Dem Hill Staffer Dishes on Gregg's Withdrawal

[Phx_Dem]

It's hard not to think that Gregg's withdrawal, with the grumbling about the census and the stimulus, was not timed to cause the most damage possible to the Obama administration. Releasing the statement just as Obama took the stage in Peoria was clearly designed to undermine the President's event. The fact he scheduled a presser only seems to confirm it. The classy exit would have been to wait til tomorrow afternoon to quietly bow out. Basically Gregg decided not just to politely decline, but rather to blow shit up and burn the bridge behind him. Do not think this portends good things for the wider political climate.
If the larger GOP strategy can be describe as putting all of their chips on "FAIL", this has to be seen as a significant addition to that pile, no?

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2009/02/timing.php

Yep, he's a dick alright. I just don't understand how they could have possibly thought this would reflect well on them. I'm not as stupid as the typical GOP'er, so I guess I can't understand their way of thinking.

[Barack_America]

1. I've got to agree with this. nt

[Phx_Dem]

4. Me too. The timing and way it was handled makes it very difficult

to see any other way. Unless, of course, you're Tweety and super stupid.

[Barack_America]

11. "It's about ideology!".

Um, yeah, sure. And I've got this bridge in Brooklyn that I'm looking to sell.

:eyes:

[Phx_Dem]

14. Tweety can be really really stupid sometimes. Gregg was

ideological before he lobbied for the position. The only thing that changed is the pressure from his cohorts.

He's weak and his shaky, nervous voice gave him away.

[Barack_America]

18. And now Margaret Carlson is praising Gregg for his "candor".

:puke:

[Phx_Dem]

21. And as soon as they see the public doesn't agree, they'll both

change their minds. They're generally wrong when they try to guage the public's reaction to things -- just like the debates when they kept saying McCain won until they saw the huge poll numbers saying Obama won every debate. Wrong is their middle name.

[Barack_America]

22. Lol. Too true. Especially Tweety.

Who was convinced that:

1. Rudy was going to win it all.
2. McCain was sure to pick Bloomberg for his VP.

I've actually never heard anything that Matthews has predicted correctly, although he's often good for historical implications.

[Phx_Dem]

23. Tweety is Mika with a penis.

[Edgewater_Joe]

25. But He DID Say One Interesting Thing

His theory: Gregg was jealous that Snowe, Collins and Spector were getting all the power and all the props and all the press, and he (Gregg) didn't even get a phone call -- so like a 13-year-old, he cried and ran home from the party.

You have to give props when deserved.

[Phx_Dem]

26. Yeah, I heard that. But again, it contradicts what he said

earlier about Gregg being so honest and forthright (paraphrased) that he just couldn't align himself with Democratic policies.

Tweety twists in the wind. But I guess twisting is better than be rigid in your wrongness.

[karynnj]

31. That was sickening

This was not a profile in courage moment. The bailout package was pretty defined when he stepped in. That was why he spoke of not voting on the cloture vote - where a "no" is equal to "not voting". The real question is if he ever intended to take the job.

Has Carlson used similar language for any Democrat? Many of whom have spoken with candor. (Does Finegold ever not speak that way?)

[Ocracoker16]

33. and Mitch McConnell is praising Gregg too

[K Gardner]

2. K&R

[Pirate Smile]

3. He is such an asshole.

Here is the entire TPM post:


Timing

According to our Matt Cooper, Gregg called New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch (D) a few hours ahead of releasing his withdrawal statement. But the White House appeared blindsided by the Gregg withdrawal, according to various reports, so much so that some officials were first learning of the news from reporters.

A Democratic Hill staffer writes in:

It's hard not to think that Gregg's withdrawal, with the grumbling about the census and the stimulus, was not timed to cause the most damage possible to the Obama administration. Releasing the statement just as Obama took the stage in Peoria was clearly designed to undermine the President's event. The fact he scheduled a presser only seems to confirm it. The classy exit would have been to wait til tomorrow afternoon to quietly bow out. Basically Gregg decided not just to politely decline, but rather to blow shit up and burn the bridge behind him. Do not think this portends good things for the wider political climate.
If the larger GOP strategy can be describe as putting all of their chips on "FAIL", this has to be seen as a significant addition to that pile, no?

[ErinBerin84]

5. the timing did seem really screwed up

and the references to Republicans by Obama in the speech...



I hope that we get the full scoop on this.

[Beetwasher]

6. The Ever Shrinking GOP Base Will Love This, The Rest Of The Country

Not so much. Classless, boorish move that will cost them. Good job Judd!! You've done more for us in your brief non-tenure than we could have hoped!

[Phx_Dem]

8. ...

:fistbump:

[The_Casual_Observer]

7. It's hard to understand this complete stonewall of the stimulus

package. What's creepy about it is, by definition a "told you so" win for them means total disaster where nobody wins, so why take that side??

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

32. Because they don't care about anyone. If it MIGHT help their party pick up a few seats,

if it means everyone eats canned beans for 8 years, so be it.

[liberalmuse]

9. I'm angry.

This is not innocent. Remember McCain's nasty campaign? It looks like this is exactly the 'puke strategy. They are going to destroy themselves with their hatred and gile. I can't wait until I see the giant turd that is the GOP swirling down the bowl, never see this stinky, putrid pile of shit again.

[Julius Civitatus]

10. F#CK BIPARTISANSHIP!!!! The GOPers never play fair, and

they never intended to be truly bipartisan.
Their idea of "bipartisanship" is DO AS I SAY.

No more reaching out to these tricksters!

[AspenRose]

12. Republicans enjoy blowing all sorts of stuff up. Just look at Iraq.

They keep this up and they'll be able to roast marshmallows with what will remain of the GOP.

[Window]

13. That's it in a nutshell.

n/t

[Edgewater_Joe]

15. This Couldn't Be Played Out Better For Obama (and us!)

He reached out and did the classy thing, and Gregg responds by being ... well, a typical Repunk. He's the one looking like an idiot, and we see Obama and the rest of the Dems harden up a little bit in the process.

Plus, a bad choice for Commerce leaves at what is clearly his own (purely partisan) beliefs. It paves the way for a decent choice at Commerce and an actual Democrat to boot.

Win-Win all around!

[Phx_Dem]

17. I could not agree more!

B-)

[girl gone mad]

16. It's official: Rahm Emanuel is a fool.

It almost seems as if the DLCers are intentionally trying to destroy Obama's political capital as quickly as possible.

[KittyWampus]

19. how the fuck did you manage to turn this around as an attack on Rahm? It's pathological.

[monmouth]

28. Rahm and Harry pushed this guy for the job...n/t

[1776Forever]

20. Watch out Repub's - The worst for you has just begun! More left learners going our way in 2010!

I think this will backfire on the Repub's in 2010! There isn't a family out there that I know of that hasn't been touched by this downturn! I also think President Obama has a great memory! Watch out - Leo's don't forget either their friends or their enemies!

[starroute]

24. Time to adopt classic counter-insurgency techniques, I think

It's okay to keep trying to win the hearts and minds of the rank and file GOP voters -- but the terrorist leadership has to be cut off at the head. They have proved they cannot be worked with and will never lay down their guns to join a civilian government.

[Phx_Dem]

27. Yes. Very good.

[ProSense]

29. Gregg got suckered

FAIL

[Raine]

30. It's time we declare war on them

the way they have done on us, I so fucking sick of this shit! :mad: