Senators Urge Secretary of State Pick to Avoid Trump’s ‘Worst Instincts’ (13dc-pompeo) (13dc-pompeo)

While Pompeo isn't my candidate of choice, we need to view him as the "cleanest dirty shirt" that could be nominated by Trump. Let's be realistic here. Trump has no interest in any kind of bi-partisan governing. If Pompeo doesn't get the job, who's next - Bolton, some other Fox New talking head? Pompeo is the best of a bad lot of choices. I don't trust that the "Smilin' Mike" I saw on CNN yesterday is an accurate representation. I'm assuming that the Dems will make significant inroads in the Senate and House in the next election and will ride herd on all of the Trump cabinet. Otherwise, all is lost.

I didn't believe a word coming out of Pompeo"s mouth. But then, he hardly said anything reflecting any substance. He refused to answer the most important burning questions about working with Trump and Bolton and wiffed on everything else.

He talk pretty today. But I believe he is lying, selling more snake oil.

A leopard can't change its stripes. Pompey's promises at his Senate confirmation hearing were just that. He's a Trump loyalist and will never go against or control Trump. I watched the hearing and Senators Menendez and Booker called Pompeo out on his inconsistences. He's not to be trusted.

Trump's worst instincts are better than the Senators on their best day.

Most of the time Pompeo sounds like a berzerk bomb-thrower who just cannot wait for the opportunity to invade Iran in pursuit of the same illusory goals as Bush and his criminal cronies saw in invading Iraq. But then for a few hours, while testifying to a congressional panel charged with assessing his fitness for office as the US Secretary of State, he talks as if he were a Jeffersonian democrat with a deep commitment to diplomacy as the best means of conflict resolution. My personal contempt for Congress is rooted in my conclusion that most Congress members either can't see through Pompeo's insincerity or will vote for this guy despite his transparent lies and lack of integrity.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the NEXT Vice President of the United States. And that's just for starters. He and Pence will make life a nightmare, for anyone NOT a straight, white, " Christian " MALE. Just saying.

Just because the snake smiles at you, it doesn't mean it still isn't a snake. I don't trust people who turn on the charm as needed. I suspect our congress are just so burned out on the daily Trump soap opera and lies that anyone who can come across as sane for a few hours is a relief. That's not enough to put a guy like this in that position. His long history of war-mongering, anti-gay, xenophobic statements should be enough to turn him down.

Pompeo did appear more congenial in this hearing. However, friendly of not does this guy have the broad experience in foreign diplomacy to revitalize a moribund State Dept?

How about...no.

Instead of senators urging Pompeo to rein in Trump's worst instincts, why doesn't Congress do the U.S. and the world a favor and start impeachment proceedings against this total disgrace of a 'President'? And what exactly is Bob Corker on that he's suggesting Trump has also been a good listener and evolving. This about a guy screaming break in when the rule of law is being followed and threatening to fire people. I guess he means he's no longer being called little Bob Corker rather he's added a few more world leaders to the name calling game. That's evolving????

Thumbs down on this Clown. Come on Senators do the right thing.

That's precious that they're imploring Pompeo to stop the volcano in the oval office. Why don't y'all withhold confirmation and impeach the beast?

Pompeo shares Trump hatred of minorities. Like Trump, he is inexperienced, incompetent and knows nothing. He fits the Trump model perfectly. Pompeo was chosen to help deconstruct the Cabinet. Trump has complete faith in his ability to give orders to Pompeo that will be strictly obeyed. The farce of a Senate hearing is a pathetic demonstration of the the willingness of the Republican Congress to let the unstable, ignorant Trump disgrace this nation daily. They only care about filling the pocket of the super-rich. Throw them all out!!

I actually find this hilarious. The Senate asking a prospective Cabinet appointment to 'adult' his boss, the POTUS. I thought that was 'their' job? The outcome of their abdication is all too obvious, a monstrous $1.5T tax con, bla, bla, bla. They are ones who are supposed to be the adults in the room.

