Wilbur Ross was in charge of a deals with Russian businessmen having ties to Vladimir Putin when he was vice-chairman of the Bank of Cyprus - a bank now famous for money laundering- and a subject of the Mueller investigation.
Ross has been serving as Secretary of Commerce while still maintaining stakes in companies co-owned by the Chinese government and a shipping firm tied to Vladimir Putin’s inner circle. Ross has had important financial ties to Putin and it is no accident that Trump chose him as a cabinet member.
Given the sleazy Trump has surrounded himself (many referenced herein):
Scott Pruitt the anti-science, climate change denier, the self-serving greedy atmosphere polluter, former aide, Paul Manafort, the known Russian agent, the departed Rob Porter -a wife- basher, the late pro-Nazi White Supremacist Stephen Bannon, Betsy DeVos - the education destroyer, Nikki Haley- the war monger, Gina Haspel - the known torturer, Ben Carson - an obsessed furniture buyer, ..this list goes on and on for pages. The people surrounding Trump are just as evil, selfish and incompetent as he is.
We can only conclude that, given the intense competition for Worst Trump Cabinet Member, Wilbur Ross should be proud of his Badge of Shame!
15
"Presidential Harassment!" he screams.
I don't think so, just very appropriate long overdue congressional oversight.
Nothing to fear, luckily for you you're not in Russia.
Gulag anyone?
5
The Queen of Mendacity is Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
By the way, who in the world is Christopher Buskirk? He like Greek aliases and doesn't even have a Wikipedia page?
5
More like a gallery of rogues or perhaps a cave of thieves that would put Ali Baba to shame . None of them are better than the others ; inept and only shine at their capacity to lie , cheat , and make lots of money in doing so . Truth and honesty are too hard to handle . Unlike the old adage of opposites attract ; it's more like gravitates to like . Very unattractive in more ways than one .
4
Interior. When they ruin our public land, it's permanently ruined.
4
When was the last time we saw an article like this about a commander in chief's choices? I cannot recall one that listed so numerous a group. Each time I see the President his look is one of disdain and disgust, as if to say he cannot stand his job. His cabinet and position choices certainly reflect these feelings. I remember during the campaign Mr. Trump repeatedly said that he does not have to be running for office, as if he was doing us a favor, and that he would get to Pennsylvania Avenue one way or another, which unfortunately both he and his hotel did. Bottom feeders, charlatans, emotionless and robotic. Only a person such as President Trump will wear this article like a badge of honor.
6
I'm hoping I'll live to sere this guy in jail. Not likely, I know, but one can dream...
4
Lay off Rick Perry. If you weren't so glib and had bothered to do your homework, you'd have found out that he has gotten high marks from the career employees and scientists at energy. He was an effective governor of Texas, not highly partisan, and not tainted with corruption, rife in this administration. He may be one of the few high appointments Trump has made who, albeit has been a reliable conservative, but has a substantial record of executive and legislative leadership. Oh, and he's still married to his high school sweetheart.
2
The best administration since WWII for most crooks is Reagan. But I think Trump sees this as a challenge.
1
In this context, it is important to remember that Caligula proposed to make his horse Insitatus a Consul (or was it a Senator?). Twittie is following this model as best he can.
1
Our poor, poor country!
The US of A in 2019 is starting to look more and more like the Kingdom of France, circa 1788.
Let us all fervently pray that the Good Lord shows us how to keep from becoming France circa 1789. I am hoping that the new Congress will start to call some of these monsters to account.....but it is a faint hope that such accounting will actually be answered with change.
1
Give Betsy a brake. No seriously. Give her a literal brake. She was injured in a bicycling accident and broke her pelvis. I’m sure she’ll be back in the saddle in no time ready to go back to ruining education. Give her a shot. America loves a good comeback. Lol
1
What a great piece today by Gail Collins! Incredibly funny
3
Did you write similar articles during Obama's presidency, or is the "worst cabinet member" label reserved for Republican administrations?
3
Gosh, what to say, Ms. Collins?
May I begin by complimenting your never-failing ability to make me laugh? Considering the state of our country--considering this lineup of eminent persons--
--that's quite an achievement.
But the line that got me laughing was: after noting Mr. Perry's absence from the State of the Union address--
--since, should everyone else in the room be assassinated, Mr. Perry would be left to run (single-handed) the federal government--
--you went on to observe, "We do not want to pursue this thought for any number of reasons."
