# 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:** 28
**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 14, 2016, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/541 "2016-12-14T03:14:12Z")
> [@soonerblue](#): > > Then why would they want the least qualified candidates most opposed to the goals and purpose of the departments they are chosen to lead? Are they trying to do away with certain departments by using sabotage from within? One of Trump’s main themes is that businesses are hampered by regulations that drive jobs overseas. Fewer regulations=[del]more jobs[/del] higher profits that can go the CEOs. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/542 "2016-12-14T05:12:30Z")
> [@soonerblue](#): > > Are they trying to do away with certain departments by using sabotage from within? Since 1980, the Repubs have been trying to convince the public that Goverment Always Does a Bad Job by appointing men (and a few women) who always do a bad job. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/543 "2016-12-14T06:01:08Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Since 1980, the Repubs have been trying to convince the public that Goverment Always Does a Bad Job by appointing men (and a few women) who always do a bad job. And since at least the 1970’s, the government seems to have been doing it’s best to convince people that the Republicans are right about this. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/544 "2016-12-14T07:10:25Z")
Kinda interesting development that I wonder might eventually unspool into Bosch-like chaos: > **[Department Of Energy Defies Trump, Won't Name Climate Change Workers](https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/12/13/505440178/department-of-energy-defies-trump-wont-name-climate-change-workers)** > > A DOE statement Tuesday said questions about who has worked on climate science had "unsettled" staffers and contractors alike. Many saw the questionnaire as a precursor to a purge. As I’m reading over the 6-page pdf questionnaire I figure there’ll emerge a war between the concepts of A. ushering in the new transition team as knowlegably and comprehensively as possible, and B. the concept that this is intel-gathering for future firings. FOOD FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!!! ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/545 "2016-12-14T07:23:01Z")
I don’t see what the DoE bureaucrats hope to accomplish by ignoring / refusing this. It’s just delaying the inevitable for a very short time. In a month or two, their boss will be Rick Perry, and when he says he wants to see the expense reimbursement requests for the last eight years, are they going to tell him “no”? Seems like a good way to get themselves fired. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/546 "2016-12-14T07:32:01Z")
I particularly like #62: > [@](#): > > If DOE’s topline budget in accounts other than the 050 account were required to be reduced 10% over the next four fiscal years (from the FY17 request and starting in FY18), does the Department have any recommendations as to where those reductions should be made? ---
**Author:** ![soonerblue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soonerblue/32/3302_2.png) [@soonerblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soonerblue)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/547 "2016-12-14T11:23:24Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > One of Trump’s main themes is that businesses are hampered by regulations that drive jobs overseas. > > Fewer regulations=[del]more jobs[/del] higher profits that can go the CEOs. I was thinking more along the lines of Trump’s ultra-right advisors and their dreams of shrinking government small enough to drown in a bathtub. And mark my word, he thinks he’s going to be only a symbolic political leader and will try to delegate his presidential duties to others. He has no curiosity about the history or traditions of this job, he doesn’t want to read anything, or learn anything, no PDB for him, let 'em ‘bore’ Pence. He’s still riding high from his unexpected victory, and he just wants to be King, have celebrities and big-wigs pay court in the morning, then go off to victory rallies to ‘feel the love’ and feed his ego come evening. He’s in for a rude awakening - that he won a job in a democracy, not a monarchy; that he’s beholden to 300 million people, not just a few sychophants. He seems to think he can just decree things that a president can’t, ignoring the three branches of government that have to work together. And when they go against him, don’t vote the way he wants on a bill … just imagine the angry Tweets and Twitter-wars. ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/548 "2016-12-14T12:56:07Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I don’t qualify, since I ultimately voted for Trump, albeit with significant reluctance, but from my perspective, I’m quite a bit happier with Trump’s cabinet nominees, in general, than I am with Trump as President. The feeling I get when I think about his nominees so far is “encouragement”, or perhaps “relief”. Perhaps the problem is just the opposite. Trump’s cabinet picks look like the Dream Team Government Demolition squad. As they go along, neutering the efforts of generations of dedicated teams within their new departments, there will be plenty of grief across the country to be absorbed, while from the Trump Tower, we might get a tweet or two whose thrust is “Don’t worry, after we destroy everything, we are going to be Yugely Happy with the result. America will be Great Again!”, and his poor misguided and desperate voters will sigh with relief, knowing their difficulties will eventually be over. I’m reminded of the song, “Delta Dawn”. “Delta Dawn, what’s that flower you’ve got on? Could it be a faded rose from days gone by? And did I hear you say, He was meeting you here today, To take you to his Castle in the Sky!” ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/549 "2016-12-14T13:10:38Z")
Can’t you just imagine the crowd of factory workers, hundreds of them all across Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, marching out to the brownfield down by the river, waiting for the construction equipment to arrive, followed by the HR hiring people? Contrast, ‘Riverbend’ in Buffalo, where an actual immense factory is built that employed a couple of thousand construction people for two years, followed by permanent employment of almost 2000 people thereafter, all for the manufacture of various sorts of solar panels. One heck of a big deal, but, think about it, we have been adding 200000 jobs a month to the payrolls for the past 6 years. Are factory jobs so vital that 200000 of them spread out over 4 states, as an example, if they even happen, will satisfy the needs of millions of factory workers whose jobs went overseas where lower overall labor costs are 20% of what we have in the USA? Face it, when factory workers and construction workers are willing to do their work for $7/hour, jobs will begin trickling back to those brownfields. To really make everything work profitably, though, companies will invest in automation and robotics that minimize the need for actual flesh and blood people with flesh and blood problems. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/550 "2016-12-14T15:16:57Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > [Trump Picks Energy Department Opponent Rick Perry for Energy Secretary: Sources](http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-picks-energy-department-opponent-rick-perry-energy-secretary-sources-n695241) > > So will he be in charge of closing it down? He’ll have to be reminded where he works every morning. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/551 "2016-12-14T15:33:51Z")
