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One issue for Trump’s transition team to consider in thinking about the Secretary of State role is that Trump loyalists tend to have pugnacious personalities, like their leader: e.g., Rudy Giuliani and Chris Christie. This can make pugnacious outsiders like John Bolton seem like a good fit.
But Trump’s general hopes for his foreign policy are more pacific than pugnacious. He’d rather spend billions at home on infrastructure than on trucking fuel for years into remote outposts in the Muslim world, much less set off war in Europe. Bolton’s personality and predilections would be a poor fit with Trump’s broad philosophy.
So that suggests he needs a Secretary of State who isn’t necessarily a good fit in terms of personality with Trump. For example, Mitt Romney’s doppelganger Jon Huntsman, former ambassador to China, endorsed Trump back in the spring, but then wilted under pressure in October. Not an ideal performance, but Trump could demonstrate magnanimity by reaching out to Huntsman (which would help domestically with the Mormon constituency).
Anyway, I don’t know enough about foreign policy players to have an informed opinion on the subject, but I wanted to point out the personality / philosophy cross-purpose problem.
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NBC/Xfinty is reporting that Romney is now in the running for Sec of State.
http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/romney-may-be-gringrich-out-trump-cabinet-n685541
Looks like he’s going to cut out the middle man and bring Romney in. Which is good because Huntsman is a POS who would definitely be looking for any opportunity to resign in protest.
Doubtless many commenters here have been dismayed, over the last 25 years, about the American business pattern of refusing to fill top jobs from within. Somehow an outsider is always seen as being needed. For State, why not go with some up to now backbencher, maybe one who’s been quietly dissenting from the Hillary/Kerry approach? There’s got to be some talented 40-something who’s been writing “just kiss off the ME” memos.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/17/world/middleeast/syria-assad-obama-airstrikes-diplomats-memo.html
Trump should not cave in to the Mormons. He should let them know that he can turn Salt Lake City into Waco if they don’t want to play ball.
Trump described himself during the campaign as “the most militaristic person ever.” He doesn’t have to do nation building, and he hasn’t promised he would. He should do some bombing raids and strikes like Clinton did in the 90s in the Balkans and Iraq without getting mired significantly. It’s good PR and establishes his strength and toughness.
Here is a better plan. 1) Bring all our troops back to the Western Hemisphere. 2) Use them to guard the borders of the US. 3) Mind our own business. 4) Reissue the Monroe Doctrine.Replies: @AKAHorace, @boogerbently, @CJ, @Buck Turgidson
Oh god please not Romney. He will use every opportunity to try and derail Trump’s agenda. Having him in the cabinet would be the biggest mistake of Trump’s presidency. It would destroy it before it even got off the ground. Huntsman is okay, I think despite his cowardice he can at least be trusted not to actively sabotage his boss
I might have suggested Huntsman for Secretary of State on another thread. I can’t remember.
I think that Huntsman would be a brilliant choice.
Romney is a puppet of arch neocon and Israel Firster Dan Senor.
On the other hand, Steve, Trump has seemed to suggest he favors a “peace through strength” strategy. Would a bulldog (such as Bolton) at State be seen as conducive to such a strategy?
(Bolton is not an outsider)
I think Trump probably already has his favorites pre-selected in his mind, he’s just using the hiring process to bring some lost sheep back into the fold.
Just meeting Romney and throwing him token consideration could do a lot to restore that relationship.
But actually appointing him? Mitt wants war with Russia just as bad as Hillary. Makes no sense.
And I think Trump’s foreign policy is actually quite pugnacious in diplomatic terms. He wants to renegotiate trade deals and get paid for garrisons – it’s the job of a negotiator, not a conciliator.
Fake News wages war on ‘fake news’.
I like the Huntsman idea.
What about:
Rand Paul?
Jim Webb?
Howard Dean?
Webb is a better fit at DoD.Replies: @Opinionator
And Mitt WILL obey:
Bolton is a national socialist.
This asks the question if there really is anyone of note who isn’t infected with neoconism out there? Whether it’s someone like Bolton or a self righteous acronym crusader like Samantha Power, it seems like the whole State/National Security apparatus is filled with people seeking monsters to destroy. If there’s any people or factions out there in the Establishment who seem largely immune to this, please someone post about them.
