U.S. President-elect Donald Trump shakes hands with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney after their meeting at the main clubhouse at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, U.S., November 19, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar
Wall Street Journal: Mitt Romney Leads Donald Trump’s Picks for Secretary of State
President-elect leans toward the former governor but advisers’ tug of war delays decision.
President-elect Donald Trump is leaning toward asking former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney to be his secretary of state, according to people familiar with the deliberations.
The next U.S. president is also likely to name retired Marine Gen. James Mattis to serve as secretary of defense in his administration, and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley was picked to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, two people familiar with the matter said, awarding the rising Republican star with a key diplomatic post. And former presidential rival Ben Carson has been asked to consider leading the Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to Carson spokesman Armstrong Williams.
Delaying Mr. Trump’s decision about secretary of state is an internal tug of war between supporters of Mr. Romney, and those urging the selection of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. A third group is pressing the president-elect to keep searching for candidates.
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WNU Editor: I will be surprised if he still chooses Mitt Romney for Secretary of State .... but then again .... I never expected him to give South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley the post of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations .... Gov. Nikki Haley Accepts Trump Offer to Be Ambassador to United Nations: Source (NBC). As for former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani (who will be working in the Trump administration) .... I am reading more and more reports that he will be the next National Director of Intelligence .... Conway: Giuliani 'possibly' tapped for national intelligence director (Politico).
1 comment:
Nikki Haley as ambassador to the UN, in contrast to people like Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney, she's relatively unknown nationally. Obviously the citizens of SC must think she has done well by them to have elected her twice. Having been to SC, while my experience was limited, the state appears to be well run. This is in contrast to the federal government which is NOT well run.
A couple of thoughts on this, 1.)in many parts of the world, women do not enjoy equal rights. We are going to need the support of many of these countries to accomplish many things that are of vital interests to us. These people may not react well to a woman representing the United States before the world. Given Mr. Trump's changes in policy positions since becoming president elect, I am concerned that this could be a political appointee as opposed to an appointment based upon competence. Hopefully this a pick based upon competence. After all having a woman as the face of American diplomacy before the world may provide some nations with the "kick in the pants" that is needed to get them to reform their own cultures affording the proper rights to women as equal human beings as they should be treated. On the other hand, America is not that important that someone is going to alter policy simply because America does something. As such, without the proper respect being shown to us it may be problematic to achieve what we need to achieve. 2.) I like the idea that she has "limited foreign policy experience." Often times corporations bring in "new blood" when the hire a new CEO. Meaning they bring in someone who has not worked within the company and has limited to no experience in the industry because they want a leader who will be willing and able to take a fresh look at things. Having someone with limited experience frees them up to consider new ideas and new ways of doing things. Our current approaches to foreign policy are not working. As such, it is probably better to have someone in this position who is not tied to the old ways of doing things. On balance, limited foreign policy experience is probably a good thing.
I hope this appointment and all others work out. Another failed presidency will probably mean the end of the United States. Furthermore it seems unlike that Russia and China re going to contend with the United States for an indefinite period time. As such, improving relations with these powers before it is to late is of paramount importance.
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