Chris Gregoire Commerce Secretary? Washington Governor's DC Trip Fuels Speculation

There were conflicting reports tonight that Washington Governor Christine Gregoire might replace Bill Richardson as President-elect Obama's pick for Commerce Secretary.

The Hill reported that Gregoire has reserved satellite television time at 9 a.m. Tuesday, which might portend an announcement about her future:

Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) canceled a Tuesday lunch appearance with the Associated Press late Monday and two Washington State sources confirmed to The Hill she is in Washington, D.C. The governor's actions over the last 24 hours have triggered a wave of speculation in the Evergreen State that Gregoire could replace New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) as President-elect Obama's Commerce Secretary-designate.

Gregoire was reportedly on a plane Sunday, and multiple sources confirm she was in the nation's capital as late as Monday. A Gregoire spokesman vehemently denied she was set to take a position in Obama's cabinet, and said she was not still in D.C. late Monday night "as far as I know."

But The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder shot down the speculation:

I'm not sure why Gregoire is going to Washington, but Obama aides say Gregoire is not a candidate for commerce.

This rumor is: FALSE.

Comments

[SailFree]

Why not Al Franken? He's showing himself equally good as Gregoire at stealing elections.

[MamaBird62]

Washington state resident here. I hope we don't lose Gov. Gregoire, she is highly effective. She did not "steal" the '04 election. Our republican US attorney got fired by Bush because he refused to sue the Democrats after the election, saying that all laws had been followed and there was nothing to sue over. Gregoire won fair and square.
Then of course Rossi needed a rematch in '08, and we know how that turned out...

[Topfeeder]

This appointment would make Bill O'Reily's head explode. He was enraged that she allowed Atheist dogma posted at the state capitol along side of religious representations. She was trying to be all inclusive. Bill O. was way way butthurt.

[Bitsko]

Heh heh. Excellent.

[Witchitalineman]

Please take her!

[bandillero]

I live in WA and we love us some Gregoire. We worked hard to defeat (again) the "used snake-oil" salesman Dino Rossi. Gregoire will be a great selection. So will the former governor Gary Locke (chinese american)

BTW have our 2 senators (Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray) been locked up in Guantanamo all these years? Never hear a pip from them anywhere, even all through the heated election season (they backed the wrong horse HRC). Looks like they are complete seat fillers. I hope we get good challengers to take them away from the senate

[MamaBird62]

Wow, you are wrong about Patty Murray. You should look at her website and check out what she's working on.

[dzymzlzy]

I'm fairly certain this is simply a rumor meant to speed up the process of Bill O's imminent psychotic breakdown. No offense to those who have suffered psychotic breakdowns.

[littlepuffycloud]

She also was one of the lead atty generals in the lawsuit against tobacco in the mid-90's; she won millions of $ against BigTobacco and part of the settlement was to get rid of Joe Camel and the advertising campaign in which kids were targeted. The anti-smoking commercials on tv now are part of what Gregoire did. She was just re-elected in November after again defeating repub Dino Rossi.

[Zhonni]

Give it to Dr Dean if he wants it.

[vjoseph]

Dude, are you serious?!

[OneLiberalLady]

Breaking News (as of 8 am PST, Tuesday): Gregoire is in Iraq, not Washington D.C. That certainly puts things in a different light.

[springsm]

Yup, I was hoping that she WOULD be the nominee for Sec. Of Commerce...alas, she still has her announcement to make. Sent to Iraq. Good for her. Now the headlines are asking why so secretive? Do people just lie in wake for these negative questions and thoughts. What a sad life.

[ratcityreprobate]

She is in Iraq this morning visiting Washington National Guard troops. There is no appointment to the Obama Administration for her at this time. That is a relief for those of us in WA. Our Lt. Gov. is a clueless clown and would be as bad as any republican.

[theboardedwindow]

agreed... we just got her reelected as governor... i like her right where she is...

[springsm]

I am very sorry...but the Lt. Govenor may be your clueless clown, but nobody could be as sorry as Dino Rossi and you know that.

[Vurz]

Thank god she's staying in Washington, we need her able competence in this economy.

[Pastprologue]

Yeah, like the Michigan Gov.

[Witchitalineman]

That's a matter of opinion.

[Pastprologue]

This is a joke, right?

[LeftCoastLarry]

A little background for those too lazy to Google:
She ran a very close and hotly contested campaign to win her first term. The Republicans tried to game the system and suppress votes (sound familiar?). She insisted that every vote should count. Three recounts and a court challenge later, she was declared the winner.
The Gonzalez DoJ insisted that the US Attorney for this area, John McKay, trump up charges of voter fraud. When he refused, he was fired.
This ain't Alabama.
The right-wingers took the loss very hard and still haven't gotten over it.

[OneLiberalLady]

Gregoire won re-election just two months ago by an appreciable margin: 53% to Rossi's 47%. A lot of effort was put into that campaign and it is hard to imagine Gregoire would leave now. I for one would be extremely disappointed should that happen. I would hate to see a strong Dem elected official be removed from office to fill a minor cabinet post.

[MamaBird62]

Agree Lady. She made it pretty clear during the campaign that she wasn't interested in heading to DC.

[repugnicansfearme]

Why worry about this?
---Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne spent tax dollars on office bathroom

Kempthorne spent $235,000 on renovation, Washington Post reported

General Services Administration approved renovation

Bathroom towels reportedly monogrammed

--source CNN

[banja]

The Latino groups won't be happy, I think he should be replaced with a hispanic.

[serindipity803]

I am a Latino, GROW UP!

[SailFree]

I dream of a day when a man can be judged by the content of his character, not the color of his skin."
--Martin Luther King, Jr.

[vjoseph]

Amen Dr. King

[ProgressiveBum]

I had been hoping that Dennis Kucinich would get a cabinet position in the Obama administration, like Interior, or EPA or BLM. Commerce would be good too.
I campaigned for Chris Gregoire here in WA and would hate to see her leave.

[ajm8127]

I second that. Kucinich is a great and intelligent man. I originally supported him for President, but knew that he would never actually be elected. Its a pity really.

[sunny555]

I so agree. While I don't agree with all of his politics, I genuinely respect the man.

[rzan1]

I agree with your entire comment. I would hate to see Governor Gregoire leave.

[SailFree]

You favored the election cheating that got her the job, then?

[Davwbaird]

Rossi (the repug) thought he had stolen the election. He is a snake in the grass.

Chris started working for state in the late 60's. I worked with her for a couple of years. She is our greatest governor and I would not like to see her go to DC, we need her here.

[Joeblue]

Why don't you sail back over to freeperville.

[littlepuffycloud]

Me too...what you said.