# Donald Trump transition 2016-2017 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 9, 2016, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-transition-2016-2017/771181 "2016-11-09T11:32:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-transition-2016-2017/771181/21 "2016-11-18T15:42:43Z")
Arpaio is 84 years old, he’s really too old for any governmental position. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-transition-2016-2017/771181/22 "2016-11-18T15:45:37Z")
[From the NYT](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/19/us/politics/jeff-sessions-donald-trump-attorney-general.html): > [@](#): > > President-elect Donald J. Trump has selected Senator Jeff Sessions, a conservative from Alabama who became a close adviser after endorsing him early in his campaign, to be the attorney general of the United States, according to officials close to the transition… > > While serving as a United States prosecutor in Alabama, Mr. Sessions was nominated in 1986 by President Ronald Reagan for a federal judgeship. But his nomination was rejected by the Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee because of racially charged comments and actions. At that time, he was one of two judicial nominees whose selections were halted by the panel in nearly 50 years. > > In testimony before the committee, former colleagues said that Mr. Sessions had referred to the N.A.A.C.P., the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and other civil rights groups as “un-American” and “Communist-inspired.” An African-American federal prosecutor then, Thomas H. Figures, said Mr. Sessions had referred to him as “boy” and testified that Mr. Sessions said the Ku Klux Klan was fine “until I found out they smoked pot.” Mr. Sessions dismissed that remark as a joke. > > Mr. Sessions was also accused of speaking disparagingly of the Voting Rights Act and the stringent oversight it placed on Southern states. He’s also agin’ Immigration Reform. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-transition-2016-2017/771181/23 "2016-11-18T16:30:54Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Can we get Wayne LaPierre to head the ATF? Sure, but who’s going to explain what alcohol and tobacco are to him? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-transition-2016-2017/771181/24 "2016-11-18T16:38:36Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Sure, but who’s going to explain what alcohol and tobacco are to him? Just remind him that some tobacco is green and you smoke the flowers. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-transition-2016-2017/771181/25 "2016-11-18T16:42:50Z")
May I please nominate Paul LePage to lead HUD? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-transition-2016-2017/771181/26 "2016-11-18T17:25:04Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Sure, but who’s going to explain what alcohol and tobacco are to him? I don’t think anybody at BATFE actually cares about alcohol or tobacco. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-transition-2016-2017/771181/27 "2016-11-18T17:58:23Z")
Gingrich has said he will not be a part of the administration (I always knew he was smart, loathsome though he may be). Trump is meeting with Mitt Romney on Sunday at his golf club in New Jersey, and the rumor is that Romney is being considered for State. That might get awkward (remember when Romney said that Russia was America’s biggest global threat?). I still imagine that Trump wants to reward Giuliani with the position, but his international business relationships (lobbying on behalf of foreign governments, I believe) might make his confirmation difficult. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-transition-2016-2017/771181/28 "2016-11-18T18:02:53Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > remember when Romney said that Russia was America’s biggest global threat? I do. Do you remember how the Democrats mocked him for it? And now they seem to be in agreement. It’s been interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-transition-2016-2017/771181/29 "2016-11-18T18:15:04Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I do. Do you remember how the Democrats mocked him for it? No, I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-transition-2016-2017/771181/30 "2016-11-18T18:22:06Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I do. Do you remember how the Democrats mocked him for it? And now they seem to be in agreement. It’s been interesting. That was back in the halcyon days of yore when candidates were criticized for actual geopolitical viewpoints. Good times… But it doesn’t change the fact that Romney appears to not be on Trump’s page with regard to foreign policy. And we all know about their personal animosity. I’d be very shocked if Trump really does appoint him, unless Trump just knows that Giuliani (who I think wants the post, and who has been very loyal) won’t survive the confirmation hearing. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-transition-2016-2017/771181/31 "2016-11-18T18:22:49Z")
There was that platform plank about supporting Ukraine, and then poof! gone. Did we ever find out what actually happened? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-transition-2016-2017/771181/32 "2016-11-18T18:28:52Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > No, I don’t. And for more fun, you can watch Sarah Palin predict that Russia would invade Ukraine. Foreign Policy magazine called it "an extremely far-fetched scenario." Turns out, she was right. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-transition-2016-2017/771181/33 "2016-11-18T18:34:38Z")
Missed the edit window. Here’s the link to Sarah Palin’s 2008 comments on Russia invading Ukraine: [Russia might invade Ukraine if Obama wins, Palin warns – Foreign Policy](http://foreignpolicy.com/2008/10/22/russia-might-invade-ukraine-if-obama-wins-palin-warns/) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-transition-2016-2017/771181/34 "2016-11-18T18:37:52Z")
At the time, claiming that Russia was a bigger problem than AlQ was kinda dumb. Obama said so. But on your planet, that’s the same as “Democrats mocking”? OK. Got it. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-transition-2016-2017/771181/35 "2016-11-18T18:45:57Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > At the time, claiming that Russia was a bigger problem than AlQ was kinda dumb. Obama said so. But on your planet, that’s the same as “Democrats mocking”? OK. Got it. No. Its dumb to think a stateless entity is more worrisome than a nuclear armed aggressive state. But then, Obama thought he could moderate Putin’s ambitions. How did that work out for us? Neither policy wonks nor neophytes are inherently better. For all of our sakes, let’s hope Trump is able to manage our foreign affairs successfully. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-transition-2016-2017/771181/36 "2016-11-18T18:51:59Z")
Don’t recall them being all that aggressive at the time. Lately, however, they are a lot more frisky. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-transition-2016-2017/771181/37 "2016-11-18T19:05:11Z")
Chechnya? Also, the collapse in petroleum prices has caused unrest in Russia and Putin has used nationalistic actions to distract his public. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-transition-2016-2017/771181/38 "2016-11-18T19:23:23Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Chechnya? > > Also, the collapse in petroleum prices has caused unrest in Russia and Putin has used nationalistic actions to distract his public. The collapse in oil prices occurred months\* afte\*r the Russians started interfering in the Ukraine. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-transition-2016-2017/771181/39 "2016-11-18T21:00:12Z")
The Tsars interfered in the Ukraine. It has been a popular Russian pastime for centuries. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2016, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-transition-2016-2017/771181/40 "2016-11-19T02:07:01Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Chechnya? Georgia. It happened in the general election time frame in 2008. Chechnya was at least an internal struggle. Georgia was a use of force against another nation to seize…er liberate… disgruntled provinces from another nation. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-transition-2016-2017/771181.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-transition-2016-2017/771181.md?page=3)