Patterico's Pontifications

12/11/2016

Carly Fiorina, Possibly Being “Considered” for Secretary of State, Suddenly Praises Trump

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 2:00 pm



Carly Fiorina will be visiting Donald Trump tomorrow, and this guy claims that the buzz is that Trump is considering her for Secretary of State:

I don’t put a lot of stock in the unsourced tweet of a guy who can’t even begin to approach a correct spelling of Fiorina’s name. And in any case, anyone who has paid attention to this process knows Trump is treating this like a game show: The Apprentice: Secretary of State edition. It’s gotten to the point where he literally says “stay tuned!” when he tweets about it:

Whether it’s due to the chimerical “consideration” of her for the State job, or whether it’s to get Trump’s backing for another Senate run, Fiorina is falling in line and kissing the ring, as so many before her have done. Washington Post:

Carly Fiorina praised Donald Trump’s “brilliant” moves as president-elect on Saturday as she formally endorsed Republican Ed Gillespie for Virginia governor and looked ahead to her Monday visit to Trump Tower in New York.

Her remarks, made at a retreat for Virginia Republicans, could help patch up her rocky relationship with Trump as she is considered for an administration job — and give Gillespie a boost with Trump supporters as he seeks his party’s nomination in a June primary.

Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard chief executive and one of many runners-up to Trump in the GOP primary, has had a bitter relationship with the Manhattan real estate mogul, who disparaged her appearance during the primary. She called on Trump to drop out of the race in October, after he was heard bragging about groping women on an 11-year-old recording.

“Donald Trump does not represent me or my party,” she said on Twitter at the time.

But Fiorina, a Northern Virginia resident often mentioned as a potential U.S. Senate candidate in 2018, heaped praise on Trump on Saturday, when she spoke to hundreds of state party leaders, elected officials and activists at an annual gathering known as the Republican Advance.

Notably, the formerly free-market Fiorina is praising Trump’s Carrier deal:

“One thing President-elect Trump clearly understands is this: that actually changing an ingrained, embedded status quo requires a major shock to the system,” she said. “It can’t be such a violent shock that you put the patient in cardiac arrest, but you have to have a signal strong enough that people understand change is actually coming. So I think the Carrier deal was brilliant.”

Carly Fiorina’s apparent knowledge of, and devotion to, free-market economic principles impressed me during the campaign. Before her announcement, she said in April 2015: “What we have now is less and less free market, and more and more crony capitalism.” She said in October 2015: “Government should not be in the business of picking winners and losers. . . . Government has to be even-handed.” It is therefore especially disappointing that she would now praise a deal in which government picks winners and losers, and which is a prime example of crony capitalism.

This is why I left the Republican Party on May 3, 2016. I could see that the party was going to support, not just Donald Trump, but Donald Trump’s brand of anti-free market, pro-big government ideas. I’ve been a little surprised — but only a little — at how quickly and cravenly most people fell into line.

It seems that Donald Trump is playing a game in which he sends out flacks to suggest that his biggest critics may be in line for plum jobs. He cleverly appointed one of those critics early on to a job of mid-level importance (Nikki Haley as U.N. Ambassador) to create the appearance that he was serious about letting bygones be bygones. Since then, we have watched Trump dangle important positions in front of one previous critic after another (Ted Cruz for A.G.! Mitt Romney for State! Carly Fiorina for State!) — and they have all dutifully responded by praising him.

The group of people in Congress and/or political life whom I respect without reservation has narrowed considerably, to Mike Lee and Justin Amash and . . . that’s about it. I owe Donald Trump a debt of thanks for helping the others to reveal their imperfections.

Note that I say “imperfections” and not “stunning hypocrisy” or some other over-the-top condemnation. I’m not tossing these people overboard entirely. Politicians are gonna politician, and folks like Cruz and Fiorina are still capable of being fiery on the right issues, when it doesn’t cost them too much politically.

But it’s a little sad to see how few people stand up for free markets and limited government when the going gets tough. And a popular President-elect who disdains free markets is the definition of the going getting tough for free marketeers.

[Cross-posted at RedState.]

102 Responses to “Carly Fiorina, Possibly Being “Considered” for Secretary of State, Suddenly Praises Trump”

  1. Dingaling.

    Patterico (115b1f)

  2. oh she’s so nasty

    go away

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  3. If Tillerson is going to be rejected, I’d rather he be nominated. Let the left and the Senate “flex” their strength on this pick so Pruitt gets through.

