My new theory on swamp cabinet: 25th Amendment protection

[sonrisa]

We all see that Trump has nominated a ridiculous clown car cabinet, full of people who would never, ever, ever get those positions if anyone else were President. Maybe Elaine Chao. Maybe Nikki Haley. But most of them would be out on their ass if anything happened to Trump.

Which is Trump's insurance against Pence and the legislature ousting Trump based upon his fuckwit idiocy (or, in other words he is "unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office"). They would need the cooperation of "a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department..." and that majority are not party loyalists. They are incompetent or have conflicts of interfere and would be bounced by Pence.

Thoughts? (Kidding. But not completely).

(Section Four of the 25th Amendment:

"Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.)

[rupertpenny]

Anything is possible but I doubt that anyone on his team, much less 45 himself, has read the Constitutuion that closely.

[sonrisa]

Yes. You are being reasonable while I'm two glasses of wine into conspiracy bullshitting.

But he looooooves the internet. And he loves videos. Olbermann spelled it out pretty simply back before Thanksgiving. I don't think they paid attention. But, but, but... if someone did, it would be an incentive to avoid anyone with respect from, and ties to, the Republican establishment.

So this is my silly theory for the evening :-)

[thecatinthehat]

I agree with PP, too much thinking for a team that can barely survive the first week of office.

But I would say it's not impossible just unlikely based on the incompetence of orange face and his own advisers (who could possibly be the one to concoct such a plan).

[hopecounts]

I think it's a convenient side product of his wanting people who agree with him or owe him around him.
I think Trump doesn't like hearing No and put people in place that he thinks are likely to just be Yes Men

[eddy]

I think he filled it with yes men/women for the most part. People who were loyal to him and he thinks will continue to be loyal to him.

[eddy]

Also by filling positions with very unqualified people he doesn't get outsmarted by any of them. Many of them are in over their heads and that is exactly what he wants. No shining star.

[eclaires]

Jan 26, 2017 7:38:33 GMT -5 eddy said:

Also by filling positions with very unqualified people he doesn't get outsmarted by any of them. Many of them are in over their heads and that is exactly what he wants. No shining star.

I think this is what he wants more than anything. He threw a few known names and standard picks in there but no one that exciting. Nikki Haley is probably the most obvious rising star he tapped but it also opened up SC politics/governor for someone who supported him early on, I think. Plus apparently Rs hate the UN (which I think is so weird) so it does kind of stymie her.

Especially with rumors of his shadow cabinet of spies - he doesn't want these people to succeed really. I mean some he doesn't give a fuck about and others I think he has taken advice from people that serve his personal interest in raping the earth (EPA, DOE) or gutting/controlling certain agencies (HHS). SOS because oil and Russia. Sessions for AG because he's been in his ear all along.

But this isn't about his agenda really. It will always be about his ego at the end of the day.

[bowies]

Well if that WH leaker is to be believed, a lot of his Cabinet is already avoiding him. I think they know enough to start getting in with Pence. You can probably go look through the swearing in ceremonies to see who is trying to distance themselves.

But let's be clear. A lot of these picks Pence would keep because his policy is just as nuts. DeVos would probably be at the top of the list for example.

[pitta12]

Yeah, the reality is he wants these people to have to come to him for everything because narcissism, so the incompetence is not surprising. He ran his companies the same way. Hell, look at his shitty corporate lawyers.

[eclaires]

Jan 26, 2017 8:02:31 GMT -5 bowies said:

Well if that WH leaker is to be believed, a lot of his Cabinet is already avoiding him. I think they know enough to start getting in with Pence. You can probably go look through the swearing in ceremonies to see who is trying to distance themselves.

But let's be clear. A lot of these picks Pence would keep because his policy is just as nuts. DeVos would probably be at the top of the list for example.

I still don't understand DeVos. If you are a true believer in vouchers and school choice and charters why wouldn't you pick someone with GOOD experience and qualifications to implement and sell it. Not some grizzly bear caricature.

[smock]

Trump has always surrounded himself with sycophants. And he made it clear during his campaign that he is a vindictive little shit, so of course he's going to "punish" people like Mitt Romney by rejecting him.

HOWEVER, I absolutely think Conway or Bannon is smart enough to deploy this strategy to keep Trump in power. They'd (probably) be out under a Pence administration, so I'm sure they're whispering into Trump's ear about Carson and DeVos (etc. etc.) being amazing picks.

