On November 5th I did not vote for the top of the ticket. Partisans on both sides said that I should at least vote for the one who I thought would do the least damage...I voted for no damage, for neither.
As Trump began naming his cabinet picks this week, it was apparent that loyalty, rather than expertise, was the criterion. His defenders referred to a President's need for both comfort and confidence in his picks. His pick of Matt Gaetz for Attorney General seems a stretch way too far.
Putting aside any previous accusations against the congressman, his legal background is probably too thin to even get a job with a top law firm. While Trump certainly won a mandate last week, the Senate must still consider their own integrity. It is apparent that Trump doesn't want their advice, but normally he would still need their consent, although he would like them to recess and bypass that check and balance feature of our government. For political cover and electability back home, a recess will probably also be the Senate's preference.
As a conservative independent, perhaps with the exception of Rubio, I do not understand how any Republican can take pride in any of the cabinet nominations.
Trump and Rubio in Allentown, Pa.
You cannot say it is the same old players, except for Rubio who we will see how he does. Glad to see Pompeo, who advocated for the assassination of Julian Assange and his family, is not on this list. Nor is John Bolton chief advocate of war everywhere.
ReplyDeleteDo we think that many of these agencies are bloated, partisan and have been breaking the law on a regular basis, then outsiders at the lead may be necessary.
Only time will tell, reform is needed, a good house-cleaning is the best start.
Ray, from your comment and post at Northwestern Lehigh Observer (link on sidebar) I realize that you feel a house-cleaning can't hurt...But we have allies, treaties, and arrangements around the world that depend on stability, not wild cards. Perhaps a maverick as Sec. of State, but more experienced hands in the other departments would have accomplished Trump's shakeup agenda without spooking the world.
Delete'Stability' with this current crowd as the baseline is NOT what we need.
DeleteEvery Trump pick is as qualified or more so than the ones Biden chose.
ReplyDeleteIt does appear that President Trump values loyalty above all other traits in those he would choose to help him govern. Matt Gaetz has been as loyal as anyone other than Trump's direct family.
ReplyDeleteGaetz is dedicated to reining in Merrick Garland’s DoJ lawfare and other extracurricular hijinks places him high on any list of loyalists and return the Justice Department to a non-political stance. I don't think we will see Gaetz sending FBI agents to investigate parents who demonstrate at school board meetings on anti-terrorism charges like Garland did.
With regards to Trump's other announced picks for his cabinet positions, if Obama could select Charles Hagel, an army E-5 seargeant as Defense Secratary, Trump's selection of Pete Hegseth, an army major, a two-time Bronze Star recipient should be just fine.
And I also suspect we will no longer be seeing FEMA employees selecting which people to help after natural disasters based on the campaign signs people have in front of their homes, as we saw under Biden.
Trump’s picks have been outstanding so far. Even the Gaetz pick could accomplish a much needed task. That is, in
ReplyDeleteexposing all the corruption and criminal behavior of the Obama/Biden operatives in high places.
Gaetz brings the courage and strength that’s been missing in all the go-along to get-along Republican leadership that enabled our nation’s Constitution to be meddled with too far over the past decade. We were truly living in a one-party government for years.
Don’t worry about Gaetz’ legal ability. He will not only be surrounded by dozens and dozens of the leading government lawyers in America. Besides, as should have happened all along, our Constitution will keep everything in check.
Gaetz will not allow himself to be intimidated and neutered by the big bureaucrats and lying media who have been running wild at our expense. THIS is why the news media and certain people currently in power now speak out against a Gaetz as AG. You see, Gaetz knows where the bodies are buried, so the speak.
I chuckle every time I hear someone regurgitate the new democrat “loyalty” narrative.
ReplyDeleteThe “loyalty” that Trump’s picks have is a commitment to reforming the departments they’ve been appointed to lead. I hate to break it to you, but that’s what this last election was about - government reform. And the government needs reform.
In addition, I don’t recall those who are suddenly concerned about “loyalty” saying much about the current president’s cabinet members who have covered for a dementia patient in the Oval Office for the last four years, and continue to do so. That loyalty has gone both ways, as whoever is actually running the country hasn’t fired a single cabinet member no matter how bad their failings.
anon@7:45, nobody has ever accused me of being a Democrat before :) This election was a Trump cult, not a reform movement.
DeleteThis was not a Trump cult. It would not have been so overwhelming a defeat of Democratic policies as it was, sorry.
DeleteDo you hold free speech to be sacred? The Democrat party once did but no longer does. It has twisted the very idea of free speech to undermine the First Amendment by elevating people’s “feelings” as a basis for censorship and characterizing as “hate speech” any phrase that is outside the scope of their politically correct lexicon.
