These are the current Trump Cabinet positions.
Justice - Jeff Sessions
Treasury - Steve Mnuchin
Education - Betsy DeVos
Transportation - Elaine Chao
Health and Human Services - Tom Price
Commerce - Wilbur Ross
Housing and Urban Development - Ben Carson
Defense - Gen. James Mattis
I'm going to go through and describe both the good and bad of each choice. Foremost in mind will be the stated aim of Trump to 'Drain the Swamp'.
Jeff Sessions - Senator (Alabama): Career in politics started in 1975 (Asst. US Attorney, Alabama). Reagan nominated him US Attorney for Alabama. Confirmed and held position for 12 years. Several allegations of racism dogged him over the years, highlighted by him calling the NAACP "un-American" and claiming civil rights did more harm than good "by trying to force civil rights "down the throats of people". He has been Senator since 1996. He has the experience and expertise to head Justice, but his history in race relations is highly suspect and as a career politician, does not at all 'Drain the Swamp'.
Steve Mnuchin - Banker and political fundraiser. Goldman-Sachs Partner for 17 years. Founded Hedge Fund: Dune Capital Management in 2004. In partnership with George Soros and John Paulson purchased failed housing lender IndyMac as part of bankruptcy sale for $1.6 billion in 2006. It was sued for a string of questionable housing foreclosures and after settling those cases, sold the company to CIT Group in 2015. Munchin gained about $97 million from that sale. Married 3 times and currently living in a $26.5 million house in Bel Air. His pros are that he is well-acquainted with what's involved in Treasury. As a banker, fundraiser, and Wall Street insider, he's not at all contributing to the 'Drain the Swamp' campaign, unless by "drain the swamp" you really mean "fill that sucker up!".
Betsy DeVos - Billionaire and advocate of the voucher program for education. Her brother is Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater Security. She has a Bachelors Degree, with a concentration in political science and business admin. Issues press release in 2004 saying Michigans workers were overpaid and that it made the state less competitive. On the positive side, she and her husband (Dick DeVos, heir to Amway fortune), do a lot of philanthropic work. Experience-wise, she has long been an advocate for the voucher program, for which there's been a lot of criticism. She does have the education administration experience, but her views on the voucher program runs contrary to most teachers, which are against it. In terms of "Draining the Swamp" this is almost a wash. She's been heavily involved in politics her whole life. An evaluation of her can depend on your view on the voucher program. If you're a Republican favoring it, not the worst choice. However, pushing for vouchers as a solution to education concerns is a step back if progress is the goal.
Elaine Chao - She served as Secretary of Labor (2001-2009) under Bush Jr. Under Bush Sr. she was appointed as Deputy Secretary of Transportation (1991). She is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. She's has an MBA from Harvard. She is a relatively uncontroversial pick. She is a long-time insider inside Washington, but not seen as part of "The Swamp". She is an example of a pick that is not exactly draining the swamp, but not necessarily filling it up either. There could be worse picks.
Tom Price - Georgia Senator 1996-2005. 2005-Present House of Representatives member. Long-time politician, voted to prohibit funding to NPR (2011), voted against the Emergency Mortgage Relief Program, to extend the Patriot Act, voted to cut the FHA's funding program, and created numerous bills to repeal the ACA. He voted to outlaw healthcare programs that included programs to assist in abortion, and allow hospitals to deny emergency abortion care. He opposes any gun control. He voted against a bill prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation. He voted for an amendment to define marriage as only between a man and a woman. He wants to replace the ACA exchanges with a tax credit, and interstate plans. If you're a die-hard Republican sticking ideologically to the party's platform, this is probably your guy. However, he is a long-time insider. He is exactly part of the swamp that Trump campaigned to move out of Washington.
Why this is a disaster: He's intent on agreeing with Ryan to remove the Medicaid expansion. He and Ryan will gut the progress made over the last 8 years in favor of privatization. Privatizing the VA, privatizing Social Security, and removing the ACA? Millions will be negatively affected.
Wilburn Ross - Banker specializing in leveraged buyouts. Net worth is about $2.9 billion. His career is as a man involved in buying companies and liquidating their assets for profit. A Wallstreet bigwig. He adds to the swamp. Don't expect any help for the Common Man.
Ben Carson - Former MD and Presidential hopeful. He has no experience with 'Housing and Urban Development'. This seems an appointment provided solely due to loyalty to Trump. However, far more than Trump himself, he is an outsider. If the purpose of 'Draining the Swamp' is to remove the professionals for an "outsider" this is thus far the only person to fulfill that promise. As long he stays out of planning meetings and just sits around as it's symbolic head, he may cause no harm. Once he starts making misinformed decisions, watch out.
Gen. James Mattis (ret.) - Mattis has plenty of experience. A member of the Marine Corps since 1969, he succeeded Patraeus. He has no scandals surrounding him, is not known as a politician. He's had a straight-forward military career with several high position appointments. As a supporter of a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, he's a more moderate choice. Considering who was rumored to be Secretary of Defense (Kelly Ayotte or Michael Flynn), he's much less controversial. I'll give Trump credit for this pick. This rates as a -1 in adding to the swamp. If Michael Flynn winds up selected as Chief Military Advisor, I'd have to wash this, as I'd rather James Mattis for that position and Flynn stuck here.
