Pigs Prepare for Flight: McCain Leaning Towards Confirming Tillerson
Earlier this month, John McCain suggested in colorful language that he was unlikely to support Rex Tillerson, Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State:
President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for secretary of state will reportedly not have the support of one of the Senate’s top Republicans.
As Rex Tillerson, formerly the CEO of Exxon Mobil, made the rounds on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Sen. John McCain made it clear he would not be supporting Tillerson’s nomination to become the nation’s top diplomat.
Reporters asked the Arizona Republican if there was a “realistic scenario” in which he could support Tillerson’s nomination.
“Sure,” McCain replied. “There’s also a realistic scenario that pigs fly.”
After the story appeared, McCain issued a statement “clarifying” his position to explain that he had been joking with reporters.
Today we learn that McCain is leaning towards voting for Tillerson:
Sen. John McCain told Fox New’s Martha MacCallum that he’s leaning toward voting to confirm Rex Tillerson, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to head the State Department .
“Some of my concerns have been satisfied, [but] I haven’t made up my mind completely,” McCain said.
I wonder what about the confirmation hearings changed McCain’s mind. Was it the way Tillerson refused to call Putin a war criminal? His unwillingness to say that Putin has murdered journalists and opposition leaders? His professed need to study the actions of Phillipines President Rodrigo Duterte before condemning his extrajudicial killings of alleged drug dealers?
All I know is this: I see a passel of hogs on the tarmac, readying for takeoff.
Another data point in the hypothesis that the GOP Congress will rein in Donald Trump.
P.S. No word yet on how “Little Marco” is going to vote. I have gone on record as predicting that he will vote against Tillerson. I appear to be the only pundit I know saying so.
If I turn out to be right, I’ll stop calling him “Little Marco.” We’ll see.
[Cross-posted at RedState.]
Someone send McCain a replica of a spine.
Tillman (a95660) — 1/17/2017 @ 11:23 amP.S. No word yet on how “Little Marco” is going to vote. I have gone on record as predicting that he will vote against Tillerson. I appear to be the only pundit I know saying so.
A “pundit?” C’mon, don’t belittle yourself by affiliating with the Peanut Gallery.
‘Little Marco’ will fall in line or it’ll be a four year winter in Florida.
“Get small.” – Steve Martin
DCSCA (797bc0) — 1/17/2017 @ 11:32 amlil roob roob didn’t have a qualm in the whirl about voting for john kerry (neither did Meghan’s coward daddy)
happyfeet (28a91b) — 1/17/2017 @ 11:36 amOoh, those poor statues.
nk (dbc370) — 1/17/2017 @ 11:39 amI said that voting agaisnt Tillerson would be a big step, and Marco Rubio would very probably vote for Tillerson, unless Tillerson really said something wrong, but he would announce his choice only at the last minute.
The House has to weigh in on Mattis as Secretary of Defense because it requires an Act of Congress to waive the requirement that a Secretary of Defense, if former military, be retired from the military forat least seven years. This had to be passed for George C. Marshall in 1950. It oassed the Senate by a wide margin, 81-17, and the House Armed Services Committee on a party-line,
Sammy Finkelman (0cf810) — 1/17/2017 @ 11:42 am34-28 vote, and the full House 268-151. But they may wait to send the bill to the president untl January 20, although I would think Obama would sign it. Maybe they will send it to Obama.
I’m all confuzzled i thought we were intervening in too many places innthr bakers dozen of years, that being said tillerson is too much in the deferring to great powers mode.
narciso (d1f714) — 1/17/2017 @ 11:46 am“Sure,” replied McCain. There’s also a realistic scenario that pigs fly.”
Uh-huh, John. You did.
“There’ll be pork in the treetops come morning.’- Queen Eleanor [Katharine Hepburn] ‘The Lion In Winter’ 1968
DCSCA (797bc0) — 1/17/2017 @ 11:52 amThis has nothing to do to do with spine or the confirmation hearings or Tillerson. It has to do with McCain trying to save his political butt and his reputation. It has to do with personal embarrassment. Sen. McCain having been caught playing undercover footsie with, and facilitating people both in his own party and on the left who were trying to dig up or make up dirt on Mr. Trump (the failed Buzzfeed dossier) has finally realized that he needs to take a breath and fade into the scenery for a while. It is a good call. Sen. Rubio will vote to confirm Tillerson as well
elissa (377b6d) — 1/17/2017 @ 12:13 pmJeez Patterico you’ve gone full putz. Never go full putz.
