'It Won't Even Be Close': As Many As 30 Republican Senators Are Reportedly a 'No' on Matt Gaetz

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: MEDIAite

Nov 15th, 2024, 10:40 am


A new report from The Wall Street Journal paints a bleak picture of Matt Gaetz’s chances of being confirmed as attorney general.

President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Gaetz — who has no judicial or prosecutorial experience — for the powerful post on Wednesday, and Gaetz quickly resigned from his seat in Congress days before the release of a House Ethics Committee report into allegations that he “engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts, dispensed special privileges and favors to individuals with whom he had a personal relationship, and sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct.”

Senate Republicans, who hold a 53-47 majority in the upper chamber of Congress, are apparently unenthused by the prospect of Gaetz serving as the country’s top cop. While just a couple members of the conference (Gaetz can afford to lose only three) have already announced their intention to oppose Gaetz, others have expressed skepticism. The Journal suggests that behind closed doors, the resistance to him is even more entrenched.

From its report:

One person familiar with the conversations among Republican senators said “significantly more than four” of them are opposed, which would be enough to tank Gaetz’s chances. “People are pissed,” the person said.

Other estimates ranged from more than a dozen Republican “no” votes to more than 30. “It won’t even be close,” another person said.

Read more: https://www.mediaite.com/news/it-wont-even-be-close-as-many-as-30-republican-senators-are-reportedly-a-no-on-matt-gaetz/

[CincyDem]

1. Assuming it gets to a vote.

1. Recess appointment

Or

2. Cover for his resignation to kill the ethics report so he can run again for his seat that he won 2:1 last week. And the ethics charges would have to start all over in the new congress (like Johnson’s gonna touch that live wire).

[Irish_Dem]

3. 3. Or Gaetz is just a distraction to provide cover for other Russian assets being placed at high levels of govt.

I am not sure which game is being played.

[CincyDem]

18. I think Trump is giving Gaetz cover for his resignation to make the report moot.

I don’t think trumpy needs any cover to place Russian assets. He’s in full public sell out mode.

[Irish_Dem]

21. yes you are most likely correct.

I wonder how much Gaetz's rich daddy had to pay Trump for the favor?

[SleeplessinSoCal]

48. Hopefully just the nomination is a massive blunder.

Let the MSM draw attention to ALL the criminals.

[Irish_Dem]

68. Trump achieved his goal either way.

Humiliating the country, and he will get someone else who will do as much damage as Gaetz
but was better at hiding his crimes.

[Baitball Blogger]

64. That has to be it. Agree.

[Irish_Dem]

71. Yes perhaps Gaetz is just a decoy, a red herring.

Throwing us off the trail.
Hiding something else going on we are not supposed to notice.

[viva la]

74. That's a good point, and Gaetz probably made a deal with Johnson--

I'll resign, you hide the evidence.

[Cha]

19. Exactly.. my first thought.

Amazing though that so many Rs don't want him anywhere near DOJ.

Why is that?

[Irish_Dem]

23. This is a very good question.

Why are R's suddenly acting upset about Gaetz.
They are sociopaths who could not care less about Gaetz damaging the country.

I guess we can assume Gaetz might get access to their own personally damaging material
gathered by the DOJ and FBI?

[ShazzieB]

53. Accorrding to some of the commentators on MSNBC, Gaetz is the most hated person in the entire US Congress.

As in both houses of Congress. I think Chris Hayes and Lawrence O'Donnell both alluded to the night after his nomination was announced.

Apparently, he is widely hated by Democrats and Republicans alike. I'm not sure exactly why that is, but it dovetails with this story about so many GOP senators saying they won't vote for his appointment.

[Irish_Dem]

69. What part is not in touch with reality?

That Gaetz is a bad guy?
Or that R's are afraid of their own crimes and wrong doing being exposed?

[Ford_Prefect]

40. I have read and heard that he is one of the most disliked members on Capitol Hill. So it would seem some of their

objection to him reflects how much of a colossal asshat he is, as much as for his individual crimes and overall sleaze.
Which is to say that along with his incompetence for the job they wouldn't trust him in broad daylight.

