# Trump's Cabinet of Curiosities **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 10, 2016, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367 "2016-11-10T16:28:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 23
**Author:** ![Sterling\_Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Sterling\_Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterling_Archer)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/441 "2016-12-10T04:30:22Z")
Outside normal parameters picks so far: Ben Carson (no experience, no qualifications) Betsy DeVos (wants to privatize education) Scott Pruitt (an attorney fighting against the EPA) Linda McMahon (WWE CEO for small business?) Steve Bannon (head of white nationalist media) Andrew Puzder (anti-union guy as Sec of Labor) That’s just off the top of my head. ---
**Author:** ![Sterling\_Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Sterling\_Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterling_Archer)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/442 "2016-12-10T04:32:16Z")
Oh also Niki Haley - no international experience, now UN ambassador ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/443 "2016-12-10T04:58:55Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > If I’m understanding you right, we’re now down to 2-3 out of ~21 appointments that are not “within normal parameters”. Is that a fair statement, or are there others you think fall into that category? The appointments, imho, that are terrible, besides DeVos, Pruitt, and Puzder: Steve Bannon wants to destroy the state ([cite](http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/08/22/steve-bannon-trump-s-top-guy-told-me-he-was-a-leninist.html)). Ben Carson is a terrible pick for HUD - what are his qualifications for the job? Michael Flynn does not display the temperament needed for National Security Advisor. Do we really want someone who tweets conspiracy theories for this appointment? The appointments that I also believe to be terrible, but they are qualified: Mike Pence, because of his anti-LBGTQ views (among other things). Jeff Sessions, because of his history, and especially on his voting record with regard to civil rights ([cite](http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Jeff_Sessions.htm)). Steve Mnuchin, because, really? Another shark from Goldman? Cathy McMorris Rodgers is an anti-environmentalist ([cite](http://scorecard.lcv.org/moc/cathy-mcmorris-rodgers)). Mike Pompeo is ok with waterboarding. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/444 "2016-12-10T05:16:40Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Y’know, maybe I should qualify my claim that he’s outside of normal parameters. While we’ve had qualified scientists heading up the EPA for the last 8 years (thanks, Obama!), and even beyond (can’t believe I’m saying it, but thanks, W!), you can go back and look at Reagan’s nominee, [Ann Gorsuch Burford](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Gorsuch_Burford). She, like Pruitt, had no environmental or even scientific expertise, and she, like Pruitt, came to the agency hostile to its intentions and did her best to dismantle it. She dragged her feet as much as possible on phasing lead out of commercial products, refused to turn over records to congress, was the first US cabinet member ever cited for Contempt of Congress, and eventually resigned in disgrace. > > So I guess there’s precedent. I remember her! She was the inspiration for [Dioxin Dolly](https://youtu.be/tylisRdFNqQ?t=6m42s)! (Mrs. Burford is also featured briefly at the very beginning of that episode!) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/445 "2016-12-10T05:20:36Z")
Maybe those are outside “normal parameters” as they _were_, before the Age of The Donald. If Trump is within normal parameters, who can say who isn’t? ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/446 "2016-12-10T05:26:26Z")
> [@](#): > > ExxonMobil president and CEO Rex Tillerson is the leading contender to be America’s next secretary of state, according to two Trump transition aides. Tillerson, an oil executive with extensive experience in international negotiations, has risen the top of Trump’s short list for Foggy Bottom in recent days… > > He also brings deep ties to Russia: As an Exxon executive he managed ties between the company and the Kremlin and in 2011 struck a deal that allowed the company to access Arctic resources in Russia… If he is nominated, his extensive holdings in a company with massive international assets, as well as his personal ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, could complicate his confirmation process. [http://www.politico.com/blogs/donald-trump-administration/2016/12/rex-tillerson-exxonmobil-secretary-state-232455](http://www.politico.com/blogs/donald-trump-administration/2016/12/rex-tillerson-exxonmobil-secretary-state-232455) Well Trump wants to improve relations with Russia… ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/447 "2016-12-10T06:43:19Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](#): > > Michael Flynn does not display the temperament needed for National Security Advisor. Do we really want someone who tweets conspiracy theories for this appointment? I don’t spend much time reading tweets, but isn’t it Michael Flynn’s son that tweets the conspiracy theories? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/448 "2016-12-10T06:51:24Z")