Donald (244bfd) — 1/17/2017 @ 12:19 pmI would have to concur with the removal of “Little” from Marco if he does vote against Tillerson. McCain has the same 6 years for his constituents to “forget”, yet what leverage could you hold over a doddering octogenarian? I just hope the urgency and/or the very existance of the Wall doesnt get bargained away, that all I got for what could sway McCain, seeing as he probably becomes the most doted on Democrat in history if he pulls the ol’ Arlen Specter.
urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 1/17/2017 @ 12:50 pmMaybe we can call Patterico “little putz”. I hope Marco and every other Republican votes for Tillerson. He has performed well and there is no cause for a rejection.
Charles Harkins (be8e70) — 1/17/2017 @ 1:11 pmBye.
Patterico (3418b2) — 1/17/2017 @ 1:21 pmBye.
Patterico (3418b2) — 1/17/2017 @ 1:22 pmTHIS IS CNN: Does Trump’s diversity efforts consist of “mediocre Negroes”?
https://pjmedia.com/instapundit/254805/
Colonel Haiku (6dd99d) — 1/17/2017 @ 1:30 pmWith 2 outs in the 9th (pardon the source):
http://lawnewz.com/video/watch-live-gloria-allred-press-conference-with-woman-suing-trump-for-sexual-harassment/
urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 1/17/2017 @ 1:37 pmThe fact of the matter is that the publicly televised confirmation hearings are, in large part, Kabuki Theater. The “Art Form” has been revised and refined to such a degree that they are rarely enlightening, as evidence by Rubio’s grandstanding for no particular purpose other than to play to some imaginary electoral constituency that he thinks he needs to Court between now and the next time he decides to run for office.
I’m quite confident that the very questions that Rubio asked and which Tillerson deflected, were also asked by Rubio/McCain/Graham behind closed doors and they got candid answers.
My guess is that Tillerson told them pursuing the economic interests of the shareholders of Exxon Mobil is different from pursuing the foreign policy interests of the United States Government.
I’m sure he has a quite sober view of just who Putin is and what his past is. But to maximize valued for Exxon Shareholders — you know, things like CalPers and various union trust funds all around the country that are invested in Fortune 500 stocks with great earnings and great dividends, and a share value that has quadrupled over the past 20 years — he’s had to deal with oligarchs and dictators all over the world, not just Russia.
But that’s not his portfolio any longer. McCain seems satisfied based on their personal interactions that he’s got the right perspective on the world, and a unique skill set from making deals all over the world for 20+ years, that he brings a bit of a different perspective to the SOS job.
Let just look at some of the “dopes” who have been given this job in the past:
Kerry
Clinton
Condi Rice
Colin Powell
Albright (my God)
Warren Christopher
Lawrence Eagleberger (a worthy occupant of the position)
Jim Baker (not the televangelist — at least not quite)
Political hacks and career diplomats for the most part — clearly not men or women “of action.”
The only thing any of them have been successful at in the aftermath of their service is giving speeches or “consulting” meaning they have full “contacts” app on the cell phone.
Frankly, I’m fascinated to see what happens when one deal-maker in the WH turns loose another “deal maker” at the State Department, and says “Make things happen – results, not White Papers are our aims”.
shipwreckedcrew (e90d7c) — 1/17/2017 @ 1:40 pmi’m so excited about the future
happyfeet (28a91b) — 1/17/2017 @ 1:43 pm“Making good on a promise to slash government, President-elect Trump has asked his incoming team to pursue spending and staffing cuts.
Insiders said that the spending reductions in some departments could go as high as 10 percent and staff cuts to 20 percent, numbers that would rock Washington if he follows through.
At least two so-called “landing teams” in Cabinet agencies have relayed the call for cuts as part of their marching orders to shrink the flab in government.”
http://ace.mu.nu/archives/367928.php
Colonel Haiku (6dd99d) — 1/17/2017 @ 1:44 pmThe guy who really put WikiLeaks on the map gets commutation by the most transparent administration in history.
Now, under the terms of Mr. Obama’s commutation announced by the White House on Tuesday, Ms. Manning is set to be freed in five months, on May 17 of this year, rather than in 2045.
Democrats really care about national security .. surely they do .. NOT
Neo (d1c681) — 1/17/2017 @ 1:44 pmPay for performance!