Do you support an open southern border with waves of illegal aliens being inhumanely hustled, oftentimes by ruthless cartels, to be used as the Democrat party’s new pawns? Need I mention narcotics, smuggled with the intent to destroy the very essence of its users, that is, their souls? We also can’t forget sex trafficking, another soul-destroying effort.
Do you support the notion that pre-pubescent teens can, at will, decide to take gender-altering drugs without parental consent because they have become perplexed and held hostage by perverts who aim to ruin the backbone of civilization (i.e., the nuclear family)? The Democrat party not only affirms these so-called “rights” but pushes them full throttle through the public schools and universities.
Do you support wokery and cancel culture? The Democrat party has its nose buried in it. Nowadays, Democrats dismiss plain reason itself because it is steeped in European culture and, therefore, you guessed it, is racist! So, there you have it. Western Civ can now be torn down brick by brick.
The Democrat party’s true colors have been made crystal clear over the last decade by calling their constituents “deplorables,” “racists,” nobodies, and, most recently, “garbage.”
I'm none of that. are you ? And I'm just getting started on why this nation needed to change course.
anon@8:14: different people voted for Trump for different reasons. Ideologues like yourself voted for and against certain principles. Partisans voted party regardless of who or what. However, if you wore a red hat and stood in line for 12 hours to see Trump, you're a cultist.
DeleteA cult? Or cultists?
DeleteMike, maybe it’s time to lay off the CNN/MSNBC and other biased media for a while.
People who went to
DeleteTrump rallies were there to show Trump that they supported him, he needed the rassurences with the continuous attacks and legal hoaxes. I expect that you will see how Trumps supporters react if he strays from his promises. He will not be spared.
Mike, I respect your decision not to cast a vote at the top of the ticket. I didn't cast a vote for my local state rep. He was unopposed and lord knows he'll never get mine. Plenty of people find Trump objectionable. I can't blame them and that's their right. I will just say he won a convincing victory. His abrasive and sometimes crude personality is the way he got to the top in business and politics( he's from Queens) and he's never going to change. As for Gatz it just may be that Trump has just thrown a skunk into the DOJ to clean it out. It may turn out to be a brilliant move. One thing for sure, it's going to be very interesting.
ReplyDeleteFor the shortest, probably best, support of Trump’s decision to choose Gaetz, check out Megyn Kelly’s 55 sec. video reaction now listed at Citizen’s Free Press. So well done, very logical.
DeleteThis election was a widespread reputation against ultra-liberalism gone off the rails. This was an historic mandate across all segments of society screaming “ ENOUGH! “
I am not only proud to have voted for Trump, but will wear your derogatory cult reference with a smile. I’m quite old. I’ve never felt better about my relatively short years to come living here.
I heard it live yesterday. She's spot on. https://x.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1857317292238852434
DeleteI’m not going to praise withholding your vote, it helped Trump. It was not a pragmatic decision. And 8:05, your view of Trump as a self-made man is just inaccurate. Trump was from Queens, but he was a raised as a millionaire from Queens. there’s a difference. Trump isn’t forming a cabinet as much as casting his next season of The Apprentice, it’s all for ratings, and we’ll all be watching. This cast has all the makings for good drama. It has buddies, friends, and even an evil Dr. Smith character. Be careful, Trump. Musk’s ego is as big as yours.
ReplyDeleteI announced long before the election that I would not be voting for the top of the ticket. Republicans said that I was helping Harris, Democrats said that I was helping Trump.
DeleteI actually believe you did vote for Harris, Michael. That’s fine by me, by the way. The down ballot was a very short list this year. So, why not also reveal your choice for Senator. I did not vote for Casey. Nor, in my case, Susan Wild.
DeleteI filled in three ovals. Dave McCormack for Senator, Dave Sunday for Attorney General, and No for Allentown referendum.
DeleteThank you! In a way, it seemed funny to go out to vote for so little options.
DeleteAnonymous 9:05 sticks to the usual narrative of the left in using insult rather than reason. Perhaps America just said they are tired of that.
DeleteDave Sunday is an excellent man!
DeleteAs a millennial who is almost 40, during my teenage years and into my 20’s, I heard time and time again from Baby Boomers and older generations how us millennials are lazy and unconcerned, and we need to start paying attention to our future.
ReplyDeleteMike, instead of seeing some of these cabinet picks as unqualified, maybe give them a chance because some of them, like Gaetz and Hegseth and Tulsi Gabbard (and our current Vice President-elect) are of the younger generation who might not have the years of “experience” that you might deem then as qualified, but hey, they have love and devotion to our country and are will to deal with the left wing media slander and still provide public service. Even JFK didn’t have decades of public service before he became President.
