All three recommendations based on current business ties. What are they gonna do, NOT recommend their biggest client? http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/rex-tillerson-supporters-russia-exxon-ties-232524
Worse, the Department of Energy is the cabinet department that Perry infamously couldn’t recall the name of during that 2011 Republican primary debate. :dubious:
I expect that this will come up in his confirmation hearing. I also expect that the Republicans in Congress will vote to confirm him. :rolleyes:
After all, he’s clearly just as qualified as the Nobel Prize-winning physicist that is currently running the department. 
Yes, I do think he’s going to just step down. What the hell do you think he’s going to do, stay on as CEO while he’s Secretary of State? Of course he’s going to step down. That’s a no-brainer. Further, the guy is 64, and Exxon has a mandatory 65 year old retirement age anyways; he was going to step down next year regardless. As far as divesting his stock, what do you think he’d want to do, keep all of his wealth tied in one company that he no longer would have any control over? He would almost certainly be diversifying away from Exxon even if he wasn’t going to be Secretary of State. That’s basic financial prudence that anyone would do.
Is he going to favor the company? I think he has a host of personal biases that may or may not favor the company going forward, just like any other person that would be chosen.
Obama’s Secretary of the Treasury formerly was the Chief Operating Officer for Citibank. Was that a horrible conflict of interest that couldn’t be managed?
It is virtually impossible to avoid all conflicts of interest, but I think if he divests himself of having a personal financial interest then that’s all we can ask.
Whatever conflicts Tillerson has are nothing compared to what Hillary Clinton had while she was Secretary of State. Her and her family was actively soliciting donations and compensation from various foreign governments and major corporations that had ongoing dealings with the State department while she was in the position. That is an inexcusable appearance of a conflict of interest.
Because the price of oil is way up this week because the Saudi’s just said they are going to further cut their production and Non-OPEC countries just said they are going to join in the cuts. Also, because the entire market is up.
Further, Exxon’s not way up. It’s up less than most oil companies and up about the same amount as their Oil Major peers.
Sometimes this board is just pathetic.
Running Exxon is like running a country. There is very little similarity between Trump’s businesses and Exxon.
It’s a new world;
The opinions of uneducated ignorant people are just as valuable as the knowledge, facts, and ability to research and think critically obtained though years of higher education.
We are being run by the equivalent of the high school jocks, who hated school, and loved to beat up those who did better than them in exams.
Well, in Rex Tillerson’s case he was a Civil Engineering grad, Eagle Scout, Band member. He sounds like the nerdiest, most studious, friendliest high school jock, bully, school-hater in history.
Tillerson was also a board member of the United Negro College Fund and the President of the Boy Scouts when they began allowing openly gay scouts.
Oooh, golly golly golly! Oooh, gush gush gush!
First of all, running a corporation is NOTHING like running a country. The corporation does not control the military, entitlements, infrastructure, etc. In Tillerson’s case, running Exxon is disqualifying due to the ties his company has with Russia and the negative effects sanctions have had on his company. You can bet your sweet ass that his number one priority as SOS will be getting those sanctions lifted by whatever means necessary.
You should stop in and post more often. We do have some great discussions, but they always seem to coincide with your absences.
Please do not appear to insult other posters. If you feel you must, the BBQ Pit is right around the corner.
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He was offered the job. He turned it down.
No, it is not.
Then when Trump does it you agree he should be impeached, right?
And no one has really proven there was actually “Pay to play”. Got some?
Exxon is not just any company. It operates in 58 countries with major operations in 24 countries. It would be the 41st largest country in terms of GDP. It has its own foreign policy guidelines. Tillerson would have extensive experience in dealing with heads of state.
Infrastructure? This is the worlds largest oil company and one of the largest chemical companies. I’m pretty sure Exxon has more infrastructure projects they’re dealing with than most countries on this planet. Military? Exxon doesn’t fight wars, but they do operate in warzones. Entitlements? Exxon actually funds its pension liabilities.
Exxon would probably profit more if the U.S. increased sanctions on Russia and impaired their ability to produce oil and gas. Again, he’ll leave as CEO and likely sever all financial ties.
That’s terrific! I’m sure he is nice to his mom too.
I have now forgotten how his corporation (Exxon) is going to benefit hugely when the sanctions against Russia and Tillerson’s good friend Putin are dropped.
But the Russians are our good friends now, so that’s all good. We’ve always been at peace with Oceania.
I was talking about the current Secretary of Treasury, Jack Lew. He was at Citi.
There you go brining facts into the discussion. It’s not about facts anymore. It’s about who can get the most people to repeat your assertions.
The 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back.
Exxon is up 4% since Friday 12/9. It saw a steady increase over the last month but then sharply jumped once Tillerson’s name started getting serious traction as the SoS pick.
For comparison, BP is only up 2% over same few days and Phillis66 is up 1.6%. So Exxon’s stock increase over the last few days has been double what other US Oil competitors are seeing.
But don’t let actual facts get in the way of you being right.