Colonel Haiku (6dd99d) — 1/17/2017 @ 1:45 pmI thought you considered the Iraq war a bad idea. If we are going to have a foreign policy that gives winks and nods to tyrants like Saddam Hussein, then this sort of accommodation is part of the deal. Ditto with Putin.
The idea that there is an international standard of behavior is nothing but hot air. The diplomats may huff and puff, but without the U. S. acting as a policeman, that accomplishes nothing. As witnessed by the Ukraine and Georgia. Or the toothless “anti-piracy” patrols by some of the lesser NATO powers. And the imposition of sanctions without the understanding that warfare is a likely consequence and an outcome we must not shirk, is courting catastrophe. Because if a sanction is effective, we are simply spurring the target of the sanction to resort to more direct forms of belligerence. And these may involve third parties with “deniable” connections to the malefactor.
BobStewartatHome (c24491) — 1/17/2017 @ 1:48 pmOnce in wiki, until an edit was made:
“EARLY LIFE
Allred was born in Philadelphia, on July 3, 1941 with cloven hooves and horns on her head, as well as the markings of “666” on the crown of her skull. After high school, she attended the University of Pennsylvania. There she met her first husband and married. The couple had their first child, Lisa, in 1961. Shortly afterwards, Allred and her husband divorced.”
Colonel Haiku (6dd99d) — 1/17/2017 @ 1:49 pmAs an aside on Rubio — just as a comment on his confirmation hearing performances, some of the articles that followed from his colleagues in the Senate on an anonymous basis were quite funny. “Marco being Marco again. Walking out on limb, sawing half-way through behind him, and the being undecided about whether to walk back or climb to another limb.
Frankly, I don’t think McCain enjoyed Marco walking them both out there. McCain expressed misgivings before the hearing, then Marco pulls his stunt and puts Tillerson in a no-win situation with regard to giving an answer, and now McCain is forced to vote for Tillerson in the face of his failures to answer Rubio’s stupid questions simply because McCain has become convinced Tillerson is a good selection.
Same for Graham.
shipwreckedcrew (e90d7c) — 1/17/2017 @ 1:49 pmObama just commuted the sentence of Bradley -> Chelsea Manning who turned over a whole bunch of things to Wikileaks, and started the Arab Spring.
Sammy Finkelman (643dcd) — 1/17/2017 @ 1:57 pmWill Chelsea get her penis back?
BobStewartatHome (c24491) — 1/17/2017 @ 2:03 pmYou cannot make this stuff up.
elissa (377b6d) — 1/17/2017 @ 2:05 pmWill Chelsea have to pay for her own treatments and drugs now if she is not a guest of the U.S. government?
elissa (377b6d) — 1/17/2017 @ 2:10 pm0bama leaves in a low and venal mode.
Colonel Haiku (6dd99d) — 1/17/2017 @ 2:10 pmXe qualifies for 0bamaCare.
Colonel Haiku (6dd99d) — 1/17/2017 @ 2:11 pmWoke up, it was a Chelsea commute and the first thought that I had
Colonel Haiku (6dd99d) — 1/17/2017 @ 2:19 pmWas a song just made for singing, and the story wrote the words
It came a-churning up like bad reflux and spewing out like corn and such
I’m neutral on Tillerson (I haven’t been following the hearings, so I don’t know enough to have an opinion on him, one way or the other).
As for McCain or Rubio, if they have actual reasons to vote no, fine. However, they need to state the reason, plus explain why, precisely, Tillerson is worse than John Kerry, whom they voted for.
Arizona CJ (191c8a) — 1/17/2017 @ 2:34 pmSenile is better than lying?
http://dailycaller.com/2017/01/17/john-lewis-says-he-forgot-he-boycotted-bushs-inauguration/
elissa (377b6d) — 1/17/2017 @ 2:38 pmSpeaking of Chelsea–is Michael Moore transitioning too? He’s starting to look like somebody’s Great Aunt Bertha who’s let herself go,
https://twitter.com/CounterMoonbat/status/821407089528569862/photo/1
elissa (377b6d) — 1/17/2017 @ 2:52 pm27. elissa (377b6d) — 1/17/2017 @ 2:10 pm
Yes, but if she has no income, maybe MediCaid will pay for it, depending on the state of residence, if doctors will authorize this. Maybe whatever a doctor will authorize.
