President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Matt Gaetz as Attorney General has consumed most of the media attention in the last week. Indeed, it seems to have sucked the oxygen out of this city. The media frenzy over Gaetz and a couple of other nominations has served to brush over an appointment that should be universally praised: William McGinley as the next White House Counsel. I had the pleasure of teaching Bill at George Washington Law School, and he is ideal for this position, particularly at this critical time in our country.
Bill was one of my students in first-year torts in the mid-1990s. He was a gifted student who knew early on that he wanted to work along the borderline of law and politics. It is an area where GW has long excelled, and Bill was quickly recognized as one of the rising stars among young Republican lawyers. (Notably, Bill attended my class a couple years after prior Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway).
Bill received a B.A. in history from UCLA and a master’s in history from California State University.
During his first summer, when other students were seeking summer internships with firms, Bill clerked for the Republic National Committee (RNC) and delved into the world of law, politics, and policy. Upon his graduation, his rise in the profession can only be described as meteoric. At a young age, he would serve as Deputy General Counsel to the RNC and coordinate the national campaigns for candidates and ballot initiatives. He also served as counsel to the RNC Standing Committee on Rules, the powerful group that establishes the framework for the party and its conventions.
Bill ultimately became the General Counsel to the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) before becoming a partner at some of the most prestigious law firms, including Patton Boggs and Jones Day. He also remained active as an alumnus at GW Law School, supporting other students in pursuing their careers in Washington, D.C., and other cities.
Bill has all the qualities of an ideal White House Counsel. He can offer the President the clarity of judgment and foresight needed in this position, which requires the authority to give needed direction on the best course for achieving goals and unwanted advice when needed.
That is the model of past successful White House Counsels, like the late C. Boyden Gray. It requires the trust of a president that, while the advice is sometimes inconvenient, his counsel seeks to facilitate, not frustrate, his legacy.
Bill is a tenacious and seasoned fighter with the “street cred” to be taken seriously by everyone in this city. He also has a deep-seated love for the law and legal education. Trump found a White House counsel who knows this city and how to get things done despite the deep partisan divides. Do not let his various degrees fool you. He is neither an egg-headed nor lace-curtained lawyer. He is an intellectual who knows how to scrap. He is someone who not only has a deep understanding of history but also someone who knows how to make history.
Trump picked wisely with Bill McGinley, and I am particularly proud of his success as a leader in our profession.
It seems that there are several regular posters here who, in spite of their previous protestations, are just fine with a gargantuan bureaucracy bankrupting our Federal government and its taxpayers, just as long as that bureaucracy is tinged red, and not blue. Disgusting!
Cite it, dum dum, or be shown for the pinhead libturd that you are.
Hey, Illiterate imbecile: conventionally, those who might accurately described as liberal, or “libturds”, if you will, are strongly in favor of expensive government, not intractably opposed to it, as I am. I’m not going to cite individual posts, there are many, but generally I am referring to those who are objecting to Trump’s selections because he isn’t selecting candidates from a conventional list of Swamp Insiders, ignoring the fact that his mandate is to drain that swamp, not maintain it. Now go back to jerking off to the porn videos on your phone.
“expansive” not “expensive”
* Perhaps Musk and Vivek will be able to find where all those trillions are and were going. They’ll be met with obstructive bureaucrats who’ll be fired.
Prof. Turley for SCOTUS!
Many on the blog are fighting against Matt Gaetz. Where were those people when he was fighting the Steele Dossier, Mueller and Russia, Russia, Russia? What have those people done about Adam Schiff, who continuously lied and, though censored, remains a critical Democrat figure?
On and on, Gaetz has pushed for justice and is now investigated by the House, but the DOJ dismissed the charges. He is a disrupter, which is something we need in government. Are the charges against him bogus? The left has been throwing bogus charges on conservatives but has no comment about their own who are guilty.
Trump wants him and knows more about him than any of us. The country voted for Trump to do his thing. Let him. Those with complaints are adding to the distractions the left creates and, in the process, supporting the left.
Steven Richards wrote a column of Gaetz. He often writes along with John Solomon proven to be a journalist of great stature so I trust Richards. He, like Solomon, places links on the site he used for the story so readers can see and determine for themselves.
—
History of clashes with ‘deep state’ signals Gaetz would bring Trump reform to DOJ
In Congress, Donald Trump’s Attorney General pick Matt Gaetz was at the forefront in challenging the Justice Department and was a staunch defender of the former president, hinting at the role the firebrand could play in remaking the troubled federal agency if he is confirmed.
Gaetz rose to prominence defending then-President Trump and bashing the Justice Department during the Russia collusion investigation into the Trump campaign, frequently appearing on television and using his role on key committees to challenge the agency, which pushed the long-debunked “Russian conspiracy” narrative.
After Trump’s first term ended, the four-term congressman challenged the department on its handling of Hunter Biden probes and the investigation into the Trump assassination attempts.
President-elect Trump undoubtedly nominated Gaetz for these reasons, seeing him as an important defender and loyal ally to head an agency he felt was undermining him at every turn in his first term.
