The choice of Tom Homan for “Border Czar” signifies Trump’s readiness to rock the boat and make change
“Personnel is policy” is an old saying we used to hear quite a lot, at least in the days when American leaders were serious about accomplishing their agendas and getting stuff done – aided in large part by filling vacancies with individuals who could do the job rather than because of DEI or politically correct “diversity” justifications.
Too many times in the past, Americans have been subjected to a type of eternal campaign
where elections come and go yet the same old actors reign supreme no matter who wins or loses. This certainly includes Republicans as well as Democrats. President senile Joe Biden was happy as a hog in slop when he won the election in 2020 – or was declared the winner – but on closer examination, all he did upon assuming the office was bring in the same old retreads from Barack Obama’s eight years in power and therefore live out what most observers suggested was simply a third term for the former community organizer from Chicago.
It may just as well have been a pseudo time extension for “The One”, only with Dr. Jill Biden’s arrogant airheaded-ness substituting for Michelle Obama’s smirks and condescending lectures.
President-elect Donald J. Trump has signaled that those habitual patronage days are in the past, and some of his early personnel decisions are already raising eyebrows in liberal circles for the “message” they portend to send.
In an article titled “Trump’s new border czar puts sanctuary cities on notice: ‘Get the hell out of the way’”, Stephen Dinan reported at The Washington Times the other day:
“In an interview with Fox News, Mr. Homan laid out an expansive effort to carry out Mr. Trump’s mass deportation promises.
“He said the administration will start with illegal immigrants who have criminal records or threaten national security. The estimated 1.1 million illegal immigrants who have refused to comply with deportation orders also will be priority targets. Mr. Homan said sanctuary cities won’t be able to protect illegal immigrants from deportation.
“’If sanctuary cities don’t want to help us, then get the hell out of the way. We’re coming,’ he said."
For those who voted for Trump specifically because they saw him as a no-BS-type person who means what he says and says what he means, Homan is the poster child for such a government servant. According to Dinan’s report, “Mr. Homan started his career as a Border Patrol agent and served in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement before becoming acting director at the start of the first Trump administration. He was nominated to hold the position in full but met resistance in the Senate and never received a confirmation vote.”
Yes, once again, the issue of Senate confirmation, the process whereby senators from the Washington DC “uni-party” get hour upon hour of free grandstanding to push questions written by their staffs so as to make the elected official look important and offer facial expressions as though they’re “concerned” or afraid the nominee is too “extreme” to serve in the capacity from which they were anointed by the president.
Matt Gaetz will surely get more than his share of scrutiny to earn enough votes to be confirmed as Attorney General.
But Trump’s borrowing senile Joe’s “Border Czar” term bypasses the unpleasantries – and boredom. Simply put, Tom Homan is a bad (bad in the good sense) dude. It doesn’t take but a few minutes of watching one of Homan’s interviews to ascertain that the guy is law enforcement to the core, a man who doesn’t give a squat what the establishment media or his political enemies (same thing?) think of him.
Conservatives are ecstatic that a means-business kind of person will be working on the illegal immigration issue that took center stage in Trump’s successful 2024 campaign. Extending the logic, Homan will essentially be replacing cackling Kamala Harris as “Border Czar”. Who still thinks elections don’t have consequences and politicians don’t make a difference?
Personnel is policy, part II
Dinan’s article mentioned several other Trump choices to fill positions in the new MAGA 2.0 administration: Rep. Elise Stefanik, the No. 4 House Republican, as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and Stephen Miller as deputy White House chief of staff for policy; Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state and Rep. Michael Waltz for national security adviser, and, former Rep. Lee Zeldin to head the Environmental Protection Agency.
Soon after the first round of announcements, term-limited South Dakota governor Kristi Noem was revealed to be Trump’s selection to take on the duties of current DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a Democrats so incompetent at his job he was nearly impeached (saved from such a fate by RINOs, no less).
Be prepared for the numerous social media “wouldn't have her for dog catcher” memes certain to crop up when Noem appears for her confirmation hearings after the new year. Democrats won’t want to talk about the horrific state of the border, FEMA’s incompetence or other matters assigned to the DHS Secretary, but they’ll sure want to dig up dirt regarding the pooch that Noem allegedly shot!
Thus far, Trump has not shared his reasons for picking Noem to play such an important role, but here, like so many different areas, is a case where we’ll need to trust the president-elect’s instincts. It would make no sense for Trump to bring in Noem just because she’s a woman or has been a loyal supporter for a long time.
It appears unlikely Kristi would be seen as too squishy and timid to succeed in the role. (Note: Here’s a view suggesting she’s not courageous enough.) As is true with most cabinet positions, being good at the public relations game will be essential to doing well there. Trump must trust her. We’ll see.
Whatever is said, Noem can’t be worse than Mayorkas proved to be at the job. The same is true for all of Trump’s would-be appointments.
Rubio as Secretary of State?
As would be expected, when it was reported that Florida Senator Marco Rubio was being considered for Trump’s Secretary of State, media talkers began squawking about how the Floridian would become the first Hispanic man to head up the diplomatic corps, as though Rubio’s heritage and DNA would make an impact on the decisions he’d make representing Trump’s foreign policy.
Known as somewhat of a hawk, Rubio’s also renowned for his fierce defense of all things Israel and would probably continue his passionate advocacy on behalf of the Jewish State. Put it this way, I doubt Rashida Tlaib and the rest of the “Squad” members would be thrilled about having Rubio in the position.
It’s hard to believe it’s been nine years since Trump and Rubio tangled in the 2015-16 Republican primary campaign where the older man and outsider politician labeled Rubio “Little Marco” and conservatives distrusted the senator for his membership and leading promotional role in the disreputable “Gang of Eight” immigration group in Congress.
Rubio appears to have mended fences since and also has ditched his reputation as a pre-programmed robotic politician and master of what Chris Christie once called the “25-second speech”. All of the issues that were brought up during the 2016 campaign are likely to resurface at Rubio’s confirmation, including his somewhat questionable personal financial dealings before taking office.
But none of it should serve as a disqualifier to Rubio assuming the State job. And as a sitting U.S. Senator, he probably would get a number of Democrats’ votes, too.
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