I checked, Gregg wouldn't select his own replacement...

That's up to Lynch, and any "deal" he would make with Gregg would be non-binding.

[SpiralHawk]

4. The Juddhead - It's a Granite STATE of Mind

[TZ]

6. Judd Gregg may be playing a game with his colleagues

I don't for a minute think the NH governor would appoint a Republican. Personally I wouldn't put it past Obama to have this in mind in appointing Gregg. I'm sure he thinks Gregg is qualified but the advantage in the Senate would be a plus.

[Are_grits_groceries]

7. "Paging Senator McConnell to the white courtesy phone."

Does McConnell know most of his state is without power????

Does he know the power grid is down and not just a few lines. This is his infrastructure.

If I were McConnell, I would have my butt somewhere besides running off at the mouth about Judd Gregg on teevee.

[napi21]

8. It's another "partial truth" from a Pub! Technically what he said was

true...Judd Gregg leaving the Senate, even if he were replaced by a Deem, WOULD NOT GIVE THE DEMS A FILLABUSTER PROOF MAJORITY. However, what he didn't say was "When Al Franken is finally declared winner, HE will be the 60th vote!

All lawyers are the same. You have to pay close attention to words like probably, should, might, likely, and of course very close attention to what they DON'T SAY!

[Bonn1997]

25. That's still not a filibuster proof majority

You'll lose a few Dems on any issue. You probably need around 65 Dems to have a filibuster proof majority. 60 Dems being the cut-off is just the media's way to try to get more attention than they'd otherwise get on recent issues (Franken, Gregg, the Ga runoff)

[radfringe]

9. not sure about the "assurance" part... but

the skuttlebutt is if Gregg takes the job, a rushican or independent would be appointed.

HOWEVER - IMO - if gov of NH wants some economic stimulus he do best to appoint a moderate independent as opposed to a rushican

[spanone]

10. mcconnell is so partisan, i wouldn't trust him for one second

[MannyGoldstein]

11. Probably True n/t

[mucifer]

12. Blago got in trouble for pay to play. To me this would be pay to play.

You can NOT offer something for a senate seat.

[Avalux]

13. How could Gregg guarantee such a thing?

The governor picks and it can be whomever he wants. Wishful thinking; talking out his ass.

[Kip Humphrey]

18. Is he trying to sell his senate seat? I hear they're fucking golden.

[librechik]

19. yes, the Pukkkes are also filling the air with this sort of Dem promise they "heard"

I don't believe a word of it. They are trying to poison the audience against us. And they still have the biggest megaphone.

[KharmaTrain]

14. DKox Has A Good Article About This...

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/1/31/15630/1401/151/691411

Lynch may name a moderate Repugnican or a seat warmer until 2010. I'm sure a deal is being brokered before Gregg accepts and I can deal with a moderate repugnican from New England rather than a blue dog Democrat from say...Nebraska.

:hi:

[BlueCaliDem]

23. I'm even wondering if Ben Nelson is a Democrat since he's against

everything the congressional Dems do.

[OregonBlue]

15. According to the Huffington Post this is probably true.

One possible senatorial replacement for Judd Gregg that is being discussed in New Hampshire political circles is J. Bonnie Newman, a Republican with close ties to Governor John Lynch. The Obama administration has yet to make a definitive decision on who will run the Commerce Department, but it seems highly likely at this point that it will indeed be Gregg. The word on Newman is that she is highly competent and sufficiently experienced to replace Gregg in the Senate. From the Boston Globe>:

Newman served as assistant secretary of Commerce for economic development in the Reagan administration. She was in charge of administrative operations for the George H.W. Bush White House.

She was chief of staff to Gregg when he was a congressman in the 1980s, and she was one of the first Republicans to publicly endorse Lynch in his 2004 challenge of then-Republican Governor Craig Benson, and co-chaired Republicans for Lynch.

The consensus right now in New Hampshire, based on Governor Lynch's past appointments, is that if ever he were to select a Republican to fill the seat, Newman would fit the mold.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/01/j-bonnie-newman-to-the-se_n_162883.html

[chelsea0011]

16. So is Gregg about to be impeached for using his slot to influence the next senator?

[merh]

17. it looks like there is truth to it

-snip-

* New Hampshire's Democratic governor, John Lynch, may name a Democrat to replace Gregg, which could give the party 60 seats in the Senate, enough to clear Republican procedural hurdles. But Lynch may appoint a Republican to avoid a backlash about handing Democrats a stranglehold on the Senate.

* If the governor replaces Gregg with a Republican, expect the new senator to be a moderate who ends up frequently voting with Democrats.

-snip-

http://uk.reuters.com/article/marketsNewsUS/idUKN3037548620090130

[Barack_America]

20. Any word on who Gregg demands be "parachuted there"?

:shrug:

[malaise]

21. No

but it is the governor's choice.

[Barack_America]

22. AP is straight-up reporting that Gregg negotiated his replacement.

Can you believe this shit?

"McConnell says Gregg has promised he would be replaced by someone who would affiliate with other Republicans in the Senate.

McConnell's comments suggest Gregg has negotiated a deal that would allow New Hampshire's Democratic governor to name either a Republican or Republican-leaning replacement. That would leave Senate Democrats short of a 60-member, fillibuster-proof majority."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hN8HWJQGPQTNdsctBh54R9bYBujwD962SFA00

Um, how is that not "pay to play"?

[BlueCaliDem]

24. That IS pay-to-play! n/t

[global1]

26. If The Shoe Were On The Other Foot The Repugs Wouldn't Hesitate......

to appoint a Dem to the cabinet to get a 60 vote filibuster proof Senate. There would be no deals to replace a Dem with a Dem. So President Obama shouldn't worry about cutting deals with Gregg. Go for it.