Gregg has no regrets

Posted: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:16 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Congress, Republicans, Economy, Andrea Mitchell

From NBC's Michelle Perry and Mark Murray
On MSNBC this afternoon, New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg (R) told NBC's Andrea Mitchell that he had no regrets about turning down the opportunity to be President Obama's Commerce secretary.

Video: Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., discusses some of the factors which may prevent a health care bill from being passed before Congress breaks for their August recess.

"I wouldn't have been any good on health-care defense, and wouldn't have been good on [the] budget. I made the right decision; I just should have made it sooner."

Mitchell interjected, "You weren't going to be great cheerleader?"

Gregg replied, "That's true."

Video:

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., discusses the major push Democratic leaders are launching to win over health care critics within their own party.

Also, Mitchell interviewed Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden (D), who said he'd be willing to work through the August recess to hammer out a health-care bill. Mitchell asked Wyden what his wife thought about that.

He said she wasn't exactly thrilled.

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Comments

Democrats fighting Democrats.

We knew the Dems would collapse. We just didn't think it would be this fast.
HMI - MI

HMI shows why Republicans continue to lose. It's all about the name calling with them. Where's there health care plan?

Chico DeMadre

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Looookiing. Nope, no name calling. Nice try though.

Chico DeMadre: Where's there health care plan?

"Their" health care plan? You mean the Republicans? Probably in the same place where the newly created jobs are.

HMI - MI (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:21 PM)

Mitchell interjected, "You weren't going to be great cheerleader?"

Ouch! Mitchell nails it!

S. Lennox, DL (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:23 PM)

We don't have any regrets either. Well, except that he was re-elected to represent a constituency that he doesn't seem to prioritize over the special interest of Big Insurance. There's that one little regret.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:26 PM)

Gregg dodged a bullet by not going into Obama's cabinet. He'd be just another lackey dealing with a half dozen of those goofball czars Obama has running around worshipping him.

Hans Grenitza (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:26 PM)

Gregg should consider running for president. He has more insight and thoughtfulness then the person currently in the position. Gregg seems to have the temperament and respect for the office that is lacked by Obama.

ginger, denver colorado (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:28 PM)

So Gregg is saying that he doesn't have any regrets about not having a chance to steer the country in the RIGHT direction? Is he saying he's glad that, in his opinion, the economy is going down the tubes without him there to stop it?

Because if he isn't saying that, then what DOES he mean?

Anna Molly (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:31 PM)

Twice today, amidst Andrea Mitchell Reports, former Republican Congresswoman Susan Molinari referred to President Obama as Senator Obama. Never once was she corrected by the host, never once was she interrupted. This surprised me, as the host seemed quite capable of interrupting Democratic strategist Steve McMahan, with her own understanding of CBO directives.

What is the MSNBC policy with respect to making corrections?

Derrick, Miami, Florida (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 2:04 PM)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There is NO policy!

They all do it... I mentioned this last week!

Another 'favorite of the MSNBC chattering class' is they consistanly refer to President Obama AS Mr. Obama (which is even more disrepectful) in my 'book'!

When Bobblehead Bush was POTUS EVERYTHING said or written about him contained the prefix 'President'... it's like the MSNBS thinks somehow their RUDE behavior goes un-noticed...

Newsflash... IT DOESN'T!

I like to believe this has nothing to do with skin color (at least here at MSNBC) but I'm beginning to wonder...?

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:32 PM)

Mitchell interjected, "You weren't going to be great cheerleader?" Gregg replied, "That's true."
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All Obama wants are cheerleaders and yes-men (and yes-women when he gets Sotomayor to do his bidding through the courts.)

Representative Democracy in America is dead (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:34 PM)

Judd Gregg - You are what you hang around with and you obviously don't want to be involved with the rad that Obama is. You might wind up in jail.

Good choice.

Moon Dawg (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:37 PM)

Of course Obama is going to try to keep them there through the recess=he can't have them going home to their constituencies to hear how the voters feel about this, can he?

Considering his falling poll numbers, in particular the fact that every poll now has health care as a loser, you'd think that the Democrats, having already taken poison on cap and trade, would try to hold on for an antidote, rather than stabbing themselves to death on healthcare.

