YOUR COMMENTS

We need a new party for the middle class working people of this country. Neither party represents middle America.
- Andy, greenville, nc

When Republicans play the bipartisanship game, they get stabbed in the back. No good will come of this.

Remember, Obama incorrectly blames our current economic situation on Republicans, so take a wild guess as to why he wants to put a Republican in the Commerce position. He's lining Gregg up to be a sacrificial lamb when his bogus stimulus package ultimately fails.
- Stan, Amherst

What we have here is another deal bartering a senate appointment and this time it's in NH not Illinois. We the people of our state are being hosed by the President a Democrat, a Senator from NH a Republican and a Governor a Democrat. Neither party is serving the real interests of it's citizens shades of Blagoyagate, trading a Senate appointment is wrong whether it is in NH or Illinois. The only redeemable quality to this transparent deal is that we are getting rid of Judas Gregg, we will not have this high born snob mis-representing us anynmore. Both the Republicans and Democrats in NH are for sale to the highest bidder or the best deal.
- Richard L. Fortin, Manchester

I find it hilarious to read all the thoughts by liberal Democrats that somehow Judd Gregg is "the best man" or "uniquely qualified" for the job of Commerce Secretary. If this is true, my liberal friends, why did you oppose him when he ran for the Senate in past years? It is hard to imagine that Gregg is the only man for Commerce, yet unable to be a good Senator. This is nothing more than a blatant, cynical attempt to manipulate the balance of power in the Senate to favor the Democrats even more than it currently favors them, and every liberal knows it, which is why they are advocating so hard for this to happen. It also gives the President a chance to blow the bipartisan trumpet. Folks, let us define bipartisanship: It means the other guy changes his narrow mind to agree that you are correct, and this definition is the same for both parties. Mr. Obama is a liberal Democrat and will govern as such. This is what the American people voted for; if it works Obama and the Democrats are heroes, if it fails, Obama will not be able to hide behind Judd Gregg.
- MO, DERRY

Sen Gregg - Congatulations. Gov Lynch - Well Done. Rep Hodes - Keep your powder dry. Let's ALL get on with it and get this country moving again.
- k g ries, fitzwilliam

I find it hard to believe in a country of three hundred million people that Mr. Gegg is the only person who could fill this possition as if there is no one not currently holding office who could do the job. This does not say to me good for New Hampshire or good for the nation. It says Mr. Gregg has his own political ambitions and does not care we elected him to represent us as our senator. I guess it was just the best job at the moment and not the one he truly wanted.

Mr. Steele please clean up the Republican party and find people who actually believe in the ideals it claims to represent and kick the rest out. You will find there are many a democrat who will vote for those who lower their taxes and provide jobs. Not the socialists but old time democrats.
- Ross, Derry

I really love how everyone who is not a right wing wing-ding (read Liberterian) nutcase has to label everyone else in the party a RINO. Let me remind you that YOU are ones who tried to hijack the party from us. I would invite you to leave and go off and found your own little whacko party and see how many people join you.
- Paul, Derry

While I'm a bit bewildered over the key players' motives in this arrangement, there are a couple of silver linings.

(1) Most importantly, Sen. Gregg's presence in the cabinet should have a leavening effect on the liberal populists' inclination toward protectionism. Obama knows that Judd is an unabashed free trader and the president, at the very least, deserves kudos for not drinking the congressional Democrats' kool-aid on this important issue. Trade restrictions exacerbated the last Great Depression and are a certain prescription for another one.

(2) Should the liberals' solutions fail to extricate the U.S. from our economic quagmire (which appears probable -- given the history of the early 1930s), this will give John E. Sununu a good shot at re-entry in 2010 if and when the current NH love-in with the Dems goes stale. Judd has given more to this state and his party over the past 3 decades than just about anyone I can think of. However, if the NH GOP's future depends on one individual, then our problems go far beyond what a couple of election cycles can solve.
- bill_o, manchester, nh

NO STRINGS! If Senator "I won the powerball" Gregg wants to be a Cabinet Secretary, then take the job - but to doctate, and worse, for the fake Democrat Lynch, to accept conditions on his leaving the US Senate is outrageous.

Regardless of what you think of either party, the Dems rule NH because they ran better elections and fielded better candidates.

Gregg trying to dictate terms would be unacceptable if I were Governor - I'd say just stay a Senator and we'll take you out in 2010 anyway.

