# 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:** 3
**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:** [November 10, 2016, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/41 "2016-11-10T20:47:21Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > [Nobody cares](http://www.gallup.com/poll/1675/most-important-problem.aspx) That’s always the #1 most effective way to deal with uncomfortable facts and physical reality – take a stupid pill and wish the bad things away. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/42 "2016-11-10T20:47:43Z")
John Bolton as poss Sec of State scares the shit out of me - the man is a 100% conviction imperialist, stark raving mad. ---
**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:** [November 10, 2016, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/43 "2016-11-10T20:49:18Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > [Nobody cares](http://www.gallup.com/poll/1675/most-important-problem.aspx) :rolleyes: Sure, point at a survey where they forgot to ask about that issue, when they look at that specific item: > **[U.S. Concern About Global Warming at Eight-Year High](https://news.gallup.com/poll/190010/concern-global-warming-eight-year-high.aspx)** > > Americans are taking global warming more seriously today than at any time in the past eight years, according to Gallup's annual environment poll. Along with increased concern, a record percentage blame human activity for the warming. > [@](#): > > U.S. Concern About Global Warming at Eight-Year High ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/44 "2016-11-10T21:21:14Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > :rolleyes: > > Sure, point at a survey where they forgot to ask about that issue, when they look at that specific item: > > [U.S. Concern About Global Warming at Eight-Year High](http://www.gallup.com/poll/190010/concern-global-warming-eight-year-high.aspx) They didn’t forget to ask about it. It’s an open-ended question: “What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?” 1% gave an answer that fell into the “Environment / Pollution” category. ETA: There are probably more “I’m an energy voter” folks. ---
**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:** [November 10, 2016, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/45 "2016-11-10T21:25:05Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > They didn’t forget to ask about it. It’s an open-ended question: “What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?” > > 1% gave an answer that fell into the “Environment / Pollution” category. > > ETA: There are probably more “I’m an energy voter” folks. When 65% of people are concerned that is not what even Gallup would call it “Nobody” Clearly you are attempting to minimize what the people think about this. And it would not be the fist time to see an issue were even a good number of Republicans that are concerned about it are completely ignored by the Republicans in power. ---
**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:** [November 10, 2016, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/46 "2016-11-10T22:19:45Z")
BTW, the environment is under the Secretary of State. That is John Bolton, and on that issue: while he accepts the science he is nevertheless so loopy about fears of a global government that he opposes any international treaty to deal with the issue on those grounds. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/47 "2016-11-10T22:47:44Z")
That’s (one of a bazillion) the problem with Trump: with absolutely no background in government, we have no clue who he’s connected to. All we have are the scant handful of people who were on the record supporting him; so the assumption is that they all get Cabinet jobs. So we get nonsense like Ben Carson to HHS. That still leaves about 50 slots open, though. ---
**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:** [November 10, 2016, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/48 "2016-11-10T23:25:56Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Jesus fucking christ. > [@simster](#): > > That’ll be outlawed - > [@Czarcasm](#): > > Jesus “Fuckin’” Christ is on the shortlist for Secretary of Godstuff. That would be awesome! Not sure what they’d do, but I bet it would be like [a kick in the face](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CqS7QBqmAg)! ---
**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:** [November 10, 2016, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/49 "2016-11-10T23:37:38Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Jesus “Fuckin’” Christ is on the shortlist for Secretary of Godstuff. Off to the dominoes game thread with you! ---
**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 10, 2016, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/50 "2016-11-10T23:58:23Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Off to the dominoes game thread with you! Not as long as the 8th Amendment still stands. ---
**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:** [November 11, 2016, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/51 "2016-11-11T00:27:21Z")
Just wait until you see who is favored for US Treasury Secretary. :eek: ---
**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 11, 2016, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/52 "2016-11-11T00:41:15Z")
[Here is a more extensive list.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-administration-cabinet_us_58249c70e4b01019814da7f9) It’s even more scary. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/53 "2016-11-11T00:47:08Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > [Here is a more extensive list.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-administration-cabinet_us_58249c70e4b01019814da7f9) > It’s even more scary. Just wait until he nominates Ann Coulter. 😃 ---
**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 13, 2016, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/54 "2016-11-13T09:08:25Z")
It looks like [The New York Times](http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/us/politics/donald-trump-administration.html?_r=0) has the most comprehensive list so far. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2016, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/55 "2016-11-13T17:52:56Z")
It seems the ship from The Island of Misfit Candidates has docked. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2016, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/56 "2016-11-13T18:07:11Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I would accept Shrub and his entire Cabinet over this mess in a heartbeat. > What does _that_ tell you? It tells me that despite engaging in discussions about the issue of how legitimate policies and positions were mocked and ridiculed, you still choose to call Bush “Shrub.” ---
**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 13, 2016, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/57 "2016-11-13T18:09:53Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > It tells me that despite engaging in discussions about the issue of how legitimate policies and positions were mocked and ridiculed, you still choose to call Bush “Shrub.” Grasp that straw, and hang on tight. Since you’re here, though, would you happen to have anything to say about Trump’s list of possible Cabinet picks? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2016, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/58 "2016-11-13T18:17:28Z")
Liberal hypocrisy. He already said it. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2016, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/59 "2016-11-13T18:22:43Z")
I’m sorry but I’m just not sufficiently familiar with a lot of people on this list. I have seen articles describing Trump as a populist, and even some posters on Straightdope describe him that way. So could someone clarify who the populist people are on this list? (I am so ignorant that my answer would be none.) Why is anyone talking about the Secretary of Education? I thought there were lots of Republican proposals to abolish that Department, as their view is that this is a state and local responsibility. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2016, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/60 "2016-11-13T18:24:15Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Grasp that straw, and hang on tight. Can you think of a single time I have called a political figure on my side or the opposition side anything but their name or their official title? > [@](#): > > Since you’re here, though, would you happen to have anything to say about Trump’s list of possible Cabinet picks? Sure. I like some of them, and don’t like others. I think Gingrich and Bolton are both solid choices for the State Department. I was not wild about Corker on domestic issues (Dodd-Frank and Consumer Protection Act) but not willing to punish him as a potential SoS for that. I did not like his support for Anne Patterson’s confirmation but feel that ultimately the President is entitled to get the staff he wants. I like Zalmay Khalilzad a lot. He brings specific diplomatic experience to the post, and an extensive grounding in the implementation of US foreign policy. Finally, I’d be mildly opposed to McChrystal. There’s enough baggage there that I think he’d be hobbled. I’m not really interested in typing similar analyses for each cabinet post. That’s a lot effort for a throw-away question. Was there one or two, maybe, in which you had special interest? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367.md?page=4)