NSC is on 3d Trump transition "landing team" in 2 mos. Key jobs unfilled less than a week from start. One insider: Worst transition ever.
— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) January 14, 2017
@dandrezner That's interesting, because the word that keeps coming up in the similar conversations I've had is "clusterfuck."
— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) January 14, 2017
1. Last week strong indicator of how Trump Natsec Team may function: Crazy NSC, feckless State, independent DOD, Leaky Intel Community
— Ilan Goldenberg (@ilangoldenberg) January 15, 2017
It’s not like I trust these particular individuals, but it would be nice if there was someone in the President-Asterisk’s office who knew that electrical outlets were not made for having forks stuck in them. And from what I know of corporate practices (in or out of government), we have to assume that if the top offices are being filled with newbies and know-nothings, then the bureaucratic middle ranks are now divided between nervous people busy shopping around their resumes, and time-servers/incompetents/fellow true believers…
From the company paper in the town whose monopoly industry is national politics, the Washington Post, “‘Never Trump’ national-security Republicans fear they have been blacklisted“:
They are some of the biggest names in the Republican national security firmament, veterans of past GOP administrations who say, if called upon by President-elect Donald Trump, they stand ready to serve their country again.
But their phones aren’t ringing. Their entreaties to Trump Tower in New York have mostly gone unanswered. In Trump world, these establishment all-stars say they are “PNG” — personae non gratae.
Their transgression was signing one or both of two public “Never Trump” letters during the campaign, declaring they would not vote for Trump and calling his candidacy a danger to the nation…
The president-elect has virtually no experience in national security and foreign policy, and his transition team could presumably benefit from the broadest pool of applicants for the influential appointive positions in the State Department, Pentagon and Department of Homeland Security.
But the purportedly blacklisted figures report to their jobs at Washington law firms and think tanks in a state of indefinite limbo as their colleagues, some working in the same offices, are flirting with potential administration jobs.
Last week, the Trump transition held a private briefing for secretary-of-state nominee Rex Tillerson to prepare him for his Senate confirmation hearing. One former Bush national security official who works at a Washington think tank said that some of his younger staff assistants were invited to participate but that he was not. He assumes it was because he signed the letter.
“It’s hostile,” said this person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of further retribution. “It’s not just that we’re frozen out. . . . I was told they said there was an enemies list.”
Among those who signed at least one of the letters are Tom Ridge and Michael Chertoff, the first two secretaries of the Department of Homeland Security; two former U.S. trade ambassadors, Carla Hills and Robert Zoellick; two former heads of U.S. intelligence agencies, John Negroponte and retired Air Force Gen. Michael V. Hayden; a former ambassador to NATO; and several former deputy secretaries of various U.S. government agencies.
Not everyone who signed the letters wants a job, and some remain vocal critics of Trump. But many stand ready to serve or offer guidance if asked.The letters were explicit in their denunciations of Trump’s professed support for torture of terrorism suspects, his pledge to build a wall along the border with Mexico, his anti-Muslim rhetoric and his admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin…
Russian parliament doesn't see why Russia should have to give up anything to get sanctions lifted. Leverage – gone. https://t.co/kjzVc53poh
— Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) January 17, 2017
@juliaioffe If the US lifts sanctions, it would be unilateral.Trump isn't even president but has already destroyed US's bargaining position.
— Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) January 17, 2017
In British press, Trump:
1. Praises BREXIT
2. Slams NATO
3. Attacks Merkel of GermanyALL are Putin talking points.https://t.co/cno0SxL2V4
— ?? (@leahmcelrath) January 15, 2017
#BREAKING Europe's fate 'in our own hands', says Merkel after Trump criticism
— AFP news agency (@AFP) January 16, 2017
The Kremlin agrees with Trump agreeing with the Kremlin that NATO is obsolete. And so the snake eats its own tail.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) January 16, 2017
Kremlin TV rejoicing over Trump's ostensible antagonism to Germany, the last pillar of the European order. https://t.co/r6UrTWCfvN
— Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) January 17, 2017
In the meantime, notice that Putin hasn't made a peep. The only thing we've heard from the Kremlin is through his spokesman.
— Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) January 17, 2017
Adam L Silverman
The have been blacklisted. That is all I will say on this topic.
Sebastian
@Adam L Silverman:
But what does that mean?
This is an open coup. We’ve been taken over by the Russians.
Adam L Silverman
@Sebastian: No, it is not a coup. Every Administration decides who it will and will not consider for the 4,000 political appointment positions.