Continued art: https://justthenews.com/government/federal-agencies/verbal-clashes-deep-state-show-gaetz-would-bring-trump-loyalty-doj-role?utm_source=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter
SM, I have absolutely no problems with any of President-elect Trump’s nominations, including Gaetz. One thing these nominations are accomplishing, especially with Gaetz, Hegseth and Gabbard, is he is flushing out the entrenched bureaucrats. So even if these nominations are not confirmed, he has a very deep bench to pull from and whoever is finally confirmed, they will have a solid list of individuals that need to go.
That is a good point, but I want no interference with Trump cleaning the swamp.
Everyone assumes youth means unfitness. It may mean potential immaturity and a lack of wisdom. Young people are made up of energy, drive and limited fixed attachments. That is what we saw with the young Bill Gates and others. That is what we saw with Trump and Musk.
Hear! Hear!
S Meyer, “Trump wants him and knows more about him than anyone”. Now S Meyer, I almost always agree with your comments and I think you are one of the best commenters on this site, but that remark is below you. Trump also picked Kelly, Scaramucci, Amarossa, Sessions etc etc.
It is ok to disagree with Trump and Gaetz is a huge mistake.
“but that remark is below you.. It is ok to disagree with Trump and Gaetz is a huge mistake.”
It should be beneath you to make that comment simply because S. Meyer is in disagreement with you concerning the selection of Gaetz.
You couldn’t stop and let it go by criticizing the choice? You had to go the extra mile to criticize somebody because they decided otherwise?
Yeah, that should be beneath you, if that should be a topic as well.
“that remark is below you. Trump also picked Kelly, Scaramucci, Amarossa, Sessions etc etc. ”
Hullbobby, Sessions was a good man but wasn’t a ‘wartime’ lieutenant. Trump needs disrupters, not the usual suspects like Bill Barr, who would have been an outstanding Attorney General in a sane world.
It is not about the job description. It is about the character of the individual. We need to look at Trump as a ‘wartime’ President because it is the enemies within our borders, especially those in the Democrat Party that will destroy our nation and our freedoms.
An executive needs to know and trust the men below him, recognizing that most who are hired for a job will not do as well as expected. In my life, I had about a dozen unusual and significant problems requiring an attorney. I fired over half of them (I have no animus towards attorneys).
We need to look at Trump as a ‘wartime’ President because it is the enemies within our borders, especially those in the Democrat Party that will destroy our nation and our freedoms.
SM, and the Republican party.
Yes, Olly, again, you are correct, but may I add that I don’t worry that much about the Republicans. The bad ones are fewer in number and basically ineffectual.
“I don’t worry that much about the Republicans. The bad ones are fewer in number and basically ineffectual.”
I certainly hope you are correct. We are going to find out if you are pretty quickly in the course of these confirmation proceedings, aren’t we?
It is OK to disagree. Though I do not beleive Gaetz is a mistake.
I think that finding a candidate with the stature of Barr but who will ACTUALY do what it takes is pretty much impossible.
I like Bill Barr – I WOULD have called in a a great AG – EXCEPT for one thing. He was put into DOJ to restore normalcy,
that lasted 5 minutes after he was out the door.
The most important role Bill Barr was ever given – Trump’s AG, proved ultimately a failure, because it proved ephemeral.
Bill Barr proved that real change at DOJ FBI means people need to be FIRED – wholesale.
Find me a better choice than Gaetz that will actually do that – and we can talk.
Separately – I think we are past the point at which these absurd claims about personal lives matter.
There are allegations against Trump, against Biden, against Harris, Gaetz, Hegsoth, ….
Bill clinton’s personal life was horrible.
Once upon a time I would have voted against a candidate because they cheated on their wife.
Today it appears ALL our politicians are hedonists.
I will settle for one that is not an ACTUAL criminal. Not this fake garbage regarding Trump.
Would I want my Daughter hanging arround Gaetz – that is a resounding NO!
But I do not care about the allegations with respect to being AG.
Not only that – but Trump asked and Thune Cornyn and Scott agree to give him the oportunity for Recess apointments.
THAT is what I want to see.
And my guess is that will happen. Democrats, Murkoswki and Collins will make any confirmations hearings into a repeat of the Kavanaugh confirmation.
It is time to get past that. I think some of the conduct alleged against Gaetz is disturbing – and he should grow up.
But we need to take a scythe to DOJ/FBI and there is not a better man to do it.
As Lincoln said of Grant when he was accused of being a Drunkard.
“I can not spare the man, He fights”
The GOP Senate should allow Trump to run ALL nominees through recess appointments and THEN Trump can send those he wants for all 4 years through the Senate SLOWLY.
I think that even Murkowski and Collins will appreciate that – they will not have to be part of these idiotic hearings.
And politically they have cover.
But a side benefit is GOP wise use of the limited time on the senate floor.
Confirming cabinet appointment takes time away from legislation and judicial appoinments.
Fill the cabinet by recess appoinments, and return to them later when the the legislation is passed.
All of us are aware that Trump has made SOME poor appointment’s – Even Trump will not disagree.
Though the meme that Trump’s appointments are uniquely bad is nonsense.
Please name a GOOD Biden appointment ?
I actually though that Garland might look to prove he should have been on the supreme court.
Instead he proved we all dodged a bullet. He has perjured himself on several occasions in congress – while not the most egregious thing he has done – it is a clear and open and shut case. He should be prosecuted and disbarred. He was a respected Judge for Gods sake, He was a potential supreme court justice, and he committed perjury on more than one occasion ?
