New Hampshire's Judd Gregg would be a very interesting choice for Commerce Secretary.
First, he's an expert in entitlement reform. Gregg nurtured some of the leading Republican -- yes, Gregg is a Republican -- thinkers on Social Security reform.
Second, Commerce is usually a post given to party fundraisers. The Commerce Secretary is traditionally charged with keeping business happy and the campaign contributions flowing. If Obama puts a Republican there he must really feel comfortable with his ability to continue raising a mountain of money from small donors. This President really doesn't think he owes anyone anything.
Third, Gregg is an expert on the budget. This, and his experience on entitlement reform, makes him an excellent person to reach out to Republicans and help cut the kind of deals that Obama sees as necessary to truly reform the budget.
Finally, Gregg is a senator. It seems to me that Obama is showing that he knows the real action on major reforms will be in the Senate. House Republicans are too ideological to really cut a bipartisan grand bargain. Judd Gregg is the kind of guy who could help make that happen in the Senate.
As I said, interesting choice.
Comments
I am for anyone or anything that can obviate the dogma that replaces the Republican thinking in the House of Representatives. I cannot believe that in a time of national crisis, not one republican congressman could make an independent decision based on his own independent thinking to vote to go forward with the House proposed legislation. The dogmatic do nothing attitude is a cancer on our form of government. I am beginning to believe that being a Republican does not mean you are a conservative...rather it means you have to check your individuality at the door, ignore all ideas that are not invented there, and march in lockstep to the drums ideology.