When one observes Donald Trump’s early appointments, one concludes that he has decided to name unqualified individuals to a multitude of major positions.
When one can say that Florida Senator Marco Rubio becoming Secretary of State is the “best” appointment of a horrendous list, that summarizes what a disaster the nation is facing!
Rubio has 14 years of Senate experience, and is on the Senate Intelligence Committee, and while no great intellectual, he meets the minimum requirements to lead our foreign policy establishment, but is no star in any sense.
But then, one looks at other appointments:
Pete Hegseth, a Fox News Host, as Secretary of Defense
Kristi Noem, South Dakota Governor, as Secretary of Homeland Security
Elise Stafanek, NY Congresswoman, as United Nations Ambassador
Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas Governor, as US Ambassador to Israel
Tulsi Gabbard, former Democratic Congresswoman from Hawaii as Director Of National Intelligence
Lee Zeldin, former NY Congressman, as head of the Environmental Protection Agency
Pete Hegseth is a total surprise to the Pentagon with no real credentials to head the Pentagon.
Kristi Noem has ZERO experience to head Homeland Security, and has been an embarrassment as Governor of a very small state, South Dakota.
Elise Stefanik is an ultimate example of an individual who transformed, conveniently, from being a moderate Republican to a MAGA Republican, as a way to advance her career.
Mike Huckabee is a Christian Zionist, whose ultimate aim is to convert Jews to his radical brand of Christianity, the last thing that American Jews would support, but may be acceptable to the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, as he works to take over the Palestinian territories.
Tulsi Gabbard is a former Democratic Presidential contender, who has gone over to the Republican Party, after going off the rails in her foreign policy views, and now will be more powerful over intelligence gathering than anyone else .
Lee Zeldin has no desire to promote environmental protection, so can be described as a fox put into a chicken coop.
It seems clear that the major qualification to be in the Trump Cabinet is to be slavishly loyal to his agenda, with no concept of considering what is constitutional and legitimate!
Add to this list Robert F. Kennedy Jr. possibly being Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Billionaire Elon Musk everywhere, trying to have a major influence.
This list will become even more controversial as the days pass, and fireworks are possible on some of the appointments.
And now, as I am writing, controversial Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz has been chosen to be Attorney General, which would seem extremely divisive.
It also means now THREE Republican House members, including Mike Waltz of Florida as National Security Adviser, along with Stefanik and Gaetz, will be removed from that chamber, endangering, at least for the short term, having a Republican majority, which seems a lunatic move!
The last 24 hours have been shocking, and will continue to be in the coming hours and days!
It is a proven and a repeating fact…. “Extremism has no longevity.”
So the true question is, “How much damage is going to be done before this incompetence collapses on itself?”
“What Draconian aspects that takes away our freedoms, never to be returned back to as they were.”
Benjamin Franklin stated when the Constitution was signed and ratified, “We have given you a Republic, now it’s up to you to keep it.”
On November 4th, 2024, we have failed our Founding Fathers lofty goals.
CNN is reporting that Republicans have won the House, giving them full control of Congress.
As for all of these bonkers choices Trump is making, they make me want to puke.
Please, God, let some Senators grow some spines and not confirm these nuts!
Leia – That’s very unlikely to happen.
I was about to ask what are your thoughts on confirmations or is every republican in congress so damn afraid of trump they won’t cross him.
Joyce, welcome to the blog.
I think a small number of Republican Senators will NOT go along on many of these appointments, and could, therefore, bottleneck many nominations.
This would include Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Thom Tillis of North Carolina as possibilities, but of course not guaranteed.
Anyone want to join me in hiding out in my hidey-hole for the next four years?
Senate Republicans have chosen Sen. John Thune of South Dakota as the new majority leader.
https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/senate-majority-leader-john-thune-republican-vote-congress-rcna179937
Well. I wonder what job Trump has in mind for Marjorie Taylor Greene?
He’ll probably give a job to Blowbart as well.
Trump wants the Senate to abdicate its role in reviewing presidential appointments. He wants the Senate to recess long enough as soon as it takes office so that he can avail himself of the president’s so-called recess appointments power.
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2024/11/13/as-gop-senators-choose-their-leader-trump-demands-they-bend-the-knee/
CNN is reporting that Trump is on the verge of announcing RFK Jr. as secretary of Health and Human Services.
RFK Jr is now in the clown car. He’ll Make America Sick Again.
Ok, well, the tech bros get Elon, anti-vax freaks get RFK Jr, dog killers get Noem, white nationalists get Hegseth, pedophiles get Gaetz, etc.
In addition to all of these nuts he’s hiring, Trump is planning to get rid of the Department of Education.
Is there any way we can have do over with the election? I’m sure people are regretting their choice.
Even this notorious GOP jerk thinks Trump’s Cabinet is nuts.
The way this is going, we’ll have Dr. Oz as Surgeon General and some moon landing conspiracy theorist to head NASA.
This isn’t a cabinet it’s a junk drawer.
Dear Flying Spaghetti Monster,
Any chance you could hold off on that H5N1 thing for about four years? I promise I’ll quit swearing if you do.
In the name of the pasta, the marinera, and the holy meatball.
Ramen to that!
Doug Collins, a former congressman from Georgia, has been chosen to run the Department of Veterans Affairs. Collins is a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command. The Republican served in Congress from 2013 to 2021, and he helped defend Trump during his first impeachment process.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has been chosen to lead the Department of the Interior.
Apparently not every Democrat recoiling from the news about RFK Jr in charge of America’s health. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said he was “excited” for Kennedy to lead HHS. Polis said he wants to see Kennedy take on “big pharma” and hopes he will “lean into personal choice” on vaccines.
Colorado’s Governor Polis must be a dumb Democrat then. Letting parents have personal choice has led to an uptick in measles outbreaks across the country.
Jay Clayton, who served as chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump’s first term, has been chosen to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Trump’s team skips FBI background checks for some Cabinet picks.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/15/politics/security-clearances-fbi-gabbard-gaetz/index.html
A running list from MSNBC of Trump’s choices so far.
https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/trump-appointees-list-administration-cabinet-white-house-rcna179749
Aren’t those FBI background checks supposed to be mandatory???
Mike Pence is urging Senate Republicans to reject RFK Jr., not because he’s a nut, but because he’s for abortion.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rfk-jr-abortion-hhs-mike-pence_n_67376f12e4b09d006b6c4056
5 of the wildest ideas floated by RFK Jr.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/robert-f-kennedy-jr-ideas-hhs_n_6736dfb6e4b0a399b028e7d7
That should be:
Well, I certainly don’t trust RFK Jr. with my reproductive rights.
Trump’s allies are trying to push him to fire the current FBI director, Christopher Wray, and replace him with Kash Patel, who would be yet another Trump loyalist.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/15/politics/kash-patel-donald-trump-fbi-director-christopher-wray/index.html
Muslims who voted for Trump upset by his pro-Israel cabinet picks
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/muslims-who-voted-trump-upset-by-his-pro-israel-cabinet-picks-2024-11-15/
Some of the most naive, clueless people in America – what did they THINK would happen if they voted for Trump???
Another horrendous pick.
Trump picks fracking firm CEO Chris Wright to be energy secretary.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/11/16/energy-secretary-trump-chris-wright/