• Quick note - the problem with Youtube videos not embedding on the forum appears to have been fixed, thanks to ZiprHead. If you do still see problems let me know.

The Biden Presidency

Status
Not open for further replies.
Firestone said:
There he is:

“The electoral college has spoken. So today I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says on the Senate floor.

He also congratulates Kamala Harris.

McConnell: "Beyond our differences, all Americans can take pride that our nation has a female Vice President Elect, for the very first time." Followed by something like a smile.

https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1338866279956955136
Click to expand...

I would have loved to have been the fly on the wall when Donnie heard that.
 
Mayor Pete (who was who I voted for in the pirmary) will be the new Secratary of Transportation.
 
I suppose that isn't so bad, I was afraid he was going to be VA secretary or something where his McKinsey buddies would treat veterans like commodities and privatize everything in the name of "efficiency".
 
Firestone said:
There he is:

“The electoral college has spoken. So today I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says on the Senate floor.

He also congratulates Kamala Harris.

McConnell: "Beyond our differences, all Americans can take pride that our nation has a female Vice President Elect, for the very first time." Followed by something like a smile.

https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1338866279956955136
Click to expand...
In the next tweet: "I look forward to obstructing everything they do, and look forward to further damaging the U.S. in an attempt to benefit the wealthy".
 
Donal said:
I suppose that isn't so bad, I was afraid he was going to be VA secretary or something where his McKinsey buddies would treat veterans like commodities and privatize everything in the name of "efficiency".
Click to expand...

I'm curious why Pete is qualified for this, or any, cabinet position.

He was the mayor of a small city for a few years and... that's really it. He was briefly the frontrunner in the very earliest days of the primary and strategically withdrew to help Biden win.

Doesn't seem like he has any expertise in Transportation, and his only qualification is that Biden owes him a favor.
 
SuburbanTurkey said:
I'm curious why Pete is qualified for this, or any, cabinet position.

He was the mayor of a small city for a few years and... that's really it. He was briefly the frontrunner in the very earliest days of the primary and strategically withdrew to help Biden win.

Doesn't seem like he has any expertise in Transportation, and his only qualification is that Biden owes him a favor.
Click to expand...

Do you think Elaine Chao had Transportation had expertise when she was made Secretary of Transportation? I think your question is a fair one but if he hires the right staff, it doesn't matter.
 
Last edited:
SuburbanTurkey said:
I'm curious why Pete is qualified for this, or any, cabinet position.

He was the mayor of a small city for a few years and... that's really it. He was briefly the frontrunner in the very earliest days of the primary and strategically withdrew to help Biden win.

Doesn't seem like he has any expertise in Transportation, and his only qualification is that Biden owes him a favor.
Click to expand...

Relatively speaking, he can't screw too much up. This might also be grooming him for other things later on, it's like a starter house for him.
 
Re: Mayor Pete for Transportation sec...
SuburbanTurkey said:
I'm curious why Pete is qualified for this, or any, cabinet position.

He was the mayor of a small city for a few years and... that's really it. He was briefly the frontrunner in the very earliest days of the primary and strategically withdrew to help Biden win.
Click to expand...
Well, being a mayor would give him at least some government administration experience. So he will have an idea of how government budgets work, how lower levels deal with higher levels, etc. (Not exactly at the federal level, but probably more relevant than someone who was a businessman.)

And as mayor, I suspect dealing with transportation infrastructure (road maintenance, mass transit development, airport infrastructure, etc.) would be a significant part of the job.
Doesn't seem like he has any expertise in Transportation...
Click to expand...
What exactly would you consider "expertise in Transportation"? Should Biden have hired a truck driver? Train Engineer?
 
Segnosaur said:
Re: Mayor Pete for Transportation sec...

Well, being a mayor would give him at least some government administration experience. So he will have an idea of how government budgets work, how lower levels deal with higher levels, etc. (Not exactly at the federal level, but probably more relevant than someone who was a businessman.)

And as mayor, I suspect dealing with transportation infrastructure (road maintenance, mass transit development, airport infrastructure, etc.) would be a significant part of the job.

What exactly would you consider "expertise in Transportation"? Should Biden have hired a truck driver? Train Engineer?
Click to expand...

Seems like a role that someone with experience in federal administration would fill.