45's Short List (if Pompeo is rejected): 1. Tom Bolton 2. Devin Nunes 3. Newt Gingrich 4. Sean Hannity 5. Seb Gorka Uh, maybe on second thought, we need to look at Pompeo again.

Uh, No. Trump has found HIS Dick Cheney. Beware.

Let’s start a pool - how long does Pompeo stand up to Trump and when will he be fired? On Sen. Corker’s comment about Trump evolving - I’m sure he meant devolving!

I believe Téa Leoni would have been a much better nominee for Secretary of State. She's Republican (on screen), looks the part (very important!), has three-plus years (seasons) playing the part. Like Mr. Pompeo, her character also has solid CIA experience. Elizabeth, er, Téa, as Secretart of State would have continued the president's recent habit of filling his cabinet with people he sees on television. I believe it was her close association with the FBI, through her previous marriage to David Duchonvy, that caused her to lose the nomination. Sad!

I’ve seen how this ends, and it’s not going where Pompeo hopes. At some point - maybe next month, maybe next season, maybe next year - Donald Trump will want Pompeo to do something that Pompeo will not want to do, and Pompeo will be fired or “resign.” We don’t know what the Trump ask will be or why Pompeo will not want to do it, although we can be certain that the objection will not be on moral, ethical, or patriotic grounds. And we can be certain that the sell-by date on this appointment is only slightly longer than the one on the yogurt in my fridge.

If I were a Senate Republican, the FIRST thing I’d do is to sit down with Pompio and ask him to turn down the offer for (some creative reason). Especially if up for re-election this term, I would also urge Vice President Pence to resign for personal/religious reasons, and Trump to name Hillary Clinton to replace him (say WHAT) “to restore bipartisanship” after talking enough fellow Republicans to join him for a quick confirmation victory after a day of pointed questions,. Assuming I held sufficient information to convince Trump to then resign himself, “because of the beating his family business is taking with me at the helm.” After quickly clearing Clinton’s choice for VP and cabinet, we GOP Members of Congress would do everything in our power to stop an Obama re-regulation of a national economy and foreign policy so battered that I doubt it won’t collapse before Election Day - while we BLAME HER for everything. And hope voters don’t think and save the Solid GOP Congress. Sounds like the ONLY way to stop the “Blue Wave in 16, similar to 1974’s, and a Blue Tsunami in 18. It’s probably too late for everything to happen and for “me” to save “my” seat. Even if the ultimate American l’Etat se Moi (apologies to my Jr High French teacher) faced impeachment after (a 99.9999% impossible if) half or more the red-leaning districts go blue and all the Senate seats up go too, Trump has Nobody to say “it’s over” But a Pompio decline might help.

Another horrible pick. Along with Bolton, we’re poised for WWIII except we’re the ones fighting the world, friends and foes. Insults to ALLIES — ALLIES Theresa May/Mayor of London after terror attacks Macron Australian prime minister Trudeau’s Mexico Part of me hopes the US isn’t allowed into TPC or Nafta allies get tough. Maybe some people will start putting our country first again and return to being a global presence for fairness and good. And for all those respected generals, think twice about what you’ve already put our troops through and what you might be sending them into over some imbecile’s tweets. You all know better than the rest of us what kind of men you’re dealing with. And please be kept up at night thinking of the possibility of our troops being the target of a chemical attack. They’ve already seen missing limbs, head traumas, ptsd, beheadings and inadequate resources when they return home.

Let's face it. After the experience of Rex Tillerson, Mike Pompeo will be Donald Trump's man or, like Tillerson, he'll be tweet-stomped into submission and tweet stabbed-in-the back and fired. All we can hope for from Mr. Pompeo is that he can be more persuasive than his predecessor in convincing Mr. Trump to be more thoughtful and less impulsive, and to give diplomacy and a revitalized State Department a chance before bursting into a tweet tantrum.

As cynical as I might be about a Kansas politician who is an avowed member of the Tea Party, Pompeo is nowhere as bad as the media led us to believe. Admittedly, he isn't great. But not the political dumpster fire we were led to believe he was. Bolton on the other hand...

