By Lee Speigel

Feb 12, 2009 11:07pm

Obama Honors Lincoln; Explains (and Jokes About) Gregg

“In 1854, Lincoln was simply a Springfield Lawyer," the President said tonight at the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial in Springfield, Illinois. "He’d served just a single term in Congress. Possibly in his law office, his feet on a cluttered desk, his sons playing around him, his clothes a bit to small to fit his uncommon frame.."

Beat.

"…maybe wondering if someone might call him up and offer to be Commerce Secretary," the President continued, to laughter.

The President made some interesting comments about the need for a union. He parried a bit, saying, "to be sure, there have been times in our history when our government has misjudged what we can do by individual effort alone, and what we can only do together; when it has done things that people can – or should – do for themselves. Our welfare system, for example, too often dampened individual initiative, discouraging people from taking responsibility for their own upward mobility."

That said, the President said "in recent years, we’ve seen the pendulum swing too far in the opposite direction. It’s a philosophy that says every problem can be solved if only government would step out of the way; that if government were just dismantled, divvied up into tax breaks, and handed out to the wealthiest among us, it would somehow benefit us all."

Only by coming together as Lincoln envisioned can this nation meet the challenges ahead, he said.

"These are trying days and they will grow tougher in the months to come," he said. "There will be moments when our doubts rise and our hopes recede. But let’s always remember that we, as a people, have been here before."

On Air Force One, the president took a moment to talk to the press about the withdrawal of Sen. Judd Gregg, R-NH, his latest attempt to nominate Commerce Secretary.

"Judd is a good man," the president said. "And I think that he sincerely wanted to work with us. I think he had a change of heart on the idea of leaving the Senate."

Mr. Obama said Gregg is "somebody that we’re going to work with on issues like fiscal responsibility, the fiscal summit that’s coming up. And the one thing I want to make sure of is that people don’t take from this the notion that we can’t get Democrats and Republicans working together. I’m going to keep on working at this, and eventually, we are going to break down some of these barriers because the American people need it. They are desperate for us to find common ground."

What, the president was asked, do you see in terms of common ground potential that perhaps we in the media do not?

"I’m an eternal optimist," the president said. "I can tell you, generally speaking, Judd Gregg and I agree on 80% of things that matter to the American people. There’s 20% that we disagree on. I’ve always felt that we can find areas to work on that we share, and then have a vigorous, heated debate on some of the things that we don’t. And I think we’re going to get there."

Mr. Obama said he and Gregg "had a discussion over the last couple days. I wasn’t sure whether he had made a final decision or not. But clearly, you know, I think he was just having second thoughts about leaving the Senate, a place where he’s thrived and been there for a long time. You know I think the one thing I give him credit for is having searched his heart before he took on the job because obviously you don’t want somebody having a change of heart after they have been confirmed and are in the process of building a team."

And when did the president realize that he had made a final decision?

"Today," the president said. "Look, this kind of thing happens all the time, people change their minds. Just usually there aren’t a lot of reporters around when it happens."

- jpt

User Comments

And when did the president realize that he had made a final decision?
“Today,” the president said. “Look, this kind of thing happens all the time, people change their minds. Just usually there aren’t a lot of reporters around when it happens.”
====
It would be interesting to know what time “today”.
I’d say Obama wanted this announcement to be in the Friday afternoon news dump with Obama in Chicago for the weekend.
It seems Gregg disagreed with that timing.

Posted by: MayBee | February 12, 2009, 11:26 pm 11:26 pm

Thanks for posting this insight, Jake. It shows me that the President may have deeper wells of forgiveness — and optimism — than I do. Hope it all turns out, for all of our sakes.

Posted by: Jo | February 12, 2009, 11:27 pm 11:27 pm

For Obama to say he admires President Lincoln is a joke. That is only for political purposes. All you have to do is read a few pages in his books and you’ll find out that the person he admires most is Karl Marx.

