Who will be next out of Trump's kakistocracy?

[RavenSky]

Pompeo is a pro war Trump sycophant. Tillerson frequently disagreed with Trump. Trump lied when he said he liked conflict and different opinions in the WH. He only likes people that kiss his ass, so he wants an extreme partisan who will do his bidding. Does anyone else here share my concern that Trump and Pompeo are itching to start another war?

Yes.

I think Trump thinks it is the only way he will get re-elected. We need to remove him from office soon.

 

[RavenSky]

Goodness, can't even keep up with them all today! Did someone forget to make sure 45 understands he isn't still on his old show? If he thinks he's supposed to whittle them down to just one remaining contestant by the end of the season, his actions would make a certain amount of sense.

 

[Politesse]

Not easily kept up with is the large numbers of career government officials who have left. About half the State Department jobs are now unfilled for example. Large numbers of capable people are leaving government now, retiring early, or giving up and moving to non-governmental jobs. A serious brain drain. And there doesn't seem to be any real effort to recruit replacements. Not even with mindless tea party droolers.

Saw this happen to the schools during the early No Child Left Behind years. Hard to fix. Talent is not being cultivated to replace the kind of expertise being lost.

 

[Patooka]

Rex Tillerson is out, to be replaced by Mike Pompeo.

AND Tillerson's State Department Under Secretary, Steve Goldstein, too apparently.

Twitter rumour says Trump was pissed that Tillerson and his staff spoke out against Putin poisoning people in the UK

Let's all stop and consider the implications of this shall we. Donald Trump,a well known man-child and thin skinned narcissist, gets called a fucking moron. It becomes a media joke of the week with all of fake news laughing at him and nothing happens. Criticizing Russia for doing a little bit of chemical warfare and "motherfucka has to go"

At least this White House has great energy going into the North Korea talks. My desk is filing an apprehended violence order against my forehead.

 

[LordKiran]

Not easily kept up with is the large numbers of career government officials who have left. About half the State Department jobs are now unfilled for example. Large numbers of capable people are leaving government now, retiring early, or giving up and moving to non-governmental jobs. A serious brain drain. And there doesn't seem to be any real effort to recruit replacements. Not even with mindless tea party droolers.

Saw this happen to the schools during the early No Child Left Behind years. Hard to fix. Talent is not being cultivated to replace the kind of expertise being lost.

Almost like it's intentional. Fewer staff means less money spent paying them.

 

[ZiprHead]

Am I being paranoid that all these people leaving/fired are being replaced by true believers is cheeto consolidating power?

 

[Trausti]

Am I being paranoid that all these people leaving/fired are being replaced by true believers is cheeto consolidating power?

A president chooses the members of his own cabinet? That's never happened before. Never ever.

 

[Politesse]

Not easily kept up with is the large numbers of career government officials who have left. About half the State Department jobs are now unfilled for example. Large numbers of capable people are leaving government now, retiring early, or giving up and moving to non-governmental jobs. A serious brain drain. And there doesn't seem to be any real effort to recruit replacements. Not even with mindless tea party droolers.

Saw this happen to the schools during the early No Child Left Behind years. Hard to fix. Talent is not being cultivated to replace the kind of expertise being lost.

Almost like it's intentional. Fewer staff means less money spent paying them.

In ed., this was accomplished by shifting the workforce toward more temporary labor; should we expect a continued rise in questionably compensated government "internships" performing what seem like like critical national roles?

 

[Trausti]

White House Plans Tillerson Ouster From State Dept., to Be Replaced by Pompeo

 

[Trausti]

Nancy Pelosi has fatal Russia derangement syndrome.

 

[braces_for_impact]

But Trump is still complaining how terrible the Iran deal is, and they're up to be looked at shortly to again ensure compliance. Tillerson, not being an utter and complete idiot, (er, moron?) was resisting pulling the plug on the nuclear deal, since by all measures Iran is doing what they are supposed to.

But Pompeo the ass won't do that. He hates him some Muslims, Pompeo does, and between that and the way Trump likes to fellate Saudi Arabia as if he's part of the harem, would he be dumb enough to tear up the Iran nuclear deal right before his sit down with little rocket man? What am I saying, of course he's that stupid, especially with less actual adults around anymore to smack this fuck in the back of the head.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Nancy Pelosi has fatal Russia derangement syndrome.