[Cha]

41. Well Described.. I'll buy

those Reasons.

TY

[Irish_Dem]

42. Gaetz must really be a scumbag if he doesn't meet the R low morality bar.

[Rebl2]

79. Just curious

It seems in the past democrats have kept the house in session to keep the president from making a recess appointment. Is it possible for democrats to do this when tfg is in office?

[Tadpole Raisin]

2. Now if they could just figure out (remember) that they do have power,

they could (but won’t) tell him that if he continues to nominate unserious people he will have a tough time doing anything.

P. S. We aren’t giving you recess appointments.
Gosh he would just screw them over anyway.

At least Gaetz resigned. He can’t withdraw that can he?

[sheshe2]

49. I read here that he will be back in Congress in Jan, if he loses.

Not sure if it is true.

[littlemissmartypants]

50. Could DeSatan possibly appoint him to his old seat?

Seems odd he could resign, have the report quashed, say, "Psych!" then "I'm back!" (Like Jack Nicholson) and reclaim his coat closet like nothing happened.

[sheshe2]

51. Probably.

Pervs stick together.

[ShazzieB]

54. That's what I heard, too.

He resigned from this Congress, but that won't keep him from taking the seat he won in November when the new Congress is sworn in.

[sheshe2]

73. Seems we can't get rid of him. 😣

[zipplewrath]

75. No, but I wonder

He resigned, but from THIS congress. He was elected for the NEXT congress. At some point before January could he decide to take his seat next session?

[Henry203]

4. When Trump lowers the hammer

he will be confirmed.

[Shermann]

8. More like lowers the sceptre. nt

[Skittles]

44. yup

repukes always end up goose stepping

[Omnipresent]

5. Republicans seem to repeat this same pattern.

That once they become a majority party, they start cannibalizing their own.

[Skittles]

45. BRING IN ON

WHAT A FUCKING SHIT SHOW IT WILL BE

[IronLionZion]

6. Good that he resigned his House seat

It's best if he's not in any office. Gaetz for prison would be great.

[groundloop]

22. HOWEVER, I've heard it said be several people that he can still come back to the House in January

I don't quite understand how, but that's what a few people in the know have been saying.

[Irish_Dem]

43. If you are an R, do overs are always possible.

[Arger68]

7. Imagine if even a handful of those

cowards had voted for conviction in either of his impeachment hearings, we wouldn't be in this mess now.

[Pacifist Patriot]

9. I don't think it was ever a serious appointment. I think it was to give him a plausible excuse to resign...

before the ethics committee report came out.

[Bettie]

10. They will fold as soon as he tells them to

if he actually wants gaetz.

[Walleye]

11. I think it's cute that senators think they will have a chance to advise and consent on this. Just adorable.

[Prairie Gates]

12. Increasingly seems like this nom was just to spike the House ethics report

At the same time, that seems like a lot of capital to expend on saving Gaetz some embarrassment. Of course, the upside will be that the next nom will be viewed as God's gift and a "compromise" nom put out by a magnanimous and wise Trump regardless of how odious he is (it will 100% be a he, let's be clear). Still seems like a bit of an own goal.

[FakeNoose]

15. If that's true, then why would Gaetz resign his seat?

If he knows in advance that the AG job isn't happening, he must believe that Chump has something else for him.
Otherwise he wouldn't have resigned.

[Prairie Gates]

16. He had to resign his seat to spike the ethics report

That's the only legitimate reason to not release it: he's no longer a member of Congress.

[womanofthehills]

25. It will probably happen as Trump is already working on it

Said he will start a PAC against senators who vote against his picks

[Skittles]

46. ONE PERVERT COVERING FOR ANOTHER PERVERT

FAMILY VALUES!

[Baitball Blogger]

13. He's going to withdraw his nomination so that report never sees the light of day.

[iemanja]

56. Not likely

Trump will do a recess appointment. He has already said as much. And that ethics report will not be released.

