Let's start guessing Trump cabinet picks

Discussion in 'Political Discussions' started by Neuhaus, Nov 9, 2016.

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  1. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    First off, a brief intro...

    Don't particularly like Trump. Don't particularly care for Hillary. I liked Bernie Sanders as a person but I felt like he had no shot of ever getting elected and no shot of effectively governing even if he did manage it.

    All of that said, Trump is our new President and just as surely as I hated people insulting Obama with stupid nicknames I am done insulting Trump as well. I feel like it's fine to insult a candidate but once they take the office that will put their signatures on Bronze Star certificates it's time to show a little respect. Democrat, Republican, whatever.

    While I was mildly disappointed at first I quickly realized how amazing this administration could be just in terms of unpredictability. Most politicians come into the White House owing political appointments to tons of donors and political allies. Trump seems to owe very few. The GOP establishment basically crapped on him. I wouldn't expect to see McCain sitting 'round the ol' cabinet table.

    Without the political favors that means Trump can just start making the craziest appointments we've ever seen. So, let's throw out some possibilities:

    1. Chris Christie - Probably the only person who it can be said is owed a favor. Early Trump adopter. He won the candidate lottery. Christie is tainted by Bridgegate so I don't expect to see him as AG or anything super high level. But I think Trump also digs irony so my prediction: Secretary of Transportation. You heard it here first.

    2. Ivanka Trump - He mentioned it once before. Secretary of Education? Secretary of Commerce?

    3. Other Trump kids - Because why not? Eric and Donald Jr have been good boys. Maybe not both of them. Presumably someone has to sit back and run the family business (even if in name only). But I think we're going to see at least two Trump children in some cabinet level positions.

    4. Melania Trump - Please, please, please. You know he's going to appoint her to something. I'd put my money on UN Ambassador (because I feel like he's into House of Cards).

    5. Joe Arpaio - He's also an old grumpy man and he needs a new job after this last election. Former federal agent. So maybe not cabinet level but I'm sure Trump can find him a decent little agency to head (unless he goes balls to the wall and appoints him Secretary of Homeland Security).

    The funny thing is that I'm not kidding with this list. I think all of these are possibilities under a president who doesn't care about political form. This will turn out either amazing or tragic. I can't see it floating in the middle.

    Anyone else have some primo appointment picks?
     
  2. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Maybe Arpaio can be Secretary of Wall Building
     
  3. 03310151

    03310151 Active Member

    I know these are tongue in cheek but we do have a bar to family members getting cabinet positions thanks to 1967 anti-nepotism statute. The law bars any public official, including the president, from appointing a relative “to a civilian position in the agency in which he is serving or over which he exercises jurisdiction or control.”


    And the reason why I know about it is that people were asking Hillary what Bill would be doing as First Gentleman.
     
  4. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    That title, "First Gentleman," is too funny.
     
  5. 03310151

    03310151 Active Member



    I'm not actually sure if that is the correct nomenclature to be utilized, if Hillary had won.
     
  6. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I believe that states with women as governors use "First Gentleman". Personally, I've never been a fan of this "First" business because it's rather illiberal to give a title to the royal consort and the royal family. "The president's spouse" and "the president's family" strike me as less authoritarian. But that's me.
     
  7. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    It would not be gentlemanly.
     
  8. rebel100

    rebel100 New Member

    Newt: Sec State
    Giuliani: Homeland Security

    I'm anxious to see who the new FBI Director will be.
     
  9. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    Both of them are extremely:
    - knowledgeable and fluent in current trends (both foreign and domestic)
    - intelligent
    - loyal to the United States

    Comey was jammed between a rock and a hard place.
     
  10. rebel100

    rebel100 New Member

    Agreed on Comey, but there is little doubt he's done.
     
  11. rebel100

    rebel100 New Member

    Here is one to make a liberal cry....I've seen several references to Cruz nomination to the Supreme Court. What a crazy day it is!
     
  12. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    Would he want the position?
     
  13. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    Comey made a preemptive legal and tactical move by disclosing the re-opened investigation against Hillary 11 days prior to November 8th e.g. now Comey cannot be accused of a criminal cover-up.
     
  14. Tireman 44444

    Tireman 44444 Well-Known Member

    I vote for Steve Levicoff...Director of Transportation...:)
     
  15. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Comey's term doesn't expire for years. He's not going anywhere.
     
  16. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    We'll probably have to wait a few weeks to know, but Gingrich at State sounds plausible. Unfortunately, so does Giuliani or Christie at Justice and/or Homeland Security, in which case I may as well report to a FEMA camp now and beat the rush. People suggest Ben Carson at HHS or as Surgeon General, not as sure about that. Remembering previous administrations, this seems like the sort of thing where people usually guess wrong.
     
  17. heirophant

    heirophant Well-Known Member

    They were just discussing this at Fox Business.

    The speculation there was:

    Rudy Giuliani for Homeland Security or Secretary of State. (Rudy has apparently said that he doesn't want to be AG.)

    I agree with Steve Foerster that Newt might fit here too.

    Chris Christie or Ken Feinberg for A.G.

    Jeff Sessions for Defense

    There's a possibility that maybe Trump will tap one of the more prominent retired generals that's supported him for this one.

    Steve Bannon (chief executive of Trump's campaign) for Whitehouse Chief of Staff

    Again I agree with Steve F. that Ben Carson is likely to end up on the cabinet. HHS or Surgeon General sound appropriate.

    Of course all of these picks are just speculation
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 9, 2016
  18. rebel100

    rebel100 New Member

    Here is a fun one. Gov. Rick Scott of Florida. Relatively unpopular with many in Florida, he is none the less a two term Gov. who was vetted as a possible Trump VP pick earlier this year. His background is healthcare as an executive. If Trump sticks with his hire experienced business folks line Rick Smith would make an obvious choice. HHS maybe?
     
  19. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    Trump previously said his SCOTUS pick would come from a list of judges assembled by Heritage foundation. I believe he also has Gov. Sandoval on his short list.

    Thing is that Cruz is an ideologue. He's not a law scholar. He's a politician who happens to be a lawyer. That's a pick that would make me very nervous.

    If you look at Roberts and Kennedy these are people who are considered conservatives but sometimes come down on the "liberal side." We've also had Kagan and Sotomayor come out with somewhat "conservative" rulings. Heck, let's not forget, Scalia actually asked for Kagan.

    We want smart people who will rule according to the rule of law not people we show up with their minds made up no matter what argument you present. In that sense I feel like Garland would have been a solid pick. But I feel like Sandoval would be for the exact same reasons. If we start stacking the court with the likes of Ted Cruz then that's not a push toward conservatism. That would just be a push toward theocracy.
     
  20. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    I'm sure Chris Christie is not getting the AG job due to bridgegate. Giuliani has a much cleaner nose. Both were former US attorneys but Giuliani also has a solid reputation for doing that job exceptionally well.

    I'll be very surprised if Rick Scott doesn't get into the cabinet. He's kind of a jackass as a governor but he has a proper track record as a healthcare executive and would likely serve well in HHS.

    I'm guessing Ben Carson is Surgeon General. He was a top shelf surgeon. And the qualification for the job seems to be "Doctor that we like" as we've seen a variety of specialties, levels of expertise and demographics serve in that role.

    It would also probably be the most appropriate role for him given that he doesn't actually have public service experience but does have plenty of experience of leading clinical teams.
     

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