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Trump's proposed cabinet

Discussion in 'Alley of Lingering Sighs' started by dmc, Dec 15, 2016.

  1. dmc

    dmc Speak softly and carry a big briefcase Staff Member Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!)

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    So I am a little confused by the "drain the swamp" rhetoric that has led to a proposed cabinet and other advisors consisting of a number of ex Goldman Sachs guys and Rick Perry of all things. I am also a little troubled by the fact that a number of his proposals have been literally adverse (either in litigation or otherwise) to the very departments they are supposed to run.

    I guess we'll see what the Senate has to say, but this is not at all in line with what I was expecting of his populist message.

    @The Great Snook - as the resident Republican, I assume you have little issue with the cabinet nominees, but aren't they basically what Pence would have done (more or less) if he were the President elect and Trump the VP elect?

    Seems a bit odd to me, but it does promise for good confirmation hearing theater!!
     
    dmc, Dec 15, 2016
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  2. Blackthorne TA

    Blackthorne TA Master in his Own Mind Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    Isn't that what you would expect? If you're out to "drain the swamp" why would you hire people who felt the departments were performing flawlessly?
     
    Blackthorne TA, Dec 15, 2016
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  3. Sorvo

    Sorvo Where's the nearest pub? Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Veteran

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    Donald Trump VP? It wouldn't have worked
     
    Sorvo, Dec 15, 2016
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  4. Arkite

    Arkite Crash or crash through Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    What a surprise, drain the swamp and Goldman Sachs are at the bottom.
     
    Arkite, Dec 15, 2016
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  5. dmc

    dmc Speak softly and carry a big briefcase Staff Member Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!)

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    To me, draining the swamp does not equate to putting Goldman Sachs guys in charge. It does not equate to putting an avowed foe of public education in charge of the department of education. It does not equate to, essentially, causing the major government departments to abandon the principals for which they were created. But hey, maybe that's just me.
     
    dmc, Dec 15, 2016
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  6. Blackthorne TA

    Blackthorne TA Master in his Own Mind Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    That depends completely on what you believe the principles are and what the problem(s) the proposed head has with the department.
     
    Blackthorne TA, Dec 15, 2016
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  7. The Great Snook Gems: 31/31
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    Sorry I'm late to the party. I haven't been following the appointments too closely as for the most part I'm not convinced they actually matter. However, we can't just assume that "Goldman Sachs" means that someone is not capable. With the exception of some of the political appointments (I'm looking at you Rick Perry), most of the people he has been selecting are very smart and very successful. I am hoping this translates in to being effective at getting things done. Even if the getting things done means overhauling what has been done for years (See the education appointment).

    As an aside, I have been loving the meltdowns that the moonbats have been having.
     
    The Great Snook, Dec 16, 2016
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  8. Arkite

    Arkite Crash or crash through Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    I thought Donald's entire campaign was based on getting lobbyists, special interests, and the 'elites' out of Washington? Remember he even went after Ted Cruz's wife in the primaries specifically because she'd worked for Goldman Sachs, and railed on Hillary daily for her speeches to Goldman Sachs.
     
    Arkite, Dec 16, 2016
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  9. pplr Gems: 18/31
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    I've heard Trumps cabinet referred as "a fox in every henhouse".

    Lets not leave out an AG who was suing the EPA to make it not do its job being put in charge of the EPA..
     
    Last edited: Dec 16, 2016
    pplr, Dec 16, 2016
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    pplr, Dec 19, 2016
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  11. damedog Gems: 15/31
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    Steve Bannon is my favorite pick so far and really the only non-establishment one.
     
    damedog, Dec 19, 2016
    #11
  12. Blackthorne TA

    Blackthorne TA Master in his Own Mind Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    Blackthorne TA, Dec 21, 2016
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  13. pplr Gems: 18/31
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    I'd like to see a video of the Congressional testimony or a transcript that is part of this but I underwhelmed by the criticism in how they tried to frame things.

    To be clear, I feel a scientist should not be fired for testifying honestly to congress and I certainly have a problem with people trying to shut up government scientists and workers for giving honest data that undercuts a political agenda.

    For Example,:

    http://www.newsweek.com/wisconsin-bans-state-workers-discussing-climate-change-and-trend-born-321008

    That said. Is the criticism of the DOE at face value both an attempt to micromanage and push an agenda of various Congressmen?

    1. The DoE management felt the program at the center of this belonged at the National Institute of Health. It was biomedical research-research about the health impacts of exposure to low level radiation (something DoE does work with) but biomedical none the less.

    2. And was reading through the report and struck by the number of times the people writing it inserted "Climate" as if implying the researcher was being shut up for saying something about Global Warming when she wasn't studying that all at.

    As irony would have it, this particular congressperson is both Global Warming Denier..

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/30/lamar-smith-climate-change_n_7183314.html
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/07/lamar-smith-climate-change-denial_n_6123638.html

    .. and one who has been criticized for what was seen as an attempt to abuse his authority in an attempt to silence researchers.

    http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astr...r_smith_continues_his_attacks_on_science.html

    So is this actually an attempt to protect scientists ability to report their findings honesty when they do research or the beginning of an attempt to cut back on research this congressman doesn't like (perhaps because research into the broader issue tends to disprove his claims).

    Now I, personally, am supportive of research on Global Warming, Cleaner Energy, and the health impacts of low doses of radiation. And I don't care if DoE or a different government institutions do it so long as it is done.

    Is the same true for this congressman? If yes I'd like him to give full funding to each.
     
    pplr, Dec 25, 2016
    #13
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