Justice - Jeff Sessions
Treasury - Steve Mnuchin
Education - Betsy DeVos
Transportation - Elaine Chao
Health and Human Services - Tom Price
Commerce - Wilbur Ross
Housing and Urban Development - Ben Carson
Defense - Gen. James Mattis
I'm going to go through and describe both the good and bad of each choice. Foremost in mind will be the stated aim of Trump to 'Drain the Swamp'.
Jeff Sessions - Senator (Alabama): Career in politics started in 1975 (Asst. US Attorney, Alabama). Reagan nominated him US Attorney for Alabama. Confirmed and held position for 12 years. Several allegations of racism dogged him over the years, highlighted by him calling the NAACP "un-American" and claiming civil rights did more harm than good "by trying to force civil rights "down the throats of people". He has been Senator since 1996. He has the experience and expertise to head Justice, but his history in race relations is highly suspect and as a career politician, does not at all 'Drain the Swamp'.
Steve Mnuchin - Banker and political fundraiser. Goldman-Sachs Partner for 17 years. Founded Hedge Fund: Dune Capital Management in 2004. In partnership with George Soros and John Paulson purchased failed housing lender IndyMac as part of bankruptcy sale for $1.6 billion in 2006. It was sued for a string of questionable housing foreclosures and after settling those cases, sold the company to CIT Group in 2015. Munchin gained about $97 million from that sale. Married 3 times and currently living in a $26.5 million house in Bel Air. His pros are that he is well-acquainted with what's involved in Treasury. As a banker, fundraiser, and Wall Street insider, he's not at all contributing to the 'Drain the Swamp' campaign, unless by "drain the swamp" you really mean "fill that sucker up!".
Betsy DeVos - Billionaire and advocate of the voucher program for education. Her brother is Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater Security. She has a Bachelors Degree, with a concentration in political science and business admin. Issues press release in 2004 saying Michigans workers were overpaid and that it made the state less competitive. On the positive side, she and her husband (Dick DeVos, heir to Amway fortune), do a lot of philanthropic work. Experience-wise, she has long been an advocate for the voucher program, for which there's been a lot of criticism. She does have the education administration experience, but her views on the voucher program runs contrary to most teachers, which are against it. In terms of "Draining the Swamp" this is almost a wash. She's been heavily involved in politics her whole life. An evaluation of her can depend on your view on the voucher program. If you're a Republican favoring it, not the worst choice. However, pushing for vouchers as a solution to education concerns is a step back if progress is the goal.
Elaine Chao - She served as Secretary of Labor (2001-2009) under Bush Jr. Under Bush Sr. she was appointed as Deputy Secretary of Transportation (1991). She is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. She's has an MBA from Harvard. She is a relatively uncontroversial pick. She is a long-time insider inside Washington, but not seen as part of "The Swamp". She is an example of a pick that is not exactly draining the swamp, but not necessarily filling it up either. There could be worse picks.
Tom Price - Georgia Senator 1996-2005. 2005-Present House of Representatives member. Long-time politician, voted to prohibit funding to NPR (2011), voted against the Emergency Mortgage Relief Program, to extend the Patriot Act, voted to cut the FHA's funding program, and created numerous bills to repeal the ACA. He voted to outlaw healthcare programs that included programs to assist in abortion, and allow hospitals to deny emergency abortion care. He opposes any gun control. He voted against a bill prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation. He voted for an amendment to define marriage as only between a man and a woman. He wants to replace the ACA exchanges with a tax credit, and interstate plans. If you're a die-hard Republican sticking ideologically to the party's platform, this is probably your guy. However, he is a long-time insider. He is exactly part of the swamp that Trump campaigned to move out of Washington.
Why this is a disaster: He's intent on agreeing with Ryan to remove the Medicaid expansion. He and Ryan will gut the progress made over the last 8 years in favor of privatization. Privatizing the VA, privatizing Social Security, and removing the ACA? Millions will be negatively affected.
Wilburn Ross - Banker specializing in leveraged buyouts. Net worth is about $2.9 billion. His career is as a man involved in buying companies and liquidating their assets for profit. A Wallstreet bigwig. He adds to the swamp. Don't expect any help for the Common Man.
Ben Carson - Former MD and Presidential hopeful. He has no experience with 'Housing and Urban Development'. This seems an appointment provided solely due to loyalty to Trump. However, far more than Trump himself, he is an outsider. If the purpose of 'Draining the Swamp' is to remove the professionals for an "outsider" this is thus far the only person to fulfill that promise. As long he stays out of planning meetings and just sits around as it's symbolic head, he may cause no harm. Once he starts making misinformed decisions, watch out.
Gen. James Mattis (ret.) - Mattis has plenty of experience. A member of the Marine Corps since 1969, he succeeded Patraeus. He has no scandals surrounding him, is not known as a politician. He's had a straight-forward military career with several high position appointments. As a supporter of a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, he's a more moderate choice. Considering who was rumored to be Secretary of Defense (Kelly Ayotte or Michael Flynn), he's much less controversial. I'll give Trump credit for this pick. This rates as a -1 in adding to the swamp. If Michael Flynn winds up selected as Chief Military Advisor, I'd have to wash this, as I'd rather James Mattis for that position and Flynn stuck here.
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