At this point I’m pretty much ignoring the “Romney for SOS, yes or no” talk
There’s been a lot of speculation about whether Trump is trying to humiliate Romney or whether he really wants him as his Secretary of State (see this, for example).
I’m already tired of it. I happen to think Romney would make an excellent Secretary of State. But I was surprised by Trump’s even considering him, and by Romney’s considering the post in turn. Everyone else was surprised by it, too, if they’re being honest about it. So, why would they have a clue what Trump is going to do next, since they couldn’t predict this in the first place, and since both men appear to be playing it very close to the vest?
Unpredictability was always one of the givens of a Trump administration. Trump is a wild card, and may be a loose cannon too, although let’s hope it’s more the former than the latter. Whatever else you might say about him, he is not in the mold of previous presidents. In addition, he has no track record in public office. He has changed his mind many times, and has lied many times. So why would anyone think they can predict the choice he will make?
But I do have one thing to say about it, for what it’s worth: I think that both Romney and Trump are seriously considering it, and that one of their main concerns is not so much the past bad blood between them but rather whether they are on a similar enough page regarding foreign policy that Romney could work under Trump. I think that Romney is all about service, and if he felt he could perform a service without giving up his integrity he would do it. And I think Trump is trying—at least initially—to get the best people for the job and that he actually respects Romney’s foreign policy acumen and believes he’s a straight-up trustworthy guy.
That’s as far as I’ll go with it right now.
I do think that Conway should have kept her mouth shut. Foreign affairs is not her area of expertise. The Trumpsters she seems to care about will be able to have a say on Trump’s governing at the next vote. Until then, they should keep their mouths shut and see what their Messiah actually accomplishes.
Too many storm clouds are gathering now over international relations, so I expect a major crisis ahead within the next year. For the Trump presidency the most serious test will be how his foreign policy team would be able to cope with it. So these positions are of crucial importance.
If Trump was sold on Romney, wouldn’t he have chosen him by now?
In our foreign relations under Trump, the thing that is needed most right now is clearly communicating a new firmness of resolve. The less doubt and equivocation left in the minds of our allies and those nations unfriendly to our national interests, the better. Uncertainty leads to miscalculations.
My wife thinks that the whole Conway thing is orchestrated, for reasons that she can’t quite explain. A Trump mouth piece was on FNC last night and claimed that Conway had cleared her diatribe with Trump in advance.
That may or may not be true; but, it is just too convoluted for me to accept. Conflicting reports from insiders–anonymous, of course– say that Trump is furious.
I suspect that Conway has sided with Giuliani in an effort to force Trump’s hand. There are other anonymous reports that Conway is upset because she did not get the job she wanted; presumably WH Communications.
In any case, the whole thing is disturbing. If Trump were playing games with a good man; then he would confirm my worst expectations. If Conway, Giuliani, Newt, et al are publicly pressuring the boss, it certainly suggests lack of discipline and disarray in the inner circle.
Romney would be a great choice, though it’s definitely a surprise he’s a contender. Picking the best candidate for a job–a la the apprentice — was what I hoped, in optimistic moments, that Trump might do.
I don’t get all the angst about it, isn’t angst more of a leftist problem? Or pay for play? When Trump supporters demand it, suddenly it’s a good thing? Or do they really just want him to burn the place down– except for the flag, of course.
GB, it seems to me that too much of this is going on in public; accompanied by constant leaking and speculation about key positions.
Not surprising, I suppose, that Trump is doing it differently, but there seems to be a real downside to all of this. A number of people are going to be publicly disappointed, perhaps humiliated. Some of them are not the people you want irritated with you. On the other side of the coin, public expectations can be raised about super star appointments that don’t happen. BET found Johnson just stated that there was no way that he would work in government.
Oldflyer,
Since Trump is starting to think about how to govern, maybe his inner circle of supporters is losing importance and they don’t like it. Being an early supporter in a campaign is not a qualification for an administrative job.
It’s not the only subject you’re ignoring. What about the Stein-Clinton recount?!
I read somewhere that the SoS needn’t be in the inner circle, referencing Hillary and Obama. The comment was Hillary flew around collecting donations for her foundation while foreign policy was run by Valerie Jarrett out of the WH.
I have no idea if that is Trump’s plan, but if he is going to rely on the SoS for advice, choosing someone he trust and can work with, like Nixon-Kissinger or Reagan-Schultz would be paramount. Of course Reagan chose Haig first, who was not treated kindly by the press, so say the least.
Is it possible that the Secretary of State is something of an anachronism, given the methods of communications now, more of a figurehead?
Meh:
I don’t profess to be a news wire service. There are thousands of topics I ignore. I write about what interests me most and/or about topics on which I think I have something different or interesting to say.
I have little to say about the recount, and it doesn’t interest me much. Of course, if it were somehow to change the results (which I very much doubt it would) it would start interesting me.
neoneocon says whether they are on a similar enough page regarding foreign policy that Romney could work under Trump
Same with everyone there I expect. You can’t sign on with President Trump if you expect to have an objection so major on policy you might end up resigning.
