Devious Barry

As all you Commerce Department followers know, as of now there is no Secretary of Commerce since Bill Richardson pulled out of the job when it hit him that being Governor was way better than being Commerce Secretary. How can Government function without such a critical post unfilled? I don't know, but some how it is. President Barry has realized that without the Commerce Department at full strength the country may careen off a cliff into the abyss. So he's thinking of naming a guy....solely because of his qualifications for the position.

There is a strong possibility that Barack Obama will ask Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) to serve as his Secretary of Commerce, Democratic Senate aides tell the Huffington Post.

The move would fill a vacancy that has lingered since Gov. Bill Richardson withdrew his nomination. And provided that Al Franken emerges victorious in the Minnesota recount, it would give Democrats in the Senate a 60th caucusing member, as New Hampshire's Democratic governor John Lynch would appoint Gregg's replacement.

As to why Gregg would take a slot? He's a Republican in New Hampshire, where Obama won by 10, he's up for re-election in 2010 and his re-elect numbers are below 50, and the prospect of fighting a losing battle against a President who's more popular than him in his home state might just make any man salivate at the prospect of being Commerce Secretary. It's a job. Then the Democrats get 60, provided Kennedy and Byrd are actually physically able to vote, Franken ever gets to be Minnesota's senator, and Harry Reid doesn't conceive of a way to mess it all up. These are big ifs. Is he qualified? Who cares, it's the Commerce Department.