Short--succinct--to the point.
There is a remarkable dreamlike quality to American life right now. How on earth--how on EARTH--did we ever get to this point?
I saw a photograph years back of Evita Peron. This gorgeous lady was making a speech somewhere. What she was saying--why she was there--I have no idea.
My eye was drawn, not to Ms. Peron herself--
--but to that squalid lineup of Argentine officials behind her. Sitting in chairs. Jowly, slightly unshaven faces--all looking at each other a little anxiously. Do we look all right? Do we look impressive? Statesmanlike?
No, senors. You do NOT look all right. Or impressive. Or statesmanlike.
You look like what (in all probability) you are. A bunch of thugs.
And I think back over your column, Ms. Collins--
--and my laughter dies. After all--
--it's not really funny, is it.
Not funny at all.
5
Trump has put the foxes in charge of the hen house. A woman who hates public education, who doesn't believe in it, and who has zero experience with public education of any kind gets put in charge of the DOE; an oilman who has sued the EPA was put in charge of of the EPA; a businessman with no experience in government ran the state dept.
None of them believe in the agencies they are running, nor in those agencies' missions, so there should be no shock that there is a race to the bottom, to utterly destroy the agencies that have been entrusted to them. Bonus points for those who can suck public monies out of the agencies they are supposed to oversee and line their own pockets and the pockets of their cronies.
The US is a banana republic.
8
Speaking of immigration, Elaine Chao's original entry into this country at age eight should be examined. Why was that allowed? How does she benefit America, if that's the test? It's a serious question, one that should be in the mix of consideration of all immigration allowances.
7
I was surprised to see that the word "swamp" was not mentioned. It has often been applied to Trump's cronies. The metaphor doesn't work fully because a swamp by definition is a living entity with a variety of organisms and even trees. Its central feature is that it's stagnant. The entire group mentioned by Gail is in a state of perpetual stagnation, feeding on itself and unable to evolve. They are stuck and cause each other to be stuck breeding old stagnant philosophies and long-defunct world views. Like a swamp, they are only interested in themselves, incapable of seeing anything beyond the depths of stagnant water. They might call themselves a clique or a club, but swamp is still the best word.
1
Many of Trump’s cabinet members (DeVos, Price, Pruitt, Zinke) have a history of being adverse to the departments they have headed. One assumes that they were placed there to render their organizations ineffective.
13
I do remember Treasury Secretary Tim Giethner from Obama’s cabinet. IMO, he was instrumental in getting us out of the Great Recession, in a very unpopular, but necessary, public bailout. Fortunately he was right because a) the economy didn’t collapse despite coming oh so close and he chose the right path, no matter how unpopular. I suggest reading his memoir about what occurred during that period, and just how close we cane to a Great Depression.And if it helps.most of those government bailouts were paid back, with interest.
Trump’s problem, magnified over the last two years, is finding good candidates who are smart enough to stay away from Trump, less they do irreparable harm to their careers. I mean, having experience in the Tump White House is about as useful as a stint as Casper’s Hot Dogs when it comes to resume building.No, that’s not right. Casper’s is better experience.
So we’re stuck with these idiots. I’m feeling better about Pompeo, who does seem to “get it.” And Bolton..... well he’s abhorrent but consistent. Bomb the living hell out of everybody. You have to (almost) commend him for standing on principle, however misguided, and not pushing an agenda beyond what we know about him. I kinda like the Walrus.
Nice job Gail. This was a fun exercise, although a bit depressing.
5
Rick Perry, unlike many in the Presidents cabinet has mastered the art of "Duck and Cover". A very under-rated quality for a member of Trumps cabinet who happens to be in charge of our nuclear weapons.
49
He has bachelor’s degree in Animal Husbandry. Maybe that helps him somehow... LOL.
4
He had his chance; Fortuna rejected him this week, when he was the Designated Survivor.
3
All true swamp creatures, each very incompetent and crooked in their own right. They’re all working only to enrich themselves, so at least we know what they’re up to. If we cut off the head of the beast, of course, all these clowns would disappear.
9
Elaine Chao deserves something, I don’t know what, for being married to such a world class hypocrite.
18
Let's be kind to all of Donald's minions, let's fire them all in about 2 years and send them home with a cake. A lousy, cheap, no taste, moldy, smelly cake and----- let them eat cake. After all it's what they would have us do.
10
Top neofascist award goes to Stephen Miller.
