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Marion,

Obama has to go outside of his party to fill his cabinet.

He can't find enough Democrats who pay their taxes and are qualified to serve.

Clinton had one GOP and Bush had one Dem cabinet member, so Obama is not breaking ground. Actually many presidents have had a cabinet member from the opposite party. Obama will have 2 GOP, so I guess that's better then the others. Gates is a moderate independent, not a GOP. Generally Governors do replace a Congress person who is no longer able to serve for whatever reason with someone from that person's party. Many a GOP Governor has appointed a Dem Senator or Representative and many a Dem Governor has appointed a GOP Senator or Representative.

Excellent handling of the matter. Thanks President Obama!

Extremely Disappointing, Any Extra Money I have will be used to
unseat Republicans and my other Florida friends feel the same
way. This was a jesture to the Republicans that got our economy
in this mess under Bush. Any Republican could not make a
blemish on Obama!!!!!!

What President Obama and the Congress need to have is a prayer meeting similair to when Nixon and Kissinger got on their knees to pray in the oval office.

Question, why would Obama appoint a republican to his cabinet? Answer- He needed one token honest person in his cabinet and no democrats qualified.

I'm an Obama supporter, and I have no problem with this. Obama wanted Gregg for the job, Gregg didn't want to take it if that would mean it would be a loss in the Senate for his party, so a deal was reached whereby his replacement would be a Republican. No, there was no legal obligation for the governor to honor the deal, but not doing so would have been quite dishonorable. Would a Republican governor have done the same? I don't know, but when was the last time you saw a president appoint a Cabinet member from outside his own party? The point is to raise the bar of political conduct to a point where doing the right thing, regardless of party ideology, is the norm instead of the exception.

a sordid deal by gov lynch with gregg and obama to keep the seat republican. lynch rewards an old crony and shows he is really a republican. another placeholder until 2010 in a party out of ideas and out of gas.

Obama – what are you doing? We elected you do get your job done. Now you've just made another blunder. Why is a 'stipulation' that if you appoint this rep. senator as Commerce sec. that the Dem. Gov. of NH appoint a republican to replace him? Isn't that some form of 'pay for play". It's just the same old same old we've always had. I am beginning to doubt if anything will change. Meanwhile, people lose their jobs, lose their homes, lose their lives while you guys play politics. Just goes to show NO ONE in the Government cares about regular ordinary people or their nation. I've lost heart.

Think this was a fair and bipartisan judgment and I am a Dem. You can speculate whether the Reps would have done the same thing (Arnie didn't in CA) but that's irrelevant. It shows character and believe the citizens of NH will respect that next election. Obama's goal is not to have a lock step congress but to actually build consensus. Gov Lynch should be applauded on both sides of the aisle.

GOPs, you're not "winning" anything. Obama is letting you play using "Special Olympics" rules.

@ legal in nc.....savor that bottle of champaigne you popped to celebrate.....it will be your last for quite some time.

Can someone please explain how this whole scheme does NOT fit into the same sort of "pay to play" category as the Illinois debacle?

I disagree with Gregg for this position. He tried to do away with this very department's existence in government in the past and now he says he can lead it? Why the departure of that position now...because he gets to be the leader of it?

This nomination does not make any sense, and I am a republican. I could go with the "party line," but we have had enough of that in Washington, in my opinion.

A man of his word. I like that.

Great! This is some really good political news. Partisanship is what keeps our lawmaking sane. When two sides are pulling for different objectives and neither side wins out completely, everyone wins. When we have bipartisan landslide votes like the war in Iraq or the first stimulus package, the results are terrible.

a shout out to simmy who was wondering "What was the purpose for selecting him?"

Duh, because the man has the skills to do the job! Because Obama is looking for the best people he can get and unlike the narrow minded purely partisan republicans, Obama will add talented people from both parties.

Democratic Governor Lynch, knowing the republicans would not "allow" Gregg to take the position if he wasn't replaced by a republican – as usual always putting party before country.

A diplomatic and honorable move by both Lynch and Obama. I remain skeptical, however, that Republicans can ever be non-partisan. Obama should start using his communication skills to build public pressure on the Republicans to stop playing party politics and start doing something good and right for the country.

Obama may very likely wind up with something more valuable than a filibuster proof 60 seat Democratic Senate. he is probabaly going to wind up with a 60+ seat bipartisan Senate.

The country is more moderate than either left or right and more moderate Republicans are going to join the administration as they grow disgusted with the partisan right.

Republicans have little choice if they want to be the 2nd major party, either move to the center, which they seem to doing with recent choices for the RNC, or see moderates bolt to a 3rd growing center party.

