Or he just happens to be the best choice. Really, in the Army this guy is a rock star. I can count on one finger the Army officers I became aware of when they were lowly Captains. McMaster is the only one. He’s not only a courageous and capable soldier he is also extremely intelligent and forthright. He would have had 4 stars long ago if he didn’t have the habit of telling his superiors inconvienent truths. If you have any thoughts of having an open mind read his book Dereliction of Duty. That will give you a lot of insight into how he feels about the role of the National Security Team and how it failed in Vietnam. As much as I’ll slam Trump for picks like Devos I also have to say he now has the best National Security Team I can remember. Getting that wingnut Flynn out of there was very important for the country. Kelly, Mattis and McMaster are not men who will tell the president only what he wants to hear. Of course there is no guarantee he will listen.
I think then that such a no-nonsense guy was not Trump’s idea.
I do think that the more stable Republicans advised Trump to get [del]adult supervision[/del] rational advise so then the Republicans in congress will be less “concerned”, and in essence not make much of an effort into looking closely about his Russian escapades.
And your evidence of the inner workings of the administration comes from? Trump likes no-nonsense guys. Or at least he convinces himself he does. That describes Kelly and Mattis and neither were Trump cronies pre-election. Harward is a no-nonsense guy who would have been a good pick too. I know it’s physically impossible for some to admit Trump might get something right. I hate to break it to you. He got this right.
Meh, like if what you said excludes what I remarked. The no-nonsense guy you referred to was a yes-man. And there is a big difference between being no-nonsense and just being well dedicated pushers of nonsense as many of the ones in Trump’s cabinet are. Unless Trump dismisses a lot of them what you are talking here is indeed what I remarked too, he is doing the right thing under duress as he himself complained in his weird presser.
Broken clocks do get it right eventually. And you should realize that I was glad that this is happening. So while you ignore it to make a point, I was aware that he got it right.
You seem to know something about him, so I’ll address this to you. Wikipedia lists the purple heart among McMaster’s decorations. When/where would he have received that?
Yes indeed, thank goodness he didn’t have a Bolton mustache.
I’m not trying to be snarky, I honestly don’t know who you are referring to as a yes man. Mattis? Kelly? Harward? I don’t see how it fits any of them.
No I don’t know. I know he was awarded the Silver Star for the Battle of 73 Easting.
But, like a bad penny and as an aside, I did notice that in the reports of the good choice of McMaster almost like a throwaway Trump announced that Bolton will be a part of his staff anyhow, AFAIK his position has not been set yet.
So, it is back to the broken part of the clockwork orange.
I would had thought that the context made clear that I was referring to the one McMaster is replacing.
Mike Flynn: Wrong Pick for National Security Adviser | National Review
That bully mentality and fanatical support to a superior is what Trump looks for, that the members he looks for are also prone to conspiracy theories and to follow extreme right wing sources of information are also “good” features for Trump. With is why, so far, I do think this choice of McMaster is a more independent and wise person that tells others (even superiors) the way things are, not to be just a follower.
Just about what Trump normally avoids.
Ok. I didn’t like Flynn for many reasons.
If McMaster had been Trump’s first choice, I would join you in saying “he got this right.”
But Trump picked Flynn. Then he went through a list of people who said “no way.” Then, he got to McMaster.
Clearly, Trump et al were hoping for a True Believer in the Existential Threat of Islam/True Believer in the Godhood of Trump, and they couldn’t find one who would pass muster and be willing to take the job—so, after their other choices failed to pan out, they settled on McMaster. Because they were taking so much heat over having no National Security Advisor. They had to fill that position.
McMaster has a stellar reputation and I’m grateful that he’s on the job. But I can’t help noticing that the media—most of whom are equally grateful to have him on the job—are steering well clear of the question, “did McMasters accept the employment condition that led so many others to turn down the job—did he accept that he could NOT hire his own staff?”
From the fact that the media are carefully avoiding this point, I would assume that McMaster DID accept the unusual-in-Washington stricture on his ability to choose his own staff. He will try to do the job with the loyal-to-Trump-above-country Flynn folks in place. (I hope that’s *not *the case, but I suspect it is.)
I’m not saying he isn’t the best choice. I’m saying that he has to look the part (and having a great name is included) AND be the best choice. If he were the best choice, eminently qualified, but looked like ZZ Top, he wouldn’t have a prayer. Didn’t Trump disqualify someone waaaaay back at the beginning of his presidency (say, three weeks ago) who WAS qualified but looked like a dork?
Spicer specifically stated that McMaster will have 100% control of his staff. Of course if you want to assume that everything Spicer says is a lie then there is no reason to continue. McMaster is not going to lie.
A good early test will be whether McMaster will be able to replace MacFarland, who is widely considered inadequate, with his own deputy. If that happens, it will be a good indicator that he will have real influence over policy.
Yes: Spicer is an unreliable source, but McMaster is reliable, and the ‘McFarland test’ (of McMaster’s being permitted to choose his own staff) is a good one. She does seem more than a bit unhinged over China, to name one issue.
Just one, I thought - the admiral.
I think Petraeus turned him down, too.
And DeVos folds like a cheap tent. That didn’t take long.
Best to stay Right than do the right thing, eh Betsy?
Yes, and we don’t know how many people they may have ‘felt out’ without having submitted their names to the media.
Ms. Kellyanne Conway is reportedly sidelined for being "off message.
It is frequently difficult for me to distinguish “on topic” and “off topic” with these people when I watch them on TV. 