I've met a few career Foreign Service officers over the years. The one common trait seems to be a sort of problem-fixing mentality towards the world. I got the impression of a vast diplomatic force that doesn't seek to secure our interest, smooth any ruffles, and get the hell away from the rest of the world, but rather, looks for nails to hammer down, things to rearrange better, and in general, schemes to embark on.Replies: @Anonymous, @Neil Templeton
Using Steve's powerful points surely Trump should find a Kissinger-like figure who at least has an understanding of how f**king different non-Western countries are and how extraordinarily difficult it is to mould them sans outright imperialism. Someone who understands that the 'liberation' of Eastern Europe is NOT a pattern that can be placed, willy-nilly, on anywhere else in the world.
(Not that Dr. K. is/was the perfect exemplar. But you know what I mean.)
Anyone pushing Romney might usefully reread David Stockman's view of this ("LBO strip-mining artist"). For this job character counts hugely.
http://davidstockmanscontracorner.com/mitt-romney-is-the-real-super-fraud-heres-the-proof-chapter-and-verse/
Mitt Romney’s views on Russia policy are pretty much the opposite of Donald Trump’s. Romney’s a hardliner, and will not want to go the route of detente.
Great comnent and request.
What about:
Rand Paul?
Jim Webb?
Howard Dean?Replies: @Larry, San Francisco, @CK
Webb should be secretary of defense. He did a good job reinvigorating the Navy under Reagan.
Not to mention most of us Mormons can’t really stand Huntsman.
Trump described himself during the campaign as "the most militaristic person ever." He doesn't have to do nation building, and he hasn't promised he would. He should do some bombing raids and strikes like Clinton did in the 90s in the Balkans and Iraq without getting mired significantly. It's good PR and establishes his strength and toughness.Replies: @Chris Mallory, @Difference maker, @rodan32
Right, because the blowback that those bombings caused was nothing.
Here is a better plan. 1) Bring all our troops back to the Western Hemisphere. 2) Use them to guard the borders of the US. 3) Mind our own business. 4) Reissue the Monroe Doctrine.
In like Flynn:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-battles-back-against-charges-transition-tumult-082942875--election.html
An excellent question.
I’ve met a few career Foreign Service officers over the years. The one common trait seems to be a sort of problem-fixing mentality towards the world. I got the impression of a vast diplomatic force that doesn’t seek to secure our interest, smooth any ruffles, and get the hell away from the rest of the world, but rather, looks for nails to hammer down, things to rearrange better, and in general, schemes to embark on.
I would avoid all media speculation on who will be Secretary of State. I would disregard any and all rumors until an official announcement is made.
Trump’s relationship with the #NeverTrump wing of the GOP should be cordial but distant. Mitt Romney, John Kasich, John McCain, and the Bushes should be on the sidelines and grateful for the opportunity to be there because he could and should just exile them from the party instead. Trump doesn’t need them and as it turns out, neither does the GOP. They’re from a bygone era of the GOP that the public entrusts Trump to move on from, which I believe he will, even if there are a few neocons in his cabinet.
It’s up to us to begin building up Trump Republicans/paleocons who have the experience and connections necessary to fill these prominent roles when they are needed to.
Trump described himself during the campaign as "the most militaristic person ever." He doesn't have to do nation building, and he hasn't promised he would. He should do some bombing raids and strikes like Clinton did in the 90s in the Balkans and Iraq without getting mired significantly. It's good PR and establishes his strength and toughness.Replies: @Chris Mallory, @Difference maker, @rodan32
Someone should be actually martial before dispensing advice
I've met a few career Foreign Service officers over the years. The one common trait seems to be a sort of problem-fixing mentality towards the world. I got the impression of a vast diplomatic force that doesn't seek to secure our interest, smooth any ruffles, and get the hell away from the rest of the world, but rather, looks for nails to hammer down, things to rearrange better, and in general, schemes to embark on.Replies: @Anonymous, @Neil Templeton
I am told that many view themselves as advocates for the countries in which they are posted.
Here is a better plan. 1) Bring all our troops back to the Western Hemisphere. 2) Use them to guard the borders of the US. 3) Mind our own business. 4) Reissue the Monroe Doctrine.Replies: @AKAHorace, @boogerbently, @CJ, @Buck Turgidson
There is a middle ground here somewhere ?
It is not in Americans long term interests to abandon countries who have been good allies. Also, whoever in the US govt let the Pakistani Doctor who helped you find and kill Bin Laden go to jail, should be fired at least.
You probably shouldn’t go around picking fights either.