Both the right wing and left wing need to understand they have minority viewpoints and the moderate center usually provides the swing votes. After years of wandering in the desert, a significant number of Democrats got the message. The 2008 election reflects this change.

Time for socially progressive, fiscally moderate Republicans to sieze the party back from the right. We are all Americans first. Moderate participation will help shape the Obama administrations policy. Those who fail to understand that will be voted out of office and marginalized.

President Obama has made a fine decision on Commerce and applause to Governor Lynch on his choice of Bonnie Newman as NH's junior senator. Way to go!

She's just a filler for two years because she wasn't going to win reelection anyway....this was a good move on the Governor's part because the people will get to elect their next Senator, which will be a Democrat...this takes the wind out of the sails of the Republicans, who would have had a cow if he had picked a Democrat...all of the pundits say that the Republicans are going to lose more seats in 2010 including New Hampshire and Missouri....great move on the Governor's part

Whoopteewoo.

republicans would never do this in a zillion years, yet they still accuse Obama of partisanship...i'm beginning to think they dont know what the word means. has ANY republican in the last 40 years ever actually taken responsibilty and admitted they made a mistake, like Obama did with daschle? of course not. GOP=lost and looking for someone else to blame, as usual.

i wish he woulda thought a little longer on this, but I mostly hope that this senator is the right person, because afterall we are not the red states of America or the blue states of America, we are the united states of America. Party affiliation doesnt matter

Hey Partisans-

The American public is mainly centrist in their political views. Your parties both exist because of this. The Republicans messed up and were punished. Dems better not get too cocky or we will do the same to you.

I am behind Obama. But if he screws up we'll send him to live with Bush in Texas.

Time for America to rule, not idiot partisans!!!!!

What was the purpose for selecting him? What about a Native American? They, as far as I know, are not represented.

because Gregg will be a good commerce secretary. and to use the opportunity to take a senate seat, which was legitimately won by a republican, would be dirty politics. i'm proud of Obama, Gregg, and Lynch for working out this deal. screw partisan politics.

Specific to Eric,

Gregg was considered one of the most vulnerable senators for re-election for 2010. Governor Lynch not only gave him a face-saving way out of a bad situation, he ALSO provided Gregg's heir apparent with the added cache of incumbency when/if she decides to run in 2010.

The Democrats would have been better of with a vulnerable Gregg in the Senate with the knowledge that we could defeat him in 2010 than to have a newly-appointed Republican in the seat who is an unknown and possibly dangerous commodity.

Yes...it is appropriate to question the judgement of John Lynch in this situation.

Frankly, the people of New Hampshire elected a Republican to the office, they should get a Republican who is similar to Gregg in position and ideology.

Newman served as Gregg's chief of staff in the 80's and has experience dealing with the White House from the George H.W. Bush's administration. It was a good pick that reflects the desires of the people of his state and puts someone with experience in government in a position where she may be able to do some good.

To those who say she is simply a place holder, get over it. She hasn't done anything as a Senator yet and until she does she should not be judged.

Since I don't want to go google Bonnie Newman, a relavant fact for your audiance would be whether or not she is a republican.

Reporting 101, put in the pertinent facts.

Gregg is the third Republican in Obama's cabinet. I think it's a great idea and Obama is going to do some great things for our country.

Proud Liberal, you have no idea what any Republican, or any other Democrat would have done in the same situation. You only know what you would do, which according to your post, would be to break your promise. You have certainly earned your name.

OK, Obama –
After this...enough already!
The Republicans have no desire to work with you, despite what they say.
You don't need to bring any more of them in your cabinet – they are way too extreme for the country. You mean well, but they are setting you up for failure big time! Enough with the kumbayah, already!

Pay attention here Gov. Patterson, this is how you announce a nominee. Not in a drawn out process lasting months, but rather in day. Just makes Patterson look all the more incompetent.

Um, you have a Republican Senator from a mostly democratic state. He's keeping with the will of the people by selecting another republican to take Gregg's place.

If he appointed a democrat to take the place, he would have felt the wrath come election time (and probably still will anyway.

I think from the way he looks after two weeks of being the Prez, he wishes he wasn't!

He just found out the hard way "present" doesn't work anymore!

I really love the way he lowered himself to fight with Rush!

They are both complete ego maniac losers!

Picks crooks for positions, tried to sell a PORK Bill as A Stimulus!

It is going to be a long four years! Just like the long Carter years!

By the way, James I agree with you 100 percent.

Republicans continue to underestimate the President. He is a strategist, they are tacticians. Those with vision are better achievers, go ask McCain and Hillary.

This is a quid pro quo ... not very different at it's core from Blagoiviech.

