We haven’t always been the greatest Judd Gregg fans around here in times past, but have duly noted his recent performance in the US Senate and welcome his finally being the senator we always knew he could be. Whether its leading the charge against Obamacare, trying to have enemy combatants tried as enemy combatants, or verbalizing free market solutions and approaches to our present economic woes, Judd Gregg will be heading out on a high note. And we’re not the only ones that have noticed.
The answer to the question in the headline is that our Senior Senator Gregg is with that group, and others, on the UK Telegraph’s list of 100 of "The most influential US conservatives: 80- 61." According to that paper, this represents the
second list of the 100 most influential conservatives and 100 most influential liberals in America a year after Barack Obama took the oath on the steps of the Capitol to become the 44th President of the United States.
The lists are both divided into five with 20 people in each ‘instalment’ and published over five successive days. The top 20 liberals and conservatives lists will be published on Friday 15 January. The other 80 will be released in lists of 20, to be published every day between now and then.
As noted above, Senator Gregg stands in good company with fellow "conservatives" on the list. Of course, this same list includes Olympia Snowe, so it is somewhat suspect, but hey, it also includes our friend Erik Erickson from Red State as well. Here is what the UK Telegraph says about Gregg:
The conservative New Englander rocked the Republican party by accepting the post of Commerce Secretary in the Obama administration. Even in the heady atmosphere of Obama it seemed to make no sense and so it proved when Gregg abruptly pulled himself out of consideration, citing “irresolvable conflicts" on issues like the economic stimulus package and the 2010 census.
"Prior to accepting this post, we had discussed these and other potential differences, but unfortunately we did not adequately focus on these concerns," he said. A deficit hawk, he has since become an unrelenting critic of the Obama administration’s economic policies. As a Senor for New Hampshire, he is a perennial potential kingmaker in the early-voting state and could be an important ally for Mitt Romney there in 2012. Has said he will not stand for re-election this year but his influence will endure.
Indeed. Hopefully NH-erites will choose wisely when they replace the outgoing statesman.