[bowies]

Jan 26, 2017 8:33:02 GMT -5 eclaires said:

Jan 26, 2017 8:02:31 GMT -5 bowies said:

Well if that WH leaker is to be believed, a lot of his Cabinet is already avoiding him. I think they know enough to start getting in with Pence. You can probably go look through the swearing in ceremonies to see who is trying to distance themselves.

But let's be clear. A lot of these picks Pence would keep because his policy is just as nuts. DeVos would probably be at the top of the list for example.

I still don't understand DeVos. If you are a true believer in vouchers and school choice and charters why wouldn't you pick someone with GOOD experience and qualifications to implement and sell it. Not some grizzly bear caricature.

Because she has been the top donor to multiple campaigns, especially in the absence of the Koch brothers this year. She bought the position. Pence likes money so he'll keep her.

[eclaires]

Jan 26, 2017 8:38:48 GMT -5 smock said:

Trump has always surrounded himself with sycophants. And he made it clear during his campaign that he is a vindictive little shit, so of course he's going to "punish" people like Mitt Romney by rejecting him.

HOWEVER, I absolutely think Conway or Bannon is smart enough to deploy this strategy to keep Trump in power. They'd (probably) be out under a Pence administration, so I'm sure they're whispering into Trump's ear about Carson and DeVos (etc. etc.) being amazing picks.

Conway is Pence's long term pollster I believe.

Jan 26, 2017 8:39:36 GMT -5 bowies said:

Jan 26, 2017 8:33:02 GMT -5 eclaires said:

I still don't understand DeVos. If you are a true believer in vouchers and school choice and charters why wouldn't you pick someone with GOOD experience and qualifications to implement and sell it. Not some grizzly bear caricature.

Because she has been the top donor to multiple campaigns, especially in the absence of the Koch brothers this year. She bought the position. Pence likes money so he'll keep her.

I get that but wouldn't you also want it to work and be successful? It just seems like you could do so much better agenda wise. But money is nice...maybe they have someone they plan to put under her who will actually do the work. It just seems needlessly obvious and corrupt.

[smock]

That's right, I forgot Conway worked for Pence before the campaign. Still, she has a lot more power under a President Trump than a President Pence.

[bowies]

Jan 26, 2017 8:45:13 GMT -5 @eclaires said:

I get that but wouldn't you also want it to work and be successful? It just seems like you could do so much better agenda wise. But money is nice...maybe they have someone they plan to put under her who will actually do the work. It just seems needlessly obvious and corrupt.

LOL, have you met the GOP lately? Tillerson was recommended to the Trump transition team by Condoleezza Rice.

[aurora]

I'd be surprised if Tiny Hands himself thought about the 25th amendment, but there's no doubt in my mind that he wants to be surrounded by loyalists who will help shield him and feed his narcissism. So, it kind of amounts to the same thing.

[eclaires]

The weird thing about some of his picks is I think despite his focus on loyalty and feeding his narcissism, he has picked a lot of people who have no incentive to not throw him under the bus. Like they can walk away from these positions and still be filthy stinking rich.

[biscoffcookies]

This has been my theory for awhile. I don't necessarily think Cheeto was taking it into account, but I absolutely do think that people like Bannon and Kushner (who knew they would have tons of power and influence under Trump but possibly less so if any with Pence) did when guiding/influencing Trump on who to pick.

[ESF]

Jan 26, 2017 12:34:55 GMT -5 biscoffcookies said:

This has been my theory for awhile. I don't necessarily think Cheeto was taking it into account, but I absolutely do think that people like Bannon and Kushner (who knew they would have tons of power and influence under Trump but possibly less so if any with Pence) did when guiding/influencing Trump on who to pick.

Agreed.

We need to stop underestimating the Trump team. These people are insane, but they have defied our expectations over and over and over again.

I absolutely believe there's a critical mass of people on Team Trump smart enough to think about the 25th amendment and strategize over how to protect him. His kids are evil but plenty intelligent, and they will do what the can to protect their power and wealth.

Now I don't think they chose the cabinet with the 25th amendment as their number 1 priority, but I can buy that it was a backdrop.

[hopecounts]

Oh I believe his handlers are aware of this and encouraged his choices and/or suggested certain people for this reason.
I just don't think Trump himself thought of it from that perspective.