Anyone else excited for 'Mad Dog' Mattis being Secretary of Defense?

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Excited? Neh.  A good choice - yes.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

--except that he is not qualified. 

Federal law stipulates that in order to serve as Secretary of Defense, a person has to be a civilian, and "may not be appointed as Secretary of Defense within seven years after relief from active duty." Since Mattis only retired three years ago, he wouldn’t be qualified under the statute.

I think they can get around that.  Waivers have been issued in the past in cases exactly like this.

The waiver requirement means that Mattis is an appointment that Democrats could actually filibuster, but I doubt they would do that.

Right.  He could have nominated a much more deplorable deplorable.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

The only time the rule has been waived for Secretary of Defense was for Marshall during the Korean War. The reason for the rule is a good one and we aren't in anything comparable to Korea. The rule should not be waived for anyone. It's already been weakened from 10 years to 7. Even if it were weakened further to 5 years, Mad Dog still wouldn't be eligible.

Trump knows this, so do you think McConnell and other pubs assured him this would sail through?  If not it's a stupid nomination, although I'm in favor of Mattis himself.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

The only time the rule has been waived for Secretary of Defense was for Marshall during the Korean War. The reason for the rule is a good one and we aren't in anything comparable to Korea. The rule should not be waived for anyone. It's already been weakened from 10 years to 7. Even if it were weakened further to 5 years, Mad Dog still wouldn't be eligible.

Trump knows this, so do you think McConnell and other pubs assured him this would sail through?  If not it's a stupid nomination, although I'm in favor of Mattis himself.

It could be an early test of whether the remaining Nevertrumpers and the Democrats will fight this. A lot of people are going to think it's an arbitrary rule, which to some extent it is, albeit a good arbitrary rule. If he can get Mattis confirmed, then he can go on to get rid of other arbitrary rules such as our ethics laws, the 22nd Amendment, there being only nine justices on the Supreme Court, etc.

Fair enough.  I think the Dems will cave on this.  Just a feeling.  Also I haven't seen any of them screaming blue bloody murder yet, unless I missed it.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

He's actually Trump's best choice so far.

I don't understand why Gillibrand already wants to block him.

She's doing Schumer's bidding perhaps?