What it does mean is the NeverTrumpers among the GOP/Conservative foreign, defense, and security policy community are locked out of positions with the incoming Administration. No words on Democratic/Liberal equivalents being locked out. And no idea how long this will last. If the NeverTrumper GOP/Conservative folks are locked out, and Democratic/Center Left and Left of Center equivalents won’t be considered, I’m not really sure who they’re going to get to fill these positions. Because once you eliminate those two groups there’s not a whole lot of folks left.
Major Major Major Major
Well, at least Europe is moving quickly to handle their shit.
I mean, Merkel is no idiot. Germany’s the next main target on Russia’s hit list, of course.
Yarrow
@Adam L Silverman:
Russians? KKK? Breitbart staffers? At this point anything seems semi-plausible.
Anne Laurie
@Adam L Silverman: Thanks for this.
Normally I’d find the situation morbidly entertaining, as befits a devout Cynic, but I grew up being terrified about nuclear apocalypse. I tell myself I can live with the end of the American experiment — I’m old, not in great health, have no kids to worry about picking up the pieces — but I’d rather not take the whole fekkin’ planet along with us.
Yarrow
I realize this doesn’t mean much, but it cheered me a little bit:
Adam L Silverman
@Major Major Major Major: Holland, then France, then Germany. It appears that the Dutch will be able to lock Wilders out of a coalition. France usually does the same thing to keep LePen out. And Merkel is Merkel. I’m wondering whether the President-elect’s pronouncement may actually swing things against these movements in the upcoming elections. Everyone in the EU has seen the results of Brexit, and other than the people running Britain who are just delusional about what they think they’ll be able to accomplish, the majority of those folks don’t seem to be interested in a similar adventure.
And the Serbian President has announced that he intends to follow the Russian program in Crimea and grab himself some of Kosovo. This is not going to end well.
Adam L Silverman
@Yarrow: Is that the same one that paid out that he was going to loose a month before the election?
Major Major Major Major
@Adam L Silverman: Isn’t there a ‘normal’ christian right-winger in France who’s going to split the vote? And I meant that unseating Merkel is the real prize.
Millard Filmore
This should remove some roadblocks to the European spooks leaking whatever dirt they have on Trump.
Sebastian
@Adam L Silverman:
Technically true, yes.
But what do you call it when an obviously compromised administration locks out the entire intelligence intelligentsia of a nation? One-sided disarmament? Are we waiting for the coup de grace? We have let a traitor take command, lower the bridge, and order the guard to stand down. What’s next? Logic says now the enemy takes the fortress.
You are the pro. Tell me what I am missing.
BillinGlendaleCA
@efgoldman: Tricky Dick was a vindictive asshole, but was smart and a skilled politician; Trump is just vindictive.
Yarrow
@Adam L Silverman: Haven’t a clue. I remember that one and have wondered how that went for them. I know it doesn’t mean much, but at this point I’m taking encouragement where I get it.
@Adam L Silverman:
I’ve been wondering the same thing. But then we learned nothing from the Brexit vote. Things have gotten much clearer since then so maybe the European voters will pay attention.
Ian
Why should i feel sympathy for republicans?
Major Major Major Major
@efgoldman: The betting sites did not have a great track record over 2016 when all of the institutions they use as information failed; I don’t know that I care what they think now that they’re completely out of sources to base their guesses on.
Adam L Silverman
@Sebastian: There are two different issues. One is about filling the political appointments. The other is a question of legitimacy.
Yarrow
@efgoldman:
The intelligence community may have some information about the GOP members of Congress that they would fear being made public more than they’d fear being primaried. Such information may convince them to begin impeachment proceedings to avoid it being made public.
amk
@Ian: Exactly. These boneless mofos trying to grovel back into the kkklown’s good books is pitifully pathetic. Is there not even one rethug to stand by his/her earlier stand?
Yoda Dog Democrat
@Ian: You shouldn’t.
ETA: See goldman, ef
Aleta
A family acquaintance in civil service whose position is 2nd highest north of DC, and has said many times he won’t retire for another 5 years, suddenly resigned this week I just heard. Also it’s said that the retirement plan for new hires in another branch is being gutted.
amk
@efgoldman: And these grovelling, gutless, kkklown’s ass kissing ‘pros’ will serve the interests of the republic how?
Major Major Major Major
@efgoldman: Or, as the talented and/or non-bootlicker employees leave by attrition and retirement, replace them one at a time with dumb but loyal flunkies. Easier than coming up with thousands all at once.
Aleta
@efgoldman:
I’ve come to think that the country is up against a belief that TV reality and internet reality are solids that will never dissolve, so that life will always continue as it is now.
Emerald
is the one I’m kinda counting on.
