After Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard is the Trump nominee facing the most resistance

There's no evidence that Gabbard is a Russian spy or that she's compromised in any way. The problem is that people think she is. If she's confirmed as the Director of National Intelligence, that means our allies won't share information with us out of concern that she'll pass it along to Putin. It also means that her subordinates - most of whom are patriotic and committed to their jobs - will withhold information from her. Together, this means she won't be able to do her job - a job, I should add, she's not remotely qualified for.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5020625-tulsi-gabbard-trump-cabinet-nominee/

Meanwhile, Pete Hegseth is probably days if not hours from withdrawing his nomination, assuming Trump doesn't withdraw it first. Aside from the sexual assault and mismanagement of funds allegations (neither of which are necessarily disqualifying in this administration), Hegseth appears to have a drinking problem. Trump is a teetotaler and disapproves of drunkards. Reportedly, he's considering nominating Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as Defense Secretary. Trump and DeSantis despise each other, but DeSantis would definitely be confirmed by the Senate. Another option is Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, who is a veteran and already serves on the Armed Forces committee.

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Richard65 · M

Here in the UK, we've already had a Republican spokesman being interviewed on the BBC who specifically advised us against sharing information with the USA as, in his words, it's likely to find its way straight to Putin. I've never heard an American say that on TV before.

NativePortlander1970

@Richard65 Never trust a RINO

Richard65 · M

@NativePortlander1970 I'm just saying what I saw. It surprised me. But, Reps clearly have suspicions about their own party. In fact, I'd rather have a party member telling me exactly what they think instead of a slavish acolyte toeing the party line.

NativePortlander1970

@Richard65 I actually believe you because there is a faction of repubs that are deep establishment, Trumo threatens their status quo as much as he does the leftist dems, Mitch McConnell, Mitt Romney, and Liz Cheney, lead the pack.

Richard65 · M

@NativePortlander1970 maybe so, both Reps and Dems have historically been happy to warmonger in order to further American Imperialism. However, Israel is at war, so will Trump stop selling them arms, or will he too be a warmonger, helping the profits of the Military Industrial Complex, just like all the other presidents before him?

NativePortlander1970

@Richard65 Look at all the wars Trump has stopped, he brokered four historical peace treaties between Israel and islamic countries, the last prez to get a peace deal was Carter, and that was only one. However, the current skirmish Israel is involved with is justified, they need to completely erradicate hamas to get any sort of peace.

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LeopoldBloom · M

@Richard65 Exactly right. It doesn't matter if Gabbard isn't really a Russian agent if people think she is. There are enough Republican defense hawks in the Senate to derail her nomination purely because she can't be effective. It's just that they haven't gotten around to her yet since Gaetz and Hegseth were bigger distractions.

LeopoldBloom · M

@NativePortlander1970 The Abraham Accords were started under Obama; all Trump did was sign them. Big whoop, they created a travel agreement between countries that were never at war.

I agree that Trump probably won't send American troops to fight in Ukraine or Israel as his base won't stand for that, but Biden hasn't sent troops there either. It's not like Trump can end those wars on his own. If we cut funding to Ukraine, that just means the EU will pick up the slack. That could also allow Ukraine to escalate attacks in Russia, which Biden prevented as a condition of them getting aid from us. Without that restriction, Zelensky can do whatever the EU lets him do. As for Israel, our support will continue same as it has under Biden.

NativePortlander1970

@LeopoldBloom They stalled under Obama, where they got hostile once again with each other, Trump got them back to the table, think before you write.

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JollyRoger · 70-79, M

@NativePortlander1970 ⁉ What war did Trump stop?? .... and I'll take a list (please) of all the others he stopped. I do admit that (a rare) once in a while tRump does take sound advice - but (as himself??) he's never stopped a war.

JollyRoger · 70-79, M

@NativePortlander1970 And: Why did they stall??? No bills ever passed the House during Obama's time. You folks wasted so many possibilities just because the Repubs didn't want a black man in the White House to make any progress!