LEFT ATTEMPTING TO STOP TRUMP APPOINTMENTS

 

[Published in Sunday Guardian of India]

Washington, DC.

President-Elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet Level Appointees are facing an array of personal and political attacks from Democrats and media commentators.

Defense Secretary-Designate Pete Hegseth is accused of sexual assault during a 2017 speaking engagement.  Hegseth’s attorney is threatening to sue the accuser.  There have also been rumors of his heavy drinking.

Trump posted a strong affirmation of his support for Hegseth on Truth Social.

“Pete is a WINNER, there is nothing that can be done to change that.”

There had been speculation that Hegseth’s nomination may be withdrawn and alternative candidates, including Florida Governor Ron Desantis and Senator Joni Ernst, have been floated.

The Hegseth attacks echo the charges leveled against Trump’s Supreme Court Nominee, Brent Kavanaugh in 2018.  During his Senate Confirmation, Kavanaugh was accused of sexual assault and heavy drinking while in college.  Three days of emotional hearings led to Kavanaugh being confirmed by the Senate on a 50-48 vote (two Senators were absent).

Kash Patel, Trump’s Director-Designate to head the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is also drawing fire from Democrats and the media.  In his case, they criticize his lack of management experience and record of criticizing corruption and bias within the FBI.

Trump’s selection of nontraditional nominees is consistent with his pledge to “Drain the Swamp” and implement revolutionary change in the way the Federal Government operates. 

The Washington elites, in Congress, the media, academia, bureaucracy, and government contractors are afraid Trump will succeed.  Ending decades of unaccountable spending, regulatory overreach, and self-serving decisions are top priorities for Trump and his team.

People are Policy

A new President can select 8,167 people to help run the Executive Branch of the U.S. Federal Government.  This includes White House staff and heads of Agencies and Cabinet Departments. 

Approximately 1,093 require Senate confirmation, including various Advisory Boards and Regulatory Commissions.

Democrats hope by stopping, or at least delaying, Senate approvals they will hamper Trump’s ability to implement real change.

Democrats and their media allies are hoping their accusations will peel-away support among Republican Senators.  Republicans will have a 53-47 majority in the Senate when it convenes in January 2025.  Trump’s nominees can only lose three Republicans and still win confirmation.

Two Republican Senators, Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), regularly break with their colleagues to oppose Trump.  This is ironic as they both supported Biden’s controversial Cabinet picks – Attorney General Merrick Garland and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.  They also supported transgender leftist Rachel Levine as Assistant Secretary for Health.

Trump’s unwavering support for his nominees and the willingness of his nominees to confront their attackers could be the winning combination as confirmation hearings begin in January 2025.

 

SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME

[ALSO PUBLISHED IN NEWSMAX]

In 1933, science fiction writer H.G. Wells wrote “The Shape of Things to Come”. His startling predictions covered 173 years into the future. Many of his visions were tragically accurate, like the strategic bombing of cities.

The following vision of December 2020 is one possible reality of the next two years. These predictions could become real if Republicans remain complacent, disorganized, and disloyal. Republicans bungling their historic opportunity over the last two years was terrible. Republicans failing during the next two years will be disastrous. Time to stand for something. Time to fight for something.

It is December 2020. President-elect Michelle Obama is filing her transition team and administration with liberal activists. The media is gushing over her every move.

Obama waged the most effective nomination fight in memory by not waging one. She hinted and teased, but waited until May 2020 to plunge into the fray.

The crowded Democrat field played its part brilliantly. Each of the fifteen candidates exhausted themselves moving ever further left with each debate, caucus, and primary. Conservative pundits and social media were delighted to assail the Democrat field and make fun of their over the top stances. It all paved the way for Obama to enter the race to “save the Democrats from themselves”. Democrat Party leaders breathed a sigh of relief and rallied to Obama’s cause.

Starting with the release of her book, Michelle Obama fostered “Obama Nostalgia”. This movement spread throughout media and academic circles. The movement expertly positioned the Obama years (2009-2016) as a calm, scandal free, period. They claimed that Republican Bush destroyed the economy, Obama rebuilt it, and Trump benefited from it.

“Obama Nostalgia” capitalized on the chaos in Washington.

House Democrats launched investigations into President Trump and his administration on an unprecedented scale. They voted to impeach Justice Kavanaugh in March 2019. His Senate trial failed to convict with only 40 votes. The House voted to impeach Trump in May 2019 on five counts including the emoluments clause, treason, exceeding authority on border security, and obstruction of justice. The Senate trial dominated the summer of 2019. Sixty Senators voted against Trump on the emoluments and obstruction charges, falling short of the 66 votes required to convict. The 13 Republicans voting to convict tore apart the GOP across America.

Democrats shifted to impeaching Trump appointees. Two Cabinet Secretaries resigned during their impeachment processes. The third Cabinet Member fought back and the House impeachment effort failed with only 170 votes. Speaker Pelosi stopped further impeachment actions stating, “it is time to heal”.

The impeachment assault achieved its goal. No further Trump appointees were confirmed by the Senate, including judges. Fewer and fewer people were willing to be named to Administration positions. Except for a steady stream of Executive Orders, Trump’s Executive Branch ground to a halt. The Stock Market sagged and economic indicators reflected increased uncertainty.

Romney, Flake, and Kasich ran against Trump. They benefited from a flood of leaks from the Romney, Bush, and swamp dweller operatives embedded in Trump’s inner circles. The Never-Trump candidates collectively garnered 35 percent of the delegates, but winning only a handful of caucuses and primaries (i.e. Utah). Trump prevailed and continued to speak to huge enthusiastic crowds throughout 2020.

The media positioned 2020 as the choice between continued Trump chaos or a return to Obama calm. Republican hopes for taking down the Clintons as a counter narrative were dashed when members of the Federal Grand Jury nullified federal law by refusing to indict. Several jurors explained that, while the Clintons broke numerous laws, they could not put America through the tragedy of their trial. This was applauded by the media and academia as the right decision to “heal the country”.

Republicans in Congress and their media allies, remained ineffective and panicked throughout 2019 and 2020. They were in disarray about Trump, and how to counter the Democrats. Republicans paid the price by losing the Senate. Voters defeated the most zealous Democrat House Members, who over reached on anti-Trump accusations, shrinking their majority 223 seats.

Time is running out to craft a different future. Our nation is at stake.