# 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:** 37
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/721 "2016-12-24T02:39:21Z")
From Little Pig’s cite… _In between commenting on Twitter about the proliferation of nuclear weapons and addressing business conflicts of interest within his family, the president-elect took time on Thursday evening to assure the nation that he did not want A-list celebrities attending his inauguration._ Translated, "where is Scott Baio? I need Scott Baio again. ---
**Author:** ![BrerRobert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@BrerRobert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrerRobert)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/722 "2016-12-24T03:04:10Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > This is a candidate who, when offered repeated opportunities to disavow an endorsement by the Ku Klux Klan, equivocated instead. Fake news. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/723 "2016-12-24T03:23:13Z")
> [@BrerRobert](#): > > Fake news. Yeah > [@](#): > > "Well, just so you understand, I don’t know anything about David Duke. okay? I don’t know anything about what you’re even talking about with white supremacy or white supremacists. So, I don’t know. > > "I don’t know, did he endorse me or what’s going on, because, you know, I know nothing about David Duke. I know nothing about white supremacists. And so you’re asking me a question that I’m supposed to be talking about people that I know nothing about. … > > “I don’t know any – honestly, I don’t know David Duke. I don’t believe I have ever met him. I’m pretty sure I didn’t meet him. And I just don’t know anything about him.” ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/724 "2016-12-24T03:33:53Z")
Carl Paladino was the official Republican Party of New York candidate for Governor of New York in 2010, so he’s no back bencher. When the press asked him about allegations of extramarital affairs, he asked them why they hadn’t asked about Andrew Cuomo’s affairs. He had to back down when reporters demanded that he provide evidence of Cuomo having an affair, and claimed that he had never implied such a thing. He campaigned as strongly anti-gay, talking about the gay agenda, and demanding that schools stop being welcoming to gay students. ---
**Author:** ![BrerRobert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@BrerRobert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrerRobert)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/725 "2016-12-24T04:15:24Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Yeah Yeah, that is not equivocating, that is refusing to be put on the defensive and thus be associated with an abhorrent and marginal ideology. The idea that Trump somehow supports David Duke’s day-of-the rope agenda against [race-mixers](http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/donald-trump-former-flames-2015287/46496) and [Jews](http://d2vrsup6vl2y4n.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/IVANKA-TRUMP-001.jpg) is plain stupid, as is the idea that he was dog whistling to the at most few thousand supporters of Duke, who almost all live in states he had no chance of losing. He had disavowed the endorsement a day or two before that interview and did it again soon after, which he should never even have to do in the first place, considering Trump’s explicitly racially inclusive civic nationalism is very much the antithesis of the vile racialism and separatism pushed by David Duke. In this interview he was simply refusing to comply with the demand that he act apologetic on command, because acting apologetic can make one appear to be guilty, even in the face of baseless smears. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/726 "2016-12-24T04:27:38Z")
> [@BrerRobert](#): > > … > In this interview he was simply refusing to comply with the demand that he act apologetic on command, because acting apologetic can make one appear to be guilty, even in the face of baseless smears. If you say so. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/727 "2016-12-24T04:31:44Z")
> [@BrerRobert](#): > > considering Trump’s explicitly racially inclusive civic nationalism Fake news. ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/728 "2016-12-24T04:35:37Z")
Yes, we know, completely and fully and absolutely that Trump is a duplicitous asshole. The question should be, What the Fuck are we going to DO about it? All this talk on a board, even one as esteemed as SDMB, will get our country nowhere at all. What can we DO? ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/729 "2016-12-24T04:46:45Z")
> [@crucible](#): > > Yes, we know, completely and fully and absolutely that Trump is a duplicitous asshole. The question should be, What the Fuck are we going to DO about it? All this talk on a board, even one as esteemed as SDMB, will get our country nowhere at all. What can we DO? Become active in your local non-Republican party. Run for office. Volunteer for various party functions. Canvass. Vote Trump out in four years. Increase the number of Democrats in Congress by voting for them in two years. Of course, you can also “protest the election”. That takes a lot less effort and is immediately cathartic. Though pretty useless. But you know all this stuff already. What else did you expect someone would suggest for you to do? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/730 "2016-12-24T07:10:05Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > You are so right. This book should be required reading for every Democrat in Congress. They should at least be offered the alternative of lethal injection. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/731 "2016-12-24T08:53:38Z")
