'Elections Have Consequences'

Wall Street Journal ^ | 4/26/09 | BRIAN M. CARNEY

[mathprof]

Sen. Judd Gregg is perhaps best known for something he didn't do. Two weeks into the Obama administration, he announced that he was leaving the Senate to become commerce secretary. Two weeks later, he withdrew his name, drawing a testy jab from the administration for denying it a bipartisan feather in its cap. Zina Saunders

It's hard to reconcile the man who nearly boarded the Obama express with the tough-minded Republican senator who sat across from The Wall Street Journal's editorial board at our offices earlier this week. As for the lessons he learned from his dalliance with the administration, he reserves his criticism for himself: "I should have been smart enough to see the daylight before I walked in the door. . . . I don't think there's any big lesson here for anybody but myself, which is the obvious: It would have been impossible for me to be with the president 100% of the time, which is what a cabinet secretary has to be."

Just how obvious that should have been became clear in the course of our interview. Also obvious, Mr. Gregg said, was that the Obama administration is filled with "really capable, dedicated, smart, sharp people with an agenda that they intend to pursue aggressively."

The kind words mostly stop there. From health care to global warming, financial regulation, spending and tax policy, Mr. Gregg doesn't pull any punches in his criticism of the new president. He may be "a charismatic person" with "a very strong understanding of who he is and what he wants to do," but when it comes to the substance of what Mr. Obama seeks to accomplish, Mr. Gregg is less charitable. "They have a goal," the senator says, "and he's very open about it. They are going to grow this government."

[mathprof]

Good article.

[rdb3]

Yes, they sure do.

Amazing << Hear this. Feel this, and tell me that this isn't music.

Oh, dear...

[WHBates]

"really capable, dedicated, smart, sharp people with an agenda that they intend to pursue aggressively."

The only part of the above that has been been true is the following:

"with an agenda that they intend to pursue aggressively."

[DarthVader]

Judd Gregg is becoming one of my favorite senators.

[PGalt]

Very good article. Elections have consequences and your decisions have had consequences Judd Gregg. Adios.

[staytrue]

An excellent article. I agree.

[SunkenCiv]

"I should have been smart enough to see the daylight before I walked in the door. . . . I don't think there's any big lesson here for anybody but myself, which is the obvious: It would have been impossible for me to be with the president 100% of the time, which is what a cabinet secretary has to be." ...From health care to global warming, financial regulation, spending and tax policy, Mr. Gregg doesn't pull any punches in his criticism of the new president. He may be "a charismatic person" with "a very strong understanding of who he is and what he wants to do," but when it comes to the substance of what Mr. Obama seeks to accomplish, Mr. Gregg is less charitable. "They have a goal," the senator says, "and he's very open about it. They are going to grow this government."

[Redbob]

""really capable, dedicated, smart, sharp people with an agenda that they intend to pursue aggressively." The only part of the above that has been been true is the following: "with an agenda that they intend to pursue aggressively."

Underestimate them at your peril:
Zero's people ARE smart, dedicated, etc., and they're putting all those smarts into effing this country over in a big way!

[hoosierham]

Complacent,smug Americans underestimated "the little yellow men" from Japan in the 1930s .It took Pearl Harbor to make America realize others can be equally capable of innovation,hard work, and striving towards a goal;even if we don't agree with that goal!

If only evil was consistently imcompetent life would be so much easier.

[WHBates]

I don't underestimate them and I guess they are dedicated but capable, smart and Sharp they are not and that is what makes them dangerous. Their agenda and incompetence are going to destroy our economy and possibly the our republic.

[lt.america]

And you will fall right into the Liberals trap. Why do you think they wanted Gregg as Commerce Secretary? Because he understands parliamentary procedure, he garners respect, and he carries much clout when it comes to the economy.

This point of view has started to reach pandemic proportions and if I can get one thing across to folks it is this: You will not get a true “conservative” in moderate districts. You will do just fine to get a moderate Republican and keep the liberals out of office. But somehow this principal has been lost on folks and everyone has thrown common sense to the wind. But, if it makes you feel better, throw a vote away and then you can sit back and watch runaway government for the next six years.

[PGalt]

Gregg is not running again. Being a man of principle /sarcasm, his decisions have consequences. Next.

[PhiKapMom]

I agree with you these are smart people when it comes to getting their agenda moving at a fast pace. They know exactly where they want to take this Country and it is not good for the Country. They are scum but smart enough to set up ACORN all these years to add millions of fraudulent voters to the roles. What they have done should be criminal but our scumbag media ‘loves’ ZERO and anything he does they will cover for him. They are the ones with little to know brains and are willing to walk in lock step with the Communist agenda.

[NonLinear]

Nice article. The last line was a little ominous, even though true.

But if the president and his majorities in Congress get their way, voters will, Mr. Gregg believes, be ready for an alternative. "And we're the only show in town."

[littlehouse36]

"We're headed on an unsustainable path. The simple fact is these [budget] numbers don't work and the practical implications of them are staggering for the nation and the next generation."

Bump for good budget analysis.

[PGalt]

Amazing / appropriate musical interlude, “Nuttin but stringz” - Broken Sorrow

Thanks.

[Hetty_Fauxvert]

This *is* a good article, and worth reading in its entirety. Judd sounds like he has seen the handwriting on the wall. Why exactly is he not running next time? Article doesn’t say. Is he thinking about a bigger office, perhaps? I don’t know anything about Judd ... is he charismatic? I’m thinking that if he had presidential aspirations, it would look pretty good (from a GOP point of view) to be the guy who was invited on board the Obama Express, and told them “Thanks but no thanks!”

[fieldmarshaldj]

No, he’s not charismatic. He’s already served as Congressman, Governor and Senator. He won’t be going to a higher office as he’s never been out of office for 30 years.

[phillyfanatic]

And he is retiring so the Dems will pick up another Senate seat. The Pubs cannot do anything right ala Kay Bailey leaving a safe seat to take on a good Pub like Perry. What dopes!

[yoe]

This is indeed a "good article". But like most good articles of today, way too much slack is cut for a president whose aim is to "rule" not to lead. Obama is moving as fast as he can like Hugo Chavez, to gleam all the power he can get….” They have a goal," the senator says, "and he's very open about it. They are going to grow this government." What Gregg doesn’t say is that the private sector….doctors, lawyers, mechanics, farmers, small business owners etc. will cease to exist in a few years….government/dictatorship will ensue. Obama didn’t like the American form of Democracy so he and George Soros are changing it to a Socialistic/communistic form of government. Mr. Soros finally bought himself an acting American President and cabinet.