Posted by: willy39 | February 12, 2009, 11:30 pm 11:30 pm

OK…this thing with Obama’s fascination with Lincoln is getting just a little too weird for me. Is he playing out a fantasy or what? Obama’s announcement to run in Springfied, his campaign rhetoric linked to Lincoln, having to have the stimulus package on his desk by Presidents’ Day…ooops he missed Lincoln’s birthday this speach…it’s all getting too weird.
Obama really needs to refocus on the economy. He and Geithner need to come clean with his so called “bank/mortgage plan”. I’m afraid it is the rest of American homeowners bailing out those who can’t or won’t pay for homes they should never have gotten. If my home wasn’t paid for I might try to get a bail out myself. BUT we stayed within a price range we knew would be paid for some day and guess what it is.

Posted by: Lincoln Fixation | February 12, 2009, 11:35 pm 11:35 pm

It seems clear Obama has been much classier and gracious about this than Gregg has been. It seems Gregg didn’t even give the White House the courtesy of a heads-up today before releasing his statement and holding a press conference, at the exact time Obama was scheduled to make a speech on the stimulus package.
Someone comes out of this stinking and it ain’t Obama.

Posted by: Lisa | February 12, 2009, 11:37 pm 11:37 pm

Can all you naysayers go get a job or have a beer? I am sick of all this whining. If you’re so smart, get off your rear and figure out ways to get people back to work.
Take a look in your own hearts and just get going on your own darn lives. Geese.

Posted by: Mom | February 12, 2009, 11:39 pm 11:39 pm

This nation desperately needs any fix Obama is proposing to work. We are going to get his fix whether we want it or not…so let’s all PRAY it does work and the economy turns around like gangbusters. We are going to need it for the inflation and social reform that will be coming our way.
I am seriously concerned about Gregg’s reservations and Obama moving the Census to the White House instead of the Commerce Dept. Obama may joke about it, but believe me there is a method behind it for redistricting in 2010.
Unfortunately, I am growing more convinced Obama has a hidden agenda and I don’t think it is necessarily for the good of the WORKING man or woman…maybe more for the good of the non-working man or woman. That hand up is getting awfully heavy to lift and apparently just a little HEAVY HANDED in the pressures being exerted too.
Apparently Gregg could NOT be bought.

Posted by: Nation Needs It To Work | February 12, 2009, 11:49 pm 11:49 pm

Gosh, that Obama sure has problems with his cabinet doesn’t he? More tax cheats than we’ve ever seen in a president’s cabinet. And people just keep quitting on him. Maybe he should decide that the investigation into governor Richardson isn’t such a big deal after all and make him the nominee again.

Posted by: Peach | February 12, 2009, 11:52 pm 11:52 pm

That said, the President said “in recent years, we’ve seen the pendulum swing too far in the opposite direction. It’s a philosophy that says every problem can be solved if only government would step out of the way; that if government were just dismantled, divvied up into tax breaks, and handed out to the wealthiest among us, it would somehow benefit us all.”
======
There may be a philosophy that believes some of those things, but it certainly hasn’t been anywhere near our government in recent years.
Bush “dismantled” the government by adding the gigantic Department of Homeland Security, implementing Medicare Part D, signing almost every spending plan Democrats and Republicans could dream up, adding a new layer at Intelligence, getting more involved with schools through No Child Left Behind, and starting the office of Faith-based initiatives.
The government grew under Bush.

Posted by: MayBee | February 13, 2009, 12:06 am 12:06 am

Good riddance. Gregg is a lout and a fool. The timing of his announcement is a clear slap, but he just comes off as yet another petulant GOP jerk. Are there any adults in that directionless party?
Hopefully this is the end of Obama’s efforts to consult with republicans. They are a bunch of whiny losers.

Posted by: Tungsten | February 13, 2009, 1:03 am 1:03 am

willy39: Read your Lincoln. A lot of his ideas would sound “Marxist” to you, I think.
Working class objection to slavery as a cheap/free labor pool was one big impetus to the abolitionist movement. Just so’s you know.