Wow, the Congress asks the cabinet nominee to do their job.

In order to curb Trump’s “worst instincts” Congress must vote NOW to protect Mueller and eventually impeach the President.

I watched the hearings and truly was appalled. Pompeo conviently has forgotten the oath he took over 40 years ago on the plain at West Point and the motto: Duty, Honor, Country. His responses were non-conclusive, evasive and uninformative—exactly what his boss wanted. It chills me to the bone that such a man could be America’s next Secretary of State. I contend he resembles an opportunistic lackey more than an intellectual and engaged diplomat.

Based on the initial observations of the hearings, Pompey is shaping up to be just another Trump talking head. He refused to commit to loyalty to the UNITED STATES, inferring that he would remain in The Dotard's pocket if approved. WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS. Even IF he were an independent thinker, Trump would not listen to him. He would not mitigate the global disasters that The Dotard has already created. The only advisor that Trump ultimately listens to is the one he sees in the mirror, and that one is a narcissistic sociopath, serial sex abuser, unsuccessful "businessman", philanderer, con artist, fat and stupid whale and, undoubtedly, a traitor. My advice, stop any appointments that could sink us deeper into depravity until the results of the Mueller investigation are revealed and the next election is completed. Why give this evil octopus even more tentacles?

Pompeo is a clone of Trump in terms of his world view. How could Pompeo possibly avoid Trump's "Worst Instincts?"

I'm so excited to have a Secretary of State who believes my husband and I are abominations for have a loved-filled hours no different than our heterosexual neighbors. He'll be able to bond with his counterpart from Russia, Sergey Lavrov, who too believes the LGBTQ community should be given fewer rights in the country of their birth. I can't wait to hit the streets and protest this house of deplorables once the Red State's President is held accountable for his past unlawful misdeeds.

Pretty pitiful when Senators are imploring a potential State Department Head to reign in an erratic, impatient, narcissistic President who lacks the knowledge, self esteem and temperament to engage in foreign policy.......................or in domestic policy, for that matter.

I don't like Pompeo, but at least he is a career professional who knows how to work with congress, foreign govts, and will not be "tearing down" the State dept. I would vote for him, because the next Trump nominee may be an uninformed "talking head" straight off of Fox News. At least Pompeo knows the risks and dangers of foolish military actions against NK, Iran, Syria, or Russia. I truly think we will survive the next 2 1/2 years with Pompeo.

What a disingenuous group. Avoid Trump's worst instincts. Then get fired. This is the cycle of service to date.

This is like telling your 18 year old kid "don't do it or else!" And when the kids asks "or else what?" - you respond meekly with "or else I'm going to be really mad at you!" Would any 18 year old take that seriously? To have any effect on Trump, Congress must clearly detail the consequences if/when Trump fires Mueller. (I personally think it's inevitable.) Otherwise, this is just broadcasting to Trump that Congress has no power, because they are too afraid to exercise it.

Pompeo, like Bolton, Bannon, Kelly, DeVos, Pruitt, etc., etc. ARE Trump's "worst Instincts"! The fact that these GOP Senators do not have the vision to see this is spooky, is it not?

They’re totally smitten. Are you kidding? Rex Tillerson. How’s that world of relaxation now working out? What a relief it must be. Best advice to Pompeo: “Run, Mike, Run!”

You can urge as much as you like, it is plain that Pompeo embraces all that Trump represents: the myopic racism and dictatorial impulses, both disastrous for anyone attempting to lead American foreign policy. And what is this flaccid “urging” but a refusal to acknowledge what is readily evident and, therefore, complicity by another name? Pompeo also wholeheartedly endorsed the tactics of the CIA, a criminal organization at the heart of our government. The CIA has been nothing but a stain on this nation and Pompeo was desperate to exit, whatever he now proclaims. He didn’t want the impending truth to fall squarely in his lap: the CIA is a band of rogue traitors who have been stealing from the American people and will kill anyone who stands in their way. They are the lawless, ruthless deep state that Truman feared they would become. With Pompeo’s praise, he has joined their traitorous and deceitful ranks. Pompeo must not be confirmed.

