December 26, 2011

Obama nominates Chuck Schumer's brother-in-law as a federal judge in New Jersey.

New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg "had been leaning toward other candidates until surprisingly submitting McNulty’s name to the White House."
“No one knows why [Lautenberg] did it,” said one person involved in the nomination process. “Everyone thinks it’s all about 2014 and Frank making sure he has Chuck in his corner."...
People involved in the judicial-nomination process in New Jersey told The Post they believe the surprise nomination was a naked political maneuver by the 87-year-old Lautenberg to stay in Schumer’s good graces. Lautenberg is worried that party elders will try to push him out of his beloved Senate seat because of his advanced age — something that Schumer, one of the party’s top opinion makers and fund-raisers, would be able to stop.
“McNulty came out of left field,” said another source involved in the Jersey judicial politics. “McNulty’s not a dumb guy, but people were just, like, ‘How’d that happen?’ ”
I need a punchline for this post. What do you think is funnier? An 87-year-old is worried about "party elders"?! Or: Left field... isn't that where Obama goes to get all his judges?

49 comments:

Hagar said...

Was not the occasion when New Jersey picked Lautenberg to succeed Toricelli also billed as "The Night of the Walking Dead"?

rhhardin said...

They're undeterred by the guards on the Palatine.

William said...

Schumer has a brother-in-law named Kevin McNulty. That's surprising. I, for one, will not make any obvious jokes about Lautenberg being the most Dependable candidate. Such humor is not funny unless it's aimed at Republicans.

traditionalguy said...

After Blago's case, I thought this selling offices was illegal.

But maybe that is "Illegal only if caught."

MadisonMan said...

I didn't realize Lautenberg was so old. Wow!

Why would he even want to run again?

I guess it's nice that he'll never get to use his pension, however.

Rabel said...

Lautenberg in 2014!
Before it's too late!

Bruce Hayden said...

I am not sure why anyone is the least bit surprised here. Schumer is one of the most powerful members of the Senate, and was one of the big reasons that a lot of people weren't all that unhappy with Harry Reid being reelected, and, thus, keeping his post as majority leader. Along with his power, he is also one of the nastiest Dems in the Senate. But, he is also one of the brightest, in a body known for just the opposite. And, that is one of the reasons that he has that power - he is one of the few Congressional Dems who can coherently debate for his side's policies.

ricpic said...

Dem campaign slogan:

Graveyard Voters, Vote Graveyard!

ricpic said...

Great debater? All I've ever heard Schumer do is bray about Republicans wanting to throw grammaw off a cliff.

Hagar said...

The mere appearance of impropriety seem to bother the Democrat(ic)s less than ever under this administration.

Anonymous said...

The headline implies that Obama had political motivation behind this, the story itself reveals that Lautenberg did.

This is cronyism at its finest and should be judged as such, but its hardly Obama that's responsible.

MayBee said...

This is cronyism at its finest and should be judged as such, but its hardly Obama that's responsible.

You know Obama is actually the one who does the nominating, right?
Does he not know what he's doing?

Peter Hoh said...

I've never forgiven Lautenberg for the slimy campaign he ran against Millicent Fenwick.

Steven said...

I think "how'd that happen?" is a perfectly adequate punch line.

Anonymous said...

"Schumer bro-in-law judge nod stuns NJ"

But will New Jersey be stunned enough...?!

'course not.

gadfly said...

I beg your pardon! This brother-in-law category is exempted from wrongdoing inside the Democrat party. Hugh Rodham collected $400,000 in fees from clients who were pardoned by Slick Willie and Tony Rodham got another $100,000 for pardons granted during President Clinton's last days in office.

As I recall, Hillary didn't get a single campaign question related to her brothers' ethics. Where is Marc Rich when you need him?

Chip S. said...

I gather that you don't think Schumer's BiL just happened to be the most qualified candidate.

Me either.

Tim said...

"People involved in the judicial-nomination process in New Jersey told The Post they believe the surprise nomination was a naked political maneuver by the 87-year-old Lautenberg to stay in Schumer’s good graces."

How does this qualify as a "surprise?"

Did they think Lautenberg might actually nominate someone qualified, or was it that Lautenberg's move was so brazenly craven by even New Jersey's impossible to detect standards?

Or was it that the least qualified ever, affirmative-action beneficiary taking up space in the presidency actually went along with the play, despite all the notoriety associated with the Blagovich conviction?

caseym54 said...

Actually, most of Obama's choices come from the stands behind third base: hard left and foul.

Bill S. said...

Another example of a dysfunctional Congress. Why is an 87 year old looking ahead to his reelection campaign?

edutcher said...

Simply the fact that Lautenmouth, at age 87, is eyeing '14 is pretty funny.

But anyone who thinks GodZero isn't doing everything right now for political reasons is also pretty funny.

Wince said...

What is Elder Abuse?

There are many kinds of elder abuse...

Elder Abuse also includes mental cruelty and psychological abuse. If someone humiliates, insults, frightens, threatens, ignores or treats an older person like a child, this is mental cruelty. Threatening to put an older person in a nursing home can be a form of psychological abuse. Removal of decision making power when the elderly person is still competent to make his/her own decisions is also considered to be psychological abuse.

Crimso said...

Snooki must have begged off.

SomeoneHasToSayIt said...

Bruce Hayden said...
But, he is also one of the brightest,


Got any evidence to back up that assertion?

My first thought would be that anyone who consistently votes for policies that kill the free enterprise engine of this economy, is by definition not all that "bright".

FleetUSA said...

I would like to hear Gov Christie sound off on this one!