> [@Sterling\_Archer](#): > > Andrew Puzder (anti-union guy as Sec of Labor) I asked this question to **The Other Jeffrey Lebowski** but never got an answer. Let me try with you: Has Puzder personally done something to distinguish himself as particularly anti-union (above and beyond a run-of-the-mill Republican)? If so, what was it? ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/449 "2016-12-10T07:00:35Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > [http://www.politico.com/blogs/donald-trump-administration/2016/12/rex-tillerson-exxonmobil-secretary-state-232455](http://www.politico.com/blogs/donald-trump-administration/2016/12/rex-tillerson-exxonmobil-secretary-state-232455) > > Well Trump wants to improve relations with Russia… Thanks for the link. I was having trouble figuring out how Tillerson fit the standard Trump Cabinet profile of “worst possible choice because of personal beliefs or vested interests that were totally counter to the fundamental purpose of the agency” but that explains a lot. Still, not a done deal yet, and Trump may yet find someone worse for Sec of State. Fortunately, I don’t think Kim Jong Un is eligible, but Ted Nugent may be available. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/450 "2016-12-10T07:53:26Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I don’t spend much time reading tweets, but isn’t it Michael Flynn’s son that tweets the conspiracy theories? It was his son that first attracted attention. Before that, he was just an ordinary, garden-variety Kill All the Mooslims kinda guy, but yeah, him too. (You got the intertube machine and you gotta ask us?) ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/451 "2016-12-10T08:03:09Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Not sure if this will change your mind, but [The Economist](http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2013/10/daily-chart-1) found a lot of GOP parentage in the bill. [The Weekly Standard has an article out](http://www.weeklystandard.com/learn-from-his-mistakes/article/2005766) that pretty nicely outlines the view from the right on the Democrat’s partisanship in 2009 > [@](#): > > Shortly after his inauguration in 2009, President Obama invited Republican leaders in Congress to a White House meeting. The House members brought a proposal with ideas for stimulating the economy, then suffering through the Great Recession. In the meeting, Eric Cantor, then the House minority leader, suggested a small business-related tax cut. A few days later, Obama complained Republicans had decided to oppose his stimulus before he had spoken to their conference. Republicans had a reason. House Democrats had already drafted the bill without consulting them. Every GOP idea had been left out. > > This was Obama’s first mistake. At the time, Republicans were ripe for the picking. They had lost both the House and Senate in 2006 and the presidency in 2008. They were terrified. A concession or two—even small ones—would have gone a long way toward gaining their votes. And Republicans would inherit part ownership of the stimulus package. No concessions were offered. Every House Republican voted against the bill, as did all but three in the Senate. > > Then came Obamacare and the second mistake. The president and Democrats were in a hurry. They didn’t have the time or the inclination to seek Republican support. Instead, the health care bill was put together, in secret, in the office of then-majority leader Harry Reid. No Republicans were invited to the drafting party and none voted for it. Democrats became sole proprietors of Obamacare. > > The third mistake was the handling of Dodd-Frank, which increased regulation of financial markets. Republicans were interested. And Democrat Max Baucus, then chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and now ambassador to China, was negotiating with Republican Bob Corker on a bipartisan bill. But Obama and liberal Democrats feared Baucus was conceding too much. So the measure was snatched from the committee and written without Republican input. Just four GOP senators and three House members voted for it. Specifically regarding ObamaCare, the author describes it like this: “the health care bill was put together, in secret, in the office of then-majority leader Harry Reid. No Republicans were invited to the drafting party”. Do you think that’s an inaccurate description? Do you have any broader thoughts on the rest of the quoted portion? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/452 "2016-12-10T15:21:23Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I asked this question to **The Other Jeffrey Lebowski** but never got an answer. Let me try with you: > > Has Puzder personally done something to distinguish himself as particularly anti-union (above and beyond a run-of-the-mill Republican)? If so, what was it? Andrew Puzder is very much against raising the minimum wage, which is the main reason that I believe he is a terrible choice. ---
**Author:** ![Sterling\_Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Sterling\_Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterling_Archer)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/453 "2016-12-10T15:58:39Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](#): > > Andrew Puzder is very much against raising the minimum wage, which is the main reason that I believe he is a terrible choice. He’s also the CEO of Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr., with the nasty ads that try to mix sex and greasy dripping burgers. I refuse to eat there just due to that horrible ad campaign. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/454 "2016-12-10T16:36:25Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](#): > > Andrew Puzder is very much against raising the minimum wage, which is the main reason that I believe he is a terrible choice. When raising the minimum wage was brought up in 2014 41/42 (97.6%) of the Republican senators voted against it ([cite](https://projects.propublica.org/represent/votes/113/senate/2/117)). Do you think that puts all of them “outside normal parameters” to be secretary of labor? ---
**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:** [December 10, 2016, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/455 "2016-12-10T16:44:25Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > When raising the minimum wage was brought up in 2014 41/42 (97.6%) of the Republican senators voted against it ([cite](https://projects.propublica.org/represent/votes/113/senate/2/117)). Do you think that puts all of them “outside normal parameters” to be secretary of labor? Yes. it’s because they’re _reflexively_ against a minimum wage raise. Amount or timing or phasing in of the raise is not considered. It’s that raising the MW is evil. I wouldn’t be surprised if most are against the MW entirely. To be fair, Pudzer is also against overtime pay. And sick leave. Actually, Pudzer [hates human workers.](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/08/us/politics/andrew-puzder-labor-secretary-trump.html) > [@](#): > > Speaking to Business Insider this year, Mr. Puzder said that increased automation could be a welcome development because machines were “always polite, they always upsell, they never take a vacation, they never show up late, there’s never a slip-and-fall or an age, sex or race discrimination case.” ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/456 "2016-12-10T16:57:58Z")
I was going to ask for a cite on overtime pay and sick leave, but I don’t think it matters. If your definition of “within normal parameters” excludes virtually all Republicans, then it’s meaningless in my eyes. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/457 "2016-12-10T16:59:39Z")
Are you against overtime and sick leave? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/458 "2016-12-10T17:01:45Z")
Yep, **running coach** and what **HurricaneDitka** is going about is an appeal to popularity argument (among Republicans); that does, as usual with fallacies, suck. > **[Column: Why raising the minimum wage is good economics](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/why-raising-the-minimum-wage-is-good-economics)** > > It's about time to raise the minimum wage, writes economist John Komlos. > [@](#): > > Donald Trump, the real estate mogul and frontrunner-by-far in the Republican presidential primary, asserted callously at the Milwaukee debate that “wages are too high” in this country. Was he fantasizing or was he talking about his own wages? Lucky enough to be born into a millionaire family, how could he know what it feels like to keep one’s head above water as the 1.3 million people working at the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour do? Even if one can work full-time, after state and federal taxes and Social Security and Medicare deductions, one is lucky to retain $225 a week or $12,000 a year, which is precisely the threshold of poverty for a single person. Welcome to the world of the working poor. No chance of paying rent and taking care of dependent children on that kind of salary. As a matter of fact, you’d be barely surviving. That’s not any more than the Russian serfs were able to do. > > The billionaire fails to realize that the real minimum wage (that is, the minimum wage adjusted for inflation) has been declining steadily and precipitously. If adjusted for inflation, the minimum wage of 1968 would be $10.90 today. That is a whopping reduction of the federal minimum wage by a third. It’s worth noting that the unemployment rate was 3.6 percent in 1968 with a higher real minimum wage. So the unemployment rate is higher today — at 5 percent — than it was in 1968, while the real minimum wage is lower today than it was in 1968. > > Moreover, the minimum wage in the U.S. is well below that of other advanced countries. The Economist estimates that the minimum wage should be about $12 an hour in the U.S based on our GDP. That makes a lot of sense, especially because $10.90 would put it just where it was in 1968. > > … > > Those against raising the minimum wage often argue that it will hurt young people the most and that they “need the experience” of working at the minimum wage. But notice that the youth unemployment rate in Germany is 7.8 percent, and in Switzerland, it is 8.5 percent. In contrast, youth unemployment is 15.5 percent in the U.S., even though the U.S.’s minimum wage (using Purchasing Power Parities exchange rates) is below that of these Germany’s and Switzerland’s $10 and $9.20 an hour respectively. In other words, both have higher minimum wages, but much lower youth unemployment rates. Their overall unemployment rate is also lower: 4.5 percent and 3.4 percent, respectively. The minimum wage makes no difference on unemployment. Well I do think it is meaningful to remind the people that thought that they were voting for a populist that they were stiffed, like Trump and the Republicans like to do. ---
**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:** [December 10, 2016, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/459 "2016-12-10T17:02:49Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I was going to ask for a cite on overtime pay and sick leave, but I don’t think it matters. If your definition of “within normal parameters” excludes virtually all Republicans, then it’s meaningless in my eyes. Now it’s revealed that you don’t read links provided. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/460 "2016-12-10T17:12:23Z")
Besides **HD** not looking at cites, he does forget that the cabinet choice demonstrates that Trump’s promises were worthless. > **[Donald Trump flip-flops on a national minimum wage](https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2016/jul/28/donald-trump/donald-trump-gets-full-flop-stance-minimum-wage/)** > > During a press conference in Florida while Democrats were preparing for the third night of their national convention in > [@](#): > > Here’s what he said: > > “The minimum wage has to go up. People are – at least $10, but it has to go up. But I think that states – federal – I think that states should really call the shot. As an example, I live in New York. It’s very expensive in New York. You can’t buy a hot dog for the money you’re talking about. You go to other states and it’s not expensive at all. Now what it does is puts New York at a disadvantage if the minimum wage is up, companies move out and things, bad things happen. At the same time, people have to be taken care of. But what I’m really going to do on the minimum wage – but it has to go up… … So I would like to raise it to at least $10.” > > A journalist then followed up, “You said we need to raise it to $10. … Are you talking about the federal minimum wage?” Trump confirmed, “Federal.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367.md?page=24)