Brother of Democrat who’s undecided on ObamaCare nominated for federal judgeship
posted at 7:50 pm on March 3, 2010 by Allahpundit
His exact words this afternoon: “I will do everything in my power to make the case for reform.”
And so he will, so he will.
Tonight, Barack Obama will host ten House Democrats who voted against the health care bill in November at the White House; he’s obviously trying to persuade them to switch their votes to yes. One of the ten is Jim Matheson of Utah. The White House just sent out a press release announcing that today President Obama nominated Matheson’s brother Scott M. Matheson, Jr. to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit…
“The Congressman is looking for development of bipartisan consensus,” Matheson’s press secretary Alyson Heyrend wrote to THE WEEKLY STANDARD on February 22. “It’s too early to know if that will occur.” Asked if one could infer that if no Republican votes in favor of the bill (i.e. if a bipartisan consensus is not reached) then Rep. Matheson would vote no, Heyrend replied: “I would not infer anything. I’d wait to see what develops, starting with the health care summit on Thursday.”
Scott Matheson’s plenty qualified for the job (follow the link for his resume), but it shows you how desperate The One is to win votes in the House at this point that he wouldn’t even care about the optics here. Dropping this announcement on the very day that he’s hosting Matheson’s brother to twist his arm on O-Care? What’s next? Televising the bribes he’s been making to inconvenient Democratic primary challengers? Put the graft on C-SPAN, Barry!
Oh, did I mention that Stupak’s more convinced than ever that the Senate bill, as is, is dead dead dead in the House? If they can’t figure out a way to “fix” Reid’s bill before asking the House to vote on it — which may be procedurally impossible — then it’s finito. Unless Obama can scrounge up some more federal judgeships, I guess.










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How much corruption will we, as a nation, tolerate?
oldleprechaun on March 3, 2010 at 7:53 PM
Will this be on C-Span
;-)
macncheez on March 3, 2010 at 7:55 PM
So is Dear Liar going to pack the Supreme Court with siblings & spouses of Democrats He needs.
I will say it has been a tremendous 13 months — The Whine has managed to make Jimmy Carter look good.
rbj on March 3, 2010 at 7:55 PM
There’s probably no truth to the rumor that Bart Stupak’s mom has just been appointed American Ambassador to the Court of St. James.
Cicero43 on March 3, 2010 at 7:56 PM
Holy cow, a micro-meteorite just landed in my iced tea and now it’s steaming hot!
FloatingRock on March 3, 2010 at 7:56 PM
Did the invitation read “Bring a bathing suit! We’ll have waterboarding!”
katy the mean old lady on March 3, 2010 at 7:56 PM
Isn’t this bribery? Isn’t it illegal? It is quid pro quo. Judgeship for vote. I think it may be impeachable. Cui bono Obama? Cui bono?
andy85719 on March 3, 2010 at 7:56 PM
This is not his Waterloo. This is his Stalingrad.
Gatsu on March 3, 2010 at 7:57 PM
Can we impeach him for this once his healthcare scam is officially dead?
JammieWearingFool on March 3, 2010 at 7:58 PM
I see nothing wrong with this.
-Jimbo3
angryed on March 3, 2010 at 7:59 PM
Great reference. Vanity, pride and ego leading to disaster.
Daveyardbird on March 3, 2010 at 8:00 PM
This is waaaaaaaaaaaay beyond reproach now. Time for this man to step down!!! This has to be illegal in the worst of ways. My God, how much more do we take from this man, and his goons???
capejasmine on March 3, 2010 at 8:01 PM
I look forward to the confirmation hearings
rbj on March 3, 2010 at 8:03 PM
So wait. Jim Matheson’s going to commit political suicide just so his brother can be appointed to the 10th Circ. Court of Appeals? When he serves in a R+15 district in Utah?
Makes no sense.
Pretty unbelievable to me that Obama would think this would work.