What good will Gregg do for NH as Commerce Chief? No more than he should have been doing all these years as a Senator - he is ineffective and now wants to dictate terms for the good of the GOP in Washington?

No way - Lynch should appoint a good democrat to the seat, but he wont, as he is not a real democrat - Lynch should have many a primary opponent, if only on principle, if he agrees to a stunt like this.
- Corey, Sandown

Wait, why give the seat away? Let's call Carolyn Kennedy and see if Uncle Teddy would pay $50M for the seat. Or maybe we could get more for it on eBay, think outside the box Mr. Lynch, we need the cash!! Really, we should sell it to the highest bidder and use the money to pay for special ed, or something useful like fixing our roads and bridges.
- bob, concord

Once again the GOP is showing its true colors: party first, country second. If Mr. Gregg is the best man for the job he should put his country first and take the job, not refuse it until his party's interests are covered. This deal stinks to high heaven. Shame on Senator Gregg and on Governor Lynch.
- LJC, Manchester

It is very good for NH that we have one of our own in the President's cabinet regardless of which side of the aisle the President or the cabinet member is on. It speaks volumes of the talent we have in this state.

If GOP members are worried about the seat in 2010, I suggest getting to work on grooming a candidate. It is far better to strike a match than curse the darkness.
- Lou DeMato, Manchester, NH

I have supported Senator Gregg in the US Senate even though his conservative ratings in the Senate have been low. He has always been a moderate and that has not changed.

In 2 years I will suppport a true conservative not any RINO like Senator Gregg.
- Doug Hogue, Merrimack

Anna in Litchfield, I couldn't disagree with you more. It's not the party, it's the person being elected. I'm an also independent who usually votes Democrat, but for as long as I could vote, I have always voted for the person that best fits the job. Senator Gregg had my vote because he does the job he says he will do in his campaigning. So, if Governor Lynch chose to pick a Democrat for the seat, I would hope he chose the right person to fill the seat.

And Richard in Manchester - Gregg's party is the one demanding the deal, not Lynch. And if I'm not mistaken, the deal has been discussed in the public for the past week and a half, I don't remember the same thing happening with Blagojevich. So, I don't really see your logic behind him being impeached?
- Mike, Manchester

First "read the article" (Everett, Anna).

Second, this is nothing like the Blago deal. He was selling a seat for personal gain. Lynch has agreed to appoint a Republican, so that Gregg can accept the post without leaving his party with a super minority in the Senate. This is the right thing to do, and is good for NH, not Lynch personally.

I really think people that are trying to throw a negative spin on this can see no good in anything. Not to mention they're points are weak, if not outright loony.
- Thad, Dalton

I think that Judd has been in that position too long and I am glad to see that he will be replaced by another Republican.

At this point I think Wshington needs all the republicans it can get. I beleive that Judd has served us well, but like any position held for too long you become complacent and may not be doing the best service that you are capable of.

And lets be honest with eachother, if you where in his shoes and the President wanted you for a position in his canbinet, I'm sure that all of us would think long and hard about it before we said "no".

The bottom line is, a change of staff can be a good thing for us in NH and America as well.

Dave
- Dave Smart, Milton, NH

Hey I heard Carolyn Kennedy would pay big money for a seat. I say put the seat up for sale to the highest bidder! Why not put it on ebay? We've got a big deficit here and it really doesn't matter who we send down to DC, let's get something out of it!!
- Bob, Concord

Boo Hoo, you voted for them.
Find a mirror and yell at that.
- Craig D, Manchester

Obama wanted unelectable Jessie Jackson, Jr. Good luck selling that. At least Blago went down swinging.

Senator Obama intimidating Governor Blagojevich is no different than Senator Gregg intimidating Governor Lynch. The decision belongs to the governor, and the governor alone.

Let Lynch put up his own candidate, one that truly reflects his choice. And then let us defeat him.
- Steve, Manch

Quick, someone check to see if Caroline Kennedy has changed her residency status from NY to NH yet.
- Alex Klemac, Deering, NH

For loyal Republicans such as myseslf, Judd Gregg will henceforth be known as Benedict Gregg.
- B Bergeron, Manchester, NH

Sounds like part of the deal is that Newman does not run in 2010, leaving the seat open. There's a great opportunity here...

Sununu 2010.
Hope you all kept your signs.
- Mark, Amherst

So let me get this straight......... Gregg gets to "make a deal" to insure someone he wants gets his senate seat, and thats OK. An Illinois Governor "makes a deal" to insure someone he wants get a senate seat and gets arrested and impeached??