Let him focus on it like a laser.

Toad Trend said...

Money and favors, in that order.

Joe said...

I thought Lautenberg was dead. Didn't know the other senator from NJ was Robert Menendez.

Shrugs.

Thomas said...

If you look at his bio, he seems to be a pretty decent candidate for a nomination. He seems like a lawyer of some accomplishment, and not much of a party hack. Maybe it's good that someone else in the family is the politician.

Anonymous said...

Old, dumb, and left is no way to go through life Pops.

bobby said...

"Another example of a dysfunctional Congress."
- - - -

Au contraire. It appears to be functioning perfectly well.

If the president can openly and without fear of consequence steal billions - hell, trillions - of dollars of taxpayers' money and give it to his friends and supporters in order to purchase their continued friendship and support, then, in the name of co-equal branches of government, Congress ought to be able to enrich itself and its friends as it sees fit, too.

Anonymous said...

I have been experiencing some issues loading your page though. I am using Chrome and 4 out of 4 times I have to hit reload at least one time, sometimes multiple times, to load your page. Anyone else having problems.

gadfly said...

Nick:

My Chrome and Firefox work just fine. Must be your internet connection.

jeff said...

"I thought Lautenberg was dead." I've seen nothing to disprove this.

Eric Muller said...

I worked very closely with Kevin McNulty at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Newark, NJ, in the 1990s. He is one of the finest, brightest, fairest-minded, most intellectually curious, and least partisan people I have ever known. This nomination is fantastic news for the federal judiciary. I am learning about this for the first time here, and am thrilled.

He also plays a mean guitar. We were in the US Attorney's Office band together.

Greg Hlatky said...

A political hack gets appointed head of the Department of Weights and Measures in a big city. At the announcement a reporter asks the appointee, "Hey Charlie, how many ounces in a pound?" Charlie answers, "Hey, give a guy time to learn his job!"

Carol_Herman said...

Schumer's sister did not marry a Jewish fella!

But ya know what? This "appointment did not slip under the radar!"

And, it made me laugh! Lautenberg was making a political bet for 2014! HA. HA. HA.

Bob_R said...

Yeah, Eric. All senator's sisters have great taste. It's an important selection mechanism in our political system.

Jeff said...

How about a variation on "An 87 year old Senator working to ensure that he gets another 6 year term"?

Hagar said...

Kevin McNulty may be good as gold; being now associated with Schumer and Lautenberg, it is going to be hard to convince peopole of that.

Carnifex said...

Ben Franklin noted that impeachment is better than assassination. I sometimes wonder if he was wrong.

Not that I'm sayin', I'm just sayin'.

Henry said...

I think Eric Muller's and Hagar's comments need to be read together.

Eric Muller:

I worked very closely with Kevin McNulty at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Newark, NJ, in the 1990s. He is one of the finest, brightest, fairest-minded, most intellectually curious, and least partisan people I have ever known. This nomination is fantastic news for the federal judiciary. I am learning about this for the first time here, and am thrilled.

Hagar:

Kevin McNulty may be good as gold; being now associated with Schumer and Lautenberg, it is going to be hard to convince people of that.

No one gets a judgeship without connections. There's always a political maneuver. This one stands out only because of its nakedness.

McNulty must know the game and also know there are better ways to play it.

Brian Brown said...

"People involved in the judicial-nomination process in New Jersey told The Post they believe the surprise nomination was a naked political maneuver by the 87-year-old Lautenberg to stay in Schumer’s good graces."

Lovely people, these Democrats.

Because we all know what America is in need of is Senators in their 90's!

Vince said...

It's easy for all of you to laugh-I live in New Jersey and have to deal with these idiots!

Christopher in MA said...

"[Schumer] is one of the few Congressional Dems who can coherently debate for his side's policies."

I wasn't aware that the ability to shriek "you have more, I want more!" was coherent, Bruce, but perhaps your standards for linguistic sharpness are different than mine.

Issob Morocco said...

Like New Jersey today would even contemplate reelecting an 88 year old Senator who was shamelessly selected to replace Bob Torricelli, a rather suspect character, by Democractic chicanery of the NJ Election laws.
This is a living poster of the only Democratic Party principle, POWER.

They live to seek it, they gather it like hoarders, and like hoarders they seek only to further their cause (or affliction)by using that POWER to get more POWER. Their ideas and plots are merely cover for what drives them, POWER. Those who seek to limit them or deny them, are enemies and villians, much like hoarders believe those attempting to help are trying to steal or take their worth.

Lautenberg US Senate 2012. Cool. He might give Strom Thurmond a run for the money in eldest living US Senator. Sounds like Schumer might have committed Democratic Party Political Fraud with this one.

"Sure Frank, I will back you for your election next year, but see my Brother In Law is seeking new employment and I might need some help....."

We need to vote out the scoundrels next year.

Known Unknown said...

DANIEL CRAIG IS RIGHT!

jacksonjay said...

Chris Rock recently said the he, like many others, was a little disappointed in the President. But, he realized that re-election to a second term required the President to keep the agressive stuff on the back burner.
"You can’t really do your gangsta sh— until your second term. …"

I think that Obama is starting with the "gangsta shit" early!

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1111/67980.html#ixzz1hkXKWDdH

Kazinski said...

As ready as I am to be easily outraged by any Obama appointment, it may well be that appointees picked by this administration based on nepotism will end up being better than appointees picked based on ideology.

One thing that puzzles me, though, you know that any brother-in-law of Chuck Schumer has to hate his guts, doesn't Chuck know?

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