Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday November 14, 2024
A Government of the (Most) Loyal, by the (Most) Loyal, for the (Most) Loyal
July 20, 2024
As Donald Trump prepares for his second term, his Cabinet appointments reflect a vision that deeply diverges from the traditions of U.S. governance and the peaceful transitions of power Americans have come to expect. Typically, the transition period is marked by a gracious, symbolically unifying gesture—a meeting at the White House where outgoing and incoming presidents signal continuity and respect for democratic processes. In 2020, Trump famously disrupted this tradition by refusing to meet with President-elect Joe Biden, a snub now underscored by incoming First Lady Melania Trump’s decision to skip the customary White House tour with Dr. Jill Biden. This refusal of symbolic unity is emblematic of Trump’s wider disregard for norms and appears to set the stage for an administration filled with loyalists, ideologues, and media personalities who may prioritize fealty over expertise.
News: Biden is about to have the meeting he’s been dreading with Trump
October 26, 2024
A closer look at Trump’s appointments reveals a Cabinet stacked with political loyalists, partisan firebrands, and billionaires. Notably, he has appointed Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a proposed new “Department of Government Efficiency.” Musk, the world’s richest man and a vocal Trump supporter, has contributed millions to pro-Trump political action committees and has frequently used his social media platform to shape public opinion in ways favourable to Trump’s agenda.
His potential control over government efficiency measures raises questions about the motives behind regulatory and budget cuts and whether they would truly benefit the American public or serve the interests of corporate allies and ultra-wealthy backers like Musk.
Equally concerning is the appointment of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. A Fox News personality more known for his television commentary than military leadership, Hegseth has stoked divisive narratives, dismissing military diversity programs as “woke” and pushing rhetoric that undercuts the inclusion and unity central to military morale. His stance that women should not serve in the military suggests he might roll back decades of progress in creating a military that reflects American society. Moreover, his support for conspiracy theories around the “Stop the Steal” movement raises questions about his ability to objectively defend democratic principles in his role as defence chief.
News: ‘Who the f–k is this guy?’: Defense world reacts to Trump’s surprise Pentagon pick
October 22, 2024
Adding to this is Trump’s proposed “warrior board,” an executive order that would replace the Pentagon’s existing promotion and review system with an ideologically driven panel of retired generals handpicked by Trump to judge “leadership qualities” among top officers. Retired Major General Paul Eaton of VoteVets has warned that this order would essentially create a “MAGA military,” compromising the apolitical tradition of the U.S. armed forces by ensuring loyalty to Trump rather than to the Constitution. This proposal follows Trump’s repeated complaints that he needs generals “like Hitler had,” raising fears that the Department of Defense may see an erosion of its independence if top officers are removed based on political conformity.
Trump’s choices for diplomatic roles also reveal a troubling blend of ideological rigidity and political favouritism. His anticipated appointment of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee as U.S. Ambassador to Israel, for instance, signals a likely shift in U.S. foreign policy towards uncompromising support for Israeli expansionism. Huckabee has publicly opposed Palestinian statehood and encouraged Israel to annex West Bank territories. Such a position risks deepening the rift with allies who support a two-state solution, potentially alienating key international partners and compromising longstanding diplomatic strategies in the region.
Analysis: Trump rolls out his most MAGA picks for new White House term
February 11, 2021
The appointment of John Ratcliffe, a former intelligence official with a history of selectively declassifying intelligence for partisan advantage, as CIA Director, raises similar concerns. Ratcliffe’s prior tenure as Director of National Intelligence was marked by decisions that some felt jeopardized the agency’s nonpartisan reputation, such as his release of unverified information tied to Hillary Clinton during the Russia investigation. His return to intelligence could see further politicization, with critical security assessments potentially shaped by partisan agendas rather than objective analysis.