Posted by: Tungsten | February 13, 2009, 1:08 am 1:08 am

One thing I cannot stand is the fake straw man President Obama always sets up as the Republican view. The Republicans wanted a bill, he says they didn’t; and the Republicans want to give tax cuts to every American who pays taxes, that isn’t the same as dissolving government and dividing the money up between the wealthiest among us. Maybe i’m just crazy, but it seems pretty obvious to me that the people who pay the most taxes would get the most back in a tax cut, right?

Posted by: montywade | February 13, 2009, 1:18 am 1:18 am

“For Obama to say he admires President Lincoln is a joke. That is only for political purposes. All you have to do is read a few pages in his books and you’ll find out that the person he admires most is Karl Marx. ”
Please point out the pages in his book that illustrates his admiration for Karl Marx.

Posted by: gammaraygus | February 13, 2009, 1:19 am 1:19 am

Charlie Rangel for Commerce Secretary! Or John Murtha! Maybe Tom Daschle? Hmmmm…. Bill Clinton! No ‘issues’ there, right?

Posted by: montywade | February 13, 2009, 1:22 am 1:22 am

Whew!!! Gregg got out in the nick of time….
I’m thinking he figured out he did’nt want the same fate as Hillary got…
A “title” but stripped of any meaningful power…
Hillary gave up a Senate seat….where she had power…to be tricked into taking the Sec of State position…where O’backstabber has redefined the office…and shifted the former duties to others….He has stifled her…..she is now irrelevant.
I will say Obama is stepping up the ‘stumbles’…we were getting one about every day….we got two today…
Gregg’s escape….and caught in the lie at caterpiller….
Pretty soon the media and the rest of the Dems will figure out …when you lay down with dogs…you’re bound to get fleas….

Posted by: J Moore | February 13, 2009, 1:59 am 1:59 am

“It’s a philosophy that says every problem can be solved if only government would step out of the way; that if government were just dismantled, divvied up into tax breaks, and handed out to the wealthiest among us, it would somehow benefit us all.”
Yeah, and those conservatives want to blow up schools too, ya know? Can the man open his mouth without a gratuitous slap at half the country? He makes the classic rookie mistake of thinking that he’s just talking to the people in the room and that they all share his outlook. He still doesn’t even get the fact that those blue collar folks he had so much trouble with in the campaign were Republicans with nary a corporate jet amongst them.
Obama manufactures strawmen the way other people cut out strings of paper dolls.

Posted by: JM Hanes | February 13, 2009, 2:11 am 2:11 am

Obama is admiring Lincln, and Marx and Stalin, but he has no new vision of his own for the 21st century America, The old Mrxist ideas are old and will not work in our time. He is lost in the past.He is ju
st an embarrasment. His stimulus plan may not even work, and things could get much worse,and he may have to order marshall law and take total control and power.And that is not my vision for our future. We should have a biger purpose for our nation, a vision and prosperity, not just welfare and poverty and socialism. My vision for America now,is to create a huge space exploration program, build new space vehicles, build cities in space and on the Moon, and go to Mars and to other planets, explor and invent. A new industry like that would create good jobs, prosperity a better life for everyone,and would make America a great nation.WE need a new space industry a new energy plan,and fix our infrastructure, and health care plan. Obama have no expirience, how to do things, I think Sarah Palin and MacCain would of been much better for America. We have no idea where Obama will lead us with his hope and change,we are not even sure of his citizenship, I have no problem to show my birth certificate. And Im voting for Sarah Palin in 2012.

Posted by: Alex | February 13, 2009, 2:46 am 2:46 am

It would be insightful for all of us to understand specifically why Gregg dropped his opportunity for a quality cabinet post. I hope Gregg did not agree to not discuss his specific misgivings.

Posted by: picomanning | February 13, 2009, 2:46 am 2:46 am

One thing is becoming increasingly clear: Obama doesn’t seem to have any knack for making good picks. His leadership failures must be very frustrating to his hopeful and change-faithful followers.