[FakeNoose]

14. Gaetz made enemies when Kevin McCarthy got shanked

Not that I was rooting for McCarthy. Matt's not a popular guy, but they know he's tight with Chump.

Just sayin'

[magicarpet]

17. Gaetz is a smug little cretin.

He is a frat-boy Fascist who's rich Daddy is well connected in ReThug politics down in Floridah.

[JoseBalow]

20. "behind closed doors"; "familiar with the conversations"

If they're not on the record, this doesn't mean shit.

[BumRushDaShow]

31. I am sure ALL of the (D)s and (I)s that caucus with (D)s would vote "no"

and you already had 2 (Collins & Murkowski) come out "publicly" to say "no", and a couple doubters are out there (Ernst & Tillis).

Assuming that Casey is unsuccessful with his recount and the split is 53 (R) - 45 (D) + 2 (I), then the GOP can only lose no more than 3 votes (and have Vance break the tie for a confirmation).

[JoseBalow]

33. Ya, it's that "as many as 30" and "reportedly" parts I have doubts about

The actual vote will tell, but I can predict right now that it won't even be close to 30.

[BumRushDaShow]

34. Well within the OP article

that was only one of a couple of estimated number quotes, where others threw out different numbers...

One person familiar with the conversations among Republican senators said “significantly more than four” of them are opposed, which would be enough to tank Gaetz’s chances. “People are pissed,” the person said.

Other estimates ranged from more than a dozen Republican “no” votes to more than 30. “It won’t even be close,” another person said.

[ancianita]

70. Rethug senators talk 'spine' talk on confirmations, but by Jan 3rd Trump will break them and

Last edited Sat Nov 16, 2024, 10:08 AM - Edit history (1)

they'll show fealty to the dictator-elect by going into "recess."

[BumRushDaShow]

72. They tend to allow a couple "break-away" votes

if it doesn't impact their final votes but we shall see...

They would have to have BOTH Chambers write that into the Rules though and they haven't done it for 20 years because, at least from the Senate side, they are very selfish in terms of their power of "Advise and Consent".

[Henry203]

77. It will be one

Murkowski.

[viva la]

24. What's great is... he's already resigned from Congress

and he can't go back.
Or maybe he'll decide to run in the special election, LOL.

[The Mouth]

30. Which means his charges will have to start from scratch again

if he wins the special election you know the house won't restart any investigation.

He gets his seat back, charges dropped, Trump appears to make a reasonable compromise, 'disloyal', non-MAGA senators out themselves for future retaliation and he nominates someone who will be just as bad and less stupid.

[Bluetus]

26. Dems should vote unanimously FOR Gaetz

Last edited Fri Nov 15, 2024, 05:25 PM - Edit history (1)

OK, before anybody starts losing their shit and moving to get me banned, hear me out.

If not Gaetz, then who? If the Senate rejects Gaetz, Trump's second choice will not be Eric Holder, Jack Smith, or even Merrick Garland. Trump's second choice would be every bit as horrible for the principles of justice and the creation of a dictatorship as Gaetz, but will have fewer cases of child sex trafficking on his record. Trump's second choice will be able to fly under the radar, making it very difficult to attack him based on his actions as AG.

Our very best option is for Gaetz to be the face of the Trump administration for the next 2 years. That gives us the best chances to show America what electing Trump means.

I am dead serious about this. And this goes for RFKJr and most of the others. If we are going to fight any of the appointees, it should be the Russian asset that is nominated as Director of National Intelligence. If she passes the Senate, her treason will all be conducted in secret and will be devastating to the country.

[subterranean]

37. "If not Gaetz, then who?" Ken Paxton, maybe?

I saw his name mentioned before as a potential AG pick. He was impeached for corruption by his own party in Texas, which qualifies him for a position in the trump cabinet.

[Calista241]

27. I still think it's more of a message than anything else.

For the next month, Gaetz is going to be saying shit like "I'm going to fire 2/3 of the FBI and DOJ. And then we're going to move the DOJ Headquarters to Minot North Dakota"

The next nominee will receive the message loud and clear and will know what's expected of them.