There is hope, however: since this plan does nothing but give jobs to bureaucrats for three years, when the Republican sweep both houses next year, they can defund the thing, and drive a stake through its heart for good.

no joe, no bo, nj (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:39 PM)

It's a failure, just like Obama's plan will be.

Tammy Flanders, Redding CA (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 2:08 PM)
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Are you the same Tammy Flanders that reads ‘tea leaves’ down by the railroad tracks?

Another Cup of Earl Grey Please! (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:41 PM)

Senator Gregg, we don't have any regrets either. No harm, no foul.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:42 PM)

What he is trying to say MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY ,we got rid of that with BUSH but it seems for the party they want nothing but AMERICAS failure,they seem UNAMERICAN the MINORITY does not dictate to the majority.

kenn (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:45 PM)

Gregg may have no regrets - but I'll bet the White House does, he acts like a woman scorned - and he did the scorning! Does that mean no good deed goes unpunished?

Kay P Tempe AZ (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:48 PM)

Gregg should just come clean, be honest, and admit that he simply wilted to the far-right GOP extremists (not real Republicans) & backed out. He is just another Repub that is afraid of idiots like Limbaugh.

C.Myles/Oak Hall, VA (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:48 PM)

Who cares?

Cathy M, Newport, KY (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:50 PM)

HOw curious. I don't recall Mr Wyden wanting to work thru the recess last year to take on soaring oil costs that were pounding americans at the pumps. Only Republicans were willing to champion that with reasonable off-shore drilling goals to help quicken a decrease in energy costs. Now health care is "urgent". Just like the stimulus was supposed to be....so urgent that no one read it and voted blindly. Now we know that very little of that "urgent" money has gotten out to help the economy. But liberals got what they wanted--overgrown and fat government which they can use to keep voters, who are totally dependent on them, on their side....like addicts to gov't.

Work thru the recess? (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:55 PM)

Good decision, Senator Gregg. If you had accepted, your arm would be broken by now with all of Barry's arm-twisting and thug tactics.

Keep the Change (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:57 PM)

Who needs jughead anyway. Thanks for putting America first. Couldn't see beyond the reverence of C Street to help this country out of the ditch you helped us into - a country whose confidence had been shaken to its very core. You could have helped at least restore our confidence, but you chose to sling your sorry arrows of your own outrageous fortune at our President who is working his butt off on behalf of all the American people. Yes, Mr. American Man...I'm mad. You gave us up JUST SO YOU COULD SAY NO along with the other Adulterous Hallaleujah Choir Members of C Street! Shame on you! Run away now and hide. Sorry I wasted this time on you.

JJ Young, Cary, NC (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:58 PM)

Gregg saw what a liar BoBO was going to be and retreated post haste.

Mb, Valpo (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:58 PM)

Anna Molly

Just when we all thought Obama thought he was God, then YOU appear to tell us about Jesus and car hoods.

() () () () () () () ()

Did a day go by without Palin? Good. Mark and Domenico were starting to look like Letterman.

Moon Dawg (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 4:08 PM)

Well, Mr. Gregg, the American people have "no regrets" either that you turned down the position. There are enough negative, GOnoPers playing politics with American lives. You, sir, made the right choice. Thank you.

LB in FL (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 4:12 PM)

My opinion of Judd Gregg: he asked (lobbied) for the job then backed out on purpose in an attempt to score points and embarrass the president. I wouldn't trust anything the man says.

Senator Wyden has the right mind set--work until it's done. Corporations expect employees to cancel or postpone vacations for various reasons, why shouldn't our lawmakers be asked to do the same.

Jody, Iowa (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 4:20 PM)

With more and more people out of work or underemployed, it seems ludacris that the Congress should take any time off at all. They have jobs to do and need to get them done. If they fail to get the job done, they're going to have to answer to the over 60% of Americans that want health care reform now.

Get the job done now.

CdV LA CA (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 4:35 PM)

our congressman and senators dont put enough time in period....there worrying more about themselves and how they can take all thes paid trips around the world...there not suffering from whats happening with the economy so why worry about ous.....Now there worried how to keep there job for another 30yrs while for the last 100 they continue to make our children and grandchildren pay for there uslesness and use our children and grandchildren to make ous feel thats its the other party at fault....get a life do what we elected you for,,,,to be a crook.

Russell Fox Wells, Me (Sent Tuesday, July 21, 2009 5:29 PM)

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