Let’s estimate the roll call against Matt Gaetz. 
Senator Grassley Seeks House Ethics Report
Please note Grassley Says Gaetz Ethics Report’s Release Would Result in ‘Faster Consideration’ of Nomination. My no votes are in bold.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (Iowa), the incoming Republican chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Tuesday that the House Ethics Committee would help speed up the Senate’s consideration of former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) to lead the Justice Department if it releases its report on Gaetz.
“I would suggest if they want a speedy consideration of this … it would help faster consideration, the extent to which they would make as much available as they can,” Grassley told a CNN camera crew on Capitol Hill.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), another member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told reporters last week that the Senate should have access to the House Ethics Committee’s report.
“I don’t believe there should be any restriction, including on that,” he said, arguing senators voting on Gaetz’s nomination should have access to all relevant materials.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) has also called for the report to be released.
“That should be definitely part of our decision making,” he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “The background of Matt Gaetz does matter,” he argued.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said Gaetz’s sudden resignation from the House raises “serious questions,” because the House Ethics panel typically does not release reports on former lawmakers. [I am not counting Democrat votes because there will not be any. But I now doubt Gaetz can make it out of the Senate Judiciary Committee.]
Gaetz Criticized GOP senators, Now He Need Their Votes
Next, please consider Gaetz Criticized GOP senators, Now He Need Their Votes
In a range of public comments in recent years, the 42-year-old Floridian lobbed broadsides at more GOP senators than he can afford to lose, with Republicans anticipating a likely 53-seat majority. That means Gaetz’s confirmation could be blocked if four Republican senators join all Democrats and independents to vote against him.
Gaetz, among other comments, derided Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla.[already counted], as a “disgrace to the Republican Party.” He called Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., “one of the America-last Republican senators.” And when it came to a border deal negotiated in part by Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., Gaetz labeled it as a “Lankford amnesty bill,” and said it “was backstabbing to the people who want a secure border.”
Gaetz said that Senate Republicans did not need to pick one of the Johns — John Thune of South Dakota, John Cornyn [counted] of Texas or John Barrasso of Wyoming.
“I think that there are going to be better options than the Johns,” Gaetz said. Senate Republicans elected Thune.
Tillis, also a member of the Judiciary Committee [That’s another senate judiciary black mark], told reporters that a Gaetz pick could face some trouble. “He’s going to have to overcome some of his temperament as it relates to his Republican colleagues, that’s the way I’d see it now,” Tillis said.
“All I know is he likes picking fights on social media. [He’ll] have to deal with that in committees,” Tillis later said.
In 2020, Gaetz criticized Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, over their opposition to confirming a Supreme Court nominee so close to the general election.
“Trump supporters should not be taken for granted in Maine, Alaska or anywhere else,” Gaetz said in an interview with Fox News. “And if they are unwilling to do their job and take a vote on who the president nominates, they should not have the privilege of continuing to serve in the Senate.”
Gaetz has been outspoken about Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and cheered when the Kentucky Republican announced he would not run for the leadership post again.
And on social media, Gaetz gloated: “We’ve now 86’d: McCarthy McDaniel McConnell,” referring to former Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel and former Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted as House speaker last year in a push led by Gaetz.
Uphill Climb With Negative Signs
Next, please consider Negative Signs for Gaetz as Senators Brush Off Questions Amid Trump Pressure.
A negative sign looms for Matt Gaetz: Nearly a dozen GOP senators won’t commit to confirming him for attorney general, saying they want to let the process play out.
Despite the lobbying campaign, things are not looking peachy. Nearly a dozen Senate Republicans refused to say they’d back Gaetz when prodded by POLITICO last night. Those who are speaking aren’t being particularly kind.
“He’s got an uphill climb,” said Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a senior member of the conference who said she looked forward to meeting with Gaetz and the Judiciary Committee’s review of the nomination.
It Only Takes Four
Just because Gaetz is openly feuding with a dozen Senators does not mean they wouldn’t confirm him.
