I doubt if Congressman Matt Gaetz can get confirmed, and I find him a very unimpressive figure, an utter narcissist with the odor of scandal ever about him. On the other hand, Merrick Garland, a former Federal appellate Judge, Supreme Court nominee and current Attorney General, was supremely qualified to be Attorney General, and has presided over unending lawfare against opponents of the current regime, as pointed out by the Vice-President elect. Jeff Sessions, the first Attorney General in the first Trump term, was well qualified on paper. He was also a gutless wonder who allowed himself to be buffaloed by DOJ attorneys, and recused himself from whether a special prosecutor should be appointed to investigate the Russian collusion hoax, thereby allowing the Mueller witch hunt to get underway.
I rather suspect that Trump nominated Gaetz to get him out of the House, where he has always been an agent of chaos to no good end, and to get his second choice through after Gaetz goes down in flames. Considering his experience with Sessions, I do not blame Trump for valuing loyalty above all else, when it comes to who should be Attorney General. I think Ken Paxton, current Attorney General of Texas, may be waiting in the wings. We shall see.
Gaetz is a stalking horse and a diverter of fire. He will then be appointed as Marco Rubio’s replacement in the Senate as Rubio is up for for SecState. As for who will be the real AG, your guess is as good as mine. As long as it isn’t another Sessions or Barr.
Josh, do you think Ron DeSantis would ever appoint Gaetz as Senator? I don’t.
Mr. Gaetz for about eight years practiced law in a modest firm in Fort Walton Beach. He’s not an optimal candidate for Attorney-General. The air of scandal is that he was chums with another Florida pol who went down on some distasteful criminal charges, his habit of squiring around young women while the ink was drying on their high school diplomas, and the caricature-of-a-skeezy-car-salesman exoskeleton. Not sure what Trump has in mind here. Wm. Barr appears to have sought and taken the job because Andrew Weissmann’s scamming around was threatening to trigger a general housecleaning, then slept through the Epstein ‘suicide’ and the very disturbing shenanigans in blue cities all over the country. I’m guessing Trump wants someone who despises the Department’s employees and is generally outré. Gaetz does not attend Georgetown cocktail parties; he seduces the 19 year old daughters of people who do.
Democrats who complain about this appointment should in so doing offer up their time-stamped critiques of Letitia James.
“As for who will be the real AG”
Two candidates from Missouri have been previously mentioned: current Senator Eric Schmidt (who apparently took himself out of consideration) and current state AG Andrew Bailey. The latter has been out in front of efforts to stop internet censorship with the Missouri vs. Biden case. He might be a good backup candidate if Gaetz can’t get confirmed.
his habit of squiring around young women while the ink was drying on their high school diplomas,
Comment of the week Art!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXeIxtI–uc
I don’t always agree with Art Deco, but I always read his comments because they are so very educational –> “his habit of squiring around young women while the ink was drying on their high school diplomas.” Brilliant!
I think you’re right, Donald. I was trying to figure out this appointment beyond the disruptor angle and I believe you’ve nailed it. Also I agree that Paxton would be just as big a nightmare for the career DOJ types as anyone else could be. Trump doesn’t play 4D Chess as often as some think, but he does do it, and this may well be an example.
Jason Miyares, the Virginia AG, would be a great choice.
One can also look at Rep Gaetz’ nomination this way:
At the time Hunter’s 1st laptop was discovered, the Dems FBI claimed it was a Russian hoax. Gaetz said the computer was the real deal; it was proven with help from NY Post not to be a hoax. But the Dems set out to ruin him with serious vice accusations. The Biden DOJ, who didnt believe their own witnesses, decided not to charge him; quietly dropped the case. Let’s face it, once accusations like that are made, the smear sticks with the accused forever. Trump picked Gaetz because he will be like a dog with a bone cleaning out DOJ.
Controversy about Tulsi Gabbard is back. Remember how jealous Hillary claimed Tulsi was a Russian asset? The Atlantic now claims Tulsi is a danger to the country. Biden administration has her on a Do Not Fly list, yet she is a Lt Col in Army Reserves with a clearance.