A funeral for New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg hasn’t
been scheduled yet and the political pundits are already in full fury,
speculating wildly about how Gov. Chris Christie will handle the Senate vacancy, which
he will fill temporarily by appointment.
been scheduled yet and the political pundits are already in full fury,
speculating wildly about how Gov. Chris Christie will handle the Senate vacancy, which
he will fill temporarily by appointment.
Christie, whose standing with conservative Republicans is
shaky, will be pressured by some in New Jersey to appoint a Democrat to fill a
seat that’s been held by a Democrat for a long time. But the centrist governor, who’s
already widely mentioned as a possible 2016 presidential contender, must
appoint a Republican, preferably a conservative, if he doesn’t want to damage
his prospects in the presidential primaries.
shaky, will be pressured by some in New Jersey to appoint a Democrat to fill a
seat that’s been held by a Democrat for a long time. But the centrist governor, who’s
already widely mentioned as a possible 2016 presidential contender, must
appoint a Republican, preferably a conservative, if he doesn’t want to damage
his prospects in the presidential primaries.
At least that’s the conventional thinking. The appointee
will run for election in November, when New Jersey holds statewide elections, so everything will happen quickly.
will run for election in November, when New Jersey holds statewide elections, so everything will happen quickly.
With some of the highest approval ratings in the nation, Christie
is cruising toward such a comfortable re-election win in the fall that anything
less than a landslide would be disappointing. An unpopular Senate appointee on
the same ballot could drag down his numbers.
is cruising toward such a comfortable re-election win in the fall that anything
less than a landslide would be disappointing. An unpopular Senate appointee on
the same ballot could drag down his numbers.
The governor could appoint a “caretaker” senator – former
governor Tom Keane would be ideal – but he has made it clear that that is not
his plan.
governor Tom Keane would be ideal – but he has made it clear that that is not
his plan.
So, amid this political chess game commentators are
already rambling on about all the implications and strategy and ins and outs.
already rambling on about all the implications and strategy and ins and outs.
On MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” this a.m., co-host Joe
Scarborough, a former GOP congressman, said some in the Republican Party are
criticizing Christie because he has garnered a lot of Democratic support and has
collected a lot of campaign donations from Democrats.
Scarborough, a former GOP congressman, said some in the Republican Party are
criticizing Christie because he has garnered a lot of Democratic support and has
collected a lot of campaign donations from Democrats.
Scarborough advised that Christie is accomplishing what
the entire Republican Party should be striving for:
the entire Republican Party should be striving for:
“Isn’t that the whole idea?
You steal votes from the enemy, you grab money from the enemy.”
You steal votes from the enemy, you grab money from the enemy.”
One guest on the show, former Pennsylvania governor Ed
Rendell, a rather moderate Democrat and normally a level-headed guy, said this
about the political calculations: “You also have to appoint someone who is
qualified. That’s almost as important. Almost.”
Rendell, a rather moderate Democrat and normally a level-headed guy, said this
about the political calculations: “You also have to appoint someone who is
qualified. That’s almost as important. Almost.”
And there, in one encapsulated moment, you see what’s
wrong with American politics.
wrong with American politics.