However, Gaetz’s reckless flame throwing at Senators, blasting everyone who disagrees, would likely cause him trouble, even if the Senators did think he was qualified.
And it only takes 4 (perhaps 5 if a rogue Democrat wishes to shoot flames).
I wonder if Gaetz even makes it out of the Judiciary Committee. But perhaps they agree just to showcase the damaged goods.
5-D Chess
It’s now time to roll out the 5-D chess theory. 5-D theory has two possible parts.
Theory #1: Trump wanted to get rid of Gaetz and nominated him knowing he would fail.
Theory #2: Trump purposely nominated someone so bad to make his other picks look better.
Should Trump pull the nomination, expect his supporters to chime “It was all part of the plan“.
Should Gaetz drop out himself, Trump will cry that he is a continued victim, a martyr, doing the best, not for himself, but you.
So, it’s 5-D either way.
Suicidal Revenge
The Trumpian bulldogs are out in force saying that anyone who votes against Trump will have someone running against them in the next primary.
That is precisely how to lose control of the Senate. Four very poor Trump-sponsored Senatorial candidates have blown up since 2020. Count two in Georgia, one in Pennsylvania, and Kari Lake 2024.
All four of those elections were easily winnable with better candidates. Besides, Trump will be gone in four more years anyway.
So if you prefer working with Democrats rather than Thune, go ahead an put a preposterous pick like Herschel Walker up in a primary against Thune.
Revenge baby! Go for it. And then waste millions of dollars in the process.
It would be a beautiful thing …. for the Democrats.
Stupid Infighting
This is all pretty damn stupid.
Gaetz will not pass the nomination process and may not make it out of the Judiciary committee.
Gaetz Will Not Be Attorney General by Any Means
Nor will Gaetz be confirmed in a recess appointment.
If there are insufficient votes for Gaetz, there will be even fewer votes to hand over the whole slate en masse.
Yesterday, I commented Trump Will Lose, Gaetz Should Not Be, and Will Not Be Attorney General
I don’t care to rehash comments on Gaetz qualifications because your opinion does not matter, nor does mine.
The only thing that matters is whether or not Gaetz has the votes. And you are crazy if you think he does.
Since Gaetz won’t be confirmed, the only other option is a recess appointment, but the Senate will not go along.
Heck, I question if the House will. Assume Speaker Johnson calls a recess vote and there are not 5 Republican dissents (ponder that for a bit in light of all the House members Gaetz pissed off).
Even if you pass that hurdle, the Senate won’t recess. The nuclear option is for Trump to try to force a recess.
Sorry he can’t.
I will rebut in detail his “alleged” authority under Article II, Section 3 further tomorrow.
As an Oklahoman, I tend to agree that Mullin can be a dingbat, and that Lankford was bought and paid for by AIPAC. Head of OK Education, Ryan Walters, is/was trying hard to get in tight with Team Trump, and has done bonheaded stuff like dictating that Bibles be put into all classrooms – guessing he has major financial backing from OK Bible thumpers (perhaps David Green of Hobby Lobby).
This is why you are not a politician Mish. You like the hazy uncertainty of economics where you can have things both ways depending on one’s outlook on things. I am not a trump apologist but in politics it’s a gladiator sport with no uncertain outcomes: Glory to victor and death to the loser! (metaphorically speaking of course!)
“However, Gaetz’s reckless flame throwing at Senators…” Gaetz didn’t say anything about these Uniparty Neocons they didn’t deserve.
Gaetz is as innocent of all the insinuations (and that’s all they are) as Julian Assange was in Sweden. He is smarter than 95% of Republican politicians and he is committed and courageous.
Trump just won an epic 4-yr fight against the Leviathan of the ruling class. You can’t let him have the team he wants?