    NJRob (43d957)

  4. Patterico (115b1f)

  5. you can buy putin off super easy with a compote of dark chocolate mousse and a passel of young boys

    everyone knows this even the cia knows this

    (*t’s cause he’s a gay pedophile)

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  6. *it’s* cause i mean

    i accidentally hit submit too soon cause my foozle got here and they knocked on my door and it startled me

    usually they call and i go down to the vestibule

    people what go out in snow to bring me food are truly the best of america i think

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  7. Hillary Clinton will never be president.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  8. This has become the all-time Dennis Prager election and transition. So much “clarity.” I am convinced an unseen hand is at work.

    I had read that Carly was setting up a run at the deeply corrupt McAuliffe for Virginia Governor. If nothing else, this apparent rapprochement with DJT and Reince can’t hurt that potential effort.

    Ed from SFV (3400a5)

  9. 4… what’s familiar about it, Patterico?

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  10. I dunno. 100 people have retweeted it in the past half hour. Maybe one of them can explain it.

    Patterico (115b1f)

  11. Trump has the Men in Black mind wipe tech perfected.

    Pinandpuller (16b0b5)

  12. That’s pretty damned weak.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  13. all these links to fake news sites like the washington post and politico are kinda creepy

    embracing propaganda is not the answer

    me i’m a make a negroni and enjoy my tasty hummus

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  14. If the number of retweets is the gauge by which credible evidence or contentions are measured, we’re in serious trouble.

    #NationofNinnies

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  15. In the real world, we all have to kiss the ring of people we don’t personally like, whether an employer, a supervisor, a colleague, a client, an annoying relative at Thanksgiving, a neighbor, a city planning bureaucrat who will sign off on our home improvement plans, … the list goes on and on. That’s part of life.
    Who hasn’t told their Aunt Susan that her leopard print dress looks great with her gigantic turquoise earrings? Who hasn’t bumped into a long-ago adversary at the supermarket and told them it’s good to see you? Who hasn’t told someone they don’t really care for all that much that we should get together sometime?

    Carly’s a great gal, and I bet she would make a fine Secretary of State.
    I’m willing to bet the farm that nasty Hillary would never consider appointing Carly Fiorina.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  16. I could argue Trump’s history and recent actions as evidence/an explanation, Colonel. The fact that he governs his life according to who offends him, and that he has signaled an intent to punish individual companies that offend him.

    But why bother?

    Patterico (115b1f)

  17. If there were the slightest chance that you would be receptive to such arguments, you would already understand all of it, and I wouldn’t have to make the argument.

    As it happens, I’ll just recognize that you won’t be convinced and move on.

    The fact that you are not personally convinced does not make me wrong, however.

    Patterico (115b1f)

  18. I’m old enough to remember Carlie completely breaking with tradition and protocol to team up with Cruz ticket in a desperate attempt to bail out his sinking ship in Indiana.
    The part I liked the best about that was when Ted introduced Carlie as his VP she stood up to say a few words and stumbled. Fell down. Actually hit the deck.

    Thank God she wasn’t injured. The reason why that was my favorite part is because it showed Carlie Fiorina has an inner moral compass beyond the script. She knew that these actions by the Cruz ticket were wrong on a deep physical level and the dissonance overwhelmed her equilibrium.

    Sometimes character is best displayed by a failure of spine.

    papertiger (c8116c)

  19. Astute analysis, papertiger! Nailed it as always

    Patterico (115b1f)

  20. Thank God

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  21. Seems more like a message to the noisy republican senators about what you get if you block Tillerson and/or Bolton.

    crazy (d3b449)

  22. Trump appears to be surrounding himself with some capable advisors so far. He has indicated he has plans to help improve job creation through tax cuts, and a reduction of regulations. Both are steps in the right direction. All of these are actions that America would never see under a Clinton administration. We’ll see what happens vis-a-vis SCOTUS, but that, again, appears to be a positive. One could go on, but I, too, know it wouldn’t change the road you’re on.

    Time will tell. I’m hoping – and praying – for the best.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  23. I thought VA governors were limited to 1 term. Yes, I suppose any damn R could win after McAuliffe.

    urbanleftbehind (847a06)

  24. Sechin was an attache in Mozambique, it makes you wonder who he ticked off at balashika (their version of the farm) to get that assignment.

    narciso (d1f714)

  25. But it’s a little sad to see how few people stand up for free markets and limited government when the going gets tough.

    Or maybe they think it’s better to be in the administration than out of it, for the good of their country and their party too.

