Transition Team/Cabinet Thread

[KingSweden]

Talent is the Pentagon frontrunner.

Him or Hadley would be acceptable I guess

[KingSweden]

Predictit market on Secretary of Defense has it totally wide open:

Keane 18
Talent 14
Hadley 13
Mattis 13
Cotton 9
Webb 9

I've got some money on Talent, but gosh who honestly knows other than Donald Trump. This is so volatile, new names are added every day.

If I recall Talent was Romney's likely Pentagon choice

[KingSweden]

after reading stuff like that about sessions...

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/sen-sessions-praises-donald-trump-central-park-5-controversy-article-1.2756902

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/19/us/politics/jeff-sessions-donald-trump-attorney-general.html?_r=1

.... i guess if he isn't blocked, nobody is going to be.

I wouldn't say that.  He's a sitting US Senator, so the people who are voting on his confirmation are people who know him personally.  So it's entirely possible that he gets through on that basis alone.  That wouldn't necessarily imply smooth sailing for other controversial nominees who don't have the benefit of being sitting Senators.

Good point

[KingSweden]

NSA Director Mike Rogers leading DNI candidate.

Some sanity

[KingSweden]

John Katko is among the rumored names for Secretary of Homeland Security:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/18/donald-trump-cabinet-nominations-what-we-know-so-far

Which seems odds, since he was #NeverTrump.  Then again, so was Romney, and he's apparently in the mix for Secretary of State.

Wouldn't McFaul make more sense?

[KingSweden]

Wow...

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https://twitter.com/justinamash/status/799676930966491136

Any chance Paul opposes Sessions? Or Collins?

[KingSweden]

No to sound like a hack, but Trump's picks so far have had incredible amounts of baggage and stem quite a bit of hatred from the left. To say these have been unwise choices would be an understatment. Trump is setting himself up for confirmation battles and bad press, why?

Because he doesn't know what he's doing? There's going to be tremendous political capital wasted very very early.

[KingSweden]

Oh God...

Donald J. TrumpVerified account
‏@realDonaldTrump
I am seriously considering Dr. Ben Carson as the head of HUD. I've gotten to know him well--he's a greatly talented person who loves people!

The Apprentice Cabinet

[KingSweden]

Crazy grapevine rumours that former VP Dick Cheney may be in the running for SoS all of a sudden. Mad if true

That's quite the source, too. This might really be happening. God help us all.

Well, then. Can't question a source like that. They've got the best beat on the GOP out of anyone outside of Costa.

[KingSweden]

The NYT dives into the behind the scenes of the “Giuliani or Romney?” question for Secretary of State:

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/11/24/us/politics/donald-trump-mitt-romney-rudy-giuliani-state.html

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Followup on the General Kelly thing:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/nov/27/john-kelly-trump-cabinet-mention-a-border-security/

Looks like he's not just in the running for Secretary of State, but maybe also in the running for Secretary of Homeland Security?

Would be a million times better than Kobach.

[KingSweden]

Corker is certainly the easiest confirmation of the four - only far righties are complaining about him.

I could see Corker getting a unanimous vote, IMO

[KingSweden]

i think christie would be a "traditional" candidate without his baggage.

but in this case kushner is clearly a voice of reason.

Kushner seems like a rare voice of sanity in this mess

[KingSweden]

Vaughn Hillyard ‏@VaughnHillyard  1h1 hour ago Manhattan, NY
Pence upon leaving TT: "We’re very excited about the anncmnts today for [HHS] & another announcement before the dinner hour is forthcoming."

Laura Olson ‏@lauraolson  46m46 minutes ago
Per transition pool, Rep. Lou Barletta says he and Trump talked today about spot in administration as Secretary of Labor.

Scott Wong ‏@scottwongDC  47m47 minutes ago
.@RepMcCaul says he had "very substantive and productive conversation" w/Trump on homeland/national security issues, per pool report

If people like Chao, McCaul, Mattie and Romney are tapped for big roles I'd be... less concerned about this being anything other than a more incompetent Generic R

[KingSweden]

Interesting...what could Trump want with Preet Bharara

‏@maggieNYT  7m7 minutes ago
Bharara spokesman tells me he is meeting with Trump today. Reasons unclear.

