Chemerinsky Re-Hired

I see from multiple online sources the UCI has re-hired Erwin Chemerinsky to be the founding dean of UCI's new law school.

Personally, I think the circumstance of Chemerinsky's re-hiring will have the ironic effect of providing him more latitude to be polarizing -- which is the alleged reason UCI Chancellor Michael Drake rescinded the offer. Following the beating Drake and UCI have taken for the past week, Chemerinsky could churn out op-eds calling for Bush's impeachment and Drake would have to nod and smile.

I'm not predicting Chemerinsky wil do any such thing. But given Drake's ostensible reason for rescinding the job offer in the first place, he now has much less ability to prevent what he dreaded.

Over at Total Buzz, it's Chemerinsky-O-Rama, with a slew of posts here, here and here.

In other coverage of this brouhaha, I saw this post by Scott Moxley on Navel Gazing (H/T to Gila Jones at TheLiberalOC.com):

Meanwhile, OC Republicans Scott Baugh and Matt Cunningham said they were unaware of any organized plot to derail Chemerinsky. That position seems to conflict with recent words of ex-California GOP boss Michael J. Schroeder (AKA Vader because of his cutthroat behind-the-scenes maneuvering in Orange County). Schroeder claims the Chemerinsky hit began with conservatives emailing each other and then a “daily chain” reaction.

"Seems to conflict"? How's that? I was unaware of any organized effort to spike the Chemerinsky hiring. That doesn't mean it wasn't happening. Memo to all who concerned: contrary to the imaginations of a surprising number of people, there isn't some weekly meeting at the "OC GOP Machine Clubhouse" where organized plotting and scheming is conducted.

Comments

[Patricia]

Another chapter unfolds in the Irvine kerfluffle!

How soon before the new dean resigns? :)

[R. Scott Moxley]

Hi Matt: I botched the phrase you highlighted from the weekend blog post. I should have just written that Mike Schroeder claims there had been a conservative effort behind the scenes to thwart Chemerinsky. Also, I don't think anyone alive believes that Schroeder (or Baugh) briefs you on all of their moves, but the three of you are open allies with common political agendas. Thanks, Scott

[Alex Brant-Zawadzki]

Ignorance is bliss