Employing a metaphor that might have been taken from Tom Friedman, David Brooks erupts on TrumpWorld:
The Trump Administration Talent Vacuum
After an eruption, volcanoes sometimes collapse at the center. The magma chamber empties out and the volcano falls in on itself, leaving a caldera and a fractured ring of stone around the void, covered by deadening ash.
That’s about the shape of Washington after the last stunning fortnight. The White House at the center just collapsed in on itself and the nation’s policy apparatus is covered in ash.
I don’t say that because I think the Comey-Russia scandal will necessarily lead to impeachment. I have no idea where the investigations will go.
I say it because White Houses, like all organizations, run on talent, and the Trump White House has just become a Human Resources disaster area.
We have seen White Houses engulfed by scandal before. But we have never seen a White House implode before it had the time to staff up. The Nixon, Reagan and Clinton White Houses had hired quality teams by the time their scandals came. They could continue to function, sort of, even when engulfed.
The Trump administration, on the other hand, has hundreds of senior and midlevel positions to fill, and few people of quality or experience are going to want to take them.
As a bonus wrinkle, previous Presidents had some political background and a team of loyalists trailing in their wake. Reagan had his California cronies, Bush had the Rove/Hughes/Allbaugh Texas Triumvirate, and even Obama had a Chicago machine to lean on. Trump did not arrive with a seasoned team and is going to have a brutal time continuing to try and pull one together. One suggestion! Have the White House employment contract include some sort of legal insurance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li9dGCC2SdU
Rex Tillerson & Wilbur Ross in sword dance at the palace!
Steve Bannon seen chatting with Saudis aloong with Reince Priebus (who looks totally confused, may I say - it's a long way from Kenosha).
Pretty cool that we can see this stuff.
Also, the NBC equipment got blown down by a sandstorm. HA!
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | May 20, 2017 at 02:52 PM
Kim DotcomVerified account @KimDotcom 1h1 hour ago
Kim Dotcom Retweeted Sean Hannity
I knew Seth Rich. I know he was the @Wikileaks source. I was involved.
Kim Dotcom added,
Sean HannityVerified account @seanhannity
You are the evidence? Can you explain that in more detail? https://twitter.com/kimdotcom/status/865777584293806080 …
------------------------------------------
Kim DotcomVerified account @KimDotcom 58m58 minutes ago
I'm meeting my legal team on Monday. I will issue a statement about #SethRich on Tuesday. Please be patient. This needs to be done properly.
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | May 20, 2017 at 02:57 PM
MM, looks like a scene from Indiana Jones.
Posted by: Clarice Feldman | May 20, 2017 at 03:08 PM
MM:
If it is true Seth Rich was the source I believe we begin to enter some dark days for Democrats.
This is like an episode of the Blacklist.
How many knew ahead of time that Reddington was her father?
Tom at the end of the episode was classic.
Posted by: maryrose | May 20, 2017 at 03:12 PM
Clarice,
I think Trump and all cabinet should start carrying swords. They could brandish them at press conferences.
Pretty funny that when the Coast Guard gave him that ceremonial sword, Secretary Kelly told him he could use it on the press. (It got picked up on the microphone. LOL!)
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | May 20, 2017 at 03:14 PM
It's the mad monster Duda
Posted by: BellyBreathe | May 20, 2017 at 03:16 PM
New Thread
Posted by: Old Lurker | May 20, 2017 at 03:19 PM
I'm meeting my legal team on Monday. I will issue a statement about #SethRich on Tuesday.
Fatso made a similar promise during the election.
Posted by: Threadkiller | May 20, 2017 at 03:20 PM
Thank you for the video of the sword dance, MIss M. That was fascinating!
Posted by: Barbara | May 20, 2017 at 03:25 PM
James M. on FB - " They will be beside themselves when they see the fantastic reception that Saudi Arabia has given him--- and how does the left reconcile their claims that he is anti-Muslim with an amazing reception fit for a king given by the Saudis???
Would the Saudis really increase their reception for an anti-Muslim?? Nope.
The Saudis are disappointed with the all talk no action Obama white house, and with its acquiescence to Iran.
The Saudis see Trump as taking a hard line on extremism (and its HQ, Iran) which is also what the Saudis have an inherent interest in.
Today, via SA, all the nonsensical anti-muslim epithets that were slung at Trump and his supporters--- all go to the trash bin.
The Saudis saw the truth----- anti-extremism is not anti-Muslim. Maybe now some american pols will accept it as well."
Bold mine
Posted by: Janet 🚬 | May 20, 2017 at 03:26 PM
"Fatso made a similar promise during the election. "
You are such a cynic, TK! ;-)
He's a Cher-mer-man. Don't you mean Dickerchen?
Posted by: Frau Steingehirn | May 20, 2017 at 03:57 PM
Janet, doesn't James M. know that "reconcile" is not in the left's vocabulary?
Posted by: Frau Steingehirn | May 20, 2017 at 03:59 PM