Hope that Trump gets it right. He needs Sailer’s temperament to make good decisions on this.
Your country not mine though.
As for the Paki doctor, he got what traitors and quislings always get. In the end his actions did more harm than good since they were an attack upon the neutrality of medical personnel.
Trump described himself during the campaign as "the most militaristic person ever." He doesn't have to do nation building, and he hasn't promised he would. He should do some bombing raids and strikes like Clinton did in the 90s in the Balkans and Iraq without getting mired significantly. It's good PR and establishes his strength and toughness.Replies: @Chris Mallory, @Difference maker, @rodan32
Wouldn’t be the first time the feds invaded Utah. We’re a lot better armed now, though. 2nd most tooled-up state in the nation. Be harder to fight Mormons than ISIS if some idiot president wanted to pick a fight.
I agree with the premise, and it’s not a bad basis on which to keep Kerry on as SoS.
I wouldn’t say Huntsman would help too much with the Mormon population, at least not the red-state variety of Mormon. He’s well to the left of Romney, and that’s saying something. Big climate change guy, same-sex marriage proponent (going clearly against the LDS church on that one), bad record on immigration. Probably wouldn’t do too much harm, though he had some issues in China when he was ambassador.
Romney’s probably the better choice if you’re trying to appease the Mormons.
Huntsman has the sort of understated personality that makes a good Secretary of State. I wasn’t aware of him wilting in October though under Pussygrabgate.
That’s what I’m thinking. Better than the milquetoast Romney.
(Bolton is not an outsider)
I don’t see any indication the Mormons need or want pandering.
I’d choose Bacevich
Here is a better plan. 1) Bring all our troops back to the Western Hemisphere. 2) Use them to guard the borders of the US. 3) Mind our own business. 4) Reissue the Monroe Doctrine.Replies: @AKAHorace, @boogerbently, @CJ, @Buck Turgidson
Chris Mallory for SOS.
The Times says that Flynn is in as National Security Advisor. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/18/us/politics/donald-trump-administration.html?_r=0
Flynn is interesting in a lot of ways, but is a bit too rabid regarding fighting — in his book, there is a lot of complaining about how we ‘should have won’ instead of how we should have just said no to getting involved. On the other hand, his specialty is intelligence — the lack of which has been a root cause of stupid decisions. Kissinger still wants to talk about how it was essential to bomb Cambodia. Flynn seems to have some difficulty separating the bad decision to go into Iraq with the bad decisions after we arrived.
If it is Flynn, Secretary of State needs to balance him out. Huntsman has actual diplomatic experience as Ambassador to China, speaks Chinese, and would be reassuring. Huntsman has a reputation as a realist rather than a hawkish neocon.
Regardless, Trump’s platform is to get a better deal — not to simply get a do over.
It wasn't faulty intelligence that led to those decisions. It was a combination of conflicts of interest and a different strategic vision than your own.
What about Bill Weld?
You wouldn’t have to invade. Just lay siege and target the silos.
Trump's relationship with the #NeverTrump wing of the GOP should be cordial but distant. Mitt Romney, John Kasich, John McCain, and the Bushes should be on the sidelines and grateful for the opportunity to be there because he could and should just exile them from the party instead. Trump doesn't need them and as it turns out, neither does the GOP. They're from a bygone era of the GOP that the public entrusts Trump to move on from, which I believe he will, even if there are a few neocons in his cabinet.
It's up to us to begin building up Trump Republicans/paleocons who have the experience and connections necessary to fill these prominent roles when they are needed to.Replies: @Laugh Track
William Lind might be a good candidate for Sec’y of State. And how about Phil Giraldi as new head of Intelligence? I am sure that neither would get the nod, but I can dream, can’t I? I’d also love to see Pat Buchanan do a reprise as presidential speechwriter.
I never had the perception that either Hillary or Kerry had any real idea of what they were doing as SoS. We need someone appointed who has a real grasp of what in the way of better diplomacy and foreign policy is called for.
Interestingly, John Bolton’s cousin is Michael Bolton.
Flynn is interesting in a lot of ways, but is a bit too rabid regarding fighting -- in his book, there is a lot of complaining about how we 'should have won' instead of how we should have just said no to getting involved. On the other hand, his specialty is intelligence -- the lack of which has been a root cause of stupid decisions. Kissinger still wants to talk about how it was essential to bomb Cambodia. Flynn seems to have some difficulty separating the bad decision to go into Iraq with the bad decisions after we arrived.
