Governor Lynch (D-NH) to President: Checkmate?
The news has been full lately of reports that President Obama is strongly considering a Republican appointment to his Cabinet, Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) as Secretary of Commerce. Now a move like that is neither unprecedented, nor particularly surprising. After all, while on the campaign trail, Mr. Obama vowed to fill out his administration with capable individuals regardless of party affiliation. Yet this particular nomination would carry with it more than a simple office move from Capitol Hill to 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W.
No, far from it. Senator Gregg’s move would bring about two other events: another Governor, John Lynch (Dem.), with a Senate appointment on his hands, and given that the gov’s a Democrat, another possibly Democratic Senator might be pulling into town. And, moreover, if Al Franken (Dem.) were to prevail in his contested election with incumbent Republican Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN), well then, it gets interesting . . . The illusive 60th Democratic vote, the so-called filibuster-proof Senate might be within reach. It’s like a combination Holy Grail, Fellowship Ring, and Super Bowl box seat ticket to any majority Senate party. With it, all kinds of good – or mischief – may be accomplished, particularly with a solid majority already in the House and a compatible President as well. That’s the cherry on the sundae. Forget for a moment that, given the Blue Dogs among them, the Senate Democrats are about as disciplined as a party of cats in a mouse factory.
In any event, just as Numero 60 is in reach, along comes a Dementor right out of a Harry Potter novel to steal the prize away. And this particular Dementor is from within . . . None other than New Hampshire Governor Lynch today suavely, carefully, and almost incoherently announced that he would likely pick a
Republican to replace Senator Gregg should he go to Commerce!
So, a nice little gambit by the President – if that is what it was – comes perhaps to naught, and, symbolically, off to Azkebhan Prison goes that elusive 60th Democratic Senator.
Governor Lynch, according to CBS News tonight, explained it:
“I have had conversations with Senator Gregg, the White House and U.S. Senate leadership,” Lynch noted in a written statement. “Senator Gregg has said he would not resign his seat in the U.S. Senate if it changed the balance in the Senate.”
“It is important that President Obama be able to select the advisors he feels are necessary to help him address the challenges facing our nation,” Lynch continued. “If President Obama does nominate Senator Gregg to serve as Commerce Secretary, I will name a replacement who will put the people of New Hampshire first and represent New Hampshire effectively in the U.S. Senate.”
Now, the Governor’s statement is certainly not ironclad in any way, it’s really kind of spongy. He strongly implied that he understood Senator Gregg’s position, but the Gov did not remotely utter the word “Republican” when alluding to Gregg’s possible replacement: “I will name a replacement who will put the people of New Hampshire first and represent New Hampshire effectively in the U.S. Senate.” And Democrats appear to be unconcerned even should Lynch appoint a Republican to Gregg’s chair. Politico observed that “the best bet for Democrats is to appear like they’re staying out of the selection process and instead push Lynch to appoint a GOP caretaker or a weak GOP candidate who will have a tough time defeating a Democrat in the state in 2010.”
Frankly, should Lynch appoint a less radical Republican to replace Gregg, it could almost amount to a win for the President, and not quite a loss for the GOP. The President would, perhaps, have a more pliable Republican Senator, useful for those intense fights ahead and possible cloture votes. The GOP would still have its numerical strength undiminished and, should the replacement be more moderate, it could attempt to enforce party discipline, especially if that replacement Senator curried support for a possible re-election campaign in 2010. We’ll need to watch this one pretty closely. At least, for now, it appears that with Blago in exile, the shenanigans will be kept to a minimum. From our blog to God’s ears . . .