    Patricia (5fc097)

  26. C’mon, papertiger, her name is Carly.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  27. Really more politico claptrap, now tillerson ocassional obeissan
    ce to the skydragon is more concerning.

    narciso (d1f714)

  28. Trump has Secretary of State mixed up with Secretary of Commerce is what I think.

    nk (dbc370)

  29. Carly is a Texas girl, too, BTW.

    nk (dbc370)

  30. What looks possible is growth. The incoming administration has a plan for that and the business community and investors recognize it. Perhaps it would be more wise to take all of that into consideration and go a little lighter on the daily vitriol and gas.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  31. Meanwhile cairo cathedrals add going up in flame, palmyra is falling againto the jayvees.

    narciso (d1f714)

  32. Or not.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  33. And one of Stewart’s protegees samantha bee has a new friend.

    narciso (d1f714)

  34. yes yes let’s send pervy Mitt Romney to france

    he can hang out with roman polanski and fondle baguettes suggestively

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  35. Mitt will start proselytizing to guys he thinks are Puerto Rican and he’ll be lucky if they just run off with his bicycle.

    urbanleftbehind (847a06)

  36. The sreiff piece is on a similar wavelength with the latest treehousr offering quic custodies custodium (sic)

    narciso (d1f714)

  37. Mr happyfeet, you say lots of entertaining things. But then you flush it all down the toilet when you suggest Mr Romney is a pedophile.
    Maybe if you drink a cup of eggnog, you’ll acquire some better perespective.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  38. Yes ulb he might have awkward moment, like Travolta had in filming ‘fromwith love from Paris.

    narciso (d1f714)

  39. The good parts of Paris are safer than the Tower of London, and the gendarmes are better armed too.

    nk (dbc370)

  40. You think standing up for and sharing one’s religious beliefs is funny, don’t you urbanleftbehind.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  41. Happyfeet doesn’t seem to believe there are actually people in this world who adhere to a moral code, who by all reports are generous with their time and personal wealth, who set good examples and who do good for their fellow man. It appears they make him feel wholly inadequate and trigger a slanderous and extremely dyspeptic behavior in him.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  42. When Obama drew his line in the sand regarding chemical weapons he was being foolish. Foolish because he wasn’t ready to carry out his threat, and it made him look weak and ineffectual when his bluff was called.

    So too, it was with the #NeverTrumpers, at least those who make their living as professional politicians. They let their arrogance and pride write checks that they were not ultimately willing to honor. So, now that Trump is the leader of the GOP, they have to walk back their foolishness.

    They should have thought more carefully when they were shooting their mouths off in the first place.

    Anon Y. Mous (9e4c83)

  43. Well he’s from Austin, home of linklater and hawke. Its a whole oh%er state of mind.

    There are no follow up pieces in Carlos slim or bozos, which shows this company move was squirrel!!

    narciso (d1f714)

  44. The red line was about Iran, and Russia, hence the flexibility.

    narciso (d1f714)

  45. 28. nk (dbc370) — 12/11/2016 @ 3:43 pm

    Trump has Secretary of State mixed up with Secretary of Commerce is what I think.

    The Secretary of Commerce has already been chosen.

    It’s Wilbur Ross, who divorced his wife and married “Betsy” McCaughey, then Lieutenant Governor of New York in 1995. Todd Ricketts, owner of the World Series winning Chicago Cubs, will be the Deputy Secretary of Commerce.

    Wilbur Ross filed for divorce after she failed to win election as Governor. (She had a falling out with Governor Pataki and was going to be dropped from the ticket when Pataki ran for his second term. She switched parties, and ran as a Democrat. Because he was married to her, hw contributed (or maybe loaned) $2.25 million to her campaign. When her campaign fell apart, he took back the money.

    Wilbur Ross just turned 79, and what you see here is an illustration of Donald Trump’s bias toward people who are around his own age (within 10 years or less. It’s preferably maybe within 5.)

    Joe Manchin was also reported to be being considered either for secetay fo Energy or secretary of State. A schduled meeting with Trump was postponed from Friday to Monday.

    D+Former Senator Dan Coats is being considered for Director of NAtiopnal Intelligence.

    Sammy Finkelman (1a8726)

  46. About “Betsy” McCaughey: Before her election in 1994 as New York State Lieutenant Governor. she was known for her opposition to the Clinton healthcare plan and she still writes about health care. This has become her professional field.

