It’s difficult to look at Donald Trump’s cabinet picks and not think the man is having a laugh at everyone else’s expense.
Then again, the first thing to remember about dangerous people is that if they say they are going to do something — in Trump’s case, to be “a dictator on day one” — then believe them.
Right now the US media is full of delusion that in choosing such plainly incompetent people, Trump, perhaps the pettiest, most vengeful man ever to hold high office, is merely trolling the Libs.
Should they be confirmed, this will be a government of trolls.
Pete Hegseth — a Christian nationalist army veteran with, apparently, a Crusader cross tattooed on his chest, but zero proven ability to actually manage the world’s most powerful war machine — as secretary of defence. Flip-flopping Tulsi Gabbard (she was a Democrat before), an apparent Russian sympathiser, as director of national intelligence. RFK Jr, a vaccine sceptic and raw-milk fanatic with a dead worm in his brain, as health secretary. And Matt Gaetz, who denies allegations that he paid for sex with a minor, as attorney general.
Compared with this lot, the dead-eyed, cat-lady-hating vice-president-elect, JD Vance, looks like a model of competence and affability
Then, two people (a tiny irony apparently lost on Americans) to head the “department of government efficiency” (or Doge, geddit?), seriously rich guys Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.
Compared with this lot, the dead-eyed, cat-lady-hating vice-president-elect, JD Vance, looks like a model of competence and affability.
A handful of Republicans vow they won’t confirm the appointments. Of course they lined up to kiss the ring during Trump’s impeachment hearings in 2021 so it shouldn’t be too long before they take the knee.
After that, how long before the cowed legislators pass a Trump version of Nazi Germany’s law for the restoration of the civil service, the aim of which was to establish a “professional” — meaning loyal — public service by purging it of Jews, communists and political opponents?
History is a great teacher ... for those who listen.
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