> [@Biffster](#): > > It’s like that landslide electoral college win—even though they haven’t actually voted yet. I know. Normally, the electoral college vote is meaningless and no one pays any attention to it, but the Democrats have managed to turn it into a big deal now, so we can celebrate Trump winning all over again next week. Ain’t it grand? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/552 "2016-12-14T16:50:04Z")
I’ve been “celebrating” every night since Election Day, and the party shows no signs of stopping. ---
**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:** [December 14, 2016, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/553 "2016-12-14T17:04:07Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Since 1980, the Repubs have been trying to convince the public that Goverment Always Does a Bad Job by appointing men (and a few women) who always do a bad job. > [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > And since at least the 1970’s, the government seems to have been doing it’s best to convince people that the Republicans are right about this. You didn’t contradict what he said, **HurricaneDitka** -you _confirmed_ it. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/554 "2016-12-14T17:20:44Z")
[Elon Musk and the chief executive of Uber are now advising Donald Trump](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/12/14/elon-musk-and-the-ceo-of-uber-are-now-advising-donald-trump/?utm_term=.3f59078b55a9). ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/555 "2016-12-14T18:08:46Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > [Elon Musk and the chief executive of Uber are now advising Donald Trump](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/12/14/elon-musk-and-the-ceo-of-uber-are-now-advising-donald-trump/?utm_term=.3f59078b55a9). Sure, why shouldn’t they? They are billionaires, after all, so they must be qualified. There are only so many cabinet positions he can fill. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/556 "2016-12-14T18:33:49Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > And since at least the 1970’s, the government seems to have been doing it’s best to convince people that the Republicans are right about this. The government, or just the republicans? Remember, FEMA was a disaster under Bush and Bush… and actually pretty darn successful under Clinton and Obama. The government had a chance to step in and make a big difference on the great recession… But the republicans prevented Obama from passing jobs bills after 2010, despite the need for them, then demanded austerity measures (a fucking _terrible_ idea). The government worked just fine under Clinton and Obama. Democrats generally hire competent, qualified people for government jobs, and as a result, those jobs tend to get _done_ in an effective way. So if your point is, “In a system that demands compromise between two sides, if one side decides that the correct play is to constantly and consistently stick their dick in the gears until everything stops working, then things will stop working,” then I suppose you’re right. But turning around and _supporting_ those people because “they’re right about government not working”? That’s _insane_. Republicans are the _reason_ government doesn’t work. It’s like voting for Tony Perkins to run a Gay-Straight-Alliance. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/557 "2016-12-14T18:35:03Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > [Elon Musk and the chief executive of Uber are now advising Donald Trump](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/12/14/elon-musk-and-the-ceo-of-uber-are-now-advising-donald-trump/?utm_term=.3f59078b55a9). That’s interesting, because Musk is about as anti-Russia as one gets. ETA: That’s probably too strong a term, but he’s quite anti-Putin. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/558 "2016-12-14T18:43:43Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > That’s interesting, because Musk is about as anti-Russia as one gets. > > ETA: That’s probably too strong a term, but he’s quite anti-Putin. I actually see some parallels. Trump wanted to be President. The media and Democrats laughed at him and said it wouldn’t happen. Now look where we are. Musk wanted to launch rockets to Mars. The Russians laughed at him and said it wouldn’t happen. Not quite there yet, but give him a few more years and I think we will be. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/559 "2016-12-14T18:45:30Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > The government, or just the republicans? Remember, FEMA was a disaster under Bush and Bush… and actually pretty darn successful under Clinton and Obama. The government had a chance to step in and make a big difference on the great recession… But the republicans prevented Obama from passing jobs bills after 2010, despite the need for them, then demanded austerity measures (a fucking _terrible_ idea). > > The government worked just fine under Clinton and Obama. Democrats generally hire competent, qualified people for government jobs, and as a result, those jobs tend to get _done_ in an effective way. So if your point is, “In a system that demands compromise between two sides, if one side decides that the correct play is to constantly and consistently stick their dick in the gears until everything stops working, then things will stop working,” then I suppose you’re right. But turning around and _supporting_ those people because “they’re right about government not working”? That’s _insane_. Republicans are the _reason_ government doesn’t work. It’s like voting for Tony Perkins to run a Gay-Straight-Alliance. I can think of quite a few examples at both the local and federal levels, just off the top of my head, of Democrats making a mess of government all by their lonesomes. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/560 "2016-12-14T18:48:38Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I can think of quite a few examples at both the local and federal levels, just off the top of my head, of Democrats making a mess of government all by their lonesomes. Care to share of a few of these? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367.md?page=27) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367.md?page=29)