Matheson’s already announced that he’s going to run for reelection in November, so if he votes for this, he knows he’s finished.
And Dennis Prager was right. The Dem leadership really IS willing to lose the House in order to pass ObamaCare. That’s the only reason why they would risk losing a seat in a overwhelmingly Republican district.
But again, I don’t see what’s in it for Matheson. So his brother gets nominated and he loses his bid for reelection in November. Even if Obama appoints him to something, he’d still be giving up a seat he’s held for nearly ten years in order to vote for something he’s already voted against.
Not well-played by Obama.
nickj116 on March 3, 2010 at 8:03 PM
Clearly, he’s all in. Although, I’m not sure his line in the sand was adequately placed…
BKeyser on March 3, 2010 at 8:03 PM
Is that what they mean by transparency?
Emperor Norton on March 3, 2010 at 8:04 PM
I just don’t know anymore.
I’m afraid we’re not even going to survive the 2010 elections. How long before he shoves through crap & tax by reconciliation?
This will not end well.
Knucklehead on March 3, 2010 at 8:05 PM
Yo, that’s a nice brother you have there. It would be a shame if anything misbeneficial would befall upon him… Does he have any ‘enthusiasms’?
phreshone on March 3, 2010 at 8:06 PM
Culture of corruption indeed.
wildcat84 on March 3, 2010 at 8:06 PM
It is transparent that Dear Liar is utterly corrupt. Who would have guessed that a Chicago politician would do something like this. It’s unprecedented and unexpected.
rbj on March 3, 2010 at 8:07 PM
Not Stalingrad, at least Von Paulus wanted and tried to leave the city eventually. This is more like Cannae; marching into a double-envelopment behind a general who had no business being on a battlefield, then being slaughtered to the last man.
Bishop on March 3, 2010 at 8:07 PM
There’s no such thing as an “undecided” Demorat. Only one that hasn’t been bribed enough yet.
LibTired on March 3, 2010 at 8:07 PM
Nobama has managed to make BILLY CARTER look good.
joejm65 on March 3, 2010 at 8:08 PM
I can’t see this any other way now. He is surrounded, hes cut off, and now hes telling his men to fight to the last. He really intends to let his men (and women) die here.
Gatsu on March 3, 2010 at 8:08 PM
there’s gonna be some consequences……
ted c on March 3, 2010 at 8:09 PM
Go to YouTube and watch this new music vid, O.T.P. (One Term President). It’s going to go viral!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MddREczVeL4
centre on March 3, 2010 at 8:09 PM
Touche, and to top it off, the lines are so broken they are attacking each other. Its like history repeating itself.
Gatsu on March 3, 2010 at 8:10 PM
Billy Beer, making a comeback 30 years later.
ted c on March 3, 2010 at 8:10 PM
And if you really want to know why there is so much stimulus money still unspent…well…now you know.
PBHO sitting at his desk, checkbook in hand, asking the assembled representatives “Ok, how much do you want?”
Bishop on March 3, 2010 at 8:10 PM
Maybe Obama’s doctors gave him bad advice, maybe he shouldn’t moderate his alcohol intake . . .
Ingenue on March 3, 2010 at 8:11 PM
Thank god we don’t have that war-mongering, race-hating Bush as President today. /s
Is this the change that 52% wanted?
Electrongod on March 3, 2010 at 8:13 PM
Will network besides maybe Fox News even comment on this? Yes, that’s rhetorical.
Sugar Land on March 3, 2010 at 8:13 PM
They just have no shame. Hope and Change my ass.
SoulGlo on March 3, 2010 at 8:14 PM
Good Stalingrad reference though, I always appreciate people here who reference battles as metaphors.
I was going to use Isandlwana, but snobby jerk Chelmsford wasn’t actually there so I’m not sure it fit. Maybe the Little Bighorn or, for a nautical theme, Battle of Tsushima Straits?
