I am both puzzled and aghast, if not necessarily surprised.
From the moment candidate Trump pledged that his theoretical administration would employ “the best people,” he has periodically shown that he or his subordinates mistake “the best people” with “mouth-breathing idiots, fools, and irredeemable slime-balls” with disturbing regularity. There was Omarosa. There was Anthony Scaramucci. There was Steve Bannon, and pathetic Reince Priebus. There was, of course, Michael Flynn, and is Scott Pruitt. And that is before we even start thinking about Michael Cohen.
I really don’t understand this. For all his flaws…and as Lorenz Hart said in “Pal Joey”…
…one would assume that a successful businessman whose hit reality show was about hiring “the best people” would have some acumen in at least not hiring the worst people. And yet we still get examples like this….
Responding to criticism of the idiotic comments of U.S. Ambassador to Germany Rick Grenell—yes, he’s another example—to Breitbart News (the best people don’t speak with Brietbart News) that he wants to empower some dubious far-right groups in Europe, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert, who is currently Acting Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, (as you will see, this is Kaboom!–worthy itself) said during a briefing today, and she really said this, I swear, I wouldn’t make this up…
“We have a very strong relationship with the government of Germany. Looking back in the history books, today is the 71st anniversary of the speech that announced the Marshall Plan. Tomorrow is the anniversary of the D-Day invasion. We obviously have a very long history with the government of Germany. And we have a strong relationship with the government of Germany.”
Fire her. Fire her now. I don’t care what she meant to say; I’m even willing to give her the benefit of the doubt that she didn’t intend to say something quite this moronic. It doesn’t matter. If you are so stupid and ignorant that you think mentioning D-Day in the same paragraph with “We obviously have a very long history with the government of Germany” is anything but justification for a metaphorical summary execution, you don’t belong in the job of Under Secretary of Anything. You don’t have any business being a spokesperson. You are unqualified to speak in public without a ventriloquist, and lack the intellect to be a trustworthy NFL cheerleader.
I hope I make myself clear.
How did Nauert rise so far above her abilities that we should rename the Peter Principle the Heather Principle? Well, not to deal in stereotypes, but look at the woman. Before joining the State Department, she was another cookie-cutter Fox Blonde, decorating the Fox News sets, reading news, and periodically mouthing platitudes. Here’s the bulk of her Wikipedia entry regarding her career progress:
In 1996, Nauert was a reporter for the syndicated weekly business program, First Business. She worked for Fox News from 1998 to 2005, first as a contributor for three years then as a correspondent for four years. During her time as a correspondent she regularly contributed to The Big Story. From 2005 to 2007, Nauert held positions at a number of different news organizations, including ABC News as a general assignment correspondent, where she contributed to World News Tonight, Good Morning America and Nightline. While there, she received an Emmy nomination for her work on the special series, 13 Around the World. Nauert has done newscasts Good Day Early Call and Good Day New York Wake Up with co-anchor Steve Lacy weekday mornings, for Fox owned-and-operated station WNYW in New York City. In October 2012, Nauert left Good Day Wake Up. In 2007, Nauert returned to Fox News as co-host with John Gibson of the weekday edition of “The Big Story.”
Oh—it also says that she was a “a government affairs consultant on issues including health insurance, Social Security and taxes.” Take it from me, that’s resume -filler. What was she doing professionally between 2007 and 2017, besides smiling, showing cleavage, and fielding sexist jokes while sitting between the two creepy guys on “Fox and Friends”? She wasn’t taking extension courses in history, that’s for sure.
Has she studied foreign affairs, diplomacy, or served in the foreign service? No, but she did stay at a Holiday Inn last night! She also attended Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts and got her BA in communications from Mount Vernon College for Women. She did receive her master’s degree in Journalism from Columbia University, and I’m certain this is why the men in charge of hiring news readers at ABC and Fox were drawn to her, er, credentials. She also, we were told was seen on multiple occasions entering Trump Tower during the transition period.
This kind of thing is unsettling, embarrassing, undermines trust in the administration and the President’s competence, and is utterly, completely, wildly inexcusable.
_______________________
Pointer: Ron Sarro.
Ethics Alarms 
Ron Sarro is a Pointer? I always thought he was more like a Pug.
You owe me a keyboard.
Where is John Belushi when you need him? I guess we weren’t officially at war when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor.
jvb
Now I’m ticked that I didn’t use that clip too. (But I have used it a lot…)
This is one of the times I think the double facepalm meme would be appropriate.
” From the moment candidate Trump pledged that his theoretical administration would employ “the best people,” he has periodically shown that he or his subordinates mistake “the best people” with “mouth-breathing idiots, fools, and irredeemable slime-balls” with disturbing regularity ”
It’s not a mistake, it’s deliberate. Haven’t you figured that out yet?
We had a system that was flawed, with a stench of corruption. But was in the main competent. That competence had to be removed, and the (relatively) mild but still unacceptable corruption replaced by blatant corruption. Absolute power that has been corrupted absolutely, if alternate facts are to be the norm. As here.
The only area where this hasn’t been the case is the military. Not every judicial nominee has been terrible too, but railroading them in 15 or 20 at a time doesn’t leave room for the due consideration that is needed. Many are duds. A few, complete incompetents. More, politically sound if not exactly stars of jurisprudence.
If I’m wrong – please show me where.