20
“When reminded that the Saudi government has a way of making protesters disappear, Ross admitted “in theory that could be true” but quickly added, “there was certainly no sign of it.”
Well, duh Wilbur. If the Saudis made protestors disappear, there’s a good chance you’d see “...no sign of it.”
OMG can this guy be that obtuse? I voted for Betsy DeVos, but in light of these new revelation by Ross, I have to rethink that. DeVos may be incompetent, but good ol’ Wilbur is both incompetent and stupid. Well. At least he meets the top-two qualifications for being a member of Tump’s cabinet. (OK, that’s not fair. I like Mnuchin. He just has the “creep factor” to deal with.)
Wilbur may not be Trumps’s worst cabinet member. He certainly is the dumbest, or most clueless. I suppose that amounts to the same thing.
7
I do know who was running the Commerce Department during the George W. Bush administration: It was none other than your already-nominated (dis)honorable mention winner Elaine Chao. Shouldn't she get a few extra points for that--and even more for being married to Mitch McConnell.
9
I get the feeling that Stephen Miller's real father was Roy Cohn (before HIV but via AI).
12
The way trump is profiting of his presidency, requires a whole TV series, that I wish people already writing .
Just take this Sprint T-Mobile merger, and how the CEO's and all top executives are staying in his hotel in DC at 2,000.00 a night.
Talking about emolument clause...
And, of course big corporations caving in, no problem.
EXPAND the SWAMP...that a slogan for his pathetic presidency.
8
so many to choose from not enough time
7
Oopsie-doopsie. Elaine Chau was Dubya's Secretary of Labor, not Commerce. My bad. Still, she should get extra points for that--after all, she certainly was no Robert Reich-- as well as for marrying Mitch.
10
And here's the worst thing: All of these inept, unprepared, and seriously ignorant cabinet members were approved by a majority Republican Senate, typically along party lines. To put it another way, Senate Republicans, many of whom had been in the Senate for years and knew what it took to run a Department of the U.S. government, knowingly colluded with Trump to select perhaps the worst group of cabinet members ever. It makes you wonder whether the Republicans in the Senate where even remotely interested in effective governance.
18
@Jeff Brutman
The GOP has rarely been interested in governance, Nixon and a few others excepted. It started with J.P. Morgan who selectively supported government activities which would support protecting his wealth. Same with Trump and the need for a military to protect his business interests: the Saudis need planes and bombs, why?
2
"Only the BEST people." Need I say more?
9
When I heard on NPR’s coverage of 45*’s SOTU to name Rick Perry as the “designated survivor” should catastrphe strike, my heart raced to try to cast a narrative story of that thought actually happening.
What a long strange trip that would be...!
There has to be someone out there who would want to write about this unlikely event really happening. Maybe at least a classroom writing assignment? A comic book or graphic novel? A revisit to the Twilight Zone episode when the bookworm gets locked in a vault to survive Armeggedon? A lot of potential locked up here...!
[Ditto Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, whose most notable recent achievement was being the cabinet member who stayed away from the State of the Union address so he could run the country if everybody else got assassinated.
We do not want to pursue this thought for any number of reasons.]
3
Our saving grace is that nobody of any real consequence can work for the Donald. This gang that couldn't shoot straight has a plethora of bad ideas and bad intentions. Luckily there is no mechanism in incompetence land to inflict the intended harm upon the American public.
One day we will have a hilarious time telling our disbelieving grandchildren the legend of The Donald.
12
@bobbybow,
'Once upon a time there was a rich man who wanted to be the King of our Country and have the best courtiers and cookie cutters in The White House. He had golden hair, wore an invisible crown and liked to be flattered. His wish was granted, and then it turned sour because he was surrounded by lackeys and liars.
He was happy at times when patted on the head, but often cried for want of a wall. All he wanted was a big, beautiful wall to keep out our enemies from stealing our women and taking away our apple carts.
The sun was not kind to him, and turned his face orange, while crooks and rogues told him tales about how great he was. He was lonely at night, twittering away in the dark hours while he wished for company.
It was difficult for him to read, and he spent hours watching foxy news, wondering why everybody around him was so mean and untrue...lights out, Fred, and no, he did not like pets or babies. He was a bit of a baby himself, and his champions pampered and sang praises to his face, while snickering and sneering behind his back.
