02-15-2009, 05:08 PM
Quote:Why is it Obama's fault? Easy, when first offering the position to Gregg, Obama led the man to believe he would have far greater control over things (like helping rebuild the private economy) than in actuality. Gregg wasn't worried about losing his seat to a democratic appointee because NH governor Lynch promised the seat would go to a Republican (said republican was preparing to go to DC when Gregg out of nowhere declined). American politics is a GAME, we have two seemingly polar opposite powers always vying for power in an almost "high-tide, low-tide" type of manner. So yes, any failure of bipartsianship will lay at the feet of Democrats now, not the GOP-- as the party is very much still in pieces.
Perhaps Gregg is just being overly generous, but his statements are pretty solidly in support of Obama, and he admits that it is policy differences, and not a lack of bipartisanship on Obama's part, that made him withdraw.
Since Obama was elected on the policies he is pursuing, the ones which Gregg apparently cannot reconcile himself with, this all seems very reasonable to me.
From where I sit, it sounds like some heavyweight Republicans leaned on him, in order to undercut Obama's credibility. But that's just speculation.
-Jester