    Her latest column is about how the CDC is interested in faraway places, which she makes sound like an indictment in itself, and is taking the place of the World Health Organization really, and building health infrastructure in a lot of poor countries, and even sent staff to Kazakhstan because they thought scientists there weren’t publishing enough research papers in medical journals, and has its highest priority the elimination of polio, which doesn’t exist in the United States anymore, and there were only 74 cases in the world last year, and it has a bunch of other concerns, like automobile accidents, and combatting smoking, obesity and teen pregnancy, but is ignoring hospital infections, (it doesn’t make the list of top ten) but stopping and preventing infectious diseases was its original mission. [Maybe the reason is there’s no playbook as to what to do about hospital infections. You’d have to do something original.]

    C diff she says, kills 29,000 persons a year in the United States, and can survive for two years, and routine cleaning doesn’t get rid of it, but the CDC isn’t recommending new ideas like fogging rooms with disinfectants, or using ultraviolet light or ionized water, but is instead continuing on with research, which never ends, while doing nothing to change anything in the meantime before the research is completed. The CDC, she says, let the “deadly germ CRE” spread throughout the nation from New York hospitals, where it emerged ten years ago. And Donald Trump should appoint someone to clean it up.

    BTW, I guess you can also say about polio that you can’t eliminate it, because its genome has been published, and anyone with a good laboratory of the right kind can recreate it, and there was a German-born scientist who did exactly that, except he made an alteration or two to prove he had done it, and it turned out to be much less dangerous that way when mice were infected. But maybe it’s not too useful for germ warfare, since it is slow acting and only paralyzes a small percentage of the people infected, so if they get rid of it, it’ll stay gone. Although there might be something similiar new coming up.

    Sammy Finkelman (1a8726)

  47. The line was directed to Assad and all the other players. The other players weren’t named, but Assad was.

    I have, at this point, not ordered military engagement in the situation. But the point that you made about chemical and biological weapons is critical. That’s an issue that doesn’t just concern Syria; it concerns our close allies in the region, including Israel. It concerns us. We cannot have a situation where chemical or biological weapons are falling into the hands of the wrong people.

    We have been very clear to the Assad regime, but also to other players on the ground, that a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized. That would change my calculus. That would change my equation.

    Q So you’re confident it’s somehow under — it’s safe?

    THE PRESIDENT: In a situation this volatile, I wouldn’t say that I am absolutely confident. What I’m saying is we’re monitoring that situation very carefully. We have put together a range of contingency plans. We have communicated in no uncertain terms with every player in the region that that’s a red line for us and that there would be enormous consequences if we start seeing movement on the chemical weapons front or the use of chemical weapons. That would change my calculations significantly.

    https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/08/20/remarks-president-white-house-press-corps

    Anon Y. Mous (9e4c83)

  48. The Secretary of Commerce has already been chosen.

    Sure, Sammy, but does Trump
    1. Remember that, and on the slim chance that he does, does he
    2. Know what the Secretary of Commerce does?

    nk (dbc370)

  49. On the march and coming home to the DNC… to roost :

    http://ace.mu.nu/archives/chicken%20idyll.jpg

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  50. And we werent going to openly move against Syria, because that would be a proxy war against Iran.

    Re bets she has had the sharpest analysis about hillarycare and roberts
    care, she figured out the death panels, that the huntress brought to light.

    Re i

    narciso (d1f714)

  51. where did i say pervy Mitt Romney was a “pedophile”

    i suggested he maybe has a sick baguette fetish

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  52. You can never have enough bAguettes now croissants otoh.

    Cladia rosett offers a corrective.

    narciso (d1f714)

  53. Johnny Dangerously has a great scene about what you get if you play ball. Or don’t.

    Pinandpuller (7ca3fb)

  54. I don’t think it’s funny at all, especially since I voted for that religion in 2 consecutive presidential elections.

    urbanleftbehind (847a06)

  55. nk @48: Well, if the Secretary of Commerce pick has been officially announced, Trump can’t change things around. And in fact, Donald Trump announced both the Secretary of Commerce and the Deputy Secretary of Commerce on Wednesday, November 30, so they’re set. Carly Fiorina, of course, could still International Trade Representative.

    But Secretary of State is still very much up in the air, and it looks like Trump is not anywhere close to making a decision, and it’s now being postponed till next week.

    I think Donald Trump can’t find anybody who will go along with all parts of his proposed foreign policy who also looks like a plausible choice and capable of doing the job. He interviews a few people repeatedly, talks over a lot of things with them, and then finds a sticking point. I have to think it’s something to do with Russia and/or Syria. Trade shouldn’t be such a big obstacle.

    He keeps looking and looking.