Sounds like the 60 fillibuster proof majority that Obama wants is now in the works. NOT!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

SOUNDS GOOD TO ME!

It's the honorable thing to do as the constituency elected a Republican, a Republican should replace him.

GOP are you watching?! Because you would never do this in a million years!!! I know because you've had the chance before and done the partisan thing!

Good move mr. President,one move closer to checkmate.

I think Franken might be the saving grace

Hey partisans.........

HAHAHA!

Now is the time for Americans to rule. Not idiot partisans.

Bill February 3rd, 2009 5:40 pm ET
Question why would a Dem Gov. appoint a Republican. The last thing we need in Washington D.C. is another no vote for everything.
-------–
Duh! Probably because Gregg is a Republican. Probably because Obama's and Clinton's replacements were ALSO Democrats replacing Democrats. Got a problem with that?

This deal was obviously cleared by the administration. So if you don't like the deal, did you not understand President Obama?

Four years ago, at the DNC Convention, he spoke of one United States of America – not a red or blue one. Did you not believe him? Did you think he was lying?

Republicans Win !! ! ! ! ! ! !

Get over it ! ! ! !

He would appoint a Republican because Gregg would not accept the position unless another Republican took his place. Gregg is clearly aware that he could have been the cause of the filibuster proof majority, and he wouldn't let it happen. John Lynch had no choice but to pick another Republican, so don't start running your mouth and accuse him of being disloyal to his own party.

Dems will win that senate slot in 2 years. She's a place-holder

(I would have held the place for 2 years – do nothing but vote no like all the other republicans and get that salary).

Because the Governor was thinking correctly!

Gregg was more concerned about his Senate than becoming Commerce Secretary. So, why do we want him in the Commerce dept because of that reason? The Govenor made a poor decision by agreeing to this deal for Gregg. He should have told Gregg to decide on the job regardless of what happens to your Senate seat. FYI- The Democrats are in charge now!

I understand the whole 'deal' behind Gregg joining Obama 's administration, but this was the time to break that 'promise' (which is what the Republicans would do if the facts were reversed.)

it was part of the deal for Gregg to accept the post. Gregg told Gov Lynch he would not accept unless he was promised a repub would be appointed so there would not be a filibuster-proof 60 dems in the Senate. A bit transparent end run by Pres Obama, but it the pick was for the best available person for the post, the replacement would not matter, theoretically, to the Pres.

Wait wait...let's see if I can be as crazy as a GOPer:

Newman? NEWMAN!!!??? Next thing you know Obama is going to appoint The Soup Nazi as Daschle's replacement for HHS. See, we told you he was a muslim terrorist sympathizer, hated the Jews and would ruin Israel. Typical Chicago German cronyism. Can't you see he's trying to socialize the country like a Marxist and ban chocolate pudding? You libs are so blind.

And Gregg putting conditions on his nomination is different than Blagojevich trying to "sell" Obama's seat how?

I'm seriously dissapointed with this display of backroom game playing.

Is this me or is this precipitous? What if he doesn't get confirmed?

It is a F@#^&*g very valuable thing and the republicans were not going to just give it away. That's why the democratic govenor had to pick a republican to replace Sen. Gregg.

Boy, this first 100 days has NOT gone well for Mr. Obama. His campaign was flawless; his management so far has been terrible.

It is a personal matter between her and her husband, "let he whom has sinned cast the first stone".

Bad idea. If even ONE judicial nominee gets held up by a Republican filibuster – after the Democrats had a chance reach a filibuster-proof majority – we Democrats should actively campaign for whatever candidate is willing to run against Lynch in the primaries to get him out of the governors mansion!

Question why would a Dem Gov. appoint a Republican. The last thing we need in Washington D.C. is another no vote for everything.

To all you dittoheads that were yammerin' about the Dems governors appointing 'place holders" Senators for the states of Illnois and New York and complaining that even though the states could not afford it wanted a special election to fill the vacancy.

What do you call the appointment of Gregg's repub replacement by a repub?

Just so you do not have to think, as it may cause your tiny brains to explode and then who would post comments on this thread for comic relief.

The answer is a "place holder" Senator. Where is all the pi$$in' and moanin' now? Always changes when it is your side.

For the record this Dem thinks President Obama should follow the head of the RNC's comment that "bi-partisanship is overrated" and Obama should not reach to repubs and make this appointment.

However, Obama is a better man and he continues to fight for the American people and not JUST his party.

See how that whole bi-partisanship thingy is supposed to work?

I'd show up every day for 2 years and do nothing - for that salary.

(She won't run for re-election - just a place-holder).