Video: Lincoln for commerce secretary? Obama cracks up

First New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, now U.S. Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire — the president can’t buy a successful commerce-secretary nomination. (Don’t take that literally, Citizen Blago.) But at least Obama can laugh about it. Thursday evening, only hours after Gregg announced his withdrawal as nominee to head the Commerce Department, Obama floated the name of a more familiar Republican: Abraham Lincoln, whom he pictures sitting in his messy Springfield law office with his feet up on his desk, waiting for someone to call to ask him to be commerce secretary.

After the jump: Video clip (worth viewing for Obama’s amusement at his own joke and predicament alone) and the Top Ten Reasons Obama Should Tap Lincoln for Commerce.

Top Ten Reasons Obama Should Tap Lincoln for Commerce Secretary

10. No danger of “irresolvable conflicts” (think Civil War)

9. Can plausibly deny knowledge of New Mexican muni-bonds mess — and New Mexico, for that matter

8. Two hundred? Washington hands don’t come much older

7. Hilarious idea: Suspend habeus corpus while Abe’s doing charity “Jail ‘n’ Bail”

6. Personal finances good down to the penny

5. True fact: Royally jerked around the Census Office in 1862

4. Writes a mean Second Inaugural Address

3. Will bring his “Team of Rivals”™ PowerPoint

2. It’s like basketball was invented for him

1. This seals it: Lincoln’s secretary of commerce was named Obama