Thread: Obama: approve or disapprove?

Originally Posted by Chaobam Armour

He can't even select an Administration, 3 x Tax evaders and now this.

Another Obama cabinet pick quits
Republican US Senator Judd Gregg is withdrawing as President Barack Obama's nominee for commerce secretary.

Mr Gregg made the decision because of policy differences with the Obama administration, he said in a statement.

His nomination was announced last week and he was expected to become the second Republican in the Obama cabinet.

The White House said Mr Gregg had earlier pledged to "embrace" the president's agenda, and expressed regret at his "change of heart".

The BBC's Jonathan Beale reports from Washington that this is another blow for President Obama's efforts to shape his cabinet and to reach out to Republicans.

Mr Gregg's decision will also raise more questions about the vetting process used to pick his the new cabinet, he adds.

Mr Obama has already lost four nominees for senior posts.

The president had originally picked New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson for the commerce post, but he withdrew over an investigation into a state contract given to his campaign donors.

Tom Daschle, who was to become the new secretary of health, and Nancy Killefer, Mr Obama's choice to oversee budget and spending reform, both pulled out last week over questions about their payment of taxes.

'Irresolvable conflicts'

Mr Gregg said in a statement that he had been honoured by his selection and that he admired President Obama's "willingness to reach across the aisle".

But he said he had found there were "irresolvable conflicts" on issues including Mr Obama's economic stimulus package and the country's census.

"Prior to accepting this post, we had discussed these and other potential differences, but unfortunately we did not adequately focus on these concerns," the statement said.

"We are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy."

Shortly after Mr Gregg announced his decision to withdraw, the White House issued a statement saying the Republican senator had offered his name for the commerce secretary post.

"He was very clear throughout the interviewing process that despite past disagreements about policies, he would support, embrace, and move forward with the president's agenda," the statement said.

It said it then became clear that Mr Gregg "was not going to be supporting some of President Obama's key economic priorities".

"We regret that he has had a change of heart."

'Time to act'

The $789bn (£547bn) US stimulus package has been widely criticised by Republicans, who say it will lead to wasteful government spending.

Explaining his decision to reporters on Thursday, Mr Gregg said he had always been a "fairly strong" fiscal conservative, and that "it just became clear to me that it would be very difficult day-in and day-out to serve in this cabinet".

But members of both houses of Congress said they had reached a deal on the package this week after the two houses had passed differing versions of the bill.

Mr Obama is expected to sign the final version of the bill as soon as Congress approves it.

On Thursday the president made his latest pitch for the bill as he toured a Caterpillar plant in East Peoria, Illinois.

He said Caterpillar, which has announced more than 20,000 layoffs, would be able to rehire some employees after the stimulus plan is passed, the Associated Press reported.

"It is time for Congress to act, and I hope they act in a bipartisan fashion," he said.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/h...as/7887369.stm

Pretty miserable start to shaping his Federal Government. Obama is looking less credible on bipartisanship these days, it doesn’t help he’s very over-confident.

Nebula82.

Originally Posted by johnee

I guess thats because you had expected a lot from him and now you feel let down. while, the rest of the world was more realistic with their expectations and are satisfied that he is on the right path.

So he is NOT the Savior, as promised, and 42 in favor vs. 46 opposed is about a wash?

Originally Posted by nebula82

Pretty miserable start to shaping his Federal Government. Obama is looking less credible on bipartisanship these days, it doesn’t help he’s very over-confident.

Nebula82.

From Heaven on Their Minds:

All I ask is that you listen to me.
And remember, I've been your right hand man all along.
You have set them all on fire.
They think they've found the new Messiah.
And they'll hurt you when they find they're wrong.

I remember when this whole thing began.
No talk of God then, we called you a man.
And believe me, my admiration for you hasn't died.
But every word you say today
Gets twisted 'round some other way.
And they'll hurt you if they think you've lied.