Aleta
@efgoldman:
Then point to the savings they have achieved as evidence of business skill and promise kept to pare down govt. I think there will be shock as unemployment rises, especially if benefits are cut. And taxes will not go down.
I heard (didn’t read it myself) that ambassadors are being called home with no replacements for now?
Mary G
@Aleta: Adam will know better, but as I understood it, not called home, but traditional resignations usually declined until replacements have been confirmed have all been accepted. So positions are empty and the ambassadors are having to scramble to get visas from the host country, places to live, or move/take kids out of school, etc. with no notice. Makes America look great again!
amk
the chinese are stepping into the global power vacuum.
Aleta
These folks say they know how to run a business, which will be good for the country. But a business to them is something short lived, that you get out from under after a few years and let break into pieces. Then go elsewhere.
Calouste
@Major Major Major Major: France has two stage elections with a free-for-all first round and a run-off between the top two vote getters two weeks later. The left has been very consistent in voting for whoever was in the second round against a National Front candidate,, whether they were on the left or the center-right (Wilmer-bros, take note). In the last parliamentary elections, the FN got 13% of the vote in the first round, and when all was said and done, 0.3% of the seats.
I don’t know where the idea comes from that Merkel is in trouble. CDU/CSU has been polling very reliably in the mid 30, and the extreme-right AfD hasn’t polled above 15%.
Shalimar
I see a list with expertise mostly at getting us into both small and large wars. I know whoever Trump hires may turn out to be worse, but still, we’re supposed to be disappointed that John Negroponte isn’t being given another shot in government? I’d rather have someone with no experience. Maybe they won’t fuck up as much.
fuckwit
It’s over.
Shalimar
@amk: In addition to their adventures in protectionism, the Trump administration is trying to start a new Cold War with China. Outside of Russia, Great Britain and Taiwan, it looks like the Trumpists are trying to piss off every other country in the world so much that they end up allying with the Chinese, which does not seem to be in our long term interests.
ken
What did the Never Trumpers think was going to happen if Trump won? It’s going to suck for women and immigrants et al, but I think the first thing we should be looking at, what this article is about, is the internal cleansing. National Review stood by Nixon, Reagan and Bush and operated as the party mouthpiece. NR and WS are no longer dependable. If Herr Trump is truly dangerous, NR and Weekly Standard will cease to exist within a year. Once they clean house, then the immigrants and Muslims are next.
mai naem mobile
I have a $50 bet with my nephew that Lumpy will not be a candidate in 2020. I initially was going to specific in my bet that he would be impeached but I changed it to just not the candidate. I’m not sure if he will get impeached, resign, stroke out or be killed either by a fellow GOPr Stalin style or Putin style with an umbrella.
BellyCat
@Yarrow:
The formula seems fairly straightforward, if hideous to contemplate.
If the R’s in Congress are able to get the requisite votes for a bill (a dubious presumption), they will attempt to keep Trump in check by threatening to release the kompromat that they (undoubtedly) have on him so that he signs their bills into law. Public embarrassment—the only thing he fears—is their (only) leverage.
If Trump fails to sign the R’s bills (possible) and/or proves uncontrollable (undoubtedly), they will be happy to promote Pence to carry their water.
Trump’s only counter is to intimidate enough vulnerable R’s to get them to support his (meaning: Bannon’s and/or Putin’s) agenda. This will eventually prove a weak position.
WAP (Wild Assed Prediction): Only the easiest and largest overlap of Trump’s and R’s will initially be introduced and passed (“build a wall” and ceremoniously gutting “Obamacare”). Once interests begin to diverge—and this will happen fast—the shitshow begins. Personally, I think Trump will be OUT because not only is he making enemies faster than a cheetah, both before and after the WH he was-not and will-not-be a king-maker for the venal careerists in the R party today. Party before Leader, if you will.
Villago Delenda Est
@Aleta: Mafiosi bust out. MBA dream. Take the money and run, I’ll be gone, you’ll be gone.
This shit needs to stop. If it takes heads on pikes, literally, so be it.
Anne Laurie
@ken:
Some of them — I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt — actually thought they needed to put down a marker, that Trump was just that dangerous.
At least as many (again, IMO) assumed that of course Hillary would win, and they’d reap the benefits of being never-Trump (“sensible Republicans”) without having to pay any real price from the disgruntled Trumplodytes in flyover country.