    It looks like John Bolton is OK, and may have tentatively agreed to a job, but he’ll only take Under Secretary if he can’t develop policy. He can also that way keep out of a few things that are, for one thing, he thinks, doomed to failure, besides maybe disgracing the name of the United States if promises wind up being broken. At least his name won’t be on it, and he wouldn’t have negotiated it.

    I think Trump is looking for his transition team to come up with still more names. What names wll they think of next?

    Rudy Giuliani, no good. David Petraeus, no good. Mitt Romney, no good. Rex Tillerson maybe no good.

    Bob Corker? He dropped him a while back, anyway. James Staviridis?? Hillary Clinton’s campaign was considering him, or pretending to consider him, for Vice President. Maybe they did it only to stop Trump from considering him for VP. Joe Manchin?! Another Democrat. But he might want one. Especially since he’ll only have one or two things to do, with Bolton as Under Secretary.

    Carly Fiorina??? Dana Rohrbacker???? No, if he wants that he can take Rex Tillerson.

    No, he’s got to find some other names. A nationally known figure, well-informed about international events, who also sees eye to eye with Donald Trump about what he wants to do the first half year or so.

    Well, he did pick an Ambassador to China. That person’s actually close to the head of the government of China. The People’s Republic, or its current dictator, likes him, and Trump likes that fact. It doesn’t commit him to any policy.

    Sammy Finkelman (1a8726)

  56. I’m just naive, Sammy. I thought the Secretary of Commerce made trade deals while the Secretary of State kept communications with other countries open so the SoC would have somebody to talk to.

    nk (dbc370)

  57. It seems to me there is an inconvenient ignorance of the meaning of the term “crony capitalism”.

    “Crony capitalism” has as its key the term “crony”. It means that government picks winner and losers based on a close personal relationship, or political support of the governmental official who has the power to bestow favorable advantage(s) upon a business.

    The Carrier deal would be an example of “crony capitalism” IF there was some evidence of a pre-existing personal relationship between either Trump and Carrier, or the State of Indiana and Carrier, and it was that relationship — rather than the equities of the deal — which led to the deal being made.

    There is no such relationship here. There’s no suggestion that Carrier/UT or anyone of influence in management there arranaged for the $7 million in tax benefits that have been given to Carrier to keep its factory line in Indiana.

    There is no evidence of any “cronyism” in the relationship between Carrier and any government official, thus the deal is not an example of “crony capitalism.” A much better example would be the Clinton State Dept. putting Clinton Foundation donors in line to obtain government contracts for relief/reconstruction projects in Haiti.

    There are many legitimate reasons to criticize the Carrier deal, and there are many legitimate bases upon which to defend the deal.

    But its simply not factually accurate to call it “crony capitalism”.

    shipwreckedcrew (56b591)

  58. The trade deals are actually made by the United States Trade Representative. At least the big ones.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_the_United_States_Trade_Representative

    I thought this started in the Nixon Administation maybe but this article tells me it goes back to Kennedy.

    Sammy Finkelman (1a8726)

  59. And its inaccurate to say she “praised” him, and juxtapose that against her prior criticism of him.

    What is reported is that she “praised” as “brilliant” his moves as President-elect.

    You can call it parsing — that’s fine. I call it setting forth specifically what she said rather than characterizing in an unflattering and inaccurate manner what she said.

    shipwreckedcrew (56b591)

  60. shipwreckedcrew (56b591) — 12/11/2016 @ 6:30 pm

    A much better example would be the Clinton State Dept. putting Clinton Foundation donors in line to obtain government contracts for relief/reconstruction projects in Haiti.

    It wasn’t Clinton Foundation donors. It was “Friends of Bill” The relationship was much deeper

    We found that out because someone relatively new at the State Department (Caitlin Klevorick) wrote to people at the Clinton Foundation (chiefly Amitabh Desai, the director of foreign policy for the Clinton Foundation) that she while she recognized most, she didn’t know all the FOBs, so could they please notify her when that was the case. This was nor hacked by eitgh Coze Bear or Fancy Bear (the Russians) but the result of Freedom of Information Act request by the Republican National COmmittee, which leaked them to ABC.

    Caitlin Klevorick was very inexperienced so 1) she asked via e-mail whom she should favor and 2) archived the emails.

    http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/fobs-hillarys-state-dept-gave-special-attention-friends/story?id=42615379

    Sammy Finkelman (8b8667)

  61. “7. Hillary Clinton will never be president.”

