Hmmm. What’s Christine Gregoire up to in DC? Update: Gone to Iraq
Update: Visiting troops in Iraq….Good for her.
Pacific Northwest blogs lit up with rumors tonight that Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire is headed to D.C. to take Bill Richardson’s place as Commerce Secretary nominee.
Denials all around, but eyebrows still raised:
Gov. Christine Gregoire is out of state, but her office won’t say where she is or what she is doing — other than to say she’s not going to work for President-elect Obama.
Gregoire’s mysterious absence left local political blogs buzzing this afternoon with speculation that she could be in Washington, D.C., preparing to accept a job with the Obama administration.
Gregoire was on a plane to D.C. on Sunday morning. But Marty Brown, Gregoire’s legislative liaison, said the governor’s trip has nothing to do with a job in the new administration.
Speculation about Gregoire’s whereabouts started after her office called The Associated Press on Monday afternoon to cancel her planned speech Tuesday at a pre-legislative session forum sponsored by the news agency.
Some kind of announcement is expected tomorrow. Maybe she’s just playing coy until Obama’s crack staff of vetters finishes shuffling through the paperwork. Or maybe it’s part of a bigger Obama initiative to fork over federal aid to states.
Wishful thinking: Maybe she’s going to recommend that other governors do as she’s doing and consider quicker criminal alien deportations that will make their states safer and save them money in hard economic times.
Orbusmax and Sound Politics are tracking. The Tacoma News-Tribune says it’s related to federal money for Seattle’s Alaskan Way Viaduct and possibly more federal stimulus money:
One of my sources said he couldn’t tell me where Gov. Chris Gregoire is now, but assured me she would still be my governor in March. “She’s not going to take Bill Richardson’s place as Commerce Secretary. So you can kill that story.”
But he wouldn’t tell me anything else. And the governor is supposed to announce “something big” at 10:05 a.m. tomorrow.
Another source speculated that Gregoire has lined up a big chunck of federal money for Seattle’s Alaskan Way Viaduct, and she’s going to announce it Tuesday. (And it would have to be a big chunk because that project keeps getting more and more expensive.)
It could be broader than that. Democratic governors are set to meet again with Obama this week about the stimulus package. Gregoire has been active in pushing for a large boost to state’s with shovel-ready projects but there is no word as to whether she will be part of any meeting.
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- Christine Gregoire to replace Richardson? | Fire Andrea Mitchell!
- Cornyn to Franken: “Bite Me!” « JoHNBRoDiGaNDoTCoM
- Gregoire? Commerce? « Grand Rants
- ButAsForMe! » Hmmm. What’s Christine Gregoire up to in DC? Update: Gone to Iraq
- Left Of Center » Blog Archive » Another Great Moment In “Journalism”
- Hmmm. Whatâs Christine Gregoire up to in DC? Update: Gone to Iraq « Top Daily Digest Reading
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Are there no spell checkers at the TNT? “Chunck”? – “State’s”?
Well she knows how to manufacture votes…
Chris Gregoire as commerce secretary?
My eyes are rolling back into my head so hard (at that thought) that I may have to be hospitalized before long…
I’m thinking she has her little tin cup, she’s been hit really hard over the 5 billion dollar budget shortfall that she wouldn’t own up to until after the election
I hope she leaves. Brad Owen would take her place and he’s a lot better than her. Get her as far out of Washington State as possible!
Keep her. She’s done enough damage here in WA already.
She wants money for the viaduct and or a new 520 bridge. She just won the election. I doubt she wants a job. I am far from a fan but that seems more likely than anything else. Although if she was to accept a job on the staff I would certainly not approve of it since she has obviously failed the state of Washington with economics.
Washington State has become one of the most business-unfriendly places in the USA. More businesses are leaving the state than are coming or starting.
Gregoire, as Commerce Secretary, would be a good thing for WA State, but a horrible thing for the country.
Shoot! Here I was hoping he’d take Granholm, and give us a new governor.
It sure would be one way to get rid of her, but I don’t think that it would be a cure for stupidity in Washington State. After all, in spite of her first disastrous term she did get re-elected over Dino Rossi. I think the country is losing it’s marbles.
I fixed it for you.
We have elected Barach Obama and Joe Biden to the highest executive positions in this country. Al Franken may have won the MN senate seat. Hillary Clinton is on track to become Sec. of State, with Caroline Kennedy likely to replace her. The US Gov’t is going to bail everyone, but the US taxpayer. Everyone is beating a path to DC with their hands out. We are screwed.
The USA that we grew up in is dying a slow painful death and it is highly unlikely it will ever come back.
Well lets see, Gregoire stole an election twice won by her opponent, now Al Franken has stolen an election won by his opponent, probably helping him tie up loose ends. Or perhaps she assisted him and shes getting her official thank you.
On that note, isnt it oddly coincidental that she is in DC the same day we were all told that Franken would be certified the winner? My bet is shes getting pay off for her help in that theft.
Indeed, the first order of business for Democrats is paying off political debts. Gregoire has done nothing else of political significance for the Democratic party — and there is no reason why her transportation projects would be a priority for anyone right now. If she suddenly gets a big payoff, then I would be very suspicious that she aided Frankens theft.
The best decision I ever made was to get out of my home state of Washington a long time ago. There are a lot of good people there and I feel for you all, I really do.
I hear Corzine is in DC too. Let’s hope he’s not the pick – look what’s he’s done to NJ’s economy!
All that’s missing is Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse…maybe even Woody Woodpecker.
Great ! The west coast’s version of ‘the big dig’.
Good lord, this is becoming just one big infestation of political maggots . . . really makes you proud.
As a resident of Washington State all I can say is….. Please Please Please take her…….
Chicago politics is all about PATRONAGE. So what we are getting is a fist full of patronage jobs. What will be her main job – get out the votes.
I think the Governor will stay put as I do not even think the Democrats can steal a governorship three times in a row.
On January 6th, 2009 at 9:03 am, tomlw said:
As a resident of Washington State all I can say is….. Please Please Please take her…….
I’ll second that. Also maybe she wants to share Seattles snow removal technology so the rest of the country will be in gridlock when it snows.
I agree with Gwillie. She’s just trying to make sure she’s not last in line when the B.O. starts handing out payoff money.
In today’s PI, “it is written”. She went to Iraq to visit the Wa state National Guard unit. Supposedly to “fulfill” a promise. Somehow, I can’t imagine our National Guard extracting that kind of promise from “her”. How she is greeted by them would be interesting to know.
I honestly believe there will be a 2nd American Revolution before the country dies…remember what party the majority of the military are and who has most of guns in America…surely not the peace loving libs. When it’s done it needs a total house cleaning top to bottom.