Now Manning is going to easily be offered substantial, or at least adequate, sums of money pretty soon.
Manning might wind up employed somewhere by some non-profit and get put under their policy, or maybe might buy a policy on the exchange, which may or may not be subsidized.
If s/he is covered by an insurance company – and a person cannot be turned down, and must be charged a standard rate – it will be covered to the extent an insurance company pays for it. Not sure whether changing the voice frequency would be covered.
Sammy Finkelman (0cf810) — 1/17/2017 @ 3:18 pmObama just commuted the sentence of Bradley -> Chelsea Manning who turned over a whole bunch of things to Wikileaks, and started the Arab Spring.
It was the only way they could “get together”. The federal Bureau of Prisons does not allow conjugal visits.
nk (dbc370) — 1/17/2017 @ 3:21 pm33, it would be scary enough if he kept the “junk” and wore a mumu 24/7 like Homer Simpson did after gaining enpugh weight to qualify for disability.
urbanleftbehind (13695e) — 1/17/2017 @ 3:49 pmConsidering that I was expecting someone like Hannity as Secretary of State, I don’t have a big problem with Tillerson. Romney would be better, but glass-half-full and all that.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/17/2017 @ 3:56 pmWill Chelsea get her penis back?
I believe it is still attached. I also expect a miraculous recovery from its gender identity disorder shortly after release.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/17/2017 @ 4:00 pmCalifornia mandates sex-change coverage in all medical policies.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/17/2017 @ 4:01 pmI’ll tell you what. If Trump condemns this commutation in the strongest possible terms, I’ll become a Trump supporter. Get a tattoo, a Confederate flag and a red hat, and grow a goatee.
nk (dbc370) — 1/17/2017 @ 4:04 pmConservative ideologues may just need a lesson in who’s the boss, courtesy of Pragmatist Trump, right at the start.
The Chief Executive wants the people he chose confirmed. And among his bargaining chips is the SCOTUS nom. Pragmatist Trump doesn’t give a damn about the court. Conservative ideologues do. And every hassle or denial to Trump only eliminates another name on the list closest to Scalia’s shadow. The ideologues will make noise for show then fall in line. Which is, after all, the pragmatic thing to do.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 1/17/2017 @ 4:15 pmP-r-a-g-m-a-t-i-st. DCSCA still has not learned how to spell u-n-p-r-i-n-c-i-p-l-e-d and u-n-s-c-r-u-p-u-l-o-u-s.
nk (dbc370) — 1/17/2017 @ 4:24 pmChelsea pardoned? There’s a certain irony to the prick being named ‘Manning’– isn’t there.
The country elected a Spock when it needed a Kirk. Now… well, it’ll either be four years of JR Ewing… or Harry Mudd, with their bevy of beauties in tow.
“Queen to King’s level one.” – Mr. Spock [Leonard Nimoy] ‘Star Trek’ -1969
DCSCA (797bc0) — 1/17/2017 @ 4:26 pmWhat Spock would that be? There is a Klingon in the White House but she’s the First Lady.
nk (dbc370) — 1/17/2017 @ 4:31 pm@42. “I never forget those who do me a favor and I never forget those who don’t.”
Donald Trump? Or JR Ewing? Ideologues will learn soon enough.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 1/17/2017 @ 4:32 pmWell tillerson resembles the profile of the Argentina foreign minister, a long time IBM executivr
narciso (d1f714) — 1/17/2017 @ 4:34 pmObama Spock good grief more like Jeff Jefferson, the conman played by Eddie Murphy.
narciso (d1f714) — 1/17/2017 @ 4:36 pm@33. He is beginning to give ball caps a bad name.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 1/17/2017 @ 4:38 pmHave a laugh, everybody. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/01/17/this-new-species-of-moth-has-yellowish-white-scales-on-its-head-it-is-named-for-donald-trump/?utm_term=.74f9c3332688
nk (dbc370) — 1/17/2017 @ 4:40 pmTillerson will be the first competent Secretary of State in at least 8 years. Arguably 24. There’s something to be said for that.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/17/2017 @ 4:41 pmNext up BoBo Bergdahl.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 1/17/2017 @ 4:42 pmObama Spock
There is already quite a bit of “Trump is a Ferengi” on the interwebs. Although I doubt that he’s going to replace the Constitution with the Rules of Acquisition.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/17/2017 @ 4:44 pmVon Ribentrop! Now there was a diplomat. He could make a pact with Russia in one afternoon. Two codicils!