Perhaps most emblematic of the administration’s direction is Trump’s choice of Stephen Miller as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy. Miller, an architect of Trump’s hardline immigration policies, has been one of the most polarizing figures from Trump’s first term, pushing policies like family separation and strict asylum restrictions. His return signals a potential crackdown on immigration policy that would likely exacerbate tensions and fears among immigrant communities, while also creating strain between the federal government and localities seeking more balanced approaches to immigration.
January 12, 2021
Taken together, these appointments suggest a presidency with little regard for expertise or experience if it comes at the expense of loyalty. The appointments reflect a push for a government populated by those willing to execute Trump’s agenda uncritically—an agenda focused less on inclusive governance and more on dismantling institutional safeguards that maintain checks and balances. The peaceful transfer of power, a bedrock of American democracy, is not merely a procedural formality but a symbolic act that unites the country around shared principles. In 2020, Trump rejected this gesture. In 2024, his appointments appear set to challenge the very foundations of this tradition, reshaping the nation’s institutions to reflect not American democracy, but personal allegiance to one man.
A full week after the 2024 election, the roaring fire behind #46 and the incoming #47 at the Oval Office was hard to ignore. Donald Trump who left the place in flames on his way out in 2020, was back meeting with Joe Biden who, let’s face it, as one commentator said, looked like he’d rather be eating glass than doing the responsible thing. Defeated or lame duck, the presidential thing is to carry on the tradition of inviting the incoming leader, which every President had done for more than 2 centuries continued. Until of course, that one time when the incoming guy didn’t return the courtesy to the host 4 years ago. So, even a group of toddlers could point out who the bigger person was of the two?
This year, 44/47 behaved himself by not letting his mouth run off as photographers captured the moment.
Meanwhile, incoming Trump insignificant other Melania, the most inconsequential first lady ever, made herself even less significant by skipping the White House tour with Jill Biden, just in case you thought the Trump’s were really into unity. Spoiler alert: They weren’t. Apparently she won’t be hanging around the White House very much in years to come. I really don’t care, do you?
Could be that 46/47 may be attempting to start off statesman-like while letting family members carry out the snubs, slights, and give middle fingers to the masses of skeptics.
Donny Trump Jr. is the first nepo baby to the incoming monarch and threw out a doozy to Zelenskyy taunting the Ukrainian President about losing his allowance offered by the west for defending his country against the tyranny of Vladimir Putin. Donny must think loosing financial aid is worse than actually witnessing the horrors that the President of Ukraine has been dealing with.
Late breaking: Matt Gaetz has been nominated as Trump’s Attorney-General. At this point I’m wondering if Trump’s looney appointments are just designed to trigger saner people to lose their minds completely.
Now, as we look to #47’s earlier appointments, it’s clear that loyalty is the new currency. Forget about experience, competence, or even an understanding of basic governance. Trump’s Cabinet looks like it was assembled by a blindfolded Fox News producer after a weekend binge of conspiracy documentaries. Let’s start with the good ol’ “Department of Government Efficiency”—led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. Yes, that’s right: the richest man in the world is apparently going to hack away at bureaucracy. You can almost hear the ping of his latest conflict-of-interest-laden contract from here.
And then, there’s Pete Hegseth—defence secretary-in-waiting and self-proclaimed “warrior” for the MAGA cause. Apparently, having seven kids and tattoos somehow qualifies you to run the military. Never mind the fact that Hegseth thinks women shouldn’t be in combat roles and has a very, very specific idea of what constitutes a “woke general.” It’s almost like his qualifications were forged in a right-wing think tank, not on the battlefield.
Let’s not even get started on his ideas about NATO, Ukraine, or Taiwan—unless you’re a fan of global instability. And while his confirmation hearings may provide the slimmest line of protection from the total chaos ahead, let’s face it: With a Congress full of Trump loyalists, that’s like putting up a picket fence in front of a bulldozer.
So buckle up, folks. It’s only been 1 week since the world changed
– The Graeme Gallery
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