BTW there are LOTS pf perjury prosecutions I would like to see. I do not think any should go to jail – but they still should be convicted.
Lying under oath to congress and the american people is a far bigger deal to me than popping viagra and energy drinks and showing inappropirate content on your cell phone.
While I have few problems with Trump’s appointment so far.
What I want more of from 47 is “Your Fired.”
I expect those Trump appointed to do the job – or …. “Your Fired”
Gaetz can do the job – WELL and avoid being an embarrassing distraction, or “Your fired!”
The same with ALL the rest of them – the ones I like more and those I like less.
Trump should Fire appointees if they do not hand out enough pinks slips.
Musk fired 70% of Twitter and went forward without a hiccup.
What do you call firing half the federal government ?
A start.
Gaetz is not the right person to date my daughter.
He is the right person to clean house in DOJ.
And if he is not
YOU’RE FIRED!!!
Hullbobby,
the exchange between you, SM, … is interesting.
Hopefully there are no hard feelings because of disagreements.
But I do not, and none of us shoudl give a schiff what GiGi, George, EB, … say about Trump appointments or pretty much anything.
The HUGE deal about this election is NOT that Harris and Democrats LOST,
It is that the voters resoundingly pissed all over the LIARS.
The MSM is relegated to meaninglessness.
Turley attacks them for bias.
But voters just punished them for bias and lying by casting them into irrelevance.
I say this over and over – but free markets WORK.
I have problems with RFK jr – though I will give him a chance.
My problem is that I I belevie he wants to accomplish his goals through more regulation – not free markets.
And that will not work.
But I will give him a chance.
What we need in the Health areana is less govenrment and more competition.
We need more SMALL and MEDIUM participants in the market.
The problem with Big Pharma is there is no little or medium Pharma and that is because of regulation.
One positive about Gaetz about which I was completely unaware before reading about it yesterday, is that, as a Representative, he introduced a bill to ABOLISH the ATF. The bill predictably did not go anywhere, but anyone who honestly supports the restoration of our Constitutional (and natural) liberties who has been questioning Gaetz’ nomination. should very carefully consider if that should not induce them to change their mind. I was already willing to support it in the interests of allowing Trump to make his best efforts to fulfill the mandate granted him by the voters, but learning of that bill leads me to double down on that support. Matt Gaetz for Attorney General!
Watching opening arguments in the Laken Riley murder trial.
We will know if this Congress is serious in the first month, if they pass HR-2 under reconciliation, and adding a provision that it becomes a Federal crime to arrest an illegal alien for ANY crime and not report it to ICE, or to release any illegal alien who has an ICE detainer outstanding.
This madness HAS TO STOP. I don’t give a shit if another strawberry EVER gets picked.
If the Republicans don’t do this, we need to send them ALL packing in 2026.
And if the perp goes on to commit another crime, whoever signs the release order gets charged as an accessory to that crime.
“whoever signs the release order gets charged as an accessory to that crime.”
The doctrine of qualified immunity would need to be substantially modified or overturned for that to happen. I would support that, but opposition would be great, and if success came, it would only be after a very long, hard slog.
I am no lawyer, but apparently neither are you.
Qualified immunity does not protect anyone from criminal acts.
Unless there were specific statuary criteria for granting release that were clearly violated by the official signing it, if the release resulted in another crime, it would almost certainly be deemed an egregious error in judgement, but not a criminal act, is that not correct? Does the doctrine of qualified immunity not generally protect an official from being criminally prosecuted for an error in judgement?
I just said make it a criminal act. Therefore no immunity.
I also said that qualified immunity does not pply to criminal acts, only torts.
Professor…..I know you’re so proud of your student. Congratulations!
Turls: sure he’s not as good as the diddle wrecking ball for AG? Or the Russian agent for DNI? Or the weekend host at your place for SEC Def?
Boo hoo Lawn Boy. Keep whining, its hilarious, “maplady”
Bwahahahahahahahahahaha
Oh look, an ass licking sniveling troll just can’t bring itself to quit me…
What’s a maplady? Latest fever dream? You having an aneurysm?
Lawn boy pretends maplady is not him. And projects his trollness on others. bwahahahahahahahah
How do those boogers taste, Lawn Boy?
I’m having a wonderful week. How about you? Seems not.
Trump in leg irons
Trump in a Georgia prison
Trump gonna lose in a 400 EC landslide
Dems gonna win the Senate with a supermajority
Dems gonna take the House with 250 seats.
Sell DJT at $9
Nice predictions, Elvis. Have another sip, drunktard. And stop whining, for chrissakes.
^^ This paranoid b hole still doesn’t know who he’s trolling on this site.
And apparently, in keeping with his delusion that Trump would win by 8 million votes in an actual high turnout election rather than with a massive drop in vote totals, he still thinks owning DJT stock is somehow a good idea and not a grift.
Let’s pray for him as takes nips from his golf bag on the course.
I hope he does well. The RNC has had some lawyers who were election fraud deniers, obviously with an agenda
for those complaining about Gaetz remember 2 things 1) he was part of the group that took out Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House, 2) DOJ had investigated him for years, Garland dropped the criminal charges against him.
This ethics report is an effort to get back at him for what he did to McCarthy. It’s called getting revenge.
if there was something there then why did Garland drop the criminal charges.