[The Mouth]

28. Or a strategy to then nominate someone not quite as obviously terrible

So that whoever the actual nominee approved seems a compromise, even if they are as bad or worse but not blindingly so.

[sop]

29. 'Tuberville Threatens to End Republicans Voting Against Matt Gaetz'

"Key Trump allies are warning Republican senators to fall in line—or else."

"Senator Tommy Tuberville threatened to oust Republican senators who don’t vote to approve former Representative Matt Gaetz’s nomination to be the next attorney general."

https://newrepublic.com/post/188423/tuberville-threatens-end-republicans-matt-gaetz-attorney-general-vote

[mentalsolstice]

32. Well, Tommy lives in Gaetz's FL congressional district.

Except for a few days each year.

[ribrepin]

58. Boss Tuberville has spoken

Better fall in line

[sinkingfeeling]

35. We should believe such a prediction?

[Joe_Gadway]

36. Trump loses, America wins

I believe every loss for Trump is a win for America!

[tclambert]

38. Republicans considering doing the right thing? That doesn't sound right.

[Skittles]

47. more like the rightwing thing

yup

[Karasu]

39. Wasn't Trump's position that Congress needs to give him the power to make recess appointments?

His real intention is clearly to bypass the approval process entirely, in which case this really doesn't matter.

[FBaggins]

67. He's always had the ability to make recess appointments

Congress just had the power to not take recesses

It's reasonable for people to make that connection here - but I think it's incorrect. Trump can't actually make a nomination until after he becomes president on January 20th. Congress's first recess wouldn't normally be until July.

Gaetz can't last nearly that long. He'll announce that he's withdrawing from consideration long before Trump can actually make a nomination (which means that it won't even count as a nomination getting rejected). It's just a failed trial balloon.

Likely not even that - because Trump had to know this would be the result. He was just giving Gaetz an excuse to get out from under the Ethics probe and help republicans fill that seat before the new term starts.

[Doodley]

52. Huge blow to Trump's authority. Hopefully a sign of GOP resistance to Trump's worst instincts.

[iemanja]

55. Trump will do a recess appointment

He has said he’s ready to do that for his entire cabinet. Why people think Trump will withdraw Gaetz as his nominee is beyond me.

[BumRushDaShow]

60. He will have to convince both the House and Senate

to change their Rules to restrict or eliminate their "Pro-Forma" sessions, that they have been using the past 20 years (when Shrub recess-appointed Bolton to be U.N. Ambassador, pissing them off), in order to actually "go into recess".

[MrWowWow]

57. Will matt "Eddie Munster " gaetz be UNEMPLOYED AFTER He Loses the Vote?

Last edited Sat Nov 16, 2024, 07:58 AM - Edit history (1)

-Asking for a spellbound and terrified populace.

[BumRushDaShow]

62. If he is unable to be confirmed or recess-appointed

there are plenty of positions in the government that don't require Senate Confirmation (e.g., as a "Senior Advisor", where there are "Councils" that handle various aspects of governance, like "Domestic Policy" - current)

[Mike Niendorff]

59. "Promoted" out the door

I think Gaetz has served his purpose, and is now more a liability than an asset.

Trump is, however, still willing to use him one last time -- but not in the way everyone thinks.

Trump doesn't at all expect him to get through. The real nominee will be whoever comes next -- especially if it's by recess appointment. In particular, watch to see if the Gaetz nomination is withdrawn at the last minute, in exchange for a "compromise" deal with Thune that gives Trump the recess appointment situation he desperately wants.

In the meantime, this makes Gaetz go away, and it also allows Trump to identify the next round of people he's going to target for "disloyalty" as he continues to consolidate power.



MDN

[artemisia1]

61. I don't think either this nomination or the one for SedDefense gets a vote. They will "withdraw" soon, imho. /nt

[LonePirate]

76. I don't believe any of this. Collins and Murkowski are the only likely No votes from Republicans.

The rest of the party will gleefully fall in line behind their senile leader.

[Henry203]

78. Only Murkowski

Collin’s will vote to confirm just like Beer boy.