Tillerson was unqualified for the job of SoS and his relationship to Russia regarding Exxon and Russian oil was indeed a reasonable concern. As things turned out, Tillerson rose to the position he accepted (unlike Pres. Ellipsis) and goodness was he vocally a team player, for one of the worst team owners ever. Tillerson's dismissal and how it was carried out is unprecedented.

- - - Updated - - -

Am I being paranoid that all these people leaving/fired are being replaced by true believers is cheeto consolidating power?

A president chooses the members of his own cabinet? That's never happened before. Never ever.

You would have loved 1930's Europe.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

But Trump is still complaining how terrible the Iran deal is, and they're up to be looked at shortly to again ensure compliance. Tillerson, not being an utter and complete idiot, (er, moron?) was resisting pulling the plug on the nuclear deal, since by all measures Iran is doing what they are supposed to.

But Pompeo the ass won't do that. He hates him some Muslims, Pompeo does, and between that and the way Trump likes to fellate Saudi Arabia as if he's part of the harem, would he be dumb enough to tear up the Iran nuclear deal right before his sit down with little rocket man? What am I saying, of course he's that stupid, especially with less actual adults around anymore to smack this fuck in the back of the head.

Trump was very clear about wanting to do this on the campaign trail, so this is what your country voted for.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Tillerson was unqualified for the job of SoS and his relationship to Russia regarding Exxon and Russian oil was indeed a reasonable concern. As things turned out, Tillerson rose to the position he accepted (unlike Pres. Ellipsis) and goodness was he vocally a team player, for one of the worst team owners ever. Tillerson's dismissal and how it was carried out is unprecedented.

Did he rise to it, though? It seems that the State Department was fairly dysfunctional and ineffective under his watch. He wasn't batshit crazy, so he was clearly head and shoulders above most of the rest of the cabinet, but it's not really a great loss.

That doesn't make the way he was let go any less of a travesty, though.

 

[braces_for_impact]

Tillerson was unqualified for the job of SoS and his relationship to Russia regarding Exxon and Russian oil was indeed a reasonable concern. As things turned out, Tillerson rose to the position he accepted (unlike Pres. Ellipsis) and goodness was he vocally a team player, for one of the worst team owners ever. Tillerson's dismissal and how it was carried out is unprecedented.

Did he rise to it, though? It seems that the State Department was fairly dysfunctional and ineffective under his watch. He wasn't batshit crazy, so he was clearly head and shoulders above most of the rest of the cabinet, but it's not really a great loss.

That doesn't make the way he was let go any less of a travesty, though.

No, he certainly didn't rise to the job. The State Department is a hollowed out shell of its former self. How much of that is his own doing, and how much of that is part of Trump's direction, I don't know. I considered Tillerson a poor choice of diplomat for a variety of reasons in the first place. His appointment only makes sense in light of Trump wanting to use Tillerson to soothe and help with his Russian goals. Ironically, and this is where I give credit where I think its due, Tillerson, despite his Russian friendship medal pinned to his chest, was not the easy Russian patsy everyone assumed he would be. There were times where he appeared to put his country before his party or administration.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Tillerson was unqualified for the job of SoS and his relationship to Russia regarding Exxon and Russian oil was indeed a reasonable concern. As things turned out, Tillerson rose to the position he accepted (unlike Pres. Ellipsis) and goodness was he vocally a team player, for one of the worst team owners ever. Tillerson's dismissal and how it was carried out is unprecedented.

Did he rise to it, though? It seems that the State Department was fairly dysfunctional and ineffective under his watch. He wasn't batshit crazy, so he was clearly head and shoulders above most of the rest of the cabinet, but it's not really a great loss.

That doesn't make the way he was let go any less of a travesty, though.

No, he certainly didn't rise to the job. The State Department is a hollowed out shell of its former self.

How much of that was Tillerson verses how much of it was Trump and Co? Tillerson was blocked from appointing lots of people because Trump and Co. wanted a tight leash.

I considered Tillerson a poor choice of diplomat for a variety of reasons in the first place. His appointment only makes sense in light of Trump wanting to use Tillerson to soothe and help with his Russian goals. Ironically, and this is where I give credit where I think its due, Tillerson, despite his Russian friendship medal pinned to his chest, was not the easy Russian patsy everyone assumed he would be. There were times where he appeared to put his country before his party or administration.

