Trump Transition & Staffing

[neverfstop]

Trump Picks John Ratcliffe, His Former Intelligence Director, for C.I.A. Chief
Mr. Ratcliffe, who was also a Texas congressman, fought fiercely for Donald Trump during his first term.

www.nytimes.com/2024/11/12/us/politics/john-ratcliffe-cia-director-trump.html

[livinitup]

A new arm of the government - Department of Government Efficiency ("DOGE")
The Great Elon Musk, working in conjunction with American Patriot Vivek Ramaswamy.

So, completely outside of any oversight or checks and balances within the government. Unfettered access and authority by 2 people?

They are not even trying to not be scary.
Is this even legal?

[sequins]

I'm just sick to my stomach, guys. I'm nauseous.

[lostrn]

Nov 12, 2024 21:01:24 GMT -5 sequins said:

I'm just sick to my stomach, guys. I'm nauseous.

Ditto. I feel like crying again.

[abs]

WTAF. Like seriously.

Thanks a freaking lot 52% of America or whatever the final tally was.

[pixy0stix]

I'm just... going to crawl back into my comfy little hole and read some more books to escape reality. This enough for me right now.

[dontlook]

I just keep hoping they are too busy fighting each other to remember to ruin the country. Fingers crossed.

[mrspez07]

One silver lining is that he seems to be pulling plenty of reps and higher ups in state governments, maybe that leaves those positions or their force in congress weaker??

[sonrisa]

I don't think I can read "silver lining" again (not here, in general).

There wasn't one last time.

There won't be one this time.

If you want joy and optimism, look for it in other areas of your life.

[penguingineer]

Re: Huckabee

There was a Code Switch episode back in May about Evangelicals in Israel (specifically Mike Huckabee). I need to go back and listen again.

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/code-switch/id1112190608?i=1000657086074

[ellipses84]

Think of the worst most unqualified or evil person you can for each position and that’s who he will choose. My only hope is that most of them can’t stand it and they don’t last long or he fires them.

I hope the narcissistic personalities, especially for 🍊 and Elonia end in a massive blow up by the end of January… or lead to them never actually being in the same room together. These are transactional humans who are used to being the center of attention in their worlds. Both of them tend to have meltdowns, one sundowns, the other supposedly goes catatonic for hours. I don’t think Musk is used to *this* level of public scrutiny, being portrayed on SNL every single week and rumor is he’s sensitive and was really mad about last week’s skit. He banned Stephen King from X for calling him the First Lady, which is now only making the internet troll him more.

Scaramucci basically tells all on his social media. It was more amusing before the election 😭 If only the mainstream media had covered things like how f’ing terrifying cabinet would be. Puppy killers in charge of homeland security and Faux News hosts in charge of the military? Sounds great!

[mrsukyankee]

Nov 12, 2024 23:19:41 GMT -5 penguingineer said:

Re: Huckabee

There was a Code Switch episode back in May about Evangelicals in Israel (specifically Mike Huckabee). I need to go back and listen again.

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/code-switch/id1112190608?i=1000657086074

edition.cnn.com/2024/11/12/politics/video/mike-huckabee-trump-palestinian-israel-kfile-ebof-digvid

Video captures Trump's Israel ambassador pick saying in 2016, 'there's really no such thing as a Palestinian'

[neverfstop]

Nov 12, 2024 20:29:52 GMT -5 neverfstop said:

Trump picks Fox News host and Army veteran Pete Hegseth to serve as secretary of defense
www.cnn.com/2024/11/12/politics/pete-hegseth-secretary-of-defense/index.html

The choice, which stunned the Pentagon, channels Trump's affinity for cable news and high ratings. A Fox News spokesperson said Hegseth's "insights and analysis, especially about the military, resonated deeply" with viewers.



Hegseth has lobbied heavily on behalf of several service members accused of war crimes and privately encouraged then-President Trump to issue pardons.

One of them was retired Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher, who was acquitted of war crimes and had a minor charge cleared by Trump.

(AXIOS)

[erbear]

Loyalists in charge of the DOD and the military. Scary scary shit. I want to move

[candreco]

Nov 12, 2024 20:29:52 GMT -5 neverfstop said:

Trump picks Fox News host and Army veteran Pete Hegseth to serve as secretary of defense
www.cnn.com/2024/11/12/politics/pete-hegseth-secretary-of-defense/index.html

As a current DoD civilian employee, I am horrified by this. I was planning to move to a non-DoD agency over the summer for unrelated reasons, but it's a science-focused one so who the hell knows if it'll even exist then. If this chucklefuck is confirmed I want out though.