Announced on CNBC Preet is staying on as US Attorney. The politicians of New York quiver in fear.

Interesting per interview noted that Sessions asked him to stay on too

[KingSweden]

John Kelly takes the lead in Predictit’s Secretary of Homeland Security market:

Kelly 29
Kobach 27
McCaul 15
Giuliani 14
Clarke 11

He'd certainly be better than Kris F***ing Kobach, though I think McCaul is the most qualified.

Still, Trump could do worse than appoint sober, respected men like Mattis and Kelly to key posts

[KingSweden]

Politics1.com ‏@Politics1com  2m2 minutes ago
Cong Andy Harris (R-MD), a physician, is being considered by PEOTUS Trump to lead the National Institutes of Health.

The current guy ag NIH is pretty widely liked by conservatives, interestingly enough

[KingSweden]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/donald-trump-administration/2016/12/john-kelly-department-of-homeland-security-trump-232210

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Whew. Much better than Kobach.

I see Pence's fingerprints over some of these picks...

[KingSweden]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/donald-trump-administration/2016/12/john-kelly-department-of-homeland-security-trump-232210

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Whew. Much better than Kobach.

I see Pence's fingerprints over some of these picks...

Much better only in that Kobach is literally the worst possible choice for any high office regarding Hispanics. Kelly is still an old-timey right-winger.

Well, McCaul would still be the best potential choice in a Trump admin, but Kobach may be the worst GOP politician in the United States. We gotta take what we can get.

[KingSweden]

McCaul would be the best choice. Too bad Kobach has any kind of role

[KingSweden]

Politics1.com ‏@Politics1com  23m23 minutes ago
PEOTUS Trump selected Gov Terry Branstad (R-IA) as US Ambassador to China. Longest-serving Gov in US history (21y); Chinese govt likes him.


Manu Raju ‏@mkraju  9m9 minutes ago Washington, DC
Trump says he will name his Secretary of State next week

Manu Raju ‏@mkraju  7m7 minutes ago Washington, DC
MITT still could be Secretary of State, Trump says

Branstad is a good pick IMO

[KingSweden]

Politics1.com ‏@Politics1com  9m9 minutes ago
Oklahoma Atty Gen Scott Pruitt (R) PEOTUS Trump’s "leading candidate" to head the EPA, per Politico. Pruitt is a longtime critic of the EPA.

Alex Isenstadt ‏@politicoalex  15m15 minutes ago
Oklahoma AG Scott Pruitt is expected to become next EPA head

He'd give up a chance to be Governor to... run the EPA? Seems like a major step down

[KingSweden]

https://twitter.com/jaketapper/status/806585325476790272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

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This one *could* be competitive if some loon like Matt Shea replaces her, but in all likelihood David Condon gets the nod (he used to work for Cathy)

Also, Trump could do way worse than Cathy for this post. She's not bad on hydro and wind issues

[KingSweden]

Puzder confirmed:

Ben PennVerified account
‏@benjaminpenn
BREAKING: Hardee's/Carl's Jr. CEO Andy Puzder will be named Trump's labor secretary nomination. Announcement coming shortly.

Lipnic must not have impressed, she seemed to be a shoe-in

[KingSweden]

Puzder confirmed:

Ben PennVerified account
‏@benjaminpenn
BREAKING: Hardee's/Carl's Jr. CEO Andy Puzder will be named Trump's labor secretary nomination. Announcement coming shortly.

Dude is one of the biggest proponents of past immigration reform (i.e. legalization & citizenship), lol

What a cuck!

On a more serious note, Trump should have picked a fast food CEO who runs a less sh**tty Fast Food company. I'd be onboard with Jack in the Box, for all your hangover needs

[KingSweden]

Just saw this on CNN and can't find the direct article, but the NYT is reporting that Trump plans to remain the owner The Trump Organization, but will put his sons in charge of the day to day operations while he serves out his presidency.

Also, Ivanka will be leaving The Trump Organization in order to serve a role in Trump's administration.

I'm guessing she's going to take on the role of first lady?

The business thing won't end well.

OTOH, we should want Ivanka in Trump's ear as much as possible