From my hometown newspaper, the Nashua Telegraph, which ought to stick to human-interest stories on curling rather than political analysis.

And, for his part, Lynch made it clear he has no interest in depriving the state’s senior senator perhaps an opportunity of a lifetime to serve in a White House Cabinet post should it be offered.

[…]

Whatever one thinks of Gregg’s politics – and we certainly have had our policy differences with him over the years – the fact remains that he has served our state long and well for three decades.

Whoa whoa whoa. Last I checked, administrative jobs that actually with determinative effects on the everyday working of the federal government aren’t parceled out on the basis of whether the appointee is deserving or not. Why all the sensitive feelings about Gregg being denied “the opportunity of a lifetime”? Is this all at once some sort of maudlin family film in which Lil’ Judd has always dreamed of becoming a Commerce Secretary, but finds himself standing up against the scheming designs of the Adults, who just don’t understand him?

In a sense, it is the “opportunity of a lifetime” for Gregg, only for a different reason: he gets to exit gracefully to a comfortable administrative job and misses out on the great fun of a difficult and destructive 2010 reelection bid. Usually when somebody is rewarded so far beyond their merits, they don’t get to set the terms of engagement. Perhaps I will refuse to accept my Harvard diploma if the school does not agree to allow my little brother in to fill my vacating spot.

The editorial goes on:

Gregg shouldn’t be prevented from accepting the nomination because of the purely political and mathematical implications of doing so

Well, of course, it’s not like he’s some sort of … some sort of politician, or something.