It could happen anyway, but if someone expects it before they even start, that would be a bad omen for taking the job.
This SOS soap opera is typical of djt. He keeps himself in the limelight and keeps everyone quessing his next move. I doubt Conway went off the reservation. I think Trump was well aware of her actions in advance.
The only question I have is why would MR become involved in this game? He surely must know djt would be an insufferable boss. MR has strong opinions about foreign policy, especially when it comes to relations with Russia ruled by Putin the Donald BBF.
Very good questions, Parker. It is hard to figure what Mitt Romney is doing–or thinks he is doing.
Has Trump made a credible appeal for reconciliation, perhaps as a signal to the establishment? Has he convincned Romney that his service to the country is sorely needed?s If so, why the fawning over Petraeus, and the persistent leaks about Corker? Why would his inner circle still be touting Giuliani? With Trump’s blessing?
I have to believe that someone as sophisticated as Romney understands that he risks humiliation; so has reassured himself that this is all on the level. Good luck on that Mitt.
Meh: I expect that most of Neo’s readers completely agree with her on the sideshow. Best ignored; although the MSM is incapable of that.
It seems to me most probable that Romney’s motivation is patriotic. Tonight I see that Trump, Romney and their wives are having dinner together. That’s IMO, highly indicative of an attempt to form a relationship.
Oldflyer,
The next four years will be a three ring circus of conflicting anonymous leaks, smoke and mirrors (perhaps more smoke than mirrors), and a bonanza for the msm. Somehow, this may serve djt well. I am beginning to flirt with the idea that he is less of a loose cannon and more of a sly bull scaring those hanging out in the china shops of the msm and their zombie hordes.
Where MR fits in or does not fit into the current soap opera remains to be seen.
GB,
Romney is indeed a patriot and cares deeply about the future of America, how that is compatible with working for djt is a mystery to me. But what do I know? I do not believe MR is naive, so as you note he must think he can be of service to the nation in a Trump regime. If I was in MR’s shoes I would be cautiously expecting a knife in the back given djt’s vindictive nature.
But as we know, politics involves strange bedfellows.
parker:
And if Romney, Trump, and their wives are indeed having dinner together tonight, I would suggest some food tasters.
Prediction for the New Year.
Neoneocon is going to have no lack of subject matter for at least 4 years.
Better get some sore muscle relief cream and try to keep the fingers limber.
neo,
Yes, in Romney’s shoes. or the shoes of anyone flying around the the Donald’s candle; tasters, reliable body guards, kevlar, and a ceramic blade is advisable. We are all now strangers in a strange land.
Trump never expected to win. The polls leading up to the election did not predict his Wisconsin, Michigan, and Penn. wins. His quiet almost resigned demeanor before the election said everything. Now he finds himself in over his head and needs someone for advice who is actually capable of governing. Hence, Romney. I can almost guarantee he will be SOS.
The other interesting pick is Elaine Chao McConnell. Trump did some trading here. Chao as Sec. of Transportation in exchange for McConnell using the nuclear option to get Trump’s Supreme Court nominee through the Senate.
The wives didn’t show up at that dinner tonight; it was just Trump and Romney, with Reince Priebus joining them. Great photo at the link.
So much of this is conjecture on thin evidence. Mitt was an almost president in 2012, though some of us saw his campaigning faults.Why can not the almost-Pres have conference and dinner with the Pres-elect? Why is it assumed or leaked Mitt is in the Running for SOS? Why can this not be a simple tete-a-tete on strategies, options, goals, in a macro sense a) global and b) national? Said tete would not unveil personsal hostilities, but determine whether there was agreement on a sufficiency of topics in order that the relationship could have a productive future.
Why not senior advisor for Mitt instead of SOS; shorter leash;more productive. As senior advisor he’d have some say about SOS decisions/recommmendations with POTUS directly. Put a Bolton or Guliani as SOS; but have decisions subject to Trump and Mitt.
Perhaps the subjests discussed have more to do with the American economic recovery than with mud huts and malaria in Kenya.
The fact that Romney’s angling for this job after the things he said about Trump speaks volumes. He is a sniveling, opportunistic weasel whose principles and allegiances shift with the wind.
Butterfield:
Who is “he” in your comment? Sounds like Trump to me. If you are going for the gutter make sure you identify the low life. Just trying to help. /S
To Mike, if you should read this thread: KSA has done EXACTLY what I told you: cut production to get the price back up.
Riyadh CAN’T live with current OPEC prices.
Expect further cut-backs until the market price closes on $100.
The idea that KSA is a so-called low-cost producer is a LIE.
Riyadh’s social contract// overhead HAS to be factored into her cost of production.
Blert:
KSA is the low cost producer. That is a fact. KSA also has a social policy to subsidize it’s citizens and evangelize the world with Wahabi theology, those are facts too. Wrap your mind around both facts or just continue to simplify. Whatever.