Bishop on March 3, 2010 at 8:14 PM
this
Joe Caps on March 3, 2010 at 8:17 PM
Of course, Harvard trained lawyer Obama knows that he should avoid doing anything that could even give the appearance of impropriety.
GaltBlvnAtty on March 3, 2010 at 8:18 PM
Just cracks me up how many bozos voted for this clown thinking he was going to clean up Washington.
But then, I laugh through my tears.
John the Libertarian on March 3, 2010 at 8:18 PM
The desperation is showing through. THEY DON’T HAVE THE VOTES!
GarandFan on March 3, 2010 at 8:18 PM
Antietam?
Bishop on March 3, 2010 at 8:19 PM
On its face, an obvious bribe.
But why announce it today? Wouldn’t it make more sense to keep it quiet for another few days until after the vote, rather than putting the congressman in a high-visibility nut-cracker?
bofh on March 3, 2010 at 8:19 PM
But… what if Rep. Matheson doesn’t get along with his brother? Will he vote “no” out of spite?
Given the way Messiah & Co. go stumblin’ about, it wouldn’t surprise me.
And what about this “Chicago way” hype? Is it all ham-handed bullying and no finesse? No style? No idea what to do when the baseball bat doesn’t elicit cooperation??
n0doz on March 3, 2010 at 8:20 PM
Well I just finished Europe’s last summer, now I’m on “Stalingrad: the fateful siege, I can draw a lot of parallels between this and both of those books. I say Stalingrad because Obama is spinning this as some noble sacrifice, but the writing is on the wall, and it spells his ruin.
Isandlwana isn’t a bad fit either, Obama has been notably absent from all the major skirmishes, so maybe he is a bit like Chelmsford.
Gatsu on March 3, 2010 at 8:22 PM
What’s Nanzi going to offer someone? Free tuna? The desperation here speaks volumes.
SouthernGent on March 3, 2010 at 8:23 PM
They didn’t pass a $787 billion stimulus bill for nothing.
pedestrian on March 3, 2010 at 8:24 PM
The brothers Matheson could immediately rid themselves of the obvious taint by either: the nominee withdrawing his name from consideration, or, the congressman announcing that he will not change his vote and will vote No as he did before Obama’s bribe-nomination of his brother.
GaltBlvnAtty on March 3, 2010 at 8:25 PM
Are there ten ambassadorships still available?
neobadger on March 3, 2010 at 8:25 PM
Bart Stupak, my favorite Democrat…today.
JeffWeimer on March 3, 2010 at 8:26 PM
No gutter is too low for our snake in chief to slither through to get what he wants. How transformational of him! If this bill passes in front of this backdrop, Perry would do well to stand with other Texans, arrayed against this thug in chief! If this passes, every tea party patriot in every state should commit to ousting every senator and congressman who votes in favor of it. Flood each and every opponent in every district with cash and help. Make every official who votes for this suffer…in their reelection bid.
Weight of Glory on March 3, 2010 at 8:28 PM
Good point.
How about Gallipoli, with Hunter-Weston throwing wave after wave of Anzacs against the Turks for zero gain?
I just read “Fateful Siege” and it was a fantastic book, now I’m working on “The Fall of Berlin” by the same author.
Bishop on March 3, 2010 at 8:29 PM
I think that’s been answered. We’ve already accepted enough to destroy our present society. I think it’s more a question of whether this one will end peacefully or not, before the new one starts.
JiangxiDad on March 3, 2010 at 8:30 PM
It is definitely bribery.
Why not announce it today?
What can we do? Nothing.
What will we do? Nothing.
We the People are now we the subjects.
ROCnPhilly on March 3, 2010 at 8:31 PM
Hear, hear!
