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

[diptheriadan]

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/01/us/politics/james-mattis-secrtary-of-defense-trump.html

[The Other Castro]

We definitely could have ended up with worse, though I'm still iffy on breaking the civilian rule. At least it seems he's talked Trump down on torture, he wants to keep the Iran deal, and is highly skeptical of Russia.

[Gass3268]

We definitely could have ended up with worse, though I'm still iffy on breaking the civilian rule. At least it seems he's talked Trump down on torture, he wants to keep the Iran deal, and is highly skeptical of Russia.

Plus has reasonable views on Israel.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Excited? Neh.  A good choice - yes.

[angus]

--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.

[Gass3268]

--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.

[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.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

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.

[KingSweden]

Normally I wouldn't be onboard, but considering how bad alternatives are and that FP is my biggest concern with Trump, I'd prefer a steady hand.

Now if there were just some way to putsch out Flynn

[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.

[Devout Centrist]

Solid choice, to be honest.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

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.

[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.

[Deblano]

Heck yes! I'm praying that he ends up getting confirmed in Congress.

It certainly beats someone like Tom Cotton running the show at the DoD.

[Maxwell]

Mad Dog opposes torture, which I like.

[Blue3]

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

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

[Gass3268]

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

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

For the reasons Ernest has described.

[Meclazine for Israel]

Love the "Mad Dog".

I can really relate to Trump saying during a military crisis:

"Release the Mad Dog"

[Vosem]

Some reservations but this is definitely a lot better than what I expected from Trump. Hope the waiver manages to go through.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

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

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

For the reasons Ernest has described.

Yeah, I wouldn't mind if Trump recalled him to active duty and made him Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but no recent general or admiral should be Secretary of Defense.

[President Johnson]

Excited? Neh.  A good choice - yes.

[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?

[Enduro]

I just hope that he doesn't have to do his job much.

[JJC]

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?

She's playing to her base to gain support for a 2020 run. Expect more base pandering from her in the future.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Not really, no.  He's really, really anti-Iran, he has this crazy idea they are in cahoots with ISIS. We need to be able to work with Iran where we can.