I mean, the DOT is a huge agency full of career expert bureaucrats in this field.

I suppose picking a political ally for these roles isn't unusual, and much of the actual work of administration is done by the nameless, faceless masses of career bureaucrats, so it really doesn't matter much.
 
Segnosaur said:
Re: Mayor Pete for Transportation sec...

Well, being a mayor would give him at least some government administration experience. So he will have an idea of how government budgets work, how lower levels deal with higher levels, etc. (Not exactly at the federal level, but probably more relevant than someone who was a businessman.)

And as mayor, I suspect dealing with transportation infrastructure (road maintenance, mass transit development, airport infrastructure, etc.) would be a significant part of the job.

What exactly would you consider "expertise in Transportation"? Should Biden have hired a truck driver? Train Engineer?
Click to expand...

The man is a Rhodes Scholar. His position is more about organization and selling the infrastructure initiative that Biden has made a huge priority.
 
acbytesla said:
The man is a Rhodes Scholar. His position is more about organization and selling the infrastructure initiative that Biden has made a huge priority.
Click to expand...

When Abbott became head of the DOE, he started by saying stupid things and then spent like 6 months being briefed by people in the department explaining what they all did (I know someone who was part of that process). And he quit relatively soon, because he realized he was in way over his head.
 
acbytesla said:
The man is a Rhodes Scholar. His position is more about organization and selling the infrastructure initiative that Biden has made a huge priority.
Click to expand...

I wasn't big on Pete during the primary, but I warmed up to him after seeing some appearances during the election. He is very good at getting a clear message across in an interview without being distracted or looking like he is ignoring the question. I think he should be good at making it clear what we need and how we are going to achieve it. I wish him all the luck in this job.
 
SuburbanTurkey said:
Re: Mayor Pete for Transportation sec...

Well, being a mayor would give him at least some government administration experience. So he will have an idea of how government budgets work, how lower levels deal with higher levels, etc. (Not exactly at the federal level, but probably more relevant than someone who was a businessman.)

And as mayor, I suspect dealing with transportation infrastructure (road maintenance, mass transit development, airport infrastructure, etc.) would be a significant part of the job.

What exactly would you consider "expertise in Transportation"? Should Biden have hired a truck driver? Train Engineer?
Click to expand...
Seems like a role that someone with experience in federal administration would fill.
Click to expand...
Which doesn't necessarily mean his background is irrelevant... knowing how things work on a municipal level may be more "nuts and bolts" than what goes on federally, but it does have some use.
I mean, the DOT is a huge agency full of career expert bureaucrats in this field.
Click to expand...
Cabinet positions are pretty much all political.

Even if someone like Saint Bernie or Warren had become president, I doubt very much whether they would fill a cabinet position by just promoting an existing member of the bureaucracy.

Sounds to me like you're just looking for an excuse to dump on the "not progressive administration of Joe Biden".
I suppose picking a political ally for these roles isn't unusual...
Click to expand...
Correction... an individual that might have some experience relevant to the job, dealing with transportation issues as a mayor.

Now, if he were appointed (for example) secretary of State, or Secretary of agriculture, then that would be a bit more problematic, since he doesn't really have any experience in areas related to those portfolios. But Transportation? Probably no better or worse than any other prospect.
 
Segnosaur said:
Which doesn't necessarily mean his background is irrelevant... knowing how things work on a municipal level may be more "nuts and bolts" than what goes on federally, but it does have some use.

Cabinet positions are pretty much all political.

Even if someone like Saint Bernie or Warren had become president, I doubt very much whether they would fill a cabinet position by just promoting an existing member of the bureaucracy.

Sounds to me like you're just looking for an excuse to dump on the "not progressive administration of Joe Biden".

Correction... an individual that might have some experience relevant to the job, dealing with transportation issues as a mayor.

Now, if he were appointed (for example) secretary of State, or Secretary of agriculture, then that would be a bit more problematic, since he doesn't really have any experience in areas related to those portfolios. But Transportation? Probably no better or worse than any other prospect.
Click to expand...

Speaking of Warren, seems like she's getting a big lump of coal from St. Joe this xmas. Not seeing anywhere that she is even being considered for any role in the admin, despite her reputation as a administrative and policy "wonk".
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Back
Top Bottom