Exxon CEO Tillerson emerges as frontrunner for Secretary of State

[esmith]

You taking a lot of creative liberties about someone you know nothing about. It is rude at best...

I have never been accused of not speaking my mind. (after retiring that is)

 

[esmith]

I look at it this way, judging from your comments, you're not winning a credibility contest!!

If your addressing me. I suppose not since my values and opinions are somewhat foreign to the liberal/progressive crowd.

 

[idav]

Don't know what you are attempting to say with the comment "Thats appeal to authority"?

So is it only people who have been officers, served under officers or need actual front-line experience in order to have concerns about military generals being appointed to various cabinet positions? One of which was a very outspoken advocate of the Iraq war.

 

[esmith]

I'm not sure why the Repubs are so quick to give Trump there blessings on his picks. He is also picking a bunch of generals making it a warmongers and Elitists. I mean really the Exxon CEO? I guess when a portion of Repubs don't care about the environment there would be no problems, just make more money I guess.

So is it only people who have been officers, served under officers or need actual front-line experience in order to have concerns about military generals being appointed to various cabinet positions? One of which was a very outspoken advocate of the Iraq war.

No, what I'm objecting to is your statement in the first post saying that generals are warmongers.
So, let's put it on the table. What makes you assume military generals are "warmongers".
If you can not or will not elaborate then this discussion is over. As far as I'm concerned.

 

[Watchmen]

I was very troubled when o first heard the news, but in the 24 hours since, I've calmed down and am taking a wait and see approach.

 

[Quetzal]

I look at it this way. Anyone that says that military leaders are warmongers have little or no credentials as far as I'm concerned.

If you say so, bud.

 

[idav]

If you can not or will not elaborate then this discussion is over.

I already did elaborate. Usually people call it being a hawk which plenty like to accuse Hillary of, for advocating for the same wars. Disagreeing with tactics doesn't mean thinking war isnt a good option. Trumps the same way, advocating for the same type of violence he accused Hillary of.

 

[esmith]

I already did elaborate. Usually people call it being a hawk which plenty like to accuse Hillary of, for advocating for the same wars. Disagreeing with tactics doesn't mean thinking war isnt a good option. Trumps the same way, advocating for the same type of violence he accused Hillary of.

I was discussing your term "warmongers" in referencing generals. Now you have somehow you are attempting to redirect the conversation. Oh, well that's typical.....don't like the direction the discussion is going so change the direction.

Done.

 

[esmith]

If you say so, bud.

My keyboard, my decision. And I do say so.

 

[tytlyf]

Not much more establishment/crooked than the fossil fuel industry. Trump doesn't know what he's doing. Trump has something with Russia going on. Too many indicators. What's he hiding?

 

[Scuba Pete]

Thoughts?

Score another coup for the Russians. ты говоришь по русски? Я, конечно, могу!

 

[Shadow Wolf]

New You don't read the mainstream media, do you, otherwise you would have known all about the proposed changes to SS and Medicare.

That's been more of a push from the likes of Paul Ryan, and I haven't heard Trump speak much of it, but I've heard plenty of his supporters saying he needs to leave it alone because that was not what he was "elected" for.

He is also picking a bunch of generals making it a warmongers and Elitists.

In regards to the Generals, those with military experience are often some of the last to want to go to war, pretty much as we saw with the Iraq war where those with experience were firmly against it while those who have never seen it jumped on board to support it.
However, Trump did say he was going to fire the Generals and replace them.

What do you figure they might resort to other than something they are familiar with?

They have first hand experience with it, and how it is ordering the troops to march into the Gates of Hell, a decision that must be taken and considered with great thought, consideration, and responsibility. If we use Iraq as an indication, those without the experience often did not realize the human cost of war.

 

[Scuba Pete]

Still got a problem?

Actually, we all have a problem. We only need to look at Haliburton to see how this cronyism will endure.

 

[Scuba Pete]

A general can no more be a war monger than a soldier. They are told to go to war and rather than benefit from such conflict, they experience the losses of war rather personally.