As for RFK Jr, I realize he might be a little in outer space when it comes to vaccines, but recently my doctor told me that millennials and younger are now more predisposed to cancer than any other generation before them. It is all due to the cheap and unhealthy food our federal government continues to subsidize (ever wonder why a 2 liter of soda is much cheaper than a gallon of organic milk?) RFK was the only presidential candidate willing to talk about it. You baby boomers and older got to grow up on healthy food that wasn’t overpriced, so think about us younger folks who are trying to buy a house, maintain a car, and barely see their wages keep up with inflation. Expensive but healthy food isn’t a luxury we can afford to have and at least a Trump cabinet pick is willing to put his neck on the line and at least discuss it.
Remember how all those concerns that RFK would be too “loyal” to JFK derailed RFK’s appointment to Attorney General back in the 1960’s?
ReplyDeleteYeah, me neither.
I will tell you why I voted for Trump. I'm tired of being lied to by the Democrats
ReplyDeleteWe were told that the economy is just fine, but the truth was staring us all in the face every time we buy gas or groceries or paid the rent.
Just take a look at the ASD. It isn't what it was when I went to school in Allentown. We’re spending a fortune on students who can’t read or do math and how much are we spending on Illegal Ailen kids that don't belong here and need to be taught English in "Newcomer Acadamies" so they can go into regular classes? The ASD always needs money and they spend it on kids that belong in Mexico or wherever whose parents aren't here legally to begin with. And then Biden spends how much money on giving these Illegals food stamps and god knows what else. Sorry we don't have the money and you can get out of the country and go back to where you came. We need the money for our own people.
It’s obvious to any breathing person that Allentown's crime rate is soaring, that our nation is being invaded, and yet the Harris smiled in our faces and told us everything is hunky-dory.
They say that we don't understand the "message" We undertand allright and trying to change the “message” is going to pretty-up the Democratic pig enough to make us vote for them and let them wreck the country more with their insane policies. Why I voted to get rid of Wild and Casey also, as they are the problem
Hello everybody, partisan Democrat United States citizen here...
ReplyDeleteThe difference between 2020 when Trump narrowly lost in a fair election and 2024 when Trump narrowly won in a lawful and fair election is about a 1.5% swing of voters nationally. He now has the presidency and both chambers of congress are of his party. The US supreme court is packed with conservative justices in the majority. Mr. Trump and his allies are calling this situation a "mandate" but they would be wise to remember that when you are the driver of the car you have more responsibility than when you are a passenger. My prediction is that the R's will run the car into a ditch and blame the Dems.
You might want to consider that Trump is casting like a Democrat, acting like a relatively narrow win is a mandate, loading his cabinet up with people he wants, and broadcasting drastic change. Isn't this exactly what your side does when they win? Remember, "elections have consequences ".
DeleteConcerned, nothing new under the sun here... The D's blame the R's blame the D's blame the R's for everything that goes wrong instead of looking in the mirror.
DeleteI just read an article in The Gateway Pundit that the democrats are considering starting a shadow government just to thwart President Trump... ya can't make this shit up!!! Read it for yourself. NOW who won't accept the results????
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/dem-congressman-openly-reveals-plot-form-shadow-government/
Recovering from liberal amnesia, one history lesson at a time:
ReplyDeleteIn Democrat President Woodrow Wilson’s first term, he appointed Josephus Daniels as Secretary of the Navy (No Dept. of Defense then, just Dept. of War and Dept. of Navy). Daniels was a white supremacist like Wilson. He had NO military experience. His father ran a shipyard, but was killed in the Civil War while Josephus was a child. Daniels’ entire pre-Secretary career appears to be as a newspaperman and publisher. Wikipedia focuses on his bigotry. A Naval Academy history text from the early 1980’s emphasizes Daniels’ lack of any military capabilities, and his zeal to eradicate alcohol from society and Navy ships (the traditional grog ration still had influence). Want to irritate a near-Victorian era sailor? Cut off his rum. Wikipedia notes that Daniels only handled formalities and policy as Navy secretary, while his young assistant, Franklin Roosevelt, ran World War I military decisions.
Any criticism of Trump appointments by present day Democrats/Progressives needs to acknowledge that their predecessors installed cabinet members with ZERO experience in their department’s operation, and served only to impose political and social ideology. P.S. - Many of the world’s navies permit alcohol consumption on board, with limits. America retains a totally dry fleet.