Don’t ask me – ask 100 Senators
We don’t vote they do
As an aside, suspending modern sensibilities that contradict custom and law from preceding eras, and assuming the allegation is factual, how many people here concur that a liaison with a 17 year-old is actually a terrible moral transgression ?
Gaetz is the sacrificial lamb. Trump & Gaetz both know he’s going down. However, I don’t think he’ll be removed as a nominee. I think Trump & Gaetz will force the Senate to go full on scorched earth to torpedo him.
The report will be leaked out, but it won’t have any smoking gun. If there was one, the DoJ would have pressed charges. He’s setting himself up for running for Govenor of FLA in 2 years.
And Trump gets to pressure his GOP friend / enemies that the other nominees must be confirmed.
I hope Megan Kelly is right, and Trump knows his real nominee is Mike Davis from the Article III Project.
Gaetz is the perfect pick if ending the politicization of the DOJ and FBI is your objective. It’s long past time Democrats find out that a sword can cut in both directions.
Gaetz may not be confirmed but he will end up where Trump wants him.
Gaetz would send the politicization of the DOJ and FBI into hyperdrive; every perceived slight of Trump would end up with a subpoena.
When Trump nominated Gaetz I figured it was a way to get him to resign from congress. Johnson got him to resign immediately so they could get the ball rolling on a special election….. But then again, Maybe Trump is ready to blow everything just for Gaetz.
Maybe Trump could also nominate Marjorie Taylor Greene for something she’s totally unqualified for(pretty much everything) & get her out of Congress.
Hey now, there is a definite spot for Her, and it’s right in her wheel house. She will need Grit, Check! She will need Perseverance, check! And of course that “I won’t quit, if I think I’m right” attitude is her “knock out” blow
Ambassador to Ukraine!!! Done!
– Ambassador Brink was nominated by President Biden to be U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine on April 25, 2022, confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate on May 18, 2022
> Well He obviously has failed miserably at his job, so why not? She’s qualified and likes a fight, and is good at it!
MJT for Ukraine Ambassador!
Looks like I was spot on…
Doubtless the Lear jet dinos and rinos of the mile high club on the secret Epstein’s client list for hot lips with heels up..
If Gaetz’s ethics report is released to the public then why should the other ethics reports be kept from the public? I don’t see the downside of nominating Gaetz, because if he is given a hearing (remember Bork for SCOTUS), the hearing itself could be very enlightening, even if he is not confirmed.
I agree. Let’s read about everyone that has something to hide. The posit that Gaetz is the only congressman with warts is absurd.
Article would be balanced if it included recent Tommy Tuberville speech.
Chuck Grassley mentioned during another confirmation hearing where allegations were flaunted before committee then investigated by FBI. Four of those giving testimony were found to have Lied to Congress.
Having just looked at what the payments were made for two Woman posted on ZeroHedge, have a lot of resemblance to a Healthy Man going out on the town with Woman.
10,000 bucks is what Harris would have paid for a few flower arrangements at one of her spreads, where she dropped a billion dollars on election.
But let’s hyperventilate cause its a Trump appointment.
I like Trump’s logic in nominating Gaetz. All I need to know about him is that the DOJ investigated him on these very allegations. If there was anything to it, he would have been indicted. The fact that they didn’t charge him with anything, even though Gaetz is hated by both sides of the political spectrum, says volumes about the political criticism that he’s dealing with now. The Ethics report is a political one, not a judicial one. It would determine his continued membership in the House, which is now a dead letter since he resigned his seat.
It may be that we’ll see the report (it will be ‘leaked’), but I think that it will be a nothingburger – more innuendo and inference rather than hard evidence of wrongdoing.
Do I think that Gaetz is an angel – absolutely not. Do I care, in light of the venality of the figures in the Biden Administration – starting with Biden himself – I really don’t. Trump wants people at the top of bureaucracies who have been wronged by those very agencies. Gaetz is a perfect candidate to run DOJ, in that case.