Posted by: picomanning | February 13, 2009, 2:56 am 2:56 am

It seems that Gregg was a GOP plant designed to sabotage and rig the census for Republicans… when that wasn’t going to happen, he decided to try and embarass the president any way he could. It’s clear now that the GOP has decided to wage war on our president during this time of crisis. Country first? Sure, right!

Posted by: Mike | February 13, 2009, 3:32 am 3:32 am

“Yeah, and those conservatives want to blow up schools too, ya know? Can the man open his mouth without a gratuitous slap at half the country?”
It never seemed to bother y’all when Bush did that for 8 years… You right wingers are getting off easy, considering how you ruined the country….

Posted by: Mike | February 13, 2009, 3:35 am 3:35 am

Obama is slipping into the alternate universe where welfare went to the needy rather than the corporations and the wealthy. That country never existed. When are the Democrats going to realize that that entire construction was a thinly veiled appeal to racism?

Posted by: Flash Override | February 13, 2009, 6:24 am 6:24 am

Obama is calling for more regulations and there is a place for regulations. Sports and athletics have regulations, but the referees do not get in the way of competitive teams that want to win. The team players do not need balls and chains. The government regulators could learn from the referees by not getting in the way unless rules are broken. When making those regulations, the government should make sure that they are not being a hindrance to our economy.

Posted by: egret57 | February 13, 2009, 6:49 am 6:49 am

Never did trust Gregg…he has two-face written all over him. Good riddance! Now we can recruit talented, knowledgeable, skillful candidate to the post of Commerce Secretary…independent or democrat need apply. No republicans please, that would send our country down the tubes for another four years…just washed our hands from the last eight years of republican disaster and meltdown.

Posted by: Seacrest for Independents | February 13, 2009, 6:51 am 6:51 am

Could This be the reason Judd Quit.
News emerged this week that the U.S. Department of Commerce has just approved a license allowing Boeing (nyse: BA – news – people ) to go ahead with major overhauls of two 747 jetliners belonging to Syria’s state-owned Syrian Arab Airlines. The administration itself has been coy on the subject. In response to my query, a Commerce spokesman e-mailed a statement that such license requests are granted on a case-by-case basis, and Commerce cannot comment on specific instances.
You know when you add this to the list.
Palastinians get $20.3mil and a free ticket to the U.S.
Closing Gitmo then dropping charges on Terrorist.
First phone call to Abba’s
First interview to Al-alribya
Extending a hand to Iran
Then concern that the election in Israel may produce someone with RIGHT ideas. Maybe Greg just could’nt stomach that he would be head of a dept. that supports a terrorist state. Thats what me and the men in my unit think.

Posted by: bdaman | February 13, 2009, 7:14 am 7:14 am

Hang in there President Obama. Everyone knew that it was going to take time to clean up the mess created over the last 8 years. The good people in this country have faith in you, your leadership, and the refreshing ideas you bring to the table. God Bless…

Posted by: pt | February 13, 2009, 7:23 am 7:23 am

Obama is a complete failure.

Posted by: jim | February 13, 2009, 7:26 am 7:26 am

Republicans are complete failures and nutjobs…they want another four years of U.S. downfall, as if their last eight years wasn’t enough. They need to get a real job, all of them. No more handouts to the rich and filthy.

Posted by: Sam | February 13, 2009, 7:30 am 7:30 am

mike: My guess is that you are a rush-listening idiot that voted for the bush-cheney fiasco twice. I have worked full-time since graduating college 30 years ago. Go back to listening to hannity or some other devisive cretons.

Posted by: pt | February 13, 2009, 7:33 am 7:33 am

Mr President, don’t give up hope, we did not give up on you. There are lots on your plate, the plate is full of junk you have to clean up after the eight years of garbage left to you by the previous moron. I know things will not happen overnight it takes time to plan things out carefully and intelligently. Just keep plugging and may God bless you and guide you in your decisions.

Posted by: deus899 | February 13, 2009, 7:33 am 7:33 am

Jim Obama is a complete failure
dude come on if thats the case that means there’s no hope, where’s the chnage

Posted by: bdaman | February 13, 2009, 7:34 am 7:34 am

When it’s all said and done Obama is going to make Jimmy Carter look like a great president.