Correction from 2:09 commenter: In late 1980’s, USN introduced policy of distributing 2 cans of lager beer to each crew member, on ships that were on deployment, at 45 day intervals, if no intervening port visits. Think I got that right, now. Don’t know if it’s still current policy.
DeleteYes, how about homeland secretary, Mayorkas, Janet Yellen, Bidens pick for the supreme court. Is Austin some shining light, I expect that if they don't get it done they will be fired. Did Biden ever fire anyone?
ReplyDeleteWhy has Marjorie T. Green been slighted? Someone has to look into stopping those Jewish space lasers and bring more light to the school shooting hoaxes. Surely there's more room in the clown car?
ReplyDeleteSteve Bannon, a convicted fraud, and Gaetz, a child molester, were in from the get go. Obviously our new leader has a preference and Green needs to step up her game.
A previous poster hit one thing on the head: Even tho the Rs have all the power and have full control, when the poop hits the fan (and I'm pretty sure we are talking Max poop this coming term) they will claim it is still all the Dems fault and the cult will slurp it up.
One has to wonder about the theatrics of the appointments. Appointing someone under investigation for statutory issues to the legal post, someone associated with anti-vaccine to health. Does reform have to be so provocative?
ReplyDeleteI don’t know Mike - you've got me scratching my head ad to whether you're D or R. This election was bigger than Trump - it was a repudiation of the far left lunacy we've had to endure the last four years. I'll be damned if I wasn't going to use my vote in the effort to keep that cackling baby-killer out of office!!!
ReplyDeleteanon@7:28: Next time you're at your doctor, ask him/her what they think of the RJK jr. nomination. BTW, Kennedy did buy into the measles/autism controversy. But the problem with the appointment isn't his quotes, but his attitude... the government could discourage research by withholding grants
ReplyDeleteanon@2:00am: "Don't know whether you're D or R.... Thank you.
I would not be surprised if a doctor would be unhappy with RFK, Jr.
DeleteThe entire Covid episode was in large part a key component of the Big Pharma profit and political power push to further its dominance over our lives. As a result, it was all hands on deck for them in continuing to push hard everyone’s reliance on the pill/vaccine portion of our existence.
Unbeknownst to many readers, your local doctor received a heavy dollar BONUS for each dosage they administered. Some family physicians picked-up a nifty extra $100K for promoting and dispensing that relatively un-tested concoction. The more shots you give the bigger bonus check you get. I would not be surprised at all if my doctor would prefer not to have an RFK, Jr. looking over their shoulder. Similar incentives given to local hospital networks, by the way.
Let us also not forget the outrageous amounts of campaign funds Big Pharma provides to most of our politicians in Washington. I would say, many of our politicians at that level would be more than happy to whore themselves out to let Big Pharma corporations do whatever they want
Like DonaldTrump, RFK,Jr, and other outspoken Matt Gaetz types present a true threat to the way things have been working in government recently. I’m thrilled to think we are at the beginning of cleaning-up that sewer in Washington. That broken, failed system that has been hurting us all.
Michael, I plan to cut back on commenting here and elsewhere. I need a rest. Thanks so much for hosting my stuff!
Matt Gates has been “under investigation“ for years. They have been no chargers. And don’t you think for one minute if there was anything remotely close to a charge that the Biden justice department wouldn’t have been all over him? Not to mention his enemies on the Republican side of the US House of Representatives.
ReplyDeleteSay what you like, but Trump increased tremendously his share of every demographic that posters measure. I don’t have to mention them all, but you know what I mean. That, my friend, is why people, including liberals in the media called landslide.
ReplyDeleteLike me, a great many senior citizens read this Blog. I’d like to suggest every senior citizen seek out the interview recently posted with Rep. Jason Smith (R) current Chairman of our House Ways and Means Committee. You can find a link on Citizen Free Press.
ReplyDeleteRep. Smith explains how our Medicare Part D premiums will now spike up because the Biden Administration shifted money FROM our Medicare to help fund his Green New Deal program. How nice!
Even worse, this action was kept hidden from public view so as not to harm Democrats prior to this election.
I’m sure the failed Morning Call and ace commenter, Bill White will dive right into this!
Let us not forget, every election cycle the democrats trot out that republicans want to take SS and medicare away!!! No wonder we rarely get wind of their escapades....
ReplyDeleteIt's good to get a head start on why all the future problems, including Soc.Sec., are on the outgoing administration (even as the incoming administration will have almost absolute control). Just as the voting is "fixed" unless we win, the warped logic that the Dems are going to be responsible for the destruction of Social Security will be the next mantra preached to the cult. And they will believe it. "The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command".
ReplyDelete