And in that, he seemed to step up... despite clearly a large amount of pressure to do otherwise. Tillerson wasn't a great SoS, but I think he did better than we thought he would... not that we thought he'd be all that good to start with.

I think the one thing that will stick to Tillerson, until the book comes out, is he didn't quit.

 

[braces_for_impact]

No, he certainly didn't rise to the job. The State Department is a hollowed out shell of its former self.

How much of that was Tillerson verses how much of it was Trump and Co? Tillerson was blocked from appointing lots of people because Trump and Co. wanted a tight leash.

I considered Tillerson a poor choice of diplomat for a variety of reasons in the first place. His appointment only makes sense in light of Trump wanting to use Tillerson to soothe and help with his Russian goals. Ironically, and this is where I give credit where I think its due, Tillerson, despite his Russian friendship medal pinned to his chest, was not the easy Russian patsy everyone assumed he would be. There were times where he appeared to put his country before his party or administration.

And in that, he seemed to step up... despite clearly a large amount of pressure to do otherwise. Tillerson wasn't a great SoS, but I think he did better than we thought he would... not that we thought he'd be all that good to start with.

I think the one thing that will stick to Tillerson, until the book comes out, is he didn't quit.

Seems fair.

 

[Keith&Co.]

I wonder if anyone's making a Trump Tarot deck?
Figure the Death Card would be a tweet thanking someone for their excellent service, and saying what a great guy he really is.

 

[Patooka]

I wonder if anyone's making a Trump Tarot deck?
Figure the Death Card would be a tweet thanking someone for their excellent service, and saying what a great guy he really is.

Ah, yes. The "They have my complete support" intonation of execution. I'm always reminded of The Games when I hear a politician mention the phrase or something similar:

NICOLE There’s talk that his position is under review.
Fran makes a call on her mobile phone.
ROBBO Look, I’ll make this clear enough, even for you, Nicole. Kevin Nowra has my complete support.
Back at the office.
BRYAN That’s it for Kevin then.
JOHN Yes. Say goodnight to the folks, Kevin.
MR WILSON He’ll be right. He’s got Robbo’s complete support.
JOHN Having Robbo’s full support is often the last sound people hear. They just hear they have Robbo’s full confidence and a nice man pops a bag over their head.
Back at the press conference…
FRAN (on mobile phone) Hold on, hold on a minute. (to Gina) What did he say?
GINA He said Kevin Nowra has his complete support.
FRAN (on mobile phone) Forget that. Call Nowra and get his carpark pass. He’s gone apparently

 

[bilby]

I wonder if anyone's making a Trump Tarot deck?
Figure the Death Card would be a tweet thanking someone for their excellent service, and saying what a great guy he really is.

Ah, yes. The "They have my complete support" intonation of execution. I'm always reminded of The Games when I hear a politician mention the phrase or something similar:

NICOLE There’s talk that his position is under review.
Fran makes a call on her mobile phone.
ROBBO Look, I’ll make this clear enough, even for you, Nicole. Kevin Nowra has my complete support.
Back at the office.
BRYAN That’s it for Kevin then.
JOHN Yes. Say goodnight to the folks, Kevin.
MR WILSON He’ll be right. He’s got Robbo’s complete support.
JOHN Having Robbo’s full support is often the last sound people hear. They just hear they have Robbo’s full confidence and a nice man pops a bag over their head.
Back at the press conference…
FRAN (on mobile phone) Hold on, hold on a minute. (to Gina) What did he say?
GINA He said Kevin Nowra has his complete support.
FRAN (on mobile phone) Forget that. Call Nowra and get his carpark pass. He’s gone apparently

Loved The Games. John Clarke was a comic genius, and is sadly missed.

I would have loved to see the Clarke, Dawe and Riley take on the current debacle on the Gold Coast. The government are asking everyone to avoid the Pacific Motorway, and use public transport instead - and have simultaneously closed the car parking at most of the train stations to non-Games traffic; removed half of the rail services from the Northside; and replaced trains with buses from most of the intermediate stations on the GC/Beenleigh line.

You couldn't make this shit up.