If for some reason it turns out that he’s not confirmed, I have another AG suggestion for Trump. He would be, on paper, eminently more qualified, and would have just as much of an axe to grind as Gaetz does. John Eastman.
– Just because Gaetz is openly feuding with a dozen Senators does not mean they wouldn’t confirm him.
> Nope, but it’s yet one more reason “To Confirm Him”. As they need a Man like Him leading the charge! Mitch was way to easy and way to fast to “Give In” or worse “Join In” with the Democrats. We NEED an outspoken challenger of thoughts and ideas in that seat, and more than ever now!
I would hope and pray, that our “Republican Senators” can see that, but if not, I am most certain that the Public, will open there eyes for them!!!
– I wonder if Gaetz even makes it out of the Judiciary Committee.
> I am wondering if He gets a clear 100% Support in his Confirmation?
– Theory #1: Trump wanted to get rid of Gaetz and nominated him knowing he would fail. > No
– Theory #2: Trump purposely nominated someone so bad to make his other picks look better. > No
– Should Trump pull the nomination, expect his supporters to chime “It was all part of the plan“. > No
– Should Gaetz drop out himself, Trump will cry that he is a continued victim, a martyr, doing the best, not for himself, but you. > No
– Revenge baby! Go for it. And then waste millions of dollars in the process. > The Dems and RINO’s appear to be doing just that! The Dems and RINO’s appear to be looking like they will continue the same type of policy (Obstruction) that has “Failed Them” for the last 4Years!
> They are definitely pushing the envelope on the Einstein Theory of Stupidity…
– This is all pretty damn stupid.
> I 100% agree! WHY don’t “The Republicans” Give The Overwhelming Public what they want? WHY don’t “The Republicans” Give The Overwhelming Republican Party in Charge what they want? Why All The BS? Just do what the damn Overwhelming Public in America WANT!!! This is easy, or it damn well should be!
TrumpCo has been selected to play The Heel. This all feels very similar to a Wrestlemania type event promoted with the tag line: In order to save the country, we had to burn it down. And that is what his last four years is going to reflect. Based on the numbers, saying Trump has been given a mandate from the American people is bullshit. It’s only four years.
– saying Trump has been given a mandate from the American people is bullshit. It’s only four years.
> Trump has been given a mandate by the American People (70% or so) and “A whole Lot” of them!! 4 Years is “A Long Time” and if You don’t think so, then look back at the Past 4 Years, and see the amount of destruction that can be caused.
Unfortunately it typically takes twice as long to fix something like this. It will take ALL of 4 Years to get us back into some form of normalcy and have decent behavior again alone. The wheels can work very slowly in Politics, and especially if you have others tossing wrenches into the spokes, which is so often the case. Again, which is why we need a Gaetz in That Chair!
– saying Trump has been given a mandate from the American people is bullshit. It’s only four years.
What if you believe that the democrats are not really Constitution Abiding Americans? If so, all that’s left are Americans. Mandate nearly 100 percent.
When was there a “mandate” to make men wearing dresses be ‘women’??🙄
And since when was there a mandate to nullify 8 U.S.C. immigration law?🙄🙄
Why does this logic only go one way?
Mish the 5D chess is Desantis appoints Gaetz to the Senate, Trump gets all his other appointments and then nominates Desantis as AG. The second attempt on Trumps life appears to have woke up Desantis about how truly corrupt the alphabet agencies are. Desantis has a history in the Senate of going after the deep state by sitting on committees with Jim Jordan.
Good Lord
not.going.to.happen.
“Matt Gaetz is the only person who has the motive and ability to take on the National Security Division’s of the DOJ and FBI and get justice for the American people whose lives have been turned upside down because of their distinctly illegal activities.”
https://scottritter.substack.com/p/why-matt-gaetz-matters
Gaetz will pass. Any republican objecting will be signing the end of his/her career
Believe it is Theory #2 – he’s the sacrificial lamb. Rare for all of a president’s picks to be confirmed, so Gaetz draws all the fire and the others are then easier to confirm. And then, after DeSantis picks the new Republican senator from Florida, Trump picks him for AG.
