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

[Person Man]

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.

Looks like the chances of throwing out the ACA is about the chances that there will be a war or at least a substantial air raid on Iran, based on cabinent picks.

[World politics is up Schmitt creek]

Even if he weren't full Jack D. Ripper on Iran, I still wouldn't be excited because I fail to see what's so uniquely great about this guy to justify weakening civilian control of the military just for him.

[Deblano]

Mad Dog will make a fine Sec of Defense.

He is the only cabinet pick that I am legitimately pleased and excited about.

[KingSweden]

Mad Dog will make a fine Sec of Defense.

He is the only cabinet pick that I am legitimately pleased and excited about.

[SteveRogers]

He might be Trump's sanest pick. But I'd be a lot happier about him if someone, including Trump, would bother at least trying, even once, to explain why the rule should be thrown out for him. There doesn't seem to have even been an actual debate over the waiver in congress. They just attached it as a rider to an appropriations bill or some such nonsense.

Anyone willing to try?

[Antonio the Sixth]

...


...


...no.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

He might be Trump's sanest pick. But I'd be a lot happier about him if someone, including Trump, would bother at least trying, even once, to explain why the rule should be thrown out for him. There doesn't seem to have even been an actual debate over the waiver in congress. They just attached it as a rider to an appropriations bill or some such nonsense.

Anyone willing to try?

There was a debate about it in the Senate.  The argument was that Mattis was very well respected and the kind of person who would add much needed stability and thoughtfulness to the Trump administration.

[Lexii, harbinger of chaos and sexual anarchy]

no

there were a lot of worse choices for that position , but I'm far from excited

i don't care about the waiver

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

No; the fact that Congress gave him that wavier was a disgrace and any nominee who needed such a wavier is already unfit to be Secretary of Defense.  It is extremely important that this position only be held by a civilian or individual who retired from the military quite a while ago (although even the latter makes me uncomfortable).  Rules like this exist for a reason and making these "one-time" (translation: "we're setting the precedent for ignoring this rule") exceptions for short-term expediancy is really dangerous.  Plus, Mattis doesn't have some sort of special qualifications nor are there special circumstances that would make such a wavier necessary if one were to grant it.  It's pretty pathetic that the Democrats didn't manage to successfully filibuster the wavier.

[Beet]

No; the fact that Congress gave him that wavier was a disgrace and any nominee who needed such a wavier is already unfit to be Secretary of Defense.  It is extremely important that this position only be held by a civilian or individual who retired from the military quite a while ago (although even the latter makes me uncomfortable).  Rules like this exist for a reason and making these "one-time" (translation: "we're setting the precedent for ignoring this rule") exceptions for short-term expediancy is really dangerous.  Plus, Mattis doesn't have some sort of special qualifications nor are there special circumstances that would make such a wavier necessary if one were to grant it.  It's pretty pathetic that the Democrats didn't manage to successfully filibuster the wavier.

Precisely. This is a textbook case of, a good guy, who just shouldn't be in the role.

[Green Line]

So excited.  Trump's best pick, easily.

[VPH]

Mad Dog will make a fine Sec of Defense.

He is the only cabinet pick that I am legitimately pleased and excited about.