The Great Cabinet Exodus Continues: Now It's Judd Gregg's Turn

Judd Gregg has withdrawn as the nominee to be Secretary of Commerce -- albeit for an unusual reason. He now says he no longer agrees with the President about the stimulus and the census.

Obama's stimulus position is hardly a surprise to Gregg -- he knew it before he accepted the post. So, it has to be the census -- and in that is an unusual tale. Running the census (which is part of the Commerce Dept.) is a very politically sensitive job -- it determines legislative seats, after all. When Obama discovered that he had accidentally made the Bureau part of his bi-partisanship effort, he pulled back -- taking control of the 2010 Census in the White House.

Michael Barone makes an interesting point that such a move might be illegal. But never mind: Gregg has decided he can't go along. Obama is now faced with picking a Republican who will insist on keeping the Census within his or her control or forgoing bi-partisanship.Oh well: Another day, another screw-up.