I’m no fan of Gaetz by the way
Or, maybe, just maybe, the women involved in Gaetz’s shenanigans didn’t want to go through the attacks that Stormy Daniels and E. Jean Carroll went through, so they refused to testify. You have to be a die-hard MAGA to assume that charges were not filed because he did nothing wrong or that the Ethics Committee investigated him for revenge. It is a long-established fact that women often do not want to go through the additional trauma of testifying, even when the perp isn’t famous or a member of Congress. In fact, many sexual assaults are not reported for this very reason. But, if he did, as is alleged, brag to members of Congress about taking Viagara and washing it down with energy drinks so he could “go all night”, and flash around porno pictures of women he took, then this is information that should be publicly disclosed. How about this: let’s see the Ethics Committee Report and judge for ourselves?
time to STOP lawless Democrats!
I think the imposters are posting here again…
Professor – why haven’t you written a column on the nomination of Gaetz .?
This is certainly in your wheelhouse ( to comment on ) and your readers would appreciate your insights.
YAWN
I so enjoyed hearing you speak at the Ashbrook Center in Ashland, Ohio. I was surprised that the next day I received a copy of you new book in the mail. Thank you. I am the woman who praised you after your speech saying it was the most intelligent speech I have ever heard!!!! Linda Kruse
As a Trump supporter I suggest people stop trying to defend the pick of Matt Gaetz for AG. The guy is a loose cannon, a loser, an ego maniac and an untrustworthy human being.
If Gaetz gets in he will ultimately damage Trump, embarrass the administration and set back the conservative movement. This will end badly.
Its the populist movement. Move out of the way.
I don’t like it none too much, but its better than another Bill Barr.
Please stop with the dichotomization trap. Excellence is a sweet spot between the extremities.
Bill Barr may have been a bit week in the defense end of politics, but to compare Gaetz to Bill Barr is rediculous. Gaetz is an out of control, immature, narcissistic loser and the sooner you people admit it the better off you will be.
I don’t understand how smart people cannot see the coming train wreck that this pathetic “disrupter” is going to be. You are all no different than the fools believing charlatans like Avanatti.
Hullbobby, if you are correct, Trump will use his favorite phrase, “You’re Fired,” and then we can weigh the benefits vs. the harm. Trump can handle that problem. Sessions was an excellent man, but I would rather pick Gaetz than Sessions even though, like you, I am concerned. The damage caused by the good man, Sessions, was extraordinary.
“That Which Is Seen, and That Which Is Not Seen” —Bastiat
Chillax dude. He wont be confirmed. And the only way Thune will agree to a recess is if Trump agrees not to appoint Gaetz. He will be vetted and will fall way short of confirmation.
As a Trump supporter I suggest people stop trying to defend the pick of Matt Gaetz for AG. The guy is a loose cannon, a loser, an ego maniac and an untrustworthy human being.
I voted for Trump as well, but this has to be one of the most blatant examples of irony I have ever seen here.
Bill Barr…is that you?
hullbobby: I understand what you’re saying and under some circumstances would agree with what you are saying BUT and this is a big but, the people put Trump back into the WH to clean up government and stop the corrupt justice department people from misusing our beloved justice system. In the past, good people couldn’t do it; although they tried their best the bureaucracy consumed them. Trump has two years to make recess appointments after which he must reappoint people to cabinet positions the old fashioned way. Gaetz would never get through the old fashioned way. Right now, Trump is not looking for a brilliant lawyer as AG but a proven hit man who is loyal and decisive and can clean house better than some white shoe lawyer turned government employee. In two years, perhaps we will be able to return to the order that existed and that you were hoping to see this time around.
JJC, thanks for your thoughtful response, but I must disagree. I don’t think you can clean up government with a slimeball. Why not a Mark Levin type of disrupter? Someone with some class, dignity and maturity.
hullbobby, assuming you voted for Trump, your characterization of Gaetz is right out of the Democratic party playbook regarding Trump. You need to consider the fact this is not the same Trump from 2017. He might just have a plan that’s more strategic than tactical on these nominations.
LOL. Gaetz bested a sitting Speaker of the House….by OUT witting the entire RINO power structure!
Gaetz is a maverick! We need Mavericks. Or would you prefer renaming Bill Barr?
“Gaetz is a maverick”. Ugh! Guyventure, even you? He isn’t a maverick, he is a narcissist who almost destroyed the Republican House.
Damage Trump? Trump nominated him. He’s the one who always claims to pick only the best. If Gaetz gets in, it’s on Trump.
It’s amusing how you avoid blaming Trump for making a choice—a very stupid choice, according to everyone, including Republicans.
It’s amusing how you avoid blaming Trump for making a choice—a very stupid choice, according to everyone, including Republicans.
It’s even more amusing that you’re here claiming to have both the competence and the credibility to comment on choices. After all your posts in defense of Smith, Willis, Bragg, Merchan, etc.
Can’t blame all of that on your lack of reading comprehension George.
Maybe, just maybe, the Gaetz nomination was a way of getting him out of Congress so that there would be no risk of him creating the havoc for Mike Johnson (and by extension for Trump’s legislative agenda) that he did for Kevin McCarthy. This would especially be likely if he doesn’t receive Senate approval.
vincente: food for thought.
