it's only bi-partisan if both sides are willing to compromise

Breaking: Judd Gregg withdraws nomination as Secretary of Commerce.

Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) is withdrawing from consideration for Commerce Secretary, citing “irresolvable conflicts” on the stimulus package and the Census. Gregg said in a statement:

However, it has become apparent during this process that this will not work for me as I have found that on issues such as the stimulus package and the Census there are irresolvable conflicts for me. Prior to accepting this post, we had discussed these and other potential differences, but unfortunately we did not adequately focus on these concerns. We are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy.

Update - Recall, in 1995, Gregg voted to abolish the Dept. of Commerce.

Update - MSNBC reports that the White House press office was "surprised" by Gregg's withdrawal, saying that it was "news to them." A "senior White House official" told Politico that he was “totally caught off guard” by the news.

Update - Last week Gregg said of the recovery package, "I think the one that's pending is in the range we need. I do believe it's a good idea to do it at two levels, which this bill basically does, which is immediate stimulus and long-term initiatives which actually improve our competitiveness and our productivity."

Update - Gregg tells Politico: "I couldn’t be Judd Gregg and serve in the Cabinet. I
should have faced up to the reality of that earlier." Gregg also said that "the Census was not a major factor in his decision – that the bigger factors were his background as a fiscal conservative and independence."

Update - Statement from White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs:

Senator Gregg reached out to the President and offered his name for Secretary of Commerce. He was very clear throughout the interviewing process that despite past disagreements about policies, he would support, embrace, and move forward with the President’s agenda. Once it became clear after his nomination that Senator Gregg was not going to be supporting some of President Obama’s key economic priorities, it became necessary for Senator Gregg and the Obama administration to part ways. We regret that he has had a change of heart.

(Think Progress)
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Once again, the repugs show that they are not willing to work with Obama or accept his out-reached hand. Everyone can see that Obama has tried far more than most people would to work with both parties, only to have the repugs constantly rebuke him. Logically, the Dems would soon stop trying, which would probably be better for the country anyway.

Obama has the patience of a saint, but even his is sure to have a limit.