Posted by: Steve | February 13, 2009, 7:35 am 7:35 am

Jimmy Carter IS a great president, but Obama will be better.

Posted by: jimbob | February 13, 2009, 7:37 am 7:37 am

deus899
plan things out carefully and intelligently
Ok lets see Gientner has a Plan
There’s a plan on closing Gitmo it is outlined with this get out in one year.
There’s a plan for Iraq, it’s called get out in 16 months.
None of those plans will work, what gives you the confidence anything else will. As Chris Berman says he’s fumblin and bumblin he could go all the way!!! as the worst elected official who has no record public or private.

Posted by: bdaman | February 13, 2009, 7:40 am 7:40 am

Obama is a complete failure.
Posted by: jim | Feb 13, 2009 7:26:28 AM
I think you are confused. Bush was a complete failure.

Posted by: Jwench | February 13, 2009, 7:40 am 7:40 am

Yes, he’s confusing Bush with Obama. Bush is a failure, Obama is a success.

Posted by: jimbob | February 13, 2009, 7:42 am 7:42 am

My forecast on this – When the dust has settled a lot of people would need to do some deep soul searching.
They will need to reflect on what public office means
What their true motive for service is
How they define GDP
Right now I see the rest of the world having a good laugh – see I told you so that the Country that talks to us about democracy can’t put their own house in order.
I don’t blame Gregg for stepping down but he should have considered all this before accepting the nomination – somehow I think the Press should do some more digging. It stinks
The President should carry on working on his vision – it has been my observation that when the outcome of an experience is going to be a lasting and credible legacy- the process always proves to be challenging.

Posted by: Pammy | February 13, 2009, 7:43 am 7:43 am

Posted by: Jwench | February 13, 2009, 7:43 am 7:43 am

Gregg got what he deserved…kicked to the curb. Obama can go forward without a turncoat trailing him.

Posted by: bill | February 13, 2009, 7:44 am 7:44 am

Jwench name one thing that has worked out. just playin the odds.

Posted by: bdaman | February 13, 2009, 7:48 am 7:48 am

Another day, Another Obama screw up. I can hardly wait to see what happens today.
Oh and Barney Frank for Commerce!

Posted by: Jane | February 13, 2009, 7:49 am 7:49 am

Gregg embarrassed himself and the President in what amounts to a cheesy attempt to rig the Census for GOP gerrymandering.
http://www.political-buzz.com/

Posted by: matt | February 13, 2009, 7:50 am 7:50 am

Jwench name one thing that has worked out. just playin the odds.
Posted by: bdaman | Feb 13, 2009 7:48:30 AM
Well gee, he’s been in office barely 3 weeks. Why don’t you give him a chance for pete’s sake. What worked in Bush’s administration? That is what a failure looks like.

Posted by: Jwench | February 13, 2009, 7:52 am 7:52 am

Well it seems that Abramoff used the staff of Gregg, to get things done in return for vafors from Abramoff.
Could this be the real reason Gregg withdrew, and his decision not to run in 2010?

Posted by: Thinking | February 13, 2009, 7:53 am 7:53 am

Jane, how appropriate Barney Frank for the Commerece Dept. The scary thing is if your right, he might take us down the ol Hershey Highway. That would certainly stimulate the economy and put lots of MENS back to work.

Posted by: bdaman | February 13, 2009, 7:53 am 7:53 am

Gregg like his republican flunkies make lots of noise with no vision, pragmatism, or commitment…they’re all fluff. Thank God for Obama.

Posted by: Simon | February 13, 2009, 7:54 am 7:54 am

Tell me Gregg didn’t know what differences they had 9 days ago when he was picked. Why did he say yes? Seems to me he can’t make a decision. No wonder the Republicans are the part of no, they can’t make up their minds.