Kevin McCarthy ran the House for the benefit of the Deep State, and catered to the RINOS and to an extent, the Dems. He had to go, and Gaetz was the attack dog who took him out. What better credentials exist for flushing the multitude of rats and snakes out of the DOJ? The people voted to purge the damned Swamp, yet there seem to be a lot of posters here who have previously made noises about that being what they want, but don’t have the spine (even at second hand) to support Trump taking the actions that are necessary to accomplish that. Shame on you!
It’s as if the people whose heads are exploding over President-elect Trump’s nominations think there’s a big hat down there at Mar-a-Lago, and he’s just pulling names out at random.
hullbobby: While I agree with you regarding Gaetz’ immaturity (I actually winced when it was announced), I note that Trump’s nominees for Gaetz’ assistant AG (Todd Blanche) and solicitor general (Bove) are more seasoned professionals who I hope would corral Gaetz to stay in his lane and temper his impulses with reality. Blanche was a former NY prosecutor before criminally defending Trump–as you know (I think you are atty?), this common “jumping sides” in criminal law has resulted in a remarkable refinement of legal issues and arguments before SCOTUS in the last several decades.
OT so I briefly mention: I am more concerned about Noem over DHS–IMO, a job a little too big for her cv. Who knows, she may be able to garner a good, experienced team around her…
“I am more concerned about Noem over DHS–IMO, a job a little too big for her cv”
It won’t be once it is downsized to where it belongs.
ha ha. touche. Good response! thx
Hi Lin, thanks for your thoughtful reply to my comment. Yes, I am a lawyer but that doesn’t give me any extra insight to how much of a bad pick Gaetz is for Trump, the party and of course the nation. You state that you winced when you heard the pick and I have to ask, is that a good thing? People that support Trump, like us, shouldn’t have to wince when we hear about his appointees.
I agree that Trump’s choice of assistants are very strong, but Gaetz is a loose cannon and nobody can corral a narcissist like him. It will be very frustrating for the mature, thoughtful lawyers in the DOJ.
I also agree with you about Noem, the job seems too big for her. I also feel the same way about Hegseth. He isn’t the complete lightweight that the media are making him out to be, but does anyone really think he belongs in charge of a 3 million person bureaucracy? I don’t dislike the guy, but this isn’t George C. Marshall we are talking about.
I am not thrilled about Tulsi either. I know what people mean about disrupters, but we do need to govern and this team seems a bit on the B Team side of things.
I like Rubio, I like Ratcliff, I like Stefanic and I am still hoping Grenell gets put someplace useful.
But an important point needs to be made here and that is that all of these picks are better than the team that Biden put in place. Every one of Biden’s picks was awful. Just because I am critical of some of Trump’s picks doesn’t mean that I don’t love that fact that Mayorkas, Austin, Blinken, Buttigieg, Granholm, et al will be gone.
Enjoy your day Lin, and keep up the good work on this site.
“I am more concerned about Noem over DHS–IMO, a job a little too big for her cv. ”
Have you considered that Noem might be nothing but a caretaker for a Department that could quite possibly be eliminated if DOGE is allowed to do its job properly?
Lin, I seldom disagree with you and don’t know if I am doing so now. Noem appears fearless and conservative and has proven herself as governor. Once again, she is Trump’s choice, and he knows more about her than we do. Noem has dealt with multi-agency coordination. She doesn’t have the deep knowledge one might like in managing DHS, but we should recognize that large corporations hire CEOs who know little about their product or service.
As a Trump supporter I suggest people stop trying to defend the pick of Matt Gaetz for AG. The guy is a loose cannon, a loser, an ego maniac and an untrustworthy human being.
Interestingly enough, those are the exact same accusations that many Democrats and some Republicans throw at Trump. Hard not to notice that; have you hullbobby?
I was to the point of disgust with Gaetz performance in the house with McCarthy while acting as though all GOP House members were in districts just as 100% secure as he is.
On the other hand, I wonder about people who talk about Gaetz as though that is the entirety of his career in the House. The tell is that they don’t make a single mention of the fights he fought regarding the “Trump-Russia Dossier”, special counsels, police state fascism coming out of the DoJ and FBI, etc.
Fights that the nice civilized GOP members in Washington DC would not take up.
I do not have inside knowledge about the Trump camp or Washington DC. Gaetz would not have been my first pick; I would have looked for a bulldog angry at what Merrick Garland has reduced the DoJ and FBI to as my AG pick, Gaetz perhaps useful as an inside government attack dog appointed to be Deputy AG.
That said, if you want to judge Gaetz on the low points of his political performance, do you intend to do exactly the same to pass judgement on Trump?
Seems to be a fair question.
I wish Bill well. I hope he retains his law license after working for trump. Far too many trump lawyers are no longer capable of practicing law after working for trump. Be careful Bill, your boss likes to skirt the law and encourage his minions to skirt the law as well.
Boo hoo Lawn Boy
Anon: Name names and give facts or refrain from making such blanket accusations. Yes, several lawyers that worked with or for Trump have lost their licenses but not because of Trump but because of what they did. Some gave poor advice (think John Eastman, Rudy Guiliani), some lied outright and were convicted for doing so (Michael Cohen). It’s often said that we should not blame the lawyer for the client’s wrongdoing but in this instance, the very opposite seems to be OK, as you might suggest.
* Professor has high praise for the new WH counsel. It’s good to hear.
