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Playinghardball

(11,665 posts) Thu Jun 6, 2013, 03:16 PM Jun 2013

Gov. Chris Christie appoints New Jersey attorney general to fill U.S. Senate seat

Source: Oregonlive

TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie named a longtime colleague, state Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa, to temporarily fill the U.S. Senate seat Thursday that opened up this week after Frank Lautenberg’s death.

Chiesa, who worked with Christie in the U.S. attorney’s office before becoming the top lawyer for the state government, will take office effective Monday just ahead of expected debates on immigration policy.

Chiesa, 47, has never had or run for political office and said he will not seek the office in an October election to fill the seat, Christie said.

He will be the first Republican to represent New Jersey in the Senate since 1982, when Nicholas Brady was chosen by Gov. Tom Kean to serve out a term after Harrison Williams resigned amid scandal. The last time New Jersey elected a Republican to the Senate was in 1972.

Read more: http://www.oregonlive.com/today/index.ssf/2013/06/gov_chris_christie_appoints_ne.html

6 replies

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Gov. Chris Christie appoints New Jersey attorney general to fill U.S. Senate seat (Original Post) Playinghardball Jun 2013 OP

He says he won't seek the office in October? Laelth Jun 2013 #1

Jackass appoints crony. nt onehandle Jun 2013 #2

Hannity is 'blowing a nut' over this appointment as I type so I can only conclude, this is as good Purveyor Jun 2013 #3

Should be a law to replace a Senator (or Rep) from the same party Roland99 Jun 2013 #4

Some States have such laws, AZ and Hawaii Bluenorthwest Jun 2013 #6

This Makes The Special Election In October Even More Stupid DallasNE Jun 2013 #5

Laelth

(32,017 posts)

1. He says he won't seek the office in October?

Reply to Playinghardball (Original post)

Thu Jun 6, 2013, 03:25 PM

Jun 2013

That's hilarious! Christie would not have appointed him, I don't think, unless it gave the party a little incumbency advantage in the October special election. I suspect Chiesa will "change his mind" on this subject in a month or two. I will be pleased to be proven wrong.

-Laelth

onehandle

(51,122 posts)

2. Jackass appoints crony. nt

Reply to Playinghardball (Original post)

Thu Jun 6, 2013, 03:48 PM

Jun 2013

Purveyor

(29,876 posts)

3. Hannity is 'blowing a nut' over this appointment as I type so I can only conclude, this is as good

Reply to Playinghardball (Original post)

Thu Jun 6, 2013, 03:49 PM

Jun 2013

an appointment as we could hope for from Christie.

Roland99

(53,342 posts)

4. Should be a law to replace a Senator (or Rep) from the same party

Reply to Playinghardball (Original post)

Thu Jun 6, 2013, 03:50 PM

Jun 2013

Bluenorthwest

(45,319 posts)

6. Some States have such laws, AZ and Hawaii

Reply to Roland99 (Reply #4)

Thu Jun 6, 2013, 04:40 PM

Jun 2013

Wisconsin, Oregon and Alaska don't let the governor appoint anyone, an election is called.

DallasNE

(7,403 posts)

5. This Makes The Special Election In October Even More Stupid

Reply to Playinghardball (Original post)

Thu Jun 6, 2013, 04:32 PM

Jun 2013

We knew the Massachusetts model would be followed where Christie would appoint a temporary US Senator until an election for a permanent replacement and this is exactly what has happened.

The stupid part is for the special election to occur 20 days before a scheduled election and cost New Jersey taxpayers an extra $24 million. Holding this election in conjunction with the scheduled election would have saved every dime of that cost. In that 20 day period the Senate is scheduled to be in session for 6 days -- that's right, the Senate works 2 days a week. Plus, it is not like the people of New Jersey would not already be represented for those 6 days since the appointed Senator would be serving. This makes Christie's decision on the October election moronic at best.

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