I wanted to call attention to what I thought was a nice turn of phrase in Peggy Noonan’s latest Wall Street Journal column, lamenting the decline in standards on both sides of the aisle. After several paragraphs decrying President Biden’s extraordinary blanket pardon of his son she turns to the income administration:
Now to the incoming administration’s slippage of standards, the exotic cabinet picks that veer from “that’s a stretch” to “that’s insane.” The more exotic nominees—Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at Health and Human Services, Pete Hegseth at Defense, Kash Patel at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mehmet Oz at Medicare and Medicaid Services—don’t have backgrounds that fit the jobs. Taken together they look like people who want to blow things up.
We shouldn’t be surprised. Back in 2020 I thought that neither Joe Biden nor Donald Trump were presidential caliber.
What does Mr. Trump think that qualifications for cabinet offices are? Maybe President-Elect Trump thinks that “blowing things up” is a primary qualification.
As I see it there are several different strategies for managing the federal government. My preference is what I call “prudent stewardship” but that requires a lot more knowledge, industry, capability, and skill than any recent candidate for president has possessed. That alone calls the present structure and scope of the federal government into question.
Ms. Noonan continues:
But these nominees seem as if they want a demolition derby everywhere. That isn’t a plan for progress but a recipe for unproductive chaos—nonstop, systemwide, all agencies involved.
I would add that her critique of the Department of Defense severely understates the problem. Readiness seems to be a peripheral issue rather than the central one as it should be. And we have far too many flag officers for a peacetime military.
Here are her remarks on “the deep state”:
It isn’t new. All modern democracies have them. J. Edgar Hoover was the deep state. He was appointed 100 years ago by Calvin Coolidge. “The building always wins” isn’t quite as true in Washington as “the house always wins” is in Vegas, but it’s close. The thing is to manage the mess by picking strong, seasoned, experienced people to lead the agencies, not hotheads but cool hands. Blow everything up and you’ll just wind up surrounded by debris.
Here’s her conclusion:
Senate Democrats may think they have a bonanza coming with all the explosive confirmation hearings, but it may not be that simple. They should probably keep one word in mind: backlash. Like the one that followed the past year’s court cases against Mr. Trump. Beating up nominee after nominee in hearing after hearing will leave some of the public thinking the Democrats are embarked on mere obstructionism, partisans shooting down every nominee for merely partisan reasons. Mr. Trump’s foes have a way of overreaching. It has turned out to be lucky for him. Democrats will have to choose their targets, too.
Which means some wholly unqualified people will likely get through. I guess that’s the ultimate strategic purpose of flooding the zone.
All this feels crazier than it has to.
“prudent stewardship” implies slavish loyalty to the status quo’s as well.
This is the front line of the political battle.
Reform at the federal level cannot be accomplished by steady, prudent leadership.
This is going to be noisy as hell, but in the end I don’t think we’ll be standing in a pile of rubble, hopefully a leaner and more responsive federal government.
I’m afraid that’s wishful thinking. Any attempt at a “leaner and more responsive federal government” will be fought to the death by anyone who feels they’re a stakeholder in the status quo. That’s something like 50% of the country.
Reform, at least positive reform, cant be accomplished by people who dont know what they are doing. Looking good on TV doesnt translate into competence.
Steve
I agree with that, steve.
Concerns me too.
Every incoming president has a range of acquaintances, associates from which to choose department heads, Biden had been in Washington a long time, Clinton brought Arkansas, Obama brought the crooked pols and slimy lawyers from Chicago, but Trump? Outside of his own family, who does he really like?
Rudy’s out, Bannon’s out, so, talking heads from the TV. With plans to can the “permanent help” on day one.
Hope they’re all fast learners.
The more exotic nominees—Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at Health and Human Services, Pete Hegseth at Defense, Kash Patel at the Federal Bureau of Investigation
RFK Jr. Is an attorney dealing with medical, pharmaceutical, agricultural issues for years in his law suits. He knows more about vaccines, food dyes, pesticides, the ugly unethical practices of the pharmaceuticals than most people do. His life goals have been to attain better health for the people of this country. To do this, in lieu of our challenges of so much chronic disease and obesity, he was an appropriate choice to make the appropriate changes needed.
Pete Hegseth has deployed several times overseas, earned two bronze medals, has seen what the rank and file military men/women have to go thru on the ground, rather than behind a desk. He talks about the need to help service people in their transition back into civilian life, hopefully lessening the enormous number of suicides and addiction encountered after returning home. He also sees the failure of seven Pentagon audits concerning, especially when no one even seems to know what the almost $900 billion dollar budget is spent on. Hagseth has discussed the bloated 4-5 star general contingencies as well, the woke, DEI, CRT focus that is alarmingly weakening our military services. He is highly supported by combat veterans and service men/women alike, who see his leadership as a welcome change – a change that might have earlier avoided the unnecessary deaths of 13 young soldiers at Abby Gate, during the messed up departure from Afghanistan.
Finally, Kash Patel has been a prosecuting attorney, having far more cases to his credit than Kamala Harris who ran for president. He has experience in the Intel community, knows many of the bad actors there, and has been endorsed by the largest police association in the country. He’s an honest, passionate man who seeks justice more than fame and money. What a wonderful choice he is!