The nominee brother should definitely remove his name from consideration, regardless. I can’t imagine any decent person who wouldn’t. This is like the BHO Senate seat fiasco. Of course, they all got away with that amazing crime and Burris still got seated just in time for the important vote, even as he had lied his way into the seat.
neurosculptor on March 3, 2010 at 8:32 PM
That was totally awesome. EMailing to everyone in my contacts and putting it on my facebook.
milwife88 on March 3, 2010 at 8:32 PM
I’m sorry but Jesus Christ will this debacle ever end?
Will exposure (Michelle’s disinfectant) even matter if this crap goes on?
Where are the Blago tapes?
I feel, strongly, this will not END WELL.
seesalrun on March 3, 2010 at 8:32 PM
Read that. Fantastic!
If you like those kinds of books, try Paradise Lost: Smyrna 1922 by Giles Milton– an absolutely gripping book (2nd time I’ve recommended it today)
JiangxiDad on March 3, 2010 at 8:33 PM
Even knowing this guy as we’ve come to it was breathtaking to see the headline on Drudge that today, of all days, this announcement came down. Qualified or not, the circumstances taint the appointment.
It’s outrageous. In the wake of the Louisiana Purchase and CornHusk Deal Americans will not be amused by this latest blatant strong-arming.
KittyLowrey on March 3, 2010 at 8:35 PM
Checkers.
yomomma on March 3, 2010 at 8:40 PM
What scum. He’s turning the country into a Banana Republic.
conservative pilgrim on March 3, 2010 at 8:41 PM
And another Democrat who voted NO the first time around has suddenly found himself facing gay-sexual-harrassment allegations!
So many coincidences.
Isnt it time to start talking about impeachment yet?
American Elephant on March 3, 2010 at 8:42 PM
where is Mr Fitzpatrick with the FBI when you need him. tie him into this and the blago thing, maybe we actually got something here
UNREPENTANT CONSERVATIVE CAPITOLIST on March 3, 2010 at 8:42 PM
In politics, there are no coincidences.
Over30 on March 3, 2010 at 8:42 PM
Attaboy, President Mugabe-Wannabe. Make your corruption REALLY REALLY obvious. Do every sneaky underhanded thing you can think of to ram this thing through. People won’t hate your living guts for this, no way. I mean, people liked Bill Clinton specifically for being a corrupt SOB, right? Maybe you could start siphoning money out of private citizens’ retirement accounts directly and use the money to just pay Congressmen to vote for whatever you want. Nobody will mind, really.
/sarc
Aitch748 on March 3, 2010 at 8:46 PM
Unreal… Damn, this is unfolding like a horror story, not sure I want to see the end unless the Monster (The current health care Bill) dies!
WhoU4 on March 3, 2010 at 8:47 PM
any Virginian who is represented by these Congressman who took donations from Charlie Rangel: Perriello, Nye, Connolly. The RPV put out ad today tying them to Rangel because of the donations. They are feeling the heat. Keep Nye a NO vote. call Perriello & Connolly–they are both opposed.
burn up the phones. we MUST take this stand.
kelley in virginia on March 3, 2010 at 8:47 PM
Definitely quid pro quo. It’s the Chicago/DC way!
Oink on March 3, 2010 at 8:48 PM
Soooooooooo…
The standards have been set, have they?
… Can’t wait for the next Administration, and the faux outrage by the Left for what Obowma is doing now.
No more legs to stand on lefties, suck on it!
Seven Percent Solution on March 3, 2010 at 8:48 PM
That’s why I am reading Stalingrad, Berlin was a great book as well.
Gatsu on March 3, 2010 at 8:49 PM
i quit smoking when this whole obamacare started. its amazing that i haven’t achieved orbit just by my constant agitation.
kelley in virginia on March 3, 2010 at 8:49 PM
Bill O’Reilly would do himself a service if he covered this instead of Jessica Simpson and John Mayer. No spin zone indeed.
Marcus on March 3, 2010 at 8:50 PM
Thanks for the recommendation, I have The Somme: Herosim and Horror in the First World War up after Stalingrad, but I needed a book after that so that’s next in the que :)
Gatsu on March 3, 2010 at 8:53 PM
I swear this bill will never die. My mind keeps going back to a long dramatic Bugs Bunny death scene.
