A Languor Of Senate Life

Just in case you had any doubts about the ubiquity of the stupidity of the Stupid Party, soon-to-be ex-New Hampshire GOP Senator and new Obama Commerce Secretary Judd Gregg has gone the extra mile to assuage them:

GOP leaders are warning that President Barack Obama’s likely appointment of Republican Senator Judd Gregg to serve as secretary of commerce could finally hand Democrats what they failed to win on Election Day: a sixty-vote Senate majority that would render Republicans powerless to filibuster any legislation.

On Friday, reports surfaced that Gregg, of New Hampshire, is likely to be tapped by Obama this week for the job.

Gregg confirmed that he is under consideration for the post, describing himself as “honored.”

But the move has Republicans worried, as Gregg’s replacement will be made by New Hampshire’s Democratic governor, John Lynch.

Senator Jon Kyl, R-AZ, called Obama’s move “sneaky.” If a Democrat is appointed to fill Gregg’s slot, Republican senators will no longer have veto power over Democratic legislation.

This weekend, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY, claimed that Gregg had negotiated a deal with Lynch that he “would be replaced by someone who would affiliate with other Republicans in the Senate.”

But the New York Times on Sunday had a starkly different take. The paper said that Gregg had only gotten a commitment from Lynch that he is “open to appointing a Republican to the seat.”

I'd be chalking this unconscionable sellout by Gregg up to yet another 2010 Republican retirement (this makes #5 after Mel Martinez, Kit Bond, George Voinovich, and Sam Brownback) - and, rest assured, it is - but at least the first four fleeing Pachyderms are retaining their seats until then.  But what the hell is the matter with Gregg that he's functionally surrendering both his seat and perhaps the GOP's filibustering capability along with it to the Donk Politburo right now?  Not to be too outwardly partisan in my analysis, but how in the Gipper's name is it an "honor" to be snagged into the camp of the enemy to serve as a PR fig leaf in its quest to bulldoze America to Marxist perdition?  Does he really think he's going to be anything other than a token 'Pubbie?

UPDATE: The Gregg-Lynch "deal" gets fleshed in:

My understanding is that a deal has been struck that Obama will appoint Judd Gregg and that Governor John Lynch (a Democrat) will fill the seat with Bonnie Newman (a “Lynch Republican”) who will (most likely) commit to NOT running again in 2010, thereby leaving the seat open setting up a Lynch vs. John Sununu Senate race.

Bonnie Newman will caucus with the Republicans and will likely be reliable on many spending issues, but she is NOT a supply sider by any means and will not shy away from tax increases.

Frankly I don't see anything preventing Lynch from executing a flat, classic double-cross and appoining a Democrat to replace Gregg in the Senate anyway.  Any heat from it would accrue to him, not Red Barry, and would probably blow over fairly quickly.

But if we are to assume this deal is on the level, that just delays the betrayal for a year and a half, since Newman evidently isn't committed to not running in her own right next year and can easily change her mind.  And she would presumeably be easy for Lynch to beat even if she didn't take a dive.

Would Lynch have been a favorite over Gregg?  In the likely political climate of 2010, I would guess probably not.  Which brings us back to why the three-term Republican incumbent and ranking member of the Budget Committee would turn his back on his beleaguered GOP Senate colleagues and deplete their numbers fatally for the dubious "honor" of bowing down to False Messiah.

I've always subscribed to the maxim that if you're going to go down, take as many of the enemy with you as you can.  But at least go down fighting to the last ounce of strength and breath.  Why join' em when you can still beat 'em?