Right now I’m reading a mystery novel (Robert Barnard’s A Charitable Body) that turns, as far as I can tell, on the way many ‘upper class’ Englishmen in the 1930s went from Hitler-curious to staunch British patriots — and how successfully many of them erased their earlier support for “peace in our time”. Wonder if the Repubs currently trying to wriggle back into Lord Shortfinger’s favor (Erick ‘Infinite’ Erickson, for instance) hope to repeat that stunt? Maybe with an extra twist, after the Trump regency inevitably goes to pieces, and having been a Never-Trumper is once again the popular fashion?
James Powell
@Millard Filmore:
Too little and way too late.
M. Bouffant
It’s as if Putin has convinced Trump the two of them will negotiate Chi-nuh back to the Stone Age, & thereby bring all the jobs back home.
Applejinx
@Shalimar: This. Except I wouldn’t say ‘maybe they won’t fuck up as much’, because I don’t think that’s a thing.
More like, ‘for once, their fuck-ups will be seen as a BAD thing’. Some of the crew being blacklisted are evil bastards. I’d like to see Paul Ryan blacklisted. I am NOT going to weep over the fate of equally sick, evil individuals who are routinely canonized by the Village. Yay, says I.
Yeah, it’s a shitshow replacing them. And? Paul Ryan isn’t a shitshow? McConnell isn’t a shitshow?
GregB
@Millard Filmore:
In an odd twist of fate, on Friday, the leader of the free world will be a woman.
low-tech cyclist
And amoral opportunists. Can’t forget them. For those who are willing to suck up to anyone to advance, this is a big opportunity to move up the ranks in a hurry.
low-tech cyclist
@Applejinx:
Tru dat. Take Michael Chertoff. A reprehensible guy in a bunch of ways, he was also Heckuva Job Brownie’s boss, and should have shared his fate when it became clear just how fucked-up the Bushies’ preparations for Katrina were.
Evil and incompetent in one package. But I figure we’ll see a lot of that in the Trump Administration.
weaselone
@Adam L Silverman:
The same people they used to fill positions in the Coalition Provisional Authority. They’ll hire newbies straight out of Liberty University and newly graduated members of the College Republicans.
weaselone
@Applejinx:
There’s different magnitudes of shitshow. Having the Never Trumpers in office would be a shitshow within normal parameters.
NeenerNeener
I’m having trouble squaring circles that include Jared Kushner again. Trump wants a trade war with China, but Jared is in business with heads of the PRC. It does not compute.
Gvg
@NeenerNeener: Trump is incompetent and does’t know that is how it computes. RememberTPM’s Josh Marshall I think said assume his reasons are stupid? Or the stupidest reason is the true one.
aimai
I prefer to be upbeat–if the world gave Barack Obama a Nobel Peace Prize just for replacing Bush–what will the next Democratic President get for replacing Trump? (I mean, if the country survives.)
Barry
@BellyCat: “The formula seems fairly straightforward, if hideous to contemplate.”
It is, but IMHO the other way – anybody voting to impeach Trump gets primaried by the Trumpist base, pure and simple.
Even as Trump goes down to 30% popularity, that’s an overwhelming majority of the GOP primary voter population.
amk
@Barry: the dick barely got 27% of rethug votes? his ‘pool’ is pretty shallow.
rikyrah
@Adam L Silverman:
Keep on telling the truth
rikyrah
@Adam L Silverman:
He doesn’t seem to be concerned with people not having qualifications.
rikyrah
@efgoldman:
I can admit it. It’s obvious.
rikyrah
@Aleta:
Yep . We have no Ambassadors as of January 20th.
randy khan
@NeenerNeener:
The New York magazine article on Kushner might provide an explanation: His only really deep principle is “family first.” It explains, among other things, why he has turned on a dime on a lot of positions he used to hold to stay in line with Trump.
gvg
@Barry: I dunno, the Trump support seems to not be from deep thinkers, but from people with a reality show view of life. I think they may get bored with him after awhile. They also seem to have an unrealistic view of a Presidents powers so no one can fulfill their dumb desires. Other republicans may not want to cross him now, but I can’t see that lasting. Other republicans aren’t that invested in him.
If he messes up, they will turn on him but he hasn’t actually been sworn in yet so he hasn’t definitively messed up yet. Plus as the Walker recall shows a lot of people want the forms to be followed and really don’t like things like recalls even when they don’t like the specific person. these people aren’t paying enough attention to be able to project the actual likely damage ahead. I think we can’t avoid living through a disaster or two before he can be removed. This makes me unhappy, but that’s what I think.
One danger is that if his audience gets bored but his style doesn’t get thoroughly trashed in reputation first, I think they could just move on to the next entertainer.
I really want a widespread acceptance that expertise, education and competence MATTER. Accepted even by the ignorant low information voters. So when Trump crashes and others have to rescue us, I want that to be part of every campaign and trumpeted in every editorial. This worship of common that means moron is going to kill us all. Its not just Trump either.