    LOL! That never gets old.

    fred-2 (ce04f3)

  62. Whether I choose him or not for “State”- Rex Tillerson, the Chairman & CEO of ExxonMobil, is a world class player and dealmaker. Stay tuned!

    — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 11, 2016

    Maybe United States Trade Representative to Rex Tillerson? Or maybe some third level job at the State Department?

    Will he take the job?

    He would have to slightly accelerate his retirement.

    I think, at this point, Donald Trump doesn’t have the slightest idea whom he’s going to nominate for Secretary of State.

    Sammy Finkelman (8b8667)

  63. “30. What looks possible is growth. …. Perhaps it would be more wise to take all of that into consideration and go a little lighter on the daily vitriol and gas.”
    You’d think.
    But some people would rather be right than happy.
    Like for example Sammy, #55.

    You see Trump making great picks, doing great MAGA things, throwing brush-back pitches about finances ($4billion for AF1) — and you still think he is an incompetent, stupid, ignorant clown.
    Some of you nevertrump people seem to be stuck in a Monty Python movie. “What have the Romans ever done for us” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExWfh6sGyso

    It’s going to be a long 8 years for you.

    fred-2 (ce04f3)

  64. Trump mentioned 8 years today. You could see he was thinking over what exactly to say.

    He said he didn’t need to be told the same thing every day for…8 years. That’s why he didn’t like the idea of a daily briefing.

    Sammy Finkelman (8b8667)

  65. Sgenetal fLynn among others have told him what they live out of the daily . Take the notorious aug 6, it mentioned an intention but left the likely operatives the means the timetable.

    narciso (d1f714)

  66. Lousy autocorrect tilletson is the Cheney standin

    narciso (d1f714)

  67. Fred-2:

    There is not a single comment you have ever made here that is not in essence a whine about someone criticizing Trump. It really seems to hurt your feelings a lot. I’m sorry you’re so emotionally invested that it bothers you so much, snowflake.

    Patterico (e12c28)

  68. For what it’s worth, that also makes you a one-note Johnny and consequently boring. As well as delicate.

    Patterico (e12c28)

  69. Carly?

    Not.
    A.
    Chance.

    The stink of Tedtoo is all over her since she accepted his VP slot; stood by him scowling though anti-Trump rants and the HP board dumped her for running the company into the ground.

    In Trump World she’d be getting Tillerson his coffee. Any trip she’s making to Midtown Manhattan is, in this reality show, to Christmas shop.

    It’s Tillerson.

    “Stay tuned!” – President-elect Donald J. Trump, 12/11/16

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  70. Perhaps it would be more wise to take all of that into consideration and go a little lighter on the daily vitriol and gas.

    I know you like to advise me on how to conduct my blog because you do it daily. But I have been doing it for 13+ years and while I am interested in hearing your opinions I am less interested in them when they become a daily whine about the nature of my content. You are free to start your own Trump-cheering blog. They’re very popular, although you may find a glut of people running to join the herd. I’ll continue to chart my own course.

    Patterico (e12c28)

  71. 01000001 01101101 01100101 01101110 00101100 00100000 01010000 01100001 01110100 01110100 01100101 01110010 01101001 01100011 01101111

    peedoffamerican (310909)

  72. To 68 and 70

    peedoffamerican (310909)

  73. Or maybe they think it’s better to be in the administration than out of it, for the good of their country and their party too.

    I suppose someone could try to offer that justification if the offense were offering up insincere gum-flapping praising the President-elect on a personal level. But when you start praising bad policies, you have no justification other than naked personal ambition.

    Patterico (e12c28)

  74. 31.Meanwhile cairo cathedrals add going up in flame, palmyra is falling againto the jayvees.

    And the water is bad in Flint, too.

    “There’s a hold-up in the Bronx; Brooklyn’s broken out in fights; there’s a traffic jam in Harlem that’s backed up to Jackson Heights; a scout troop’s short a child, “Carly’s” due at Idlewild… Car 54 Where Are You?”