If it is Flynn, Secretary of State needs to balance him out. Huntsman has actual diplomatic experience as Ambassador to China, speaks Chinese, and would be reassuring. Huntsman has a reputation as a realist rather than a hawkish neocon.
Regardless, Trump's platform is to get a better deal -- not to simply get a do over.Replies: @Opinionator, @anonymous
On the other hand, his specialty is intelligence — the lack of which has been a root cause of stupid decisions.
It wasn’t faulty intelligence that led to those decisions. It was a combination of conflicts of interest and a different strategic vision than your own.
Steve Sailer has the strangest crush on invade the world invite the world Mitt Romney.
W. Patrick Lang should be put in charge of State.
Someone like Mike Pence would be a great SoS: strong, polite and down-to-earth. A conventional Republican who now follows Trump and is loyal to the cause.
Granted, Pence himself probably wouldn’t make for a great SoS, given that he seems more focused on domestic affairs, but a guy like him who’s focused on international affairs would be ideal.
What about:
Rand Paul?
Jim Webb?
Howard Dean?Replies: @Larry, San Francisco, @CK
Why do you think it is wise to remove his senate majority? If you think that a Paul should be the Sec of State, then choose Ron Paul. There is no need for a dem as Sec of State no Dean, no Kerry. Huntsman could not stand up to some adverse comments regarding his half hearted support for Trump, I find that no very reassuring in a Sec of State who does have to deal with serious concerns regarding our country. A wimp is probably not what is needed at State.
Webb is a better fit at DoD.
Ron Paul is very much still hated by the neocons because of his refusal to bow down, but his son seemed to be listening to them last year and politically imploded.
A list of non necons trump could appoint is pretty small. Ron Paul, walter jones, david bratt, sessions, jim webb, david stockman (for treasury), peter schiff, peter thiel, pat buchanan, etc. Maybe kobach and steve king? Hopefully rand paul realizes the murdoch and kristol types sabotaged him, but he could still do a lot of good as a senator and act more like his father – saying he would oppose bolton is a great start, for instance.
Maybe julian assange can be put in charge of trump admin social media and internet security. lol
Jon Huntsman negotiated China’s entry into the World Trade Organization. Given Donald Trump’s tirades against said entry during his campaign stump speeches, I don’t think Huntsman would be a good fit in the cabinet. I think most commenters here agree that Pat Buchanan would be the ideal choice. It’s a shame he’s too old.
Here is a better plan. 1) Bring all our troops back to the Western Hemisphere. 2) Use them to guard the borders of the US. 3) Mind our own business. 4) Reissue the Monroe Doctrine.Replies: @AKAHorace, @boogerbently, @CJ, @Buck Turgidson
In the second debate against the Hildabeast, Trump said directly, verbatim, quote “We are not the world’s policeman” unquote. Pat Buchanan used exactly the same phrase in the 1990s when Clinton was bombing Yugoslavia. It was a good attitude then and it still is.
I've met a few career Foreign Service officers over the years. The one common trait seems to be a sort of problem-fixing mentality towards the world. I got the impression of a vast diplomatic force that doesn't seek to secure our interest, smooth any ruffles, and get the hell away from the rest of the world, but rather, looks for nails to hammer down, things to rearrange better, and in general, schemes to embark on.Replies: @Anonymous, @Neil Templeton
Do gooding. America’s fatal flaw.
Whoever it is, they’d better be big picture intelligent. Wisdom.
James Baker would be an appropriate choice, were he still of an age to serve. Is there no-one left like him under 80?
How old is Clock Boy now?
If he’s over 18, Trump could throw a soothing bone to disgruntled Democrats by making Clock Boy his incumbent “Technology Czar.”
Webb is a better fit at DoD.Replies: @Opinionator
Yeah, I wouldn’t want to lose a vote in the Senate especially on an important committee but people don’t seem concerned about that when discussing Sessions.
Ron Paul is showing his age, sadly.
Is there a more popular Republican with Democrats/liberals than Huntsman?
I know, they wanted the GOP to nominate him because they knew they could beat him, but he is the guy every liberals offers as proof they really do seriously consider Republicans.
1) I think he’ll handle important FP himself so the actual sec. of state may be a fairly unknown figure who deals with the less important stuff
2) He’s training Ivanka
3) It won’t be Romney or anyone who opposed him unless he’s setting a trap.