Well played Komrade Obama!
- Gus, Manchester

"Politics makes strange bedfellows" goes the old saying. Gregg has never been a true Republican, if one recalls, he supported the "nuclear freeze" movement in the 1980's while in the House. This was designed to stop the U.S. from rebuilding it's nuclear arsenal, and locking in Soviet superioroty. Thankfully, it did not become policy and President Reagan succeeded in forcing the Soviets to continue the arms race until their "economy" collpsed, thereby ending the Cold War. There were other factors, but their attempts to maintain a lead over the U.S. was a critical factor as they were spending about 70% of their GNP on the military vs 6% of the U.S. GNP. Gregg broke with his party leadership on this and many other issues over the years. People should not be surprised he is a RINO as his tusk has been visible for years.
- mo, derry

Senator Judd Gregg abandoned the Republican Party when the ship was sinking and let his shipmates go down with the ship while he got a rescue boat to take to land. Thanks Judd for your self-less service.
- Jack Truman, Middleton, NH

CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN? Obama is just another empty suit gangster from Chicago and Gregg is now a proven RINO and deserve each other. Judge a person by the company he or she keeps. I just can't believe Gregg would associate himself with such a ship of socialist fools. It makes NH look like the entire state has a zip code of hay seed hicks. Thanks Gregg and good like with your journey into socialism with idiots.
- Jim, Derry

Anna, why is it more important to have a woman in there than to have the most competent person? Seems like that is the trump card these days for some people. Sad.
- Lester Bradley, Thornton

I am so dissapointed. Sen Gregg has handed the seat to the Democrats for '10. This will be his legacy. He was duped.

Does he really think Obama woke up one day and said, "You know what, Judd Gregg wold make a fine Sec of Commerce.?"

Who just so happens to be up for re-election in '10. Opening up a free seat for the Dems.

Please.

As for Ms Newman, I have never heard of her before, and she may be a nice person. But make no mistake, she is no Republican.

The description of her says it all - a "Republican for Lynch" co-chair. These people are ones who long ago jumped to the other side and use thier past party affiliation to provide bipartisan cover for their candidate. I've seen them on both sides of the aisle.
- Paul, Rochester

Though I am not familiar with J. Bonnie Newman, I am happy to see that another woman will have the opportunity to serve in the U.S. Senate, and if she is selected I hope she does an excellent job and makes NH proud.

But I would have thought that if a person vacates their position for a "promotion" (such as a Presidential appointment), the vacated seat should to be filled with a person of the same political party. Since it was that party that officially won the seat via an election by the people, then it should be refilled by the same political party, even if the Governor or whoever has the power to replace the person, is of a different party. This would be the logical move and should be used in such instances. Does anyone else agree with this assessment? By the way, I am a registered Independent but feel that the balance of power, etc. always needs to be maintained.

I rest my case.
- Anna, Litchfield, NH

Richard Fortin has got a good point in that this is just like the Blago deal except it's being done in the open with newspaper leaks.
- Jim, Rye

Everett,

Did you read the article? There is no pressure from the left.
- Jim Wilson, Manchester

Shouldn't Gregg have stayed with his own party and assisted them coming up with an alternative to President "Change's" Socialism?

I don't trust Lynch to appoint a Republican and if he does, it will be just another RINO. Watch Lynch cave into the pressure from the ultra radical Left - since that's what the state has become, just an extension of MA.
- Everett, Newmarket

So what we have here is the President of the United States and Senator Judas Gregg getting a deal from the Governor Lynch to appoint an agreed on replacement to get Gregg to accept a cabinet appointment, to me thats almost as transparent as the deal that Governor Blagojevich was trying to get without any money involved. Shouldn't Governor Lynch be subject to the same impeachment process as Blago using a Senate seat for dealing purposes. If that's the only way we can get Senator Snob out of office then let's do it, ironically it will probably be the only way that a Republ;ican women will get to be a major office holder through the appointment route. Could be a major leg up for the 2010 election.
- Richard L. Fortin, Manchester

Right, so basically rather than handing over the seat now, we are going to do it in two years since who ever is picked (even if he/she is a Republican) will not run for reelection. Thanks Judd Gregg for being responsible for handing over NH's senate seat to the Democrats on a sliver platter. I have supported you throughout your career, but you have forever lost it with this move.
- Casey Johnes, Manchvegas