That they are trying to appoint bad appointees? The contention is self-rebutting. What you mean to say is that the awful Trump appointees are open about what’s wrong with them. Why anyone thinks that’s more sinister than Obama’s phonies, pretending virtue while lying and cheating under the protection of the news media is beyond me. They are just awful in different ways.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2018/06/06/mick-mulvaney-fires-members-of-cfpb-advisory-board/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.362fe1e59fd8
See also US Code ¶5494
(b) Membership
In appointing the members of the Consumer Advisory Board, the Director shall seek to assemble experts in consumer protection, financial services, community development, fair lending and civil rights, and consumer financial products or services and representatives of depository institutions that primarily serve underserved communities, and representatives of communities that have been significantly impacted by higher-priced mortgage loans, and seek representation of the interests of covered persons and consumers, without regard to party affiliation. Not fewer than 6 members shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the regional Federal Reserve Bank Presidents, on a rotating basis.
(c) Meetings
The Consumer Advisory Board shall meet from time to time at the call of the Director, but, at a minimum, shall meet at least twice in each year.
The panel has traditionally played an influential role in advising the CFPB’s leadership on new regulations and policies. But some members, who include prominent consumer advocates, academics and industry executives, began to complain that Mulvaney was ignoring them and making unwise decisions about the agency’s future.
On Monday, 11 CAB members held a news conference and criticized Mulvaney for, among other things, canceling legally required meetings with the group.
On Wednesday, group members were notified that they were being replaced — and that they could not reapply for spots on the new board.
As a congressman, Mulvaney repeatedly criticized the agency, calling it a “joke” and saying it needed to be reined in. Since being appointed acting director by President Trump in November, Mulvaney has launched a top-to-bottom review of the bureau’s operations, stripped enforcement powers from a CFPB unit responsible for pursuing discrimination cases and proposed that lawmakers curb the agency’s powers.
Last week, Mulvaney sided with payday lenders who sued the CFPB to block implementation of new industry regulations. The CFPB filed a joint motion with the payday lenders asking the judge to delay the case until the bureau completes a review of the rules, which could take years.”
” That they are trying to appoint bad appointees? The contention is self-rebutting”
You appoint a kakistocrat to an agency when you want to destroy it. As here. And if laws get ignored by them, so what? That’s the idea.
Having to pretend to virtue means there are at least *some* restrictions that will limit the rot. When you no longer have to, there is no limit.
That you think the Obama Admin observed any limits is cute.. and signature significance.
The MOST CORRUPT Administration ever…
Calling the clintons mild corruption
Comparatively yet still unacceptably, yes.
Compared to what? Satan?
Compared to this:
Roger Stone speaks to members of the conservative group America First at the Marriott in Boca Raton, Florida.
One of Donald Trump’s closest advisers has warned a bloody civil war would erupt if the US President was impeached.
Roger Stone predicted “an insurrection like you’ve never seen” if politicians sought to remove the US leader from the White House and claimed any politician who voted to topple him “would be endangering their own life”.
Being fair, he’s just speaking the truth.
Possibly the same if Trump doesn’t win in 2020, or doesn’t serve a third term after that. Civil Wars and Insurrections are no respected of laws or constitutions, and as the NRA boasts, they have the guns, and the Libruls don’t.
Is this from an article? If so, could you please provide the source?
The last part is unfair. For whatever reason, the conservative end of the public shows no comparable tendency to disrespect institutions and disregard the law, with pockets of exceptions in the special “God’s laws cancel man’s laws” category. It was the left that took to the streets after the 2016 elections. I have never seen the right do that. It was the antifa that tried to disrupt the Inauguration.
I am far more worried about “the resistance’ and Democrats freaking out if they don’t get their “blue wave.”
This is also more “psychic news.” Who cares what Roger Stone thinks might happen? Why is that newsworthy?
Not discounting the possibility of a Civil War, as people are stupid by and large, but I have this serious question, Sue.
Upon what activity do you base your analysis?
Is it the riots that conservatives have staged since Trump was elected? How about the many physical attacks upon progressives during the campaign, and after? Conservatives blocking highways and yelling down political speech they do not agree with? Conservatives expelling progressive student groups from many college campuses? How about the conservatives faking evidence for a FISA warrant, and planting spies in the Hillary campaign?
How about the conservatives organizing pre staged protests ready to trigger (and become riots) if POTUS stops an illegal investigation into non existent non crimes? http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2018/04/12/mueller-protest-if-fired/
It seems to me you are projecting what progressives do on conservatives.
Progressives have been attempting a coup ever since the election they tried to rig in their favor. Then you take offense to common Americans realizing that they are under attack, and criticize them for their reaction.
Progressives keep pushing, and there will be push back. This is human nature. Progressives have crossed all bounds, broken all shackles of civic propriety and democratic fair play, and expect common Americans, who are mostly conservative (else progressives would simply win at the ballot box) to stick to the old rules. That time is ending. Progressive tactics are the new normal for all sides.
Enjoy the ride.
Well done Slick.
I notice there is no response from Sue when she is challenged to back up her assertions.
Just progressive = good, anyone else = bad
CNN May 4 2018
The White House announced Friday that President Donald Trump intends to appoint Mehmet Oz, better known as Dr. Oz, to his council on sport, fitness and nutrition.
For centuries, we have used astrological signs to examine our personality and how we interact with those around us, however, these signs may reveal a great deal about our health as well. Discover what your astrological sign can tell you about your health: https://t.co/fPCAK7nd48 pic.twitter.com/6p6VYe4sJz
— Dr. Mehmet Oz (@DrOz) June 6, 2018
Hey jack, not sure if you still have your @verizon email, as iirc they moved you to another host last year?
Anyway story link related to that school shooter video game you wrote about last week:
https://m.slashdot.org/story/341856
FYI Steam/valve is a distribution platform for games, probably the largest in the market
Rather, i ask about the email as I’m not sure if it’s still proper to submit stories through it still
Good. I don’t want Valve to be censoring the games that I might want to purchase or play. I’m an adult, I can decide for myself.
I’m still taking in the fact this woman had a graduate school education.
Fired? Oh, heavens no. She’s getting promoted to US Ambassador to the United Nations. Gah.