I have a feeling that Trump needs a compromise candidate for State. If it works out, great. If not, we can think of him as Trump’s Al Haig.
Here is a better plan. 1) Bring all our troops back to the Western Hemisphere. 2) Use them to guard the borders of the US. 3) Mind our own business. 4) Reissue the Monroe Doctrine.Replies: @AKAHorace, @boogerbently, @CJ, @Buck Turgidson
Two thumbs up
Bolton is crude; Power is almost certifiable (always remember Libya).
Using Steve’s powerful points surely Trump should find a Kissinger-like figure who at least has an understanding of how f**king different non-Western countries are and how extraordinarily difficult it is to mould them sans outright imperialism. Someone who understands that the ‘liberation’ of Eastern Europe is NOT a pattern that can be placed, willy-nilly, on anywhere else in the world.
(Not that Dr. K. is/was the perfect exemplar. But you know what I mean.)
Anyone pushing Romney might usefully reread David Stockman’s view of this (“LBO strip-mining artist”). For this job character counts hugely.
http://davidstockmanscontracorner.com/mitt-romney-is-the-real-super-fraud-heres-the-proof-chapter-and-verse/
Appoint Boris Johnson, who is an American citizen and is currently serving a useful apprenticeship as British Foreign Secretary. He’s clever, extrovert, and strikingly ambitious. He’s usefully diverse, being descended from sundry Brits, Krauts, Turks, and God knows who else, with backgrounds in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. He was born in NYC.
In this day and age, the US has no allies, only parasites. Maybe provide protection to the UK, but only because she is the Mother Country to the US. The rest of the world is not the responsibility of the American tax payer.
As for the Paki doctor, he got what traitors and quislings always get. In the end his actions did more harm than good since they were an attack upon the neutrality of medical personnel.
The guy in office space?
I have a hunch that Donald Trump will not hesitate to fire anybody he chooses to, at will. He may even decide that they serve at his pleasure, strangely enough. I expect more appointments and departures than in recent presidencies.
Tell me. How is Jon Huntsman, Jr. going to help with Mormons? Jr. is not an active nor a believing Mormon, as he has hinted at publicly. Sr. is, but Jr. isn’t. Why does Trump need help with Mormons anyway? By the way, is “Anonymous” as stupid as he seems?
Flynn is interesting in a lot of ways, but is a bit too rabid regarding fighting -- in his book, there is a lot of complaining about how we 'should have won' instead of how we should have just said no to getting involved. On the other hand, his specialty is intelligence -- the lack of which has been a root cause of stupid decisions. Kissinger still wants to talk about how it was essential to bomb Cambodia. Flynn seems to have some difficulty separating the bad decision to go into Iraq with the bad decisions after we arrived.
If it is Flynn, Secretary of State needs to balance him out. Huntsman has actual diplomatic experience as Ambassador to China, speaks Chinese, and would be reassuring. Huntsman has a reputation as a realist rather than a hawkish neocon.
Regardless, Trump's platform is to get a better deal -- not to simply get a do over.Replies: @Opinionator, @anonymous
Chinese is hard to learn and Huntsman only pretends to speak it. In videos he doesn’t appear even to be conversational.
Huntsman’s father is a “supporter” of Glen Beck; and he had dreams of doing a papa Joe Kennedy. And Junior’s writings on immigration are pathetic.
I wish Sessions weren’t such a drug war crusader and all-around Hall Monitor Extraordinaire. Other than his immigration restrictionism, I find very little to like about this hick.
If Trump wants to be seen reaching out, moderate Democrats might be a safer bet than any of the Never-Trumpers, or the standard Republican neocons (same thing?).
Republican traitors would stand to do more damage by signing on with the secret intent to hurt Trump later with protest resignations. ‘Trump administration in chaos’
At least if Dems attempted the same, Trump would be able to play the partisan sour grapes angle. He would also score more points up front for ‘reaching across the aisle’.
The State personnel is very hawkish. This summer 51 top diplomats wrote a letter demanding a US military intervention in Syria against Assad despite the Russian military presence there.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/17/world/middleeast/syria-assad-obama-airstrikes-diplomats-memo.html
Giuliani is making noises about a Two Ocean Navy and taking on China. If Trump is going to move away from “Invade the World, Invite the World” Rudy may not be the best fit.
wikileaks showed ambassadors buying their positions
Is Pat Buchanan too old for the job?
“I admire his entire catalog.”