Gates is the best man for the job and he will prosecute the criminals in the doj and fbi and Kennedy will clean the corrupt criminals in the fda,cdc and nih.
Its Gaetz not Gates and he won’t do a damn thing because he is going nowhere
Trump is very serious about this pick and for good reason. Unless something new comes out Gaetz will end up where Trump wants him.
I think you’re wrong Mish. Trump is the peoples favorite right now and Senate approval rating is lower than it’s ever been. It’s payback time and Trump deserves to pick his own team. Do you really think any of those Senators is going to want to make an enemy out of Trump from the start?
Yes at least 5 – and about 4 confirmed. I expect 10.
If it gets to that. Gaetz may pull out.
Just curious Mish, have you watched any of the YouTube vids of Gaetz grilling Chris Wray, Merrick Garland, Fauci or Gen Milley? He is exactly the guy we need to be AG.
That 5 will go like this: 5, 4, 3, 2, None… we shall see soon enough.
This may wake them ALL up a little bit more, um actually a lot more.: MSNBC, CNBC On The Chopping Block As Comcast Greenlights $7 Billion Spinoff
Unelected Politicians and ones that leave office, often rely on the MSM and Democrat Outlets for their paydays moving forward. Well it appears the “Not Hiring” signs have been placed out for them ALL to see.
Like I said… 5, 4, 3, 2, None!
1/3 senators elected each 2 years; terms lasting 6 years. Looks like the 2026 race taly is 20/13 R/D so 20 senators of the 53 Rs are up for election; 33 R’s will outlast Trump.
Grassley, elected first to Senate in 1980, (b:1933) was raised on a farm;his childhood home did not have electricity or indoor plumbing. In the 1950s, Grassley farmed and worked in factories in Iowa, first as a sheet metal shearer and then as an assembly line worker. In January 2016, he set a record for the most times without a missed roll-call vote, having not missed one since July 1993, when he was touring Iowa with President Bill Clinton to survey flood damage.
Think he cares about making Trump an “enemy”?
PS – I like Gaetz … not worried about his experience; just not sure about his rationality.
– Think he cares about making Trump an “enemy”?
> See that’s the thing, it’s Not about making Trump your enemy, but “The American People” your enemy, and I think that’s what people are missing out on.
I do think many Senators will look at the landscape and see no benefit at all to the Republican (Theirs) Party, the Republican (Theirs) President, or Most Importantly The American Electorate (Theirs at the moment anyway) which voted for this! They will vote any of them, up for office, out of office in the blink of an eye, and especially if it’s holding up “What The Public Overwhelmingly Voted For To Occur” Look at how fast they tossed the Democrats to the curb, as they are “Fed Up” and I don’t blame them, as so am I and most everybody I know!!!
Point of parliamentary procedure! Trump is saving Herschel Walker for the Supreme Court.
“Gaetz Criticized GOP senators, Now He Need Their Votes”
GOP senators Criticized Trump, Now they need his signature…lmao
Please reflect on the silliness of that comment.
It’s pretty self explanatory. Nothing gets passed unless trump signs off on it as President. So if any Senator wants their cut of the Pork, they better get in line.
What is motivating this excessive use of time and resources? Whose oxen get gored if Gaetz is AG? Is that the answer instead of all this hyperbole? You would think that this appointment is the only thing of import in the entire raft of appointments. You have to admit it comes across as a case of protesting to much.
I see by that, how weak our (Some) Republican Senators can be. Petty little tyrants, if they react to criticism by hurting the Country, Their Party, and The overwhelming majority of American Voters. They need to grow up, and put some big boy pants on, and can borrow some from Gaetz or Trump or any number of vast Republicans that get it!!
What a bunch of babies if that’s truly the case. Do they also suck there thumbs at night?