I wish Bill well. I hope he retains his law license after working for trump. Far too many trump lawyers are no longer capable of practicing law after working for trump.
Yeah… we’re sure you wish him well, Anonymous Democrat. But it is true that Democrats have treated the act of providing Trump with legal representation as a crime.
It is a fact the bar associations have coordinated with state and federal prosecutors to target Trump’s lawyers as a part of the effort to GET TRUMP!
Recently mentioned Marc Elias has never been disbarred, much less indicted for the crimes he committed in relation to paying for the illegal ‘Trump-Russia Dossier’ and Putin’s spy that was illegally hired to write it.
Some of Trump’s lawyers have indeed been disbarred – while Democrat and FBI/DoJ lawyers (but I repeat myself) like Elias have never faced a disciplinary action from the very same bar associations, never mind indicted for the crimes they committed.
Not one of Obama/Biden’s last two Attorney Generals was disbarred after perjuring themselves to FISA courts, much less indicted for perjury and uttering false documents to those courts.
Not one of the FBI Directors and other FBI lawyers who also committed the same crimes has faced a disciplinary hearing from the bar, much less been indicted.
The FBI/Mueller lawyer who actually pled guilty to those crimes was never disbarred after that conviction. But that same bar associations disbarred some of Trump’s lawyers who were never charged, much less convicted, of any crime.
The Soviet Democrat campaign of “Please Don’t Believe Your Lying Eyes” continues, despite the ass-kicking it got last week.
Some of my fellow commentators on this space have criticized several of Trump’s early picks as unqualified or downright bizarre choices. This misses the president-elect’s goals that he has stated in the past and for which a majority of Americans put him into office to achieve. We have seen all too often in the past how “good” people seem to get captured by mammoth agencies and succumb to the status quo. James Q. Wilson wrote of this effect in his 1991 book titled, “Bureaucracy: What Government Agencies Do And Why They Do It.”
So, as a businessman, not a politician, Trump has placed at the head of these agencies what are called “disrupters,” people who have a mission to break up the inefficiencies and get rid of non-performers who do not serve the interests of the people. There’s an old proverb that you need a bit of the dragon in you to be a successful dragon slayer. The clue here to Trump’s gameplan is his insistence on the Senate leadership agreeing to allow recess appointments. A recess appointment lasts only as long as the session of Congress and the new one begins on January 3, 2025, and ends on January 3, 2027, meaning that he has two years to solve the problems he was elected to address.
The Biden-Harris administration left our government in moral shambles and it will take at least two years to fix most of the big problems. Gaetz is perfect for Justice because he will act quickly, decisively, and without fear or favor. RFK, Jr. is perfect to rid the giant HHS of corruption, fraud, waste, and abuse. He also will delink the industry from running agencies like the FDA and hopefully bring ethics and honesty back to the CDC.
Speaking of ethics, I was saddened to see Turley omit “ethics” in his praise of William McGinley as WH Counsel. Ethics is an important characteristic of every lawyer, especially a WH Counsel. We need only to look at Biden’s corrupt DOJ and DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel to appreciate the value of having a government lawyer with a sense of ethics.
Chief Elizabeth Warren is very upset about the RFK, Jr. appointment. That is all you need to know that it is a good thing.
Cut off your nose to spite your face ! Much !
Gaetz is barely out of law school -under 2 years of actually practicing law does not make an expert , which is what you need at Justice.
You want a disrupter at Justice – put in Tucker Carlson , Sean Hannity , Peter Theil – the president elect listens to these guys
Knock it off, Lawn Boy, ya pathetic troll. We know its you.
What a loser.
“Gaetz is barely out of law school . . .”
Who knew that 17 years equals “barely.” (He graduated from William & Mary Law School in *2007*.)
Is that the same school of math with the equation: XX=XY?
Sam: Another good one!
Gaetz Unseated a RINO whose only aim was to WEAKEN republicans!
You underestimate Gaetz…. I suppose you want Bill Barr back…he was the TOP choice of DC insiders!
Gaetz is barely out of law school -under 2 years of actually practicing law does not make an expert , which is what you need at Justice.
And then you name Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity as two better alternatives. WTF? You want to be taken seriously?
If length of time out of law school is how you measured Gaetz, why would you claim you prefer two men who never spent a day in law school? Do you want us to believe that either of them wouldn’t cause the same hysteria among the Democrats and their media as Gaetz has caused? Do you want us to believe that the Democrats and their media wouldn’t seize on the fact that neither Carlson or Hannity aren’t lawyers and never spent a day in law school?
And if it is in fact about law school, how many years has Merrick Garland been out of law school before giving us the last four years at Justice?
Have we missed your comments of condemnation regarding Merrick Garland’s actions as Attorney General the last four years? Because I don’t remember you making any.
How many years has FBI Director Christopher Wray been out of law school before running the FBI as he has for well over four years? I don’t remember any comments from you about Wray either.
So… are you a full on Democrat or instead a false flag Never Trumper?
I certainly don’t have any inside knowledge of this process or the thinking behind that appointment. If pressed I would have looked outside of government for a brilliant lawyer pissed at what law school graduates Merrick Garland and Christopher Wray have done to the DoJ and the FBI. If I wanted Gaetz in there for one reason or other, I would have asked Gaetz to serve as Deputy AG, and serve as my AG pick’s pit bull.