Cindy Munford on March 3, 2010 at 8:53 PM
Oh you meant to say “formerly undecided.”
Youngs98 on March 3, 2010 at 8:53 PM
Do you really believe he listened during ethics classes.
chemman on March 3, 2010 at 8:55 PM
CNN is wrong This Government isn’t BROKEN It’s CORRUPT.
Dr Evil on March 3, 2010 at 8:56 PM
Bill O’Reilly is turning out to be about as useless as tits on a bull. His play dumb routine is transparent. He had promise to be something more, but it didn’t pan out. I suspect he thinks he’s never been more powerful and successful.
JiangxiDad on March 3, 2010 at 8:57 PM
Stupak says he’s a PRINIPLED Deomcrat who wants healthcare to pass. I submit there are no principled Dems. He says the Senate bill is a no go because of abortion and bribes.
Well Mr. Priniciples if that be the case then the whole thing is corrupt now with Judgships being offer by Pinnochio for yes votes.
Prove me wrong big guy show me some principles! I learned long ago not to trust but to verify when it comes to DemRats.
March on their offices, on their homes, make them afraid!
Make them turn on the Indonesian Jihadi who will spend us into socialism forcing us to pay for every freebee imagineable until inflation turns our savings to worthless paper and we work for the state, those of us who will at that point work at all.
He Is Redistributing The Wealth!
dhunter on March 3, 2010 at 8:58 PM
Another “what if it was Bush” moment
CWforFreedom on March 3, 2010 at 9:03 PM
Unbelievable that the POTUS is such a liar, and is so corrupt and inept. Completely understandable that the rest of the world laughs at him and his stooges. God willing, after November, the chief liar will be a lame duck. Thanks to all the feeble-minded morons who voted him in and put the Republic in this position.
ultracon on March 3, 2010 at 9:05 PM
Is it time yet to start recall petitions for these Dhimmocrats who vote for this crap sandwich? And impeachment proceedings for The One?
BitterClinger on March 3, 2010 at 9:07 PM
where is Mr Fitzpatrick with the FBI when you need him. tie him into this and the blago thing, maybe we actually got something here
UNREPENTANT CONSERVATIVE CAPITOLIST on March 3, 2010 at 8:42 PM
EXACTLY MY POINT
Sunlight on these as#holes.
I will vote and I will be heard.
seesalrun on March 3, 2010 at 9:10 PM
AP,
What does it take for you to call this President a Racketeer?
antisocial on March 3, 2010 at 9:11 PM
Why not? Of all the questionable, obviously illegal, or corrupt things Obama’s done so far…he’s not been held accountable for any of it. So why not just be obvious, as to give the finger to everyone. Thus saying…I’ll do what I want. I’m the president I WON!!!
capejasmine on March 3, 2010 at 9:14 PM
Recommend listening to Mark Levins interview with Dr. john Lott this evening. REAL eye opener about the ONE and his mission.
http://www.marklevinshow.com/home.asp
Under “Catch the replay” about half way through.
Sandybourne on March 3, 2010 at 9:14 PM
We know what Obama is using to buy Rep. Matheson’s vote on the health care bill.
In the morning, call the rest of the Democrats who attended Obama’s dinner party to find out what Obama used to buy them off.