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  75. Off topic but sure am glad we have global warming to keep us from freezing.

    peedoffamerican (310909)

  76. Its like the language of moisture evaporators,

    narciso (d1f714)

  77. After all, here in SW GA, it only made it down to 22 Saturday morning.

    peedoffamerican (310909)

  78. And that is Fahrenheit, not Celsius!

    peedoffamerican (310909)

  79. Maybe victor Davis hanson’s words might be of note

    narciso (d1f714)

  80. I have been in it a few times in other places where both temps in C and F were the same, and that is damnedall cold! -40 on both scales!

    peedoffamerican (310909)

  81. Brrrrrr!

    peedoffamerican (310909)

  82. Failure on a small scale, just like commieism fails on the larger scale.
    Yes I spelled it wrong on purpose.

    peedoffamerican (310909)

  83. I would prefer that he get on with picking a nominee, but remembers the deems and a good corr of the top men, don’t see a need for change. So they play these games that had disastrous results on September 11th,

    narciso (d1f714)

  84. Petit bourgeois dilletantes making mockery of workers collective with frivolous capitalist venture is not true Marxism.

    narodni komissariat (dbc370)

  85. The first 10 listeners to bring their MAGA bumper stickers to Trump Tower will get thrown into the drawing for SoS.

    Pinandpuller (831ad2)

  86. Mr happyfeet, you say lots of entertaining things.

    I would love to see one example where happy the village idiot has said one single thing that could be considered “entertaining” and not a pathetic and amateurish attempt to be edgy and pseudo-hip-contrarian. Do you seriously find anything that insufferable moron posts to be anything other than lame attention who*ring? crappyfeet is the definition of lame.

    Jack Klompus (f1f212)

  87. oh my goodness Mr. Klompus you are doing vituperative words and I just woke up

    not Christmas spirit it’s pooper spirit

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  88. Don’t take pikachu seriously, I don’t most of tramp’s cabinet are set as hid major priorities

    narciso (d1f714)

  89. Now mcturtle’s priorities thats anyone’s guess.

    narciso (d1f714)

  90. Interesting historical note re: this blog:

    https://patterico.com/2015/10/27/trump-no-longer-dominating-polls

    10/27/2015
    Trump No Longer Dominating Polls

    …..

    P.S. Our “Would You Vote for Trump?” poll, after 957 votes, stands as follows:

    12% love him.
    69% would hold their nose and vote for him over Hillary.
    19% (185 people out of 957) would never vote him, period. </blockquote?

    Sammy Finkelman (8b8667)

  91. Well one we know what the thinshelled fool is on about.

    narciso (d1f714)

  92. 70… free market principles on display. Supply the demand.

    Colonel Haiku (987a1a)

  93. DCSCA @69. “Stay tuned!” – President-elect Donald J. Trump, 12/11/16

    That whole tweet means he won’t be Secretary of State, bt could be something else.

    Also under consideration maybe for Secretary of State is or was former Ford CEO Alan Mulally. He
    is the person who saved Ford from bankruptcy by borrowing as much money as possible when it was still possible for Ford to borrow, unlike GM, which just let itself run out of money – $50 billion worth.

    He might be a good nominee for Secretary of the Treasury, but that position is taken. Alan Mulally met with Trump on Thursday.

    This is more of…let’s look a Fortune 500
    100
    20
    Fortune 10 chief executives.

    Sammy Finkelman (8b8667)

  94. What looks possible is growth. The incoming administration has a plan for that and the business community and investors recognize it. Colonel Haiku”

    To which my liberal friend says, sure the stock market is going great but what about the bond market?? Crashing!!

    So, I hope everyone finds some inner peace this Christmas, some way to live with all this.

    Patricia (5fc097)

  95. My gift to you, Chief… https://youtu.be/4JS6af9NdZg

    Colonel Haiku (987a1a)

  96. So that you don’t have to contribute any advertising revenues by giving The New Yorker your internet traffic, here are the most “damning” parts of their new piece (although it’s apparently mostly a reprise of the author’s 2012 book) on Rex Tillerson. TL/DL version: Tillerson is guilty of being a very effective capitalist in worldwide operations on behalf of ExxonMobil’s shareholders without violating any American laws or morals, but they can’t come up with anything more specific to complain about (yet):

    Tillerson’s success within Exxon was attributable in part to the work he has done in Russia. He has forged close relations with both President Vladimir Putin and Igor Sechin, the close Putin ally who runs Rosneft, one of Russia’s oil-and-gas giants. In 2011, Tillerson flew to the Black Sea resort of Sochi to sign a joint-venture agreement with Putin under which ExxonMobil would partner with Rosneft to produce oil from the Arctic, a project made easier by the retreat of Arctic sea ice, due to global warming. Economic sanctions imposed on Russia because of its annexation of Crimea and its military interference in Ukraine have slowed this collaboration. If Tillerson is confirmed, he would be in a position to benefit the corporation where he spent his career, by, for example, advocating for the easing of Russian sanctions. In general, Tillerson and ExxonMobil have argued against economic sanctions as an instrument of American foreign policy. Tillerson’s compensation over the years has included large amounts of Exxon stock; he would presumably be required to divest those holdings, but at a minimum, the appearance of a conflict of interest would remain, because of his long service at Exxon and the wealth it has given him.