But I wouldn’t make phony excuses for my objections to picks or to defend my choices of picks, Maplady.
I think you’re attempting to post here as a disrupter.
Trump, Elon, Vivek, etc what do they have in common? Picking excellent people!
What do Democrats have in common…picking people who wish to HARM America and the West the most!
jjc, thank you for those observations on the furor and accusations flying after these picks by Trump. That will probably be the most valuable and insightful comment here today as followup to today’s column.
I have thought of these appointments (including one like Gaetz where I wonder if there wasn’t a better choice inside or outside of government) as similar to situations where corporations reach outside their corporate structures to bring in a ruthless CEO or other corporate officer to clean out the rot in their management teams that is dragging down the company.
However they fare in the face of the Democrats vow to obstruct Trump as much as possible this term as they did the last, one would be a fool to believe that Trump hasn’t spent well over a year thinking ahead on what kind of people he specifically wants to accomplish his goals if he won the election. Trump is very aware that he only has four years left. Perhaps more accurately, only two years to achieve enough of his agenda that Republicans maintain sufficient popularity to hold the Senate and House after the midterm elections.
These are not idle choices, and many of them are exactly as how you explained them: disrupters, whose mere appearance at the doors of the respective bureaucracies will have paper shredders running overtime.
It would be a safe bet that the current power structures in those bureaucracies are meeting well into the night to consider what they can do to survive coming under the review of critical new bosses from outside the Washington DC Old Boys/Democrat network. New bosses that are the complete opposite of those who encouraged them to act as they have over the last 12 years.
Well said, jjc.
Always fun to read the comments here – it doesn’t take a Rocket Surgeon to understand the partisan leanings.
Glad you are enjoying yourself. And thank you so much for revealing yours. Idiot.
Here we go with the idiot name calling. Let’s pick a fight early, shall we? Your mama wears combat boots! (that was once an insult).
Anon: Is being partisan a bad thing? I’ve always believed there are good people on both sides of the issues. Is this wrong? Is being partisan OK if and only if it agrees with your position?
“Always fun to read the comments here – it doesn’t take a Rocket Surgeon to understand the partisan leanings.”
Dennis, Gigi, FishLips, Wally, Sammy, George… and of course the always predictable Anonymous.
Dailly nonpartisan commentators well qualified to be door gunners on the space shuttle.
Here’s a free-speech question. Maybe the good professor could address it one day.
ANTI-LOBBYING LAW: GOVT. POLICY ADVOCACY IS PUBLIC DOMAIN
What can be done to force lobbyists to heel, so that government is serving us instead of special interests?
This is the key to having common sense policies adopted, instead of thwarted out of view and earshot of the public.
The idea is to pass legislation establishing a new framework for lobbying: it is obliged to take place in the public domain.
This means that any and all “asks” must be published in advance of any closed meeting or private communication. Under this law, it would be illegal for a government official to listen to a proposal that hasn’t been 100% aired publicly on the internet with full attribution of the party doing the asking. Both the lobbyist and govt. officer would be liable under the law for skirting public domain rules.
Under this new framework, we can expect the powerful interests to better align their asks with the public interest since the veil of secrecy has been stripped away.
Question: K Street lawyers will bellow that “free speech” rights include private messaging with the govt. The counter-argument is that forcing the speech to be public domain only increases the audience reach of the speech — it is not dictating what can or can’t be said. The important point is that government serves the public interest, and private interests reconcile their needs with the public interest when asking for govt. help.
Comments?
I like your idea. Something certainly needs to be done with the lobbying business and putting some light on it would be a good start.
Pbinca,
We left CA a couple years ago. Chalet in Tahoe, cottage on the North coast, cushy job. The only things we miss are friends and the fruitco income.
It looks like much of the graft associated with lobbying occurs as delayed gratification. Tough to prosecute. How does legislation address that?
One way being considered is, when being hired by govt. to serve as a regulator, the employment contract places a 10-year ban on being engaged (hired as employee or via contractor/purchasing relationship) by a regulated entity. There also would be a restriction on prior employment by a regulated entity. This would close the revolving door, and enforce arms-length relationship between regulator and regulated.
Without seeing final rule language, I would disagree with this, in favor of more effort directed toward enhanced disclosure and/or archiving/record-keeping of discussions/exchanges. Consider, for example, the recent FTC action against NCAs (non-compete agreements), concerns regarding which parallel your topic in some ways. Are you familiar with that?
Pbinca-I like it. There is nothing like having sunshine cast on the squirmy little things that live under rocks and out of site. Unless it is national security, I think all “asks” should be a matter of public record. Sort of makes me think of the TV program and movie “What We do in the Shadows”. Yes, What do we do in the shadows?
Well if we’re going to do away with lobbying , then you better do something about corporate campaign contributions because de facto that is what they are – lobbying.
Well if we’re going to do away with lobbying , then you better do something about corporate campaign contributions because de facto that is what they are – lobbying.
Maplady, did you inadvertently skip over including union campaign contributions as being de facto lobbying? You know, the teachers’ unions and public service unions representing government employees?
Did you similarly inadvertently forget to mention Planned Parenthood and all the similar organizations who lobby for taxpayer cash and then give a cut of what they receive from government back to the party that enabled them to get that cash?
Shouldn’t we start with them before corporations? After all, in many cases they’re using taxpayer money they received directly or indirectly to lobby the government.