Here is the list of Obama’s dinner guests from Mark Levin’s web site http://www.marklevinshow.com:
CONGRESSMAN JASON ALTMIRE
202-225-2565
CONGRESSMAN BOYD
202-225-5235
CONGRESSMAN LINCOLN DAVIS
202-225-6831
CONGRESSMAN HERSETH – SANDLER
202-225-2801
CONGRESSMAN FRANK KRATOVIL
202-225-5311
CONGRESSMAN BETSY MARKEY
202-225-4676
CONGRESSMAN JIM MATTHESON
202-225-3011
CONGRESSMAN HEATH SHULER
202-225-6401
CONGRESSMAN JOHN TANNER
202-225-4714
CONGRESSMAN SCOTT MURPHY
202-225-5614
wren on March 3, 2010 at 9:14 PM
I am shocked, shocked that corruption continues in this administration.
bbh on March 3, 2010 at 9:16 PM
Thermopylae
munseym on March 3, 2010 at 9:17 PM
Thanks!
conservative pilgrim on March 3, 2010 at 9:18 PM
shameless. welcome to the Banana Republic, folks.
Midas on March 3, 2010 at 9:20 PM
It’s the Chicago way.
TN Mom on March 3, 2010 at 9:21 PM
The republicans have to take this opportunity to run a strong candidate against Mr. Matheson. Its true, Matheson has the gays and kool-aid drinkers in downtown Salt Lake City to vote for him, but this I hope will make the “sometimes sippers” take a fresh look at what we have going to Washington.
joeinmo on March 3, 2010 at 9:28 PM
I feel like I’m living out a scene in Groundhog Day. Every day you think this POS has finally hit bottom with his thuggery, corruption and Obamaspeak, but every day he plunges to a new low. Day after day after day.
petefrt on March 3, 2010 at 10:01 PM
I started smoking when all this obamacare stuff started.
And drinking.
uknowmorethanme on March 3, 2010 at 10:12 PM
They’d be better off with Congressman Gus Frerotte.
Emperor Norton on March 3, 2010 at 10:15 PM
It has to be that Soetero has calculated that this is his last, best opportunity to lurch forward the progressive cause on his watch, immediate aftermath be damned. The probability is that he gave himself a B+ based on the inroads made into the financial institutions with the Bailouts, likewise with the auto industry, along with the launching of the offensive on the health care front. Not just for the economic disruption, but for the initiative at extending governmental control of society. The other great initiative, into the energy sector, via the AGW scam and specifically by regulating the carbon cycle, is probably going to go off the rails before any significant progress is made, therefore, will probably receive less attention, although not be given up on altogether.
Health care is therefore a ‘must do’ for Skippy. Nothing else is likely to get off the ground now that the public is beginning to turn on him and his agenda; the other plays underway are too easily undone, and will not have lasting impact. Health care is the only viable avenue to expand government and vassalize the electorate. He and Pelosi are more than willing to expend pawns to make a final push for victory on this one. And in the expense of ‘the cause’ Obama probably even considers himself to be one (a pawn) as well – thus the ‘one term President’ remarks.
Battle analogy? I like Midway for this one, not for the tactical similarities, but the overall strategic relevance. With a follow-on that the EPA CO2/Cap-n-trade/AGW campaign will be something along the lines of the great Marianas Turkey Shoot. November 2010 will be Oki and Iwo, with the shift in Congress setting the stage for Hiroshima and Nagasaki – Impeachment. Quite likely, my guess, for campaign finance malfeasance (remember the credit card donation scams, folks?), just for starters. As fast and loose as these clowns have played with the system and its processes, the ‘millions of jobs saved or created’ hot ticket is probably going to be “special prosecutors”.
They wanna turn America into JABR (just another banana republic)? Well, that’s usually what happens to the schmucks caught with their hands in the cookie jar in such places, when the political wind shifts nasty on ‘em. We’ll probably retain enough semblence of order that there likely won’t be firing squads. . .
Wind Rider on March 3, 2010 at 10:20 PM
Oh this is simple. Tell Matheson his brother will be filibustered till the new Congress meets if he votes in favor of the bill. Two can play this game.
Jdripper on March 3, 2010 at 10:26 PM
Chocago-style politics at it’s best…
Reminds me of Gov. Blago: “This thing is farking golden and I’m not giving it away for free.”
JohnBG on March 3, 2010 at 10:29 PM
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