Hey, Thom Tillis, joke's on you!
Trump is going to force the Senate to vote on ethically challenged and unqualified cabinet nominees as some sort of twisted loyalty test.
I just want to thank Thom Tillis—and Mitch McConnell and every other Republican who chucked their conservative values to re-elect Donald Trump. Trump has announced that Matt Gaetz will be his attorney general and some Fox News reporter with no managerial experience will be his secretary of defense. He’s also nominated Russian dupe Tulsi Gabbard for Director for National Intelligence. Jokes on you!
I guess I should also thank Trump who proved my point that the only thing that really matters to people like Thom Tillis is tax cuts. Donald Trump told us exactly what his presidency would look like and now he’s carrying it out. We knew he would because he was president before. He’s going to plunder our country and give the spoils to his billionaire buddies. He tried to do it before but was just too damn incompetent. This time, he’s surrounded by grifters and sycophants with a plan. The VERY SERIOUS PEOPLE like Thom Tillis neutered themselves years ago, showing Trump they lack the courage or principles to stand up to him. Now, they lack the power.
Trump is also hauling Elon Musk around with him to important meetings like the one with the GOP House Caucus and even putting the billionaire on calls with foreign leaders. He appointed Musk and Vivak Ramaswamy as head of a new “Department of Government Efficiency,” an agency with a very vague mission. This all feels very Orwellian. We’re about to see what an oligarchy and kleptocracy really looks like.
Trump is trolling Republicans who believe they could keep him in check. He’s going to force them to vote to confirm a guy for attorney general who has credibly been placed at drug-fueled sex parties and is under suspicion of having sex with a minor. And they’ll most likely do it. And if they don’t, Trump will know which Senators are more loyal to him and which are more loyal to the country. For those who chose country over party, the punishment will be harsh.
Tillis, for his part, will be facing a re-election in 2026. If he bucks Trump, he could end up with Trump supporting his primary opponent. He’s already seen that the GOP primary electorate in North Carolina would nominate Mark Robinson over more qualified candidates and, time again, he’s put his political fortunes ahead of his state and nation.
Trump’s cabinet picks emphasize that loyalty to him is the preeminent Republican value. He’s appointing fellow grifters to his Cabinet to make sure there’s no accountability. He’s forcing Republican Senators to either accommodate him or cross him. Given what we’ve seen from the Republican Party over the last eight years, I expect them to all fall in line. As Senator Tommy Tuberville said yesterday, “President Trump and JD Vance are going to be running the Senate.” So much for checks and balances.
Humiliation is the price of admission to Trump’s GOP. It’s still a bit shocking to see how low once-proud Americans will stoop. Incompetent, and unethical people are about to take over our government. Republicans like Thom Tillis will make it possible.
It seems that concern over the recess appointment stratagem has faded after the election of institutionalist John Thune as the incoming majority leader. Trump's choice Rick Scott came in third. Of course the Republican senators had the luxury of casting their votes behind closed doors. What Thomas Mills has offered today may illustrate why the recess appointment option may still be attractive to Republican senators so they do not have to cast public votes on the clowns that Trump is nominating. I sent the following to Senators Tillis and Budd. Perhaps other readers might wish to do the same:
Dear Senator Tillis,
Given our statewide results apart from the presidential ticket, I think it is safe to say that most North Carolinians will expect you to assert the constitutional role of the Senate in the vetting and confirmation of the major executive appointments. May I hear back from you on whether or not you will allow the Senate to adjourn so that Donald Trump can fill his senior executive positions through unchecked recess appointments. It is important for you to take a position on this matter.
For a moment, I get fooled and think they might do the right thing and then I remember the only thing they really care about is power. For me, taking the Oath of Office as I got promoted in the Marine Corps actually meant something. Not to these clowns. Not sure why they even bother.