Posted by: Jwench | February 13, 2009, 7:56 am 7:56 am

Posted by: bdaman | February 13, 2009, 7:57 am 7:57 am

Jwench because in the last 9 days this is what happened and add the census take over
News emerged this week that the U.S. Department of Commerce has just approved a license allowing Boeing (nyse: BA – news – people ) to go ahead with major overhauls of two 747 jetliners belonging to Syria’s state-owned Syrian Arab Airlines. The administration itself has been coy on the subject. In response to my query, a Commerce spokesman e-mailed a statement that such license requests are granted on a case-by-case basis, and Commerce cannot comment on specific instances.
You know when you add this to the list.
Palastinians get $20.3mil and a free ticket to the U.S.
Closing Gitmo then dropping charges on Terrorist.
First phone call to Abba’s
First interview to Al-alribya
Extending a hand to Iran
Then concern that the election in Israel may produce someone with RIGHT ideas. Maybe Greg just could’nt stomach that he would be head of a dept. that supports a terrorist state. Thats what me and the men in my unit think.

Posted by: bdaman | February 13, 2009, 8:00 am 8:00 am

Jwench, Imagine yourself driving a car on a very busy highway. Got it, ok keep looking in the rearview mirror. BAM crash Bing. Uh O to late you should of be paying attention to what was in front of you.
Thank you, thank you very much. Please to my fellow Americans please you this example anytime someone brings up the last 8 years.
Posted by: bdaman | Feb 13, 2009 7:57:25 AM
How do you expect Obama in 3 weeks to undo the damage that was done the last 8 . Enlighten me as to how you expect him to do that.
Bush and his lying band of thieves are the ones that got this country into this mess. I guess we should forget about the past 8 years and blame this mess on Obama? Get a grip.

Posted by: Jwench | February 13, 2009, 8:01 am 8:01 am

Gregg’s an idiot. He knew going into the Obama administration that he would have to follow Obama’s lead. What…the light bulb in his head just suddenly blinked on? It must be a republican thing…being muddle-headed.

Posted by: bill | February 13, 2009, 8:02 am 8:02 am

Gregg has a Jack Abramoff problem that is about to hit MSM.

Posted by: Josh | February 13, 2009, 8:02 am 8:02 am

Jwench all joking a side. EVERY single one of them including Bush that sit there and pretend that they are making the right decisions for you and me are crooks. I know how you feel, it’s the same way I do. This country has gone to hell in a hand basket. But to just blame one man is ridiculous. The whole gang republicans and democrats are crooks. Look at the ones that have the most money and you see the ones that have dirty hands. Thats why they say money is dirty, to many hands on it.

Posted by: bdaman | February 13, 2009, 8:05 am 8:05 am

Obama is a complete failure.
Posted by: jim | Feb 13, 2009 7:26:28 AM
————-
I think you are confused. Bush was a complete failure.
Posted by: Jwench
————-
Jim, Bushes answer was to use the trickle down
economy. Yeh, what a joke that was !!! LOL
Ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,

Posted by: spacerook1 | February 13, 2009, 8:08 am 8:08 am

“Gregg embarrassed himself and the President in what amounts to a cheesy attempt to rig the Census for GOP gerrymandering.”
Really?
Could it be that one of the “policies” with which Gregg disagreed was Rahm Emanuel having oversight of the Census? This is a fairly recent development and I can surely understand why Gregg would have a problem with this leading to a “change of heart”. While some think Gregg intentionally embarassed The One, personally I think he was quite gracious as he could have blasted the administration with this Census issue.
“He who votes decides nothing; he who counts the votes decides everything.” (Joseph Stalin)

Posted by: tjp612 | February 13, 2009, 8:45 am 8:45 am

“Judd Gregg and I agree on 80% of things that matter to the American people. There’s 20% that we disagree on.”
Obama’s invitation to Gregg to be a member of the Cabinet and then immediately undermining his authority by stripping the census away says a lot about Obama.
I have pretty much had it with the MSM telling us how Obama is reaching across the aisle. He’s reaching across alright, but it’s to perform an enema.