It's really too much to hope that Rs in the Senate will grow a conscience and a backbone in the next two months and not confirm this basket of deplorables, isn't it.

[dcn]

Nov 13, 2024 8:54:11 GMT -5 candreco said:

Nov 12, 2024 20:29:52 GMT -5 neverfstop said:

Trump picks Fox News host and Army veteran Pete Hegseth to serve as secretary of defense
www.cnn.com/2024/11/12/politics/pete-hegseth-secretary-of-defense/index.html

As a current DoD civilian employee, I am horrified by this. I was planning to move to a non-DoD agency over the summer for unrelated reasons, but it's a science-focused one so who the hell knows if it'll even exist then. If this chucklefuck is confirmed I want out though.

It's really too much to hope that Rs in the Senate will grow a conscience and a backbone in the next two months and not confirm this basket of deplorables, isn't it.

My H is in the Army and I feel like we are in an alternate reality. This, plus his panel of retired generals who will fire unfaithful Generals? H hits 20 years in January and we really need to seriously discuss him retiring asap. WTF is even happening.

[neverfstop]

Well, that's a small win...I guess???

Republican senators elect Thune to lead them into the Trump era

www.semafor.com/article/11/13/2024/republican-senators-elect-thune-to-lead-them-into-the-trump-era

John Thune will succeed Mitch McConnell as Senate Republican leader after prevailing in a Wednesday morning election that will put the South Dakotan in a leading role steering Donald Trump’s agenda through Congress.

The Senate GOP voted to promote Thune, McConnell’s current No. 2, over Sen. John Cornyn, a former No. 2 leader, and Sen. Rick Scott, the favorite of many Trump allies. Trump did not weigh in on the race, even as many in his network cast Thune as an unwelcome continuation of the McConnell era.

But Thune capitalized on his close relationships with most Republican members. And he pitched himself as a break from McConnell, who is stepping down as GOP leader at the end of the year.

[sonrisa]

Kennedy is already slamming Trump. I wonder how long before Trump punts him:

“The stuff that he eats is really, like, bad,” Mr. Kennedy said, recounting the offerings on Mr. Trump’s plane. “Campaign food is always bad, but the food that goes onto that airplane is, like, just poison. You have a choice between — you don’t have the choice, you’re either given KFC or Big Macs. That’s, like, when you’re lucky, and then the rest of the stuff I consider kind of inedible.”

www.nytimes.com/2024/11/13/us/politics/rfk-jr-trumps-fast-food.html

[icedcoffee]

Nov 13, 2024 13:51:00 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Kennedy is already slamming Trump. I wonder how long before Trump punts him:

“The stuff that he eats is really, like, bad,” Mr. Kennedy said, recounting the offerings on Mr. Trump’s plane. “Campaign food is always bad, but the food that goes onto that airplane is, like, just poison. You have a choice between — you don’t have the choice, you’re either given KFC or Big Macs. That’s, like, when you’re lucky, and then the rest of the stuff I consider kind of inedible.”

www.nytimes.com/2024/11/13/us/politics/rfk-jr-trumps-fast-food.html

Oh shit!  Talking smack about Big Macs is probably grounds for termination for Trump.  

[ellipses84]

Nov 13, 2024 12:37:44 GMT -5 neverfstop said:

Well, that's a small win...I guess???

Republican senators elect Thune to lead them into the Trump era

www.semafor.com/article/11/13/2024/republican-senators-elect-thune-to-lead-them-into-the-trump-era

John Thune will succeed Mitch McConnell as Senate Republican leader after prevailing in a Wednesday morning election that will put the South Dakotan in a leading role steering Donald Trump’s agenda through Congress.

The Senate GOP voted to promote Thune, McConnell’s current No. 2, over Sen. John Cornyn, a former No. 2 leader, and Sen. Rick Scott, the favorite of many Trump allies. Trump did not weigh in on the race, even as many in his network cast Thune as an unwelcome continuation of the McConnell era.

But Thune capitalized on his close relationships with most Republican members. And he pitched himself as a break from McConnell, who is stepping down as GOP leader at the end of the year.

