53 Comments

Trump will not put a woman in charge of defense, no matter how sensible that might seem. I never thought that I’d be cheering for a DeSantis cabinet nomination, but compared to Hegseth he’s a big improvement. DeSantis also has a few things in his background that should be looked at, Guantanamo comes to mind, but we’ll see what the confirmation process throws up. He and Trump have not always been in lockstep.

Expand full comment

Totally agree about Ernst. A woman as head of Defense? Somehow I don't think that aligns with Trump's 'straight out of Central Casting' tendencies.

Expand full comment

Ernst talks about castrating hogs. She could very much fit the bill. I don't think she'll be the choice, though.

Expand full comment

“Big improvement” is a foreign phrase when it comes to nominee-replacements in Trumps wannabe cabinet. I’m just waiting like a butterfly on Marjorie Taylor Greenberg’s shoulder for him to drop the glass slipper in front of her. UN embassador?

Expand full comment

If Hegseth is out... two down, three to go. Keep up the pressure, Senators. It IS your job.

Expand full comment

This almost feels to me like another Mitt Romney moment - Trump is just f*cking with puddin' fingers. Because he can. And 100% agree with Cathlynn - no way Trump puts a woman in charge. Doesn't fit his TV image of SecDef.

Expand full comment

He has surely missed being the boss and saying “You’re fired!”

Expand full comment

Whoever gets confirmed, many of them will not be in those jobs four years from now.

Expand full comment

Some not one or two years, depending on who unearths which scandals.

Expand full comment

😆

Expand full comment

I nominate Nikki Haley's husband to run the DoD!

Expand full comment

Good piece Chris. Do you think it is possible that Trump's team are not vetting these picks or that in fact they are and he is throwing these out there to see if they will stick anyway or it gives him the opportunity to get even more press while in the ned picking who he wanted in the first place? Perhaps an answer now or next Friday.

Expand full comment

It is impossible. Trump has no agenda, plan, or the capacity OR capability to think 30 seconds into the future. His lizard brain is only in flight or fight mode, all the damn time. There are plenty of folks around him who have actual plans and intent, but he is not one of those.

Expand full comment

Yet he won easily!! MAGA

Expand full comment

He won barely. Now let’s see him govern.

Expand full comment

O, I thought he won every swing state. I must have been watching a different election than you….

Expand full comment

He did win every swing state. His overal percentage of the vote was like 1.5% over Harris. He won, barely.

Expand full comment

Don't feed the trolls. Dutch is simply here to try and make others angry, he has no interest in actually debating anything. He is a coward and just wants to annoy people, ignore him.

Expand full comment

O that’s right!

Yes barely won, but you wanna know what….. 😂

Expand full comment

I tnink your analysis is part of the problem. I think he is smarter than you think. I think too many people are underestimating him and that is one of the reasons he keeps rising to the top. For example, analysts can't stop talking about what tariffs he has promised to impose on the first day of his presedency will affect the countries invoved and the economy. That is exactly what he wants to happen. Otherwise, he would have kept it to himself until he came to power. It is probably another negotiating tactic.

Expand full comment

Here's the deal. See that American flag I use. I love this country and everything we stand for, even when things don't go my way. I WANT our president to succeed and be successful. America thrives when we have a great president.

If we hadn't already seen the original movie, it might be worth sitting through the sequel. But we saw the bleach injection and horse wormer episode. It cost him the 2020 election. Biden doomed himself and brought us Part 2.

It is absolutely moronic to think he got smarter, more astute and well educated and also got 8 years older than his first run at this.

You can dream it, but it ain't happening.

We aren't about to witness Rockie 5. It's going to more Ishtar.

Expand full comment

He doesn’t actually get anything in negotiation. He always backs down.

Expand full comment

It's interesting to note that the laws of political gravity seem to be applying to Trump's nominees. Drinking and sexual assault is a problem for Hegseth, tho Trump is a convicted felon and was found liable for ... sexual assault. While Trump's teflon remains impervious, the Senate vetting system might be working for his chosen minions. Few can match Trump's utter shamelessness, and that might be the best news of all.

Expand full comment

Never have I seen such a beautiful example of what “scraping the barrel” actually is. Idioms in action!

Expand full comment

In Trump-landia - the super accurate tell that is it OVER for a nominee is when the stories surface that the "nominee is in trouble". It is a dead giveaway, and in Hegseth's case - that was a few days ago.

Expand full comment

Totally off subject here but relevant to the video:

Must be a COLD day wherever you are in the clip. I'm not sure I've ever been in weather, this early in the Winter, that involves wearing what appears to be:

A flannel

A tracksuit type zip up

AND a somewhat heavy coat

It's either cold AF or you are cold-natured!

Being from N Texas, plenty of long extended periods of heat but never cold.

Expand full comment

big improvement? when the bar is below ground and you look at another person who might clear the low bar 8 out of 10 times...that's not improvement, that is trying to normalize the abnormal.

Expand full comment

Thank you for your thorough look into this matter. Were it not for your diligence, and a few others, this sort of information would not be shared with the public. Forewarned is forearmed!

Expand full comment

This would be number three after the DOJ and DEA appointments failed. Who's next? I think Gabbard or RFK Jr., both supremely unqualified for their posts.

Expand full comment

You gave me a laugh with Puddin' Fingers! Thanks! 😂

Expand full comment

Since we’re getting down to the final moments of pre-nominations, where do Ivanka and Eric and Don Jr come in? Someone else can run the company from behind the curtain while they play on stage. This play is a comi-tragedy in the making.

Expand full comment

The bottom line is this: never mind how qualified Sen. Ernst is, how great a Sec of Defense she would be. Is she willing to bend the knee? Does she think Trump won in 2020? Will she say "Yes Sir!" to anything Trump says or wants, no matter how ludicrous? If the answer is Yes, than she is Trump's pick, regardless of her qualifications.

Expand full comment