Still puzzled about the Chertoff nomination?

[Supersedeas]

Why would anyone step down from a lifetime appointment from the Federal Court of Appeals to take a temporary political appointment?

For an Administration interested in loading the Court with 'their own,' why have they chosen to vacate that seat? Has he proven to be too independent on the bench--not fundie enough for the theocratic wing of the party?

What prize lies beyond his temporary tenure at Homeland Security???

Help me out here...

[ibegurpard]

1. I'm not puzzled at all

Since Bush nominated him, my assumption is that he is an unethical bastard who is getting payback for some dirty work he did.

[pk_du]

8. Dirty work?....Hmm...you mean like being Legal Council

to Dan Burtons "ethics" investigations of Whitewater.?

Please put the following words in a logical order:

The Guarding Henhouse The Fox

[Supersedeas]

9. loyalty??? maybe...but at the CoA he need not step down to do that

there is more to this story...more there that is motivating Chertoff personally.

[BlueEyedSon]

2. $$$ cha-ching $$$

[montanacowboy]

3. mmmmm Scotus?

perhaps?

[musette_sf]

5. SCOTUS and/or

"private industry" $$$$ after he's done.

[Supersedeas]

7. but the Court of Appeals is typically a more direct route to Scotus.

lots of bad things could happen at Homeland Security that might make a SCt nomination less 'politically' expedient.

Anyone familiar with his judicial decisions???

Maybe, he has already established a pattern that might make Homeland Security a greasier route to Scotus...ie. he has flashed his hand to the fundies, so he need to step down.

[tk2kewl]

4. lots of money in the private sector

working for defense or homeland security industry taking his bite from the treasury :shrug: just a thought

[Demit]

6. I think he's a Torquamada wannabe. He's got the look for it anyway.

[shraby]

10. Easy....combine torture Gonzales as

Attorney General and this dude at Homeland Security and you have a perfect storm for tromping on civil rights.

[ewagner]

11. Been getting a different impression

Since the nomination, I've learned that he turned down another appointment choosing to stay right where he was.

I've also seen him a couple of times on tv......

I don't think he had any choice in taking this appointment. I think he is taking it under duress. Bush** wants him in Homeland security because he couldn't find anybody else. Bush** wouldn't take no for an wanswer this time.....

It's marching orders from der fuerer......

[Supersedeas]

12. Federal judges manage to disobey orders-if the don't have a taste for them

It's a lifetime appointment...with only one office to be promoted to...and I feel like a SCOTUS appointment will be less likely after what will likely be a stormy stay with Homeland Security.

On a personal, professional level--it makes no sense.

In terms of obeying orders, he was in a position where he would not be required to--twisting a Federal Judges arm is not something that politicians can do...especially those on the Court of Appeals.

[ewagner]

16. The "baggie" factor

In my early days in politics we used to commonly refer to the "baggie factor" in political decisions. Briefly, the "baggie factor" referred to a little bag of Sh** that was being held over your head by someone in authority. If you disobeyed orders or opposed the person in power, that little "baggie" just might drop down on your head and create an awful stink........

I suspect that's what was used here.......

[Al-CIAda]

13. Nominee Protect Terror-Linked Doctor from Prosecution?

Did Bush's New Homeland Security Nominee Protect Terror-Linked Doctor from Prosecution?
Bernard Kerik, Michael Chertoff... Who's Next?  Tony Soprano?

Daniel Hopsicker
January 12, 2005 - Venice, FL

Michael Chertoff, appointed by President Bush to head the Homeland Security Department, may have shielded from criminal prosecution a former client suspected by law enforcement of having funneled millions of dollars directly to Osama Bin Laden while in charge of the U.S. Government’s 9.11 investigation.

Egyptian-born Dr. Magdy el-Amir, a prominent New Jersey neurologist, was at the center of terrorist intrigue in Jersey City.

-El-Amir gave money to a conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center Bombing Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman.

-His brother in Cairo was caught on tape attempting to buy weapons from an American undercover agent for Islamic militant groups.

-Before being arrested in a terrorist deal involving oil and heroin for guns and training, arms smuggler Diaa Mohsen was paid at least $5,000 by one of Dr. el Amir's companies, NBC’s Dateline reported.

And his HMO was suspected by law enforcement of being used to funnel money directly to Osama bin laden.  


Wire Transfers to "Unknown Parties"

Chertoff’s client "caused more than $5.7 million to be paid by wire transfers to unknown parties," said the lawsuit filed shortly before the state took over his failing HMO. News accounts about el-Amir’s legal difficulties contain unanswered questions about undue political influence and its effect on national security.
For example, how did el-Amir, who only the month before had been granted a state license to operate an HMO, finagle a lucrative contract from the state of New Jersey in 1995?

“Why was this doctor allowed to start a health plan?” asked the October 25, 1999 issue of the medical trade journal Medical Economics.

“How could this medical entrepreneur, who had no experience running a managed-care or health insurance company, receive a license for an HMO that now provides care to 44,000 of New Jersey's most vulnerable citizens?" asked The Bergen Record. “Moreover, how could the state pay such a novice $ 6 million a month in taxpayers money to take on such a responsibility?”

Why did Michael Chertoff even take the case? 

Con't-
http://www.madcowprod.com/01122004.html

[Al-CIAda]

14. ttt eom

[franksumatra]

15. a reward for his whitewater witch hunt

plus he's obviously passed the evil qualifications