February 12, 2009 [LINK / comment]
After news reports that President Obama was planning to take responsibility for the 2010 Census from the Commerce Department, Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) announced that he would not accept the nomination to be secretary of that department. He said simply that there were "irresolvable conflicts" over the stimulus package and other policy issues, but I'll bet Gregg felt that Obama had used him. According to CNN.com, "[A] GOP source said Gregg 'didn't want to be a powerless GOP token, and that's where this was headed.'"
Good for him! That means Obama has to start the search and vetting process all over once again, after the prior Commerce nominee Bill Richardson withdrew his name (see Jan. 4) and the prior HHS nominee Tom Daschle did likewise (see Feb. 3). Now why can't they admit that Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner was a bad choice, and replace him as well?