This is a tiny bit of good news among a lot of really bad news. Rick Scott didn’t make it past the first round of voting. That tells me Rs are scared of King 🍊 having full control and don’t want to 🧨 the entire Gov’t and constitution. It’s kind of frustrating though because I feel like Rs and Ds in DC always act like it’s business as usual with political games. Do they realize half of America is freaked the fuck out that they are letting Democracy slip through their fingers?!!! Elizabeth Warren is tweeting 🍊 did something illegal again, I know because I wrote the law…well who the fuck is going to do anything about it?!!!

[killercupcake]

I'm just waiting for the bad breakup between Musty and Dumpy. They cannot coexist for long. Hopefully that leads to all of their minions eating one another alive.

[noodleoo]

Nov 13, 2024 13:51:00 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Kennedy is already slamming Trump. I wonder how long before Trump punts him:

“The stuff that he eats is really, like, bad,” Mr. Kennedy said, recounting the offerings on Mr. Trump’s plane. “Campaign food is always bad, but the food that goes onto that airplane is, like, just poison. You have a choice between — you don’t have the choice, you’re either given KFC or Big Macs. That’s, like, when you’re lucky, and then the rest of the stuff I consider kind of inedible.”

www.nytimes.com/2024/11/13/us/politics/rfk-jr-trumps-fast-food.html

I LOLed at this.  I've reached the point where if I don't laugh, I'll have a mental breakdown, so the idea of them eating each other alive and it all imploding is almost funny*.

*Almost because I know we will all be collateral damage.

Someone mentioned SNL so I watched the cold open and weekend update on youtube and I needed that.  I feel like Michael Che, just shaking his head in disbelief and while drinking a stiff drink.

[fernweh]

Nov 13, 2024 12:37:44 GMT -5 neverfstop said:

Well, that's a small win...I guess???

Republican senators elect Thune to lead them into the Trump era

www.semafor.com/article/11/13/2024/republican-senators-elect-thune-to-lead-them-into-the-trump-era

John Thune will succeed Mitch McConnell as Senate Republican leader after prevailing in a Wednesday morning election that will put the South Dakotan in a leading role steering Donald Trump’s agenda through Congress.

The Senate GOP voted to promote Thune, McConnell’s current No. 2, over Sen. John Cornyn, a former No. 2 leader, and Sen. Rick Scott, the favorite of many Trump allies. Trump did not weigh in on the race, even as many in his network cast Thune as an unwelcome continuation of the McConnell era.

But Thune capitalized on his close relationships with most Republican members. And he pitched himself as a break from McConnell, who is stepping down as GOP leader at the end of the year.

I was going to ask for people’s thoughts on this. I am not familiar with him but the article I read said he has spoken out asked Trump and didn’t support him in the last primary.

Hopefully he is reasonable enough to help block some of Trump’s extreme appointments and plans.

[kershnic]

The sentence “Trump did not weigh in on the race,” makes me think he doesn’t plan to pay Congress any heed. Why care who leads the Senate if you’re not going to follow the rules? He doesn’t care because he plans to be a dictator.

[erbear]

Nov 13, 2024 14:35:52 GMT -5 kershnic said:

The sentence “Trump did not weigh in on the race,” makes me think he doesn’t plan to pay Congress any heed. Why care who leads the Senate if you’re not going to follow the rules? He doesn’t care because he plans to be a dictator.

I thought he did weigh in on this? I swear I heard that he was backing Scott. Maybe that was just the minions though?

I'm here for the Trump / Musk breakup. Two giant egos wanting total control is a recipe for an explosion.

[glw]

Nov 12, 2024 21:57:49 GMT -5 dontlook said:

I just keep hoping they are too busy fighting each other to remember to ruin the country. Fingers crossed.

This is my hope, too. We know that Trump is the least loyal person (while simultaneously demanding total loyalty), and will immediately start bashing anyone who he interprets as disagreeing with him or who isn't doing something he wants in the timeframe he wants. I feel like the whole GOP will eventually implode and split because of infighting due to Trump firing and alienating his way through another 4 years of chaos.

ETA: the inevitable Trump/Musk breakup is going to be UGLY and I am here for it

[Bernadine]

Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence.

JFC.

[cous0226]

Even worse. Matt Gaetz as attorney general

wtf

[neverfstop]

HOLY FUCK



Trump taps Rep. Matt Gaetz as attorney general
www.cnbc.com/2024/11/13/trump-taps-rep-matt-gaetz-as-attorney-general.html

[neverfstop]

Too bad Dems didn't get further on this....

House investigators scrutinize Rep. Matt Gaetz's defunct federal criminal sex trafficking probe
www.cbsnews.com/news/matt-gaetz-house-ethics-probe-sex-trafficking/