Reference.
nk (dbc370) — 1/17/2017 @ 4:46 pmHave a laugh, everybody
Laugha while you can, monkey boy!
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/17/2017 @ 4:48 pmThat’s good advice for everybody. You never know when the circus will next come to town.
nk (dbc370) — 1/17/2017 @ 4:51 pmSo true nk. So true.
elissa (aba3e1) — 1/17/2017 @ 4:58 pmDr elmilio lizardo, the adventure of buckaroo banzai 1982?
narciso (d1f714) — 1/17/2017 @ 5:01 pmThe Greatest Show on Earth was a very good movie and one of my mother’s favorites–which is probably why I’ve watched it about 15 times. it’s a classic Hollywood extravaganza from the golden age. Cecile B. DeMille, Best Picture 1952. Guess I’m going to have to get it and watch it again just for old times sake.
elissa (aba3e1) — 1/17/2017 @ 5:08 pmYou never know when the circus will next come to town.
Likely never. Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey Circus’ last performance is May 10.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 1/17/2017 @ 5:12 pmActually that was 1984,
Maybe we can put the peta protesters instead, they are exotic fauna of a pr
narciso (d1f714) — 1/17/2017 @ 5:14 pmRingling Brother-Barnum & Bailey was what I had in mind, elissa. I did manage to take my daughter to one performance at the Allstate Arena. We paid a little extra for the front row seats and with the kid we were part of the finale riding in the swan boats.
nk (dbc370) — 1/17/2017 @ 5:23 pmnk,
MD in Philly (f9371b) — 1/17/2017 @ 5:25 pmThe rest makes sense,
But why a goatee???
MD, remember the drunk who confronted Cruz in Indiana? Also, Tom Hanks on Black Jeopardy on SNL? It seems to me to be the redneck badge, these days, more so than mullet haircuts.
nk (dbc370) — 1/17/2017 @ 5:28 pmOT: I just wanted to publicly thank our host for looking into my registration problem at RedState, despite my rather pissy comments regarding his dual focus. It’s appreciated.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/17/2017 @ 5:35 pmwhere dem pups
we’re all feeling the stress
happyfeet (28a91b) — 1/17/2017 @ 5:36 pmDr elmilio lizardo, the adventure of buckaroo banzai 1982?
AKA Lord John Whorfin
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/17/2017 @ 5:37 pmis chelsea handler really necessary
pls advice
happyfeet (28a91b) — 1/17/2017 @ 5:38 pmBut why a goatee???
Spock, “Mirror, Mirror”
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/17/2017 @ 5:39 pmIt was 1984, I thought there was a longer gap between this and back to the future
narciso (d1f714) — 1/17/2017 @ 5:40 pmOne of those taranto questions no one was asking, no.
narciso (d1f714) — 1/17/2017 @ 5:41 pmRe Back to the Future…there was less consternation about naming a garden tool a garden tool (the Iranian guy with the bazooka).
urbanleftbehind (13695e) — 1/17/2017 @ 6:18 pmInteresting bit of news reported on MSNBC/Maddow– that no matter how the committee vote goes, T-Rex will get a full Senate floor vote. So that may be cover for ‘Little Marco’ and the committee ideologues to flex… but as Mitt and Tedtoo know, Trump has a long memory…
“He’s vindictive as hell, Henry. He kills for pride.” Kid Twist [Harold Gould] ‘The Sting’ 1973
DCSCA (797bc0) — 1/17/2017 @ 6:37 pmHere ya go,
MD in Philly (f9371b) — 1/17/2017 @ 6:42 pmSounds like he is a good pick
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2017/01/how-rex-tillerson-got-even-with-venezuelas-socialists.php
Greetings:
Me, I’m thinking that maybe someone gave the Senator some of that Preparation H stuff for those Maidan hemorroids that President Putin gave him.
11B40 (6abb5c) — 1/18/2017 @ 8:28 amName any important issue where, when it got down to nutcuttin’ time, McCain didn’t fold like a cheap lawn chair.
For bonus points, name a time where little Marco failed to do whatever it was that Big John told him to do.
Tom Servo (4f4685) — 1/18/2017 @ 8:36 amI don’t like John McCain
happyfeet (28a91b) — 1/18/2017 @ 8:41 am