A monger is a sales person. A fishmonger sells fish. A warmonger sells war. Guess what a hatemonger sells? They must benefit from the action or at least possibly benefit from the action to earn the term "monger". Trump is a rumormonger and a hatemonger, but I don't see him as a warmonger. The only way for a general to become a warmonger in the US is for him to leave the service and then benefit from their actions.

Just calling someone a warmonger because you don't like them or their politics is counter productive and only clouds the issues. If you're going to use the term, please use it correctly.

 

[Sultan Of Swing]

Not much more establishment/crooked than the fossil fuel industry. Trump doesn't know what he's doing. Trump has something with Russia going on. Too many indicators. What's he hiding?

If anyone calls for warmer relations with Russia, they are accused of being in Putin's pocket, or corrupt, or Neville Chamberlains.

 

[Underhill]

I hope Trump doesn't know what he is doing, that would at least mean there is room for improvement, but I suspect he knows full well. These are not the actions of a neophyte. They are the calculated actions of someone looking to capitalize on the presidency.

It is as many said prior to the election. He wasn't stupid, or populist. He was an actor playing a roll.

Now he will continue with his populist propaganda while raping and pillaging the economy for those in the 1%. A bit under half the country has been had. The best case scenario is he will be good for business and the American people will continue suffering with the same trickle down nonsense.

But I think there is a fair chance things could go much worse than that looking at his picks. Worse for the environment, worse for foreign relations and worse for the countries health.

 

[Sultan Of Swing]

I hope Trump doesn't know what he is doing, that would at least mean there is room for improvement, but I suspect he knows full well. These are not the actions of a neophyte. They are the calculated actions of someone looking to capitalize on the presidency.

It is as many said prior to the election. He wasn't stupid, or populist. He was an actor playing a roll.

Now he will continue with his populist propaganda while raping and pillaging the economy for those in the 1%. A bit under half the country has been had. The best case scenario is he will be good for business and the American people will continue suffering with the same trickle down nonsense.

But I think there is a fair chance things could go much worse than that looking at his picks. Worse for the environment, worse for foreign relations and worse for the countries health.

How would picking Tillerson help him capitalise on the presidency?

 

[Underhill]

How would picking Tillerson help him capitalise on the presidency?

These things are pretty hard to pin down as these multinational companies are everywhere and tied to everything. But Exxon has high dollar dealings with Russia, Iran and just about every country on the globe. On top of this, Tillerson was a huge donor to Trump and his campaign. So the potential is definitely there.

I wasn't just talking about Tillerson, but his methodology in general. If you were to make a list of ways Washington could benefit the rich, his cabinet choices look like they will be in favor of checking every box.

 

[Sultan Of Swing]

These things are pretty hard to pin down as these multinational companies are everywhere and tied to everything. But Exxon has high dollar dealings with Russia, Iran and just about every country on the globe. On top of this, Tillerson was a huge donor to Trump and his campaign. So the potential is definitely there.

I wasn't just talking about Tillerson, but his methodology in general. If you were to make a list of ways Washington could benefit the rich, his cabinet choices look like they will be in favor of checking every box.

Could you give a source on Tillerson being a huge donor to Trump? I read he donated to Jeb Bush back during the primaries, I was not aware of him being a 'huge donor' to Trump.

There is a risk with any cabinet appointment of wanting to benefit themselves, that comes with the territory of appointing human beings, but otherwise I don't see some special unique risk with Trump's cabinet in particular.

 

[esmith]

These things are pretty hard to pin down as these multinational companies are everywhere and tied to everything. But Exxon has high dollar dealings with Russia, Iran and just about every country on the globe. On top of this, Tillerson was a huge donor to Trump and his campaign. So the potential is definitely there.

I wasn't just talking about Tillerson, but his methodology in general. If you were to make a list of ways Washington could benefit the rich, his cabinet choices look like they will be in favor of checking every box.

You do realize don't you that Tillerson has to give up his position at Exxon don't you. Read this then address what was put forward.
8 Reasons Exxon's Rex Tillerson Could Succeed As Secretary Of State