Posted by: drjohn | February 13, 2009, 8:51 am 8:51 am

Posted by: spacerook1 | Feb 13, 2009 8:08:13 AM
The wheels didn’t come off the economy until the Democrats took over.
Fact.

Posted by: drjohn | February 13, 2009, 8:52 am 8:52 am

Hmmmm, there is a Lincoln bedroom in the White House….

Posted by: mad | February 13, 2009, 9:05 am 9:05 am

The wheels didn’t come off the economy until the Democrats took over.
Fact.
Posted by: drjohn
************************************
That’s because the economy had 4 flats!
Hey, it’s Friday the 13th

Posted by: spacerook1 | February 13, 2009, 9:19 am 9:19 am

Bi-partisan means two parties working together to come up with a common solution. It is obvious that Republicans have no intenttion of working together to get us out the mess that their party’s president created. That is particularly evident by their glee in their solidarity in opposition to the bill. John Kennedy was right when he said that Republicans act like circus elephants moving around a circus ring and grabbing the tail of the elephant in front them…Republicans have not learned a thing from the election…

Posted by: indy_voter | February 13, 2009, 10:48 am 10:48 am

Indy_voter, how can the REpublicans work in a bipartisan manner when they are shut out of negotiations in the first place and are not allowed into the conference committee to shape the revision? And if you want to talk glee, how about Pelosi’s gloating of “we won the election– we wrote the bill.” It takes two sides to be bipartisan and, the president’s cocktail parties notwithstanding, the leadership of BOTH parties in the Congress is blocking any bipartisan progress. There have been blue dog democrats and republican moderates who have tried to make a difference and I hope they continue to build on their common interests in the future.

Posted by: moderate | February 13, 2009, 11:09 am 11:09 am

The GOP clamoring about the Census is a joke. In fact, their clamoring probably just gave them NO say whatsoever regarding the Census. Good!
The Census is under the Dept. of Commerce, which is under the Executive Branch, which is the Branch housed in the White House.
The joke is that Republicans didn’t offer a single peep when VP Cheney claimed to be a part of the Legislative Branch!
But now they throw a hissy fit, trying to somehow claim that the Commerce Dept somehow isn’t part of the Executive Branch. CRAZY.
Can Republicans display any greater hypocrisy?
They blasted Bill Clinton for 8 long years, even though he left the next President a nation enjoying both peace and prosperity.
They rolled over for George W. Bush for 8 long years, even though George W. Bush brought our nation 2 major wars and economic disaster.
The Senate is 60% Left-leaning vs. 40% Right-leaning.
The House is 60% Left-wing vs. 40% Right-wing.
The President has the approval of MORE than 60% vs. the disapproval of LESS than 40%.
That means that for every 4 Rush Republicans or fewer, there are at least 6 Americans or more who will help take our country back from these self-proclaimed Ditto Heads.
Let’s ROLL!
Yes, we can.

Posted by: Jan | February 13, 2009, 11:23 am 11:23 am

The census issue is not new. There was issues regarding the census and how it would be done lasttime the census was done. The method currently used is inadequate, inefficient, and wastes a lot of time s the white house wanted to stream line the process. Gregg (I beleive) disagreed with that. However, Gregg campaigned for this position and approached Reid about it. He already new about the census issue and the stimulus plan. He buckled under GOP pressure – simple!!