That might be possible if congress did their part ... but since it's unlikely they will grow backbones any time soon, it's going to be another dog and pony show for congress, frustration for Pompeo and unmitigated disaster for the rest of us,

Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the committee and a Tennessee Republican, said that while Mr. Trump has sometimes been erratic, “we have also seen that good counsel has led the president to evolve.” At best, "good counsel" has led him to backtrack on his most egregious comments. Just before he does or says the next outrageous thing. Maybe they should ask Pompeo if he expects to influence Trump BEFORE the next blunder. Of course, most of his "counsel" these days comes from Fox News. They should ask Pompeo if he's willing to appear on Fox each morning to speak to the president, instead of the 11:00 security briefing.

Senators on Thursday implored Mike Pompeo, the C.I.A. director nominated to be secretary of state, to stabilize the Trump administration’s erratic diplomacy by standing up to Russia and other adversaries and reinstalling American influence among allies..." Asking ANY 3rd party to "stabilize the Trump administration’s erratic diplomacy" is like asking motel_proprietor Norman Bates to 'clean, up his act', by attending a few Howard_Johnson's seminars! And will we EVER see a time when Republicans, (including Pompeo), get, off the homophobia_shtick? It's embarrassing to us hetero's who've managed to DUMP the homophobic programming! And I / we, (a 34 yr cohabiting straight couple), DON'T vote for homophobes like Pence, Pompeo, etc.!

"Trump's Worst Instincts" -- as opposed to what?

Democrats reject this nomination.

Mr Pompeo looks good on paper in terms of his foreign policy acumen. But he is so far to the right politically that I am very concerned about how that colors his world view. Furthermore, the President’s unpredictability, blatant dishonesty and obvious lack of knowledge understandably causes skepticism for nominees that he puts forward for any key position. Frankly, I am mystified that any truly qualified person would agree to work for him.

Avoid Trump's worst instincts by substituting Pompeo's worst instincts? That's not much of a concession. Please Democrats, stand up to this man. He does not represent what this country should be standing for.

Unfortunately, there is no penalty for lying in these hearings. Say what they want to hear. No repercussions if one does a 180 turn after confirmation.

Mike Pompeo is a gold-plated Trump bootlicker, who was always whining about anything President Obama did and was quick to talk about his impeachment. Mike Pompeo also has a sketchy background on anti-Muslim and racist tendencies.

“Will you enable President Trump’s worst instincts?” asked Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey: This is the same Manendez who took illegal campaign money and was involved with bribery? And he is worried about someone else's worst instincts? It appears that his instincts are the ones to question.

With Donald Trump seething and ready to blow his top like Vesuvius at any moment, the only thing I see us moving towards with his latest pick for Secretary of State would be “The Last Days of Pompeo.”

Democratic senators should stand firm and reject this nomination. Bernie Sanders statement on Pompeo: "We need a secretary of state who will represent the best principles of the United States to the rest of the world. Mike Pompeo is not that person. He is a supporter of the Global Gag Rule, which hurts our ability to promote women’s reproductive health around the world. He opposes LGBTQ rights. As the top recipient of campaign donations from the Koch brothers, he has stymied action on one of the world’s most serious security threats: global climate change. He supports the use of torture. He has longstanding relationships with anti-Muslim extremists. And his hawkish views on Iran and North Korea could very well lead us into another disastrous war. For all of these reasons, Mike Pompeo is absolutely the wrong choice to serve as the United States’ top diplomat, and I will vote against him." Run, Bernie, run!

Senators Urge Secretary of State Pick to Avoid Trump’s ‘Worst Instincts’ Nominating him is an example of that.

The question about 'worst instincts' would make more sense to me if the president had ever demonstrated a good instinct. I don't think we can expect any amelioration of those instincts by Pompeo's elevation. He's pandered to all of the president's impulses so far.