> [@BrerRobert](#): > > Fake news. [Fake, my ass.](http://www.factcheck.org/2016/03/trumps-david-duke-amnesia/) It took Trump a week to stop equivocating and denounce David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan after lying about not being aware of Duke. His actual words in an interview with CNN:“I have to look at the group. I mean, I don’t know what group you’re talking about,” Trump said. “You wouldn’t want me to condemn a group that I know nothing about. I’d have to look. If you would send me a list of the groups, I will do research on them and certainly I would disavow if I thought there was something wrong. You may have groups in there that are totally fine – it would be very unfair. So give me a list of the groups and I’ll let you know.” Tapper responded: “OK. I’m just talking about David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan here, but --” And Trump said: “Honestly, I don’t know David Duke. I don’t believe I’ve ever met him. I’m pretty sure I didn’t meet him. And I just don’t know anything about him.” The only think “fake” here is Trump’s claim of ignorance, and that itself is exceptional given his manifest ignorance on nearly every real topic of importance. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/732 "2016-12-24T14:54:25Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Become active in your local non-Republican party. Run for office. Volunteer for various party functions. Canvass. Vote Trump out in four years. Increase the number of Democrats in Congress by voting for them in two years. > > Of course, you can also “protest the election”. That takes a lot less effort and is immediately cathartic. Though pretty useless. > > But you know all this stuff already. What else did you expect someone would suggest for you to do? All of what you say is very important. I urge everyone to follow your suggestions. But. This fellow is not just a political opponent whose politics we condemn. He is, and I think almost everyone here will agree, a existential threat to this country and the world. Moreover, the man knows it. He is telegraphing for the last year plus, “I am interested in shaking things up, but I have no interest in being President because I know I am not intelligent enough, young enough, or knowledgeable enough to do the job without making egregious mistakes. To prove that to you, I’m going to start by saying horrible things about various people and groups, including women. Then, whenever I have the chance, I’m going to welcome the support of marginal groups like the KKK and the neo-Nazis. Further, with my ties to Russia, I’m going to show you that I will let Russia do pretty much what it wants and I will remove the sanctions. If I should, by a stroke of craziness on the part of the ignorant masses, be elected, I will fill my Cabinet with people who have pronounced in the past their disdain for government and for the groups they are selected to preside over. Then, while waiting to get sworn in, I will issue weird pronouncements by Twitter about foreign affairs, suggesting that none of our current alliances and treaties are going to be honored in my administration. My military appointments will have announced their desire to take our troops back to war all over the world just to prove we can kick the shit out of anyone we want. I hope to hell that the people will see I can’t be put in the White House and will find a way to kick me to the curb.” That is not normal, and screams out for intervention. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/733 "2016-12-24T15:22:34Z")
> [@BrerRobert](#): > > In this interview he was simply refusing to comply with the demand that he act apologetic on command, because acting apologetic can make one appear to be guilty, even in the face of baseless smears. He didn’t need to apologize. He could have said “Of course I repudiate David Duke the KKK and all that they stand for. I don’t know where you got the idea that they support me but I certainly don’t support them.” The problem with doing that is that it would in involve repudiating a part of his core constituency. Instead he said David Duke? KKK? I don’t know whether they are racist or not. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/734 "2016-12-24T15:46:57Z")
Tough guys don’t fix shit, smart guys fix shit. Tough guys wreck shit. When will we learn? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/735 "2016-12-24T15:49:24Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > He didn’t need to apologize. He could have said “Of course I repudiate David Duke the KKK and all that they stand for. I don’t know where you got the idea that they support me but I certainly don’t support them.” > > The problem with doing that is that it would in involve repudiating a part of his core constituency. Instead he said David Duke? KKK? I don’t know whether they are racist or not. Absolutely this. ---
**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 24, 2016, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/736 "2016-12-24T17:58:12Z")
Speaking of fake news, the maker of hate news too is moving to the White House. > **[Trump Brings His Devious Social Media Director, Dan Scavino, To The White House](https://www.mediamatters.org/donald-trump/trump-brings-his-devious-social-media-director-dan-scavino-white-house)** > > President-elect Donald Trump’s newly announced assistant to the president and director of social media, Dan Scavino, frequently used social media while working on the Trump campaign to share links from sites that push fake news and conspiracy... > [@](#): > > President-elect Donald Trump’s newly announced assistant to the president and director of social media, Dan Scavino, frequently used social media while working on the Trump campaign to share links from sites that push fake news and conspiracy theories. He was also responsible for an anti-Semitic Trump campaign tweet and routinely attacked Fox News host Megyn Kelly, who cited Scavino as a reason she received death threats during the campaign. > [@](#): > > Scavino Shared Hoax Video Purporting To Show “Syrian Refugees In Germany Rallying