Marxists never fail to find corporations to be the source of their grievances – while at the same time unions and “social justice” parasites funded by taxpayers are never a problem.
Sounds good
Pbinca, get rid of citizens united as a start. That ruling alone will force a significant change.
“Pbinca, get rid of citizens united as a start. That ruling alone will force a significant change.”
Curious George the constitutional expert strikes again.
Yeah, Citizens United – the decision struck down the law that said the president’s bureaucracy had the absolute right to shut down free speech critical of him or other members of his party. Because that citizens’ group released an on-demand video of how horrible a candidate Hillary Clinton was.
Sleazy Democrats were and are still outraged that their earlier attempt to censor groups prior to Facebook and Twitter was defeated.
The same sleazy Democrats never mention if that law had stood, Republicans could have used it against Planned Parenthood, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the ACLU, etc. For Republicans, it would have covered the NRA, GOA and other citizen groups
That’s the part Democrats hope normal Americans forget about that decision.
Won’t fly with Professor Turley.
The only way that a self-identifying constitutional expert could demand that change is because their reading comprehension is so severe they don’t understand the decision.
If and when they ever read it… which is unlikely.
pbinca: In truth, the concerns you raise (regarding transparency) are already addressed in the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, which follows the Federal Lobbying Act of 1946. In other words, that info is already available. It’s just not advertised across Media for public absorption. In other words, the public may find it BORing….
In juxtaposition, consider the recent election disclosures of which Hollywood, music, and media personalities overwhelmingly donated to Kamala Harris. Did that help her? Do you think those disclosures helped or hurt her?
In my opinion, the issue is not transparency, but rather, the disproportionate ability of larger entities and big $ groups to overwhelm equitable resource allocation.
Matty was two days away from being exposed as a pedophiliac drug user, and you think he will be an unbiased Attorney General?
I heard it was you who was the pedo drug user? Anonymous sources said. As usual, leftards use projection to smear others. SMDH Leftards never learn.
Perhaps you forgot that the DOJ dropped that avenue of investigation in Feb ’23?
Gaetz may not be squeaky clean but the House investigation reeks of political retribution.
In the long shot that Gaetz becomes AG, My guess the first piece of paper he places on trumps desk is a list of people for trump to pardon, including trump himself and Gaetz.
Well, that reveals your IQ.
Next?
Well, if that was the case, why weren’t charges filed?
“Matty was two days away from being exposed as a pedophiliac drug user”
Is that you Hunter Biden? Or you, Dementia Joe, the Kiddy Fondler In Chief who kept assuring us your son had done no wrong?
Bill has all the qualities of an ideal White House Counsel
Unless if William McGinley has stockpiles of anti-psychotic and/or tranquilizer drugs to administer to Donald Trump as needed, Bill will very likely succumb to the same fate that befell many of Trump’s previous advisors.
“Unless if William McGinley has stockpiles of anti-psychotic and/or tranquilizer drugs to administer to Donald Trump as needed, ”
McGinley does not require stockpiles of anti-psychotic drugs because he is a stable adult whose emotions are in control, unlike the fragile emotional state your attitude suggests.
If one wishes to work for Trump, one must be prepared for long hours and be able to make decisive decisions. In a Trump administration, there is self-sacrifice and no room for self-serving corruption.
Estovir-Trump is not psychotic. He is probably more manic than anything else but not bipolar. He sleeps little and if you have watched him over the years he has long strings of conversations where he throws out a great number of thoughts even as he is speaking. Rarely stopping for breath. But often difficult for many people to keep up. Less so as he has become older. Not a flight of ideas signifying pathology but a very rapid brain. There are a number of people out there in the world who are like that and tend to be successful, but not always. Some also combine being a perfectionist along with the low sleep pattern and rapidity of ideas. It can be difficult to be around people like that because your are often trying to stay caught up and failing. Drives the people around them nuts.
Well hopefully Trump will accept Bill’s counsel , which of course , is never a given as Trump has proved time and time again.
Does Bill praise Trump, that may help him in getting Trump to listen to him .
“Well hopefully Trump will accept Bill’s counsel , which of course , is never a given as Trump has proved time and time again.”
Maplady, should we take up a collection to help you medicate yourself with your ongoing Midol Moment since the election proved Americans trust Trump far more than they trusted your choice, Vice President DEI Hire, the Border Czar?
Whose counsel have you been taking through all this? Joy Reid, Whoopy Goldberg?
Unless if William McGinley has stockpiles of anti-psychotic and/or tranquilizer drugs to administer to Donald Trump as needed
Online medical diagnosis from the real Estovir?
Odd you haven’t provided similar medical diagnosis for Biden, dozens of Democrats in Washington that are currently suffering mental health crisis, etc.
Analysis eerily similar to back in 2017 from the crazed psychiatrist Bandy Lee that the Soviet Democrats and the news media produced to pronounce her mental health assessment of Trump via the internet led her to diagnose Trump as psychotic? All to promote removing Trump by way of the 25th Amendment.
Isn’t there something in the medical code of ethics prohibiting medical diagnosis conducted by way of reading mainstream media and listening to the yentas of The View?
https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2018/1/5/16770060/trump-mental-health-psychiatrist-25th-amendment
Thanks for the thoughtful and “inside baseball” perspective.