    The main themes of “Private Empire” [the author’s 2012 book] involved the ways that ExxonMobil saw itself as an independent, transnational corporate sovereign in the world, a power independent of the American government, one devoted firmly to shareholder interests and possessed of its own foreign policy. Exxon’s foreign policy sometimes had more impact on the countries where it operated than did the State Department….

    The goal of ExxonMobil’s independent foreign policy has been to promote a world that is good for oil and gas production. Because oil projects require huge amounts of capital and only pay off fully over decades, Tillerson has favored doing business in countries that offer political stability, even if this stability was achieved through authoritarian rule…. Although ExxonMobil has a stated policy of promoting human rights, and has incorporated the advice of human-rights activists in its corporate-security policies, it nonetheless works as a partner to dictators under a version of the Prime Directive on “Star Trek”: It does not interfere in the politics of host countries. The right kinds of dictators can be more predictable and profitable than democracies. ExxonMobil has had more luck making money in Equatorial Guinea, a small, oil-rich West African dictatorship that has been ruled for decades by a single family, than in Alaska, where raucous electoral politics has made it hard for Exxon to nail down stable deal terms. Similarly, ExxonMobil promotes the rule of law around the world—especially that part of the rule of law that favors international investment and makes international contracts enforceable.

    This is very weak sauce, no worse than criticism that could be leveled against any successful CEO of an international energy company. In fact it would be hugely easier for Tillerson to divest or go the blind trust route than for Trump himself.

    I was reminded recently by FB friends that Tillerson’s sister Rae Ann was one of two Freshman Advisors for the incoming Fall 1975 freshmen in Longhorn Band, which included me. And indeed, my ex sat with her and other friends at the most recent performance of the Alumni Band a few weeks ago. Our common acquaintances certainly think highly of him, personally and professionally.

    Beldar (fa637a)

  97. Trump calls Romney tonight to tell him he won’t be SoS.

    Hilarious.

    No walkies tonight. Dog House Willard has learned when you pee on the carpet your nose gets rubbed in it and your tail smacked with a rolled up paper. But hey, them frog legs were yummy.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  98. Much the same argument they had against Cheney pre 2001.

    narciso (d1f714)

  99. Beldar — I think there is a reference in there somewhere to Exxon’s relationship with the Gov’t of Chad, and how it was better than the State Dept.

    Might have had something to do with the fact that Chad received $20 million in foreign aid from the US, but $500 million in royalty payments from Exxon.

    I guess maybe the State Dept. hoped the government officials in Chad didn’t know how to count higher than 8 digits.

    shipwreckedcrew (56b591)

  100. Donald Trump has postponed his ppress conference, scgeduled for December 15, which was going to include an announcement of what he was going to do about his assets. It will now take place afer the New Year.

    It just isn’t ready, as I suspected it would not be.

    Donald Trump seems to have decided not to make any new deals. This, he saaid, could actually cost him a lot of money. He can’t sell – that itself would itself be an enormous conflict of interest.

    It’s not that Donald Trump owns one huge business. What he owns is 60 or so, or maybe it is closer to 600 small businesses, all subject to their own fate, and organized separately.

    It is mostly buildings and golf courses, and management responsibility for some others, and licensing of his name, and some miscellaneous things like branded articles of clothing and a winery in Virginia. And he still owns or is partners in “The Apprentice” and will collect royalties and is technically the Executive Producer.

    Sammy Finkelman (8b8667)

  101. @ shipwreckedcrew (#100): Yes, I omitted that from the bit I quoted, thinking it an obvious example of a new reporter’s utter — and unfortunately utterly typical — naivete about the subjects of trade, finance, and diplomacy. When you’re a member of the Left and you see the world through a left-influenced worldview, it’s surprising and unsettling and automatically improper (in some not quite articulable way, apparently) that a nation’s biggest national resource, when extracted, sold, and exported, might produce more money for that nation than it gets in foreign aid from the United States government.

    Large chunks of the article fall in that category, which is to say: Duh.

    When The New Yorker, regurgitating a previous progressive anti-Exxon book, can’t come up with anything worse about Tillerson than that he’s supported the Boy Scouts and that his company has a uniform record for scrupulously obeying the law, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, that suggests that his nomination is likely to go through — at least in a Senate whose Democratic members are disproportionately up for reelection in two years in states where Clinton did poorly.

    Beldar (fa637a)


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