For ISIS.” BuzzFeed reported in December 2015 that Scavino “shared a video on Twitter Friday, falsely asserting that it showed Syrian refugees in Germany rallying for ISIS. The video, which has existed on YouTube since 2012, actually shows Salafist Muslims protesting an intentionally provocative rally held by an extreme right-wing group in Germany.” BuzzFeed noted that the video “has found new life on the Internet since November, when people on the far-Right began claiming that the clip depicted a pro-ISIS rally.” Scavino’s tweet has since been deleted. [BuzzFeed, 12/21/15; [Twitter.com](http://Twitter.com), 12/18/15] > > Scavino Promoted A Smear That Ted Cruz Had An Affair With A Former Staffer. Mediaite reported that Scavino shared on Twitter a video that alleged Sen. Ted Cruz had an affair with Amanda Carpenter, a former staffer for the Texas senator. Carpenter, a CNN contributor, responded to Scavino’s tweet in an interview with Jake Tapper, denouncing the “sexist smears” directed against her. [Mediaite, 3/29/16] > > Scavino Pushed False Trump Claim That “Thousands” Of New Jersey Muslims Celebrated 9/11. Scavino published multiple video news clips claiming to bolster Trump’s false claim that “thousands” of Muslims in New Jersey celebrated the 9/11 attacks. The Washington Post’s fact-checker explained that the reporter in the clips “later tweeted that his reports did not back up Trump’s claim of ‘thousands’ cheering on the roofs” [The Washington Post, 11/22/15] Personnel is Policy. And policy that will be guided by the worst information. ---
**Author:** ![BrerRobert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@BrerRobert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrerRobert)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/737 "2016-12-24T22:09:30Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > [Fake, my ass.](http://www.factcheck.org/2016/03/trumps-david-duke-amnesia/) It took Trump a week to stop equivocating and denounce David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan after lying about not being aware of Duke. His actual words in an interview with CNN:“I have to look at the group. I mean, I don’t know what group you’re talking about,” Trump said. “You wouldn’t want me to condemn a group that I know nothing about. I’d have to look. If you would send me a list of the groups, I will do research on them and certainly I would disavow if I thought there was something wrong. You may have groups in there that are totally fine – it would be very unfair. So give me a list of the groups and I’ll let you know.” > Tapper responded: “OK. I’m just talking about David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan here, but --” > And Trump said: “Honestly, I don’t know David Duke. I don’t believe I’ve ever met him. I’m pretty sure I didn’t meet him. And I just don’t know anything about him.” > > The only think “fake” here is Trump’s claim of ignorance, and that itself is exceptional given his manifest ignorance on nearly every real topic of importance. > > Stranger He had already disavowed the endorsement at that point, the only reason it was even brought up was to try to associate Trump with nearly universally reviled persons and ideologies. At that point he responded appropriately by refusing to let the implication that he was familiar with and approving of Klan nonsense go unchallenged. The question was asked in the spirit of a “when did you stop beating your wife” type of gotcha moment, at which point the interviewer was entitled to the swift rhetorical kick in the shins that he got in return. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/738 "2016-12-24T22:16:02Z")
So, by your lights, he was sufficiently disdainful? No need to overdo it, then? And you don’t think the prospect of losing some votes had anything to do with it? And we just aren’t grateful? ---
**Author:** ![BrerRobert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@BrerRobert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrerRobert)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/739 "2016-12-24T22:27:43Z")
> [@Darwins\_Finch](#): > > Fake news. Wrong. [QUOTE=Donald Trump] It’s a movement comprised of Americans from all races, religions, backgrounds and beliefs who want and expect our government to serve the people, and serve the people it will. I employ thousands and thousands of Hispanics. I love the people. They’re great workers. They’re fantastic people and they want legal immigration. I’ll take jobs back from China, I’ll take jobs back from Japan. The Hispanics are going to get those jobs, and they’re going to love Trump. When I am President, I will work to ensure that all of our kids are treated equally, and protected equally. Every action I take, I will ask myself: does this make life better for young Americans in Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Ferguson who have as much of a right to live out their dreams as any other child in America? African-American citizens have sacrificed so much for this nation. They have fought and died in every war since the Revolution, and from the pews and the picket lines they have lifted up the conscience of our country in the long march for Civil Rights. Yet, too many African-Americans have been left behind. [/quote] This sort of explicitly racially inclusive patriotism is kryptonite to the propaganda of David Duke. And then there is the strong support for Israel, and holding the rainbow flag on stage at his rally, and praising MLK. The very sorts of things that are the most likely to alienate the very marginal American white racial separatist movement. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367/740 "2016-12-24T22:30:43Z")
> [@BrerRobert](#): > > Wrong. Exactly how many bridges do you own by now, anyway? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367.md?page=36) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-cabinet-of-curiosities/771367.md?page=38)