I think you're on to something here, Lou. I've been thinking about this appointment over the past two days. At first, I was pleasantly surprised since Gillibrand is a "blue dog" Democrat, and appears to be the best possible choice (as far as these things go in New York) that could have come out of this scenario.
HOWEVER, Schmucky Schumer's curious behavior throughout all of this made me stop and think. He has been pushing for Gillibrand from the start, and I think he revealed his hand when he slapped down Carolyn McCarthy (McCarthy knocks Gillibrand as choice for Senate (Schumer to McCarthy: stifle yourself)).
Based upon Schumcky's position as chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, with primary responsibility for raising funds and recruiting Democrat candidates, I strongly suspect that Gillibrand's selection to replace Hillary is a cunning strategic move by Schumer and the Rats to not only keep that seat in the 2010 election (since they obviously think Gillibrand is strong enough to hold on to it, unlike Caroline Kennedy), but also position her as a potential VP candidate in 2012, in place of Biden.
If Obama shucks Biden aside in 2012 (and I have no reason to doubt that he will), then by bringing the somewhat Conservative, 2nd Amendment supporting Gillibrand onboard might counteract any threat that Governor Palin might present to Obama should she choose to run that year. And then, in 2016, Gillibrand would be positioned to succeed Obama, based upon her apparent "blue dog" status, but true proclivity for liberalism on most everything else.
Schmucky and the Rats are thinking long term right now, and if you stop and consider their ultimate goals, then this strategy makes perfect sense in the grand scheme of things.
The bottom line is that the Rat leadership probably sees Gillibrand as a potential counterbalance to Palin, even though she cannot match the governor in terms of sheer X-Factor charisma or executive experience.
Just my humble analysis, after two days of thinking on it.
I had heard this somewhere (talk radio possibly?) and don’t doubt it a bit. Schmuck Schemer is a real snake. She would have been swept out at the mid-terms in that district anyway, but she’s too valuable to the RAT machine with that phoney one issue appeal to a lot of folk on the right even though she’s a reliable lib on almost every other issue.