Obama's guy Gregg will vote 'no' on all stimulus/recovery cloture votes

[geek tragedy]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/02/gregg-recuses-himself-from-voting-on-stimulus.php

Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH), the president's pick for Commerce Secretary, just revealed during an interview with CNBC that he would recuse himself from congressional votes while his nomination is being considered by his former Senate colleagues.

It sounds like a harmless announcement -- but what this effectively does is deny Senate Democrats a gettable GOP vote in favor of Obama's stimulus bill at a time when they're desperately in need of one.

You need 60 affirmative votes for cloture. Gregg abstaining has the exact same function as a 'no' vote.

Whoever said that bipartisanship was date rape was dead-on.

[MNDemNY]

1. Lube-up ,folks, more to come!!!

[geek tragedy]

2. Someone suggested Newt Gingrich for HHS.

The worst part is that part of me could see Obama doing it.

[MNDemNY]

3. I hear he has Frist on-deck!

[geek tragedy]

4. No, he has to appoint Tom Coburn so we can get another

rightwing Republican asshole appointed to the Oklahoma Senate.

[Renew Deal]

15. All the Gingrich, Frist, Coburn talk is getting you guys excited

It's telling.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

35. For real.

[sazemisery]

19. Our Democratic Governor would probably do the same as

Gregg's guv and appoint another Rethuglican. I hate this state's politics.

[OwnedByFerrets]

37. Crawford has said forcefully that it was a joke.

Well, as forcefully as he can muster :evilgrin:

[asdjrocky]

5. Of course he will.

Hey, I hear Bob Dole is available for HHS.

[geek tragedy]

6. See above--either Frist or Coburn. n/t

[Windy]

7. my god. Quit your whining!! Most in the country, not on DU voted for O because he

would reach across party lines.

Judd would have voted NO if he wasn't nominated for Commerce.

[MNDemNY]

8. What evidence do you have to back up such an assertion?

[Windy]

10. which one?

I actually got off of my ass and worked for Obama during the primary and the general. I canvassed and phone banked so I know what the general feeling of the public was with regard to their hopes for an Obama presidency.

As for Gregg and his vote, I base that on his voting record. Am I thrilled with him as a pick? No. I know that the dems were trying to do with appointing him and it didn't work. He may not make it through confirmation as it is as there is some dirt that came out on him concerning his aides and Abramoff. Even if he does get in, he has to support the decisions of the president.



Do a bit of research!

[Bluerthanblue]

18. i agree- Gregg would very clearly have voted against it-

i've voted against him since he entered politics- you seem to understand the situation more than most.

Thanks-

:hi:

[girl gone mad]

20. I don't know a single person that voted for Obama because he wanted to work with Republicans.

Not one.

[Windy]

28. then you obviously didn't get out much. People are tired of gridlock and bickering...

Sane adults that is. People that actually want something to get done!
And frankly, some of the blue dogs like Landrieu are worse that Collins and Olympia Snowe. I would vote for them over Landrieu and some others any day!

[OwnedByFerrets]

38. I agree 100%. I honestly doubt the poster does either....

and I have as much proof of that statement as they have of theirs.;-)

[alcibiades_mystery]

21. MNDemNY voted for McCain

You shouldn't pay much mind.

[Windy]

29. Yes, a PUMA. I remember. nt

[Phx_Dem]

9. A non-vote is not the same as a "no" vote.

[Windy]

11. No its not... and if he wasn't up for commerce, he would have voted NO. nt

[nichomachus]

25. Yes it is

[Phx_Dem]

34. self-delete

[Phx_Dem]

32. self-delete

[geek tragedy]

30. It is on cloture votes. n/t

[high density]

12. You could get a career in writing headlines for Fox News.

[nichomachus]

22. The headline is dead-on accurate -- you're wrong

Not voting on cloture is the same as voting no. In most votes, you need a certain percentage of the senators present and voting to vote yes. So, not voting changes the calculus.

With a cloture vote, you need 60 percent of sworn and seated senators, whether they are present and whether or not they vote. So, simply refusing to vote on cloture is exactly the same as voting no.

[Quezacoatl]

13. He can still vote for cloture

and then recuse himself for the actual vote.

[HughMoran]

17. Don't ruin a perfectly good rant

Spoilsport :P

[nichomachus]

23. He could -- but he said he would abstain for ALL votes -- so the OP is right

[Renew Deal]

14. Nice lie

Easy too

[nichomachus]

24. Exactly what part is a lie?

[crimsonblue]

16. He needs to resign from the Senate then.

Otherwise, he's a worthless piece of shit until he's confirmed. But then again, since he's a republican, isn't calling him a worthless piece of shit a bit redundant?

[nichomachus]

26. And the Senate should seat no new Senators until Al Franken is seated.

[Romulox]

27. But he's OUR rightwinger...pissing out, etc. etc....Obama is the one that sets policy, etc. etc.

:puke:

[SoxFan]

31. Judd Gregg is a selfish weasel

I've lived in New Hampshire for most of my life. Judd Gregg has held one office or another since 1978. The one constant is that he is a selfish jerk.

I can not for the life of me figure out what Obama is thinking in this case. Getting involved with Judd Gregg was a terrible, terrible move.

[S_E_Fudd]

33. Unless I am mistaken...with Gregg and no MN Senator present...only 59 votes

Will be needed...

60% of 98 is 58.8...

[undeterred]

36. It was a dumb appointment for Obama to make.

Republicans are incapable of bipartisanship. Its like expecting hardened prisoners to "share".

[Ikonoklast]

39. Nice to see all the Obama haters coming back like vultures.

No credibility.

Just sit back and throw stones while the rest of us move on.