Posted by: Lana | February 13, 2009, 11:56 am 11:56 am

Jan,
You are committing the rhetorical sin of creating a strawman. Republicana upset about the changes in the census management are NOT arguing that the census bureau is not part of the commerce department or that the commerce department is not part of the administrative branch.They are not suggesting that the census be taken out of the control of the executive brnach, which as you so astutely pointed out, is controlled by democrats as is the congress. They are concerned that the census be more directly controlled by the WH, specifically by chief of staff Rahm Emmanuel. They do not want the census decisions to be made by partisans, although as you so rightly point out, people are always more comfortable with decisions made by “partisans” when they are their own “partisans.” ( That is, they might not be so disturbed if the WH in question were run by Republicans.)
But I am very disappointed about a persistent problem on these boards, of which your post is a clear example. We really need to stop labelling the two parties by their outer wings and stop lumping all people of a political party under one handy, disparaging label. You want to criticize Republicans (and I readily admit to being one) as “rush republicans” and “ditto heads.” Sorry, but the Republican tent is far wider than you credit it, and there are moderate Republicans like myself, as well as those who are fiscally conservative but socially moderate (like Rudy Guiliani, for example) and those who are socially conservative but not conservative on foreign policy (like Mike Huckabee, I would argue) and all sorts of other permutations.
I try not to lump all Democrats as far left-wing liberals. It’s a label i think does fit, say, nancy pelosi and harry reid. It is not a label that fits Minnick of Idaho, who proposed a far leaner, more targeted stimulus package I really liked. It is not a label that fits Blue Dog democrats. There are a wide variety of people who call themselves Democrat, and, like Republicans, their social, fiscal, and foreign policy views may not all fit in the same tidy ideological box.

Posted by: moderate | February 13, 2009, 12:22 pm 12:22 pm

moderate,
I too am a moderate and an Independent. I owe no allegiance to Democrats. However, I do see Democrats working towards a solution while Republicans sit on the sidelines and snipe. After 8 years of a disastrous presidency and a smackdown in the election you think they would have learned. As for Republicans being shut out of negotiations….if they truly wanted to participate there were ways they could have found their way into the process. Instead they wanted to demagogue and play politics. I give the three Republican Senators who took the initiative to help get the bill. It is because of their courage that many of their Republican collegues were able to run for cover because I think if it came to a vote some Republicans would have had to think long and hard about what a delay it getting a bill passed would have meant to the country and would have felt pressure to vote for it. It is all shameless politics..

Posted by: indy_voter | February 13, 2009, 1:03 pm 1:03 pm

Obama seems to serve up jokes at other people’s expense…Biden…Gregg..Not very Presidential Mr. Obama..Maybe will ferrell needs to re-direct his semi-talent toward another skit…

Posted by: Parallax View | February 13, 2009, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm

moderate,
To my eye, there are no moderate Republicans left. And I did not vote for Barack Obama, if that tells you anything about my “liberal” politics.
It’s great that there are Conservative Democrats who voted against the bill.
The telling point is, there are no similar numbers of Liberal Republicans in Congress anymore.
Barack Obama has the support of 65% of the country right now.
So, he has in his corner those who are right-center, center, center-left and left-wing.
The 35% of Republicans left are not moderates, but right-wing.
And I call them Ditto Heads because they call themselves Ditto Heads.
On the Census, you said:
“They are not suggesting that the census be taken out of the control of the executive brnach, which as you so astutely pointed out, is controlled by democrats as is the congress. They are concerned that the census be more directly controlled by the WH, specifically by chief of staff Rahm Emmanuel. They do not want the census decisions to be made by partisans, although as you so rightly point out, people are always more comfortable with decisions made by “partisans” when they are their own “partisans.”
Republicans are “concerned.”
But no one really cares whether they are “concerned” or not.
They just sound like a bunch of hypocritical whiners to the rest of America.
How many elections do Republicans have to lose before they realize that the last eight years of being Loyal Bushies has made them the laughing stock of the world?
Your echo chamber tells you the GOP is doing just fine. Yeah, and Karl Rove’s math told him the GOP was going to win the House in 2006.
In 2008…
The GOP lost the White House.
The GOP lost the Senate.
The GOP lost the House.
And the GOP lost the Census.
Elections have consequences.
As Obama has said so eloquently, he won.
Democrats gave the Republicans a thumpin’ in November.
Republicans should try to figure out why 65% of us can’t stand them anymore, even though 65% of America is not Democrat, never mind liberal.

Posted by: Jan | February 13, 2009, 6:04 pm 6:04 pm

jan…Time will prove you wrong…..

Posted by: Parallax View | February 14, 2009, 11:32 am 11:32 am

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