but you've only just arrived

So, Obama's second attempt to appoint a Commerce Secretary (after the first one, Bill Richardson didn't vet) has come to naught. This comes as a juddering shock (excuse me) to the new administration. The nomination of a well-regarded Republican senator to this post sent a powerful signal about Obama's determination to build a bipartisan coalition in Washington, to draw on all the talents, and so on.

There is much fevered speculation across the internets and cables about "how this will play" over the coming days and weeks. For Gregg to withdraw, citing irreconcilable differences with Obama over the stimulus bill on the day that bill is due to pass with minimal Republican support, is not good news. It reminds everyone that despite the president's efforts Washington is as divided as ever. It risks makes Obama look impotent and incompetent.

But let's get one thing straight. It seems overwhelmingly clear from where I'm standing (well, sitting, and admittedly a long way away, although that can help sometimes) that Gregg's behaviour is indefensible. As the White House's short and brutal statement on the affair makes clear, Gregg asked for the job. He took part in lengthy discussions with the Obama team about how this would work in practice, including and especially on the subject of the president's agenda and his support for it. The stimulus bill that he has discovered his profound disagreement with has been on the table in one form or another since before he was appointed, and there have been no radical changes to it. What seems to have happened is that he's been getting such a beating from his local GOP in New Hampshire and/or party colleagues in Washington that he caved and decided life wasn't worth living with this level of animosity for the sake of a cabinet seat (the census kerfuffle, by Gregg's own account, seems to be a non-issue). Even Gregg isn't attempting to defend Gregg. In his press conference he accepted this as his mess, and warmly praised Obama.

So, there's no way that his withdrawal is anything but an unwelcome development for the administration, and of course there are wider implications, of which more later. But in terms of immediate perceptions, I can't see that Obama will be blamed for this by the American public. It's simple. Gregg looks like a fool. He took the job to please his ego. But his backbone let him down.

Comments

[SL]

This is why I love reading your blog; wonderfully clear, to the point reporting and analysis of what's going on over there - depth without waffle.

Bravo.

[Lyle]

SL put it perfectly about why so many readers consider Marbury essential reading.

I, on the other hand, feel so irate after looking at other websites' hyper-partisan comments sections about Gregg's defection, that all I can muster about the Gregg affair is: Judd Gregg is a weenie!