Butterfield:
I see you are a Romney admirer.
Of course, it could also mean that Romney has accepted that Trump is going to be president no matter what he (Romney) does or says, and that Romney might have a chance to serve his country by making Trump a better, more informed, and more judicious and wise president.
I tend to think that people who make nasty ad hominem attacks on a man like Romney, tell us a lot about themselves.
I do not fault Romney for opposing Trump. Lest we forget, Trump hardly ran as a Republican, so loyalty from GOP stalwarts was not earned. I was surprised at Romney’s rhetoric; but, to die hard Trumpsters, I would remind them that sauce is the same for geese and ganders. Or to paraphrase one who is seldom worth quoting: “Hit back twice as hard”. Odd that those who seem to hate Romney, do so primarily because they saw him as weak vs Obama and his accomplices.
Trump achieved some credibility with the center-right (where most conservatives are) by choosing Pence; he will accrue more if he can bring Romney on board.
Met Mitt twice. Don’t like him. Seems like “The Candidate” to me. Why Guiliani thinks of himself as SoS is unclear to me — Homeland Security would be a natural for him.
Petraeus seems the most qualified, but three generals in a “peacetime” cabinet is a little worrisome to me.
Oldflyer:
A lot of people on the right hated Romney long before Trump ever threw his hat into the ring. They were very vocal in 2012. Then later, they hated Romney even more for what he said about Trump during the campaign.
Now that Trump has been elected, they are high on their own perceived power, and vindictiveness is a big motivator for them. They thought Trump would be a lot more vindictive, so they really do (as Conway said) see even the thought of a Romney SOS as a betrayal by Trump.
They will forgive him, most of them anyway. They might find it easier to forgive him for shooting someone on Fifth Avenue, though.
Like Hussein did with Clinton and Kerry, Democrats tend to prefer and make use of parliamentary coalitions rather than Winner take all styles. That’s because the Left is itself an alliance and that’s where they derive their strength, not from the destructive capacity of evil but in its ability to convert enemies to allies.
OM doesn’t sound nearly as sharp with his /s lines as before, when he was more fired up about the election and the disagreements here. When is the old OM coming back, the one that paid less attention to questions and argument lines and more to evocative one line statements pouring out his bitter anguish, while justifying it as deserved punishment and treatment of G Britain and various others here.
Y:
Keep on hiking, Y, or say something intelligent. Maybe a thought about Japanese culture and western values. Wake up Y and smell the Pero; since LDS don’t generally drink coffee.
OM Says:
November 30th, 2016 at 1:15 pm
Blert:
KSA is the low cost producer. That is a fact. KSA also has a social policy to subsidize it’s citizens and evangelize the world with Wahabi theology, those are facts too. Wrap your mind around both facts or just continue to simplify. Whatever.
&&&
SOCIAL CONTRACT.
The kingdom will FALL if the social contract is abridged.
It’s the Third Rail of Saudi politics.
Oh, the third rail. Just as the third rail in american politics is …..
The oil was there before the KSA, which will be depleted first? When there is no money to fund the Wahabi evangelism it will continue because “We don’t need no stinkin’ money, we have Allah!”
“The kingdom will FALL if the social contract is abridged.”- Blert
This makes sense. Ever wonder why jihadists have left alone the westernized and corrupt monarchy that rules SA?
The Saudi government observes the trappings of a strict view of Islam, but I suppose that same secret police force enforcing Islamic laws also gives them opportunities to surveil opponents.
In spite of that the Riyadh bombing in 2008 showed Al Qaeda had the ability to act inside SA.
Trump might be seriously considering Romney for the SOS spot. On the other hand, he might be raising him up simply in order to send him crashing down….a bit of payback for Romney’s nasty comments during the election.
I’m inclined to believe that Trump is just out to humiliate Romney. That, at any rate, is the charitable interpretation of his actions.
Elian:
People who think Romney is being humiliated have a funny definition of “humiliated.”
The last time I considered myself humiliated by someone considering me for a top job, and wining and dining me and putting me in the spotlight, and then saying “no,” was—never. I would just figure the fit wasn’t right.
As for Romney saying nice things about Trump, he started to say somewhat nice things as soon as Trump was elected (actually a bit before). I documented this in another comment somewhere—don’t have time to do it again.
I fail to see this abject humiliation going on, even if Romney isn’t chosen.
Trump’s considering Romney for the SOS spot would not be a humiliation.
Trump’s merely pretending to consider Romney for the SOS spot in order to let everyone watch him grovel, then rejecting Romney after he’s debased himself….yeah….that would be humiliation all right.
Elian:
What an odd definition of “grovel” you have. I already responded to you here.
My guess is that there’s a possibility you might dearly love to see Romney grovel.
I wrote—in response to a comment by Mike Huckabee:
Then again, perhaps you’re just describing something you think Trump would like to do. Personally, I just don’t see the humiliation, even if he doesn’t choose Romney.