Another Scott
@fuckwit: Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
Cheers,
Scott.
Enhanced Voting Techniques
@efgoldman:
Except President Asterix just declared war on a lot of these guys. Trump clearly isn’t GW Bush.
Enhanced Voting Techniques
@Aleta:
San Jose, Cal did that to their police and are shocked no one wants to be a cop there.
It sounds like Trump running it like his business.
Enhanced Voting Techniques
@weaselone:
Except the kids don’t like Trump too. His demographic is 55+ white, male working class. So Trump will need to tap his fake bikers for those positions.
Enhanced Voting Techniques
@gvg:
They like Trump because he’s “not a politician” but next Saturday Trump becomes one. Trump has a choice, act like president, become boring and lose his audience, or act like reality show freak and be unable to govern. Trump is clearly choosing to keep his audience so impeachment is only a matter of time now.
Seth Owen
@Adam L Silverman: While not good for the US, there if a silver lining for them — they won’t be part of the disaster. Well, no more than the rest of us.
Robert Sneddon
@GregB:
Nicola Sturgeon says thanks for the compliment but she must decline.
CaseyL
Trump will not lose his base, ever. His base doesn’t support him for his statesmanship or ability to govern. His base supports him because he is themselves writ large: an ignorant blustering mean-spirited yahoo who is rich and (now) powerful beyond their dreams. He’s doing exactly what they would do, if they could: he is their avatar. The more he wrecks stuff, the more they’ll love him.
And for that reason, there will be no impeachment. GOPers know full well what kind of society they’ve created outside the hallowed halls of Congress, and they’re not about to do anything that would put them back into it. They have no actual job skills, after all; just grifting and selling the grift to rubes.
Sorry, all. As much as I wish it with all my heart, there will be no deus ex machina coming along to rid us of Trump. It’s going to be the hard grind of resistance, voter registration, and GOTV in 2018.
Millard Filmore
@GregB:
Not Baud! ?
Seanly
RE: Impeachment. Pence can be President for 10 years but only if he takes over after January 21st, 2019. Not saying that Pence could actually win, just saying it would be technically feasible.
Trump is not going to be able to carry through on any of his promises. That’s the thing about grifters – at some point, it’s revealed that you’re running a scam and have nothing to offer. About the only choice open is to skedaddle.
Brachiator
Jesus Fvck, people. You need to quit whining about Trump’s lack of focus, lack of vision, lack of experience. After all, he’s got wunderkind son-in-law Jared Kushner, Ivanka the Magnificient, and his two sons, Dopey and Sleepy, to fill in any NSC gaps. The Donald has already noted that Jared is about two steps away from putting together a sweet deal to end the Israel/Palestinian conflict.
There. Feel better, now?
War, children, it’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
War, children, it’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
— Gimme Shelter
Gelfling 545
@BillinGlendaleCA: Be fair. He’s also an asshole.
Brachiator
@CaseyL:
You’re probably right. But in the meantime, let’s hope that somebody can find some scandal to hang on Pence, to get him to resign. And then let’s impeach the shit out of the Orange Shitgibbon. It worked with Nixon/Agnew, and we need that play again.
Elie
Putins goal is to destroy the policy and personnel competence of the US government. What we see is what is happening and seems for the GOP government haters exactly what they wanted. They haven’t yet figured out that it means destroying the US.
JGabriel
Anne Laurie @ Top:
I don’t know, Anne … I kind of relish the idea of Trump’s political appointees sticking forks into electrical sockets, as long as we’re talking real electrical sockets and not metaphorical sockets.
JGabriel
@Brachiator:
Exactly. Trump’s lack of focus, vision, and experience is Democrats’ strength. Sure, Trump is going to destroy the country and our economy, but that’s what Republicans always do – c.f. Richard Nixon, George W. Bush, Calvin Coolidge /Herbert Hoover, et al.
Then America will vote us Democrats back into power to clean up the mess, and we’ll be voted out of power again as soon as we’ve cleaned it up, but before we can make much policy progress, so the GOPers can come back in and destroy t again …
Shit. That sentence ended up somewhere less optimistic than I was intending.
MDC
Let me get this straight… these folks signed letters denouncing Trump, and are now shocked he’s not calling them to join his team?
Crouchback
@Calouste: Are you sure that applies this time? Francois Fillon near as I can tell aspires to be the French Margaret Thatcher. In some respects he’s to the right of Le Pen. Given a choice between him and Le Pen, are you sure the left will line up behind Le Pen?