As we get to know Trump’s personnel choices, I’m enthused that Biden’s tendency to pick One Of Those is replaced by picking people who understand problems and do not accept that the existing bureaucracy is the solution.
However, the very-high-profile Department Of Government Efficiency is a big-name Grace Commission with no actual power to terminate positions or programs. Vivek Ramaswamy could do actual work elsewhere in the Administration (or appointed to the US Senate to represent Ohio in place of J.D. Vance), and Elon Musk is a free agent, not a team player, and is liable to act out if Trump sees fit to split the difference regarding one of Musk’s recommendations. (Their predecessor was David Stockman, whom Reagan ultimately “took to the woodshed.”) In addition, I don’t think Musk really wants to neglect his many other businesses.
Thanks to Spike for the Op-Ed. Send yours to steve@granitegrok.com
I am disappointed with RFK Jr. at Health and Human Services. The theme of Trump 47 is to get government out of the way, and RFK’s “Make America Healthy Again” is a step in the opposite direction. Smokers, drinkers, and fatties obviously value other things higher than perfect fitness and maximum longevity, and we don’t have to decide personal values as a nation. If RFK attacks the cozy relationship between HHS and Big Pharma and food processors, that’s fine; if he tries to tell us how to live, it isn’t. If he flogs a book-selling conspiracy such as that vaccines cause autism, it’s an ill-advised distraction. He is a Presidential candidate looking for a platform, as John Bolton was.
Naming attack-dog Matt Gaetz for Attorney General throws down the gauntlet to the left as a sign that Trump intends to give the Department of Justice a well-deserved enema. The Democrats paralyzed Trump 45 by claiming it was obstruction of justice for Trump to give the DoJ any direction at all, resulting in two lapdogs as his Attorneys General and a law-enforcement apparatus that openly sabotaged his Presidency. Many say Gaetz’s function is to be the token nominee not confirmed by the Senate and thereby minimize or divert opposition to the other nominees. But he has resigned his House seat, which he didn’t have to do and wouldn’t have done if he were merely a gambit. Gaetz is reportedly unfit for service because he has been accused of stuff, as he was reportedly unfit to be a Congressman, as Trump was unfit to be re-elected and we were unfit to re-elect him; about which, “If you are taking flak, it means you are over the target,” meaning the Left is throwing stuff at Gaetz because he is a serious threat to them.
Marco Rubio for Secretary of State is the only pick that seems more designed to bring along the sabotage wing of the GOP than carry out Trump’s policy. Rubio is shifty and another Presidential candidate looking for a soapbox. By comparison, Trump explicitly ruled out Haley and Pompeo. Finally, I am delighted to see Karoline Leavitt named press spokeswoman. New Hampshire will be represented by a lady who’s smart, tough, beautiful, and totally authentic. She served well doing essentially the same job during the campaign, and the selection shows that “loyalty works both ways,” as Red Auerbach wrote. It is also another giant Bleep Sandwich fed to Mark Cuban for claiming Trump has a problem with strong, intelligent women. I have one of Karoline’s Congress yard signs intact and it’s out front again this week to celebrate.