Some of them were wolves turned into swine; others were goblins or trolls, and the rest of this sorry story came to an end when Americans realized they had been duped...tomorrow night, you will hear how the tale ends and it is not a picnic in moonlight'.
2
Imagine a new pres/veep administration: Pence/DeVos, with Steven Miller as Chief of Staff. Then keep the current cabinet/acting cabinet to provide all of the expertise we're now accustomed to.
Education, our land and water, science, women's rights, civil rights, human rights, animal rights, global concerns, separation of church and state, our prized diversity, civility ...all gone, gone, GONE.
Religiousbabble would reign supreme (but only the one religion) and dictate everything that can be crammed into "creative design". Gradually, anyone and everyone who doesn't look, speak, believe, and think in exactly the same way ...well, also gone, gone, GONE.
8
David Bernhardt, Acting Secretary of the Interior of the United States, has already become a cancer to the environment by virtue of being a former oil lobbyist and will no doubt push for drilling for oil off the Atlantic coast. Should he be confirmed by the Senate, which he will, go ahead and put his name down. He's already a winner even before the race has started.
8
While it may be entertaining-all very true-it is nothing short of tragic to see a great country reduced to the lowest common denominator. Leadership sets the tone but when you have a leader whose avowed aim is to bring down and dismantle vital institutions that protect the citizenry, you have all the ingredients of civil unrest. Pray hope that sanity prevails for the US so it can once again regain the mantle of leadership desperately needed by its many friends and allies world-wide.
12
Just to discuss Stephen Miller again for a moment -- though doing so makes the hair on my arms prickle uncomfortably -- I'm convinced that he is pretty much the mastermind behind the Trump strategy of diverting people's attention away from the seriously bad stuff that his administration is doing by giving the press and the pundits an unending stream of trivial but maddening gossip fodder to chew on.
Could anything else explain that egregiously bad and obvious spray-on hair? Stephen Miller may be an amoral, unlikable and deeply angry young man, but he's not stupid. Can anyone remember what he was actually talking about or what the policies are that he was defending in that interview? We and the entire blogosphere are reliably fixated on the spray-on, not the erosion of democratic norms, pillaging of natural resources, destruction of families and gutting of international accords that are happening under his watch and guidance.
I suspect he's been largely disliked, bullied and laughed at his whole life. He no longer cares; he's learned to draw it, use it, turn it -- and he's getting oodles of payback.
19
@William R
Those who attended H.S. with him describe a rude bigot who dropped trash in the hallways to give the janitors "something to do". He was disliked then, and remains so, to our detriment.
4
Ok, fair choice. Saying 'Willllllbuuuurrrr' in my Mr. Ed voice is fun.
And I appreciated his attempt to connect with the common wo/man with his soup can to explain the impact of steel tariffs. It did cause me to snort when I laughed out loud. (I sorta expected him to launch into, "When I was a boy, this here can of soup cost a nickel, and that was a lot of money in those days....you whippersnappers simmer down back there!")
All of that said, can his caregivers take him back to the home now? I think we can all agree that we've had enough.
21
Seriously disappointed the Mick 'Malarkey' Mulvaney didn't make the cut!
BTW, perhaps you need to introduce ranked voting?! (hahaha!)
10
I tried to vote but was told my ID expired and my birth certificate looked fake so I couldn't get a new one.
2
He has a trophy wife, why not a trophy Cabinet.
12
Hey Gail! You could make some real money sellling buttons with Ross's sorry looking mug on a button for 2020, saying "WORST EVER". Or his mug on a mug! I wouldn't actually drink from it though, WOULD YOU?
7
Rick Perry where are you. Department of Energy and Education were to be eliminated. Oh, that's right you forgot.
11
With So many lyin Losers in trump’s rotten, decaying Cabinet (“of the most talented people”) it’s truly tough to select a “winner”. Given this personnel disaster it seems to me they should all be “awarded” a ‘thanks for participating’ certificate and trophy like all kids get for taking part in a sport.
That said, slimy Wilbur Ross is a lovely bookend for trump. Both old plutocrats are tremendous LIARS and CROOKED Con men. Ross defrauded and cheated partners out of roughly $150 million among other business “achievements”. He’s pompous and vain. Clueless and tone deaf about anyone or anything not geared toward wealth and self aggrandizement. Plus he wears those velvet slippers with the Seal of Commerce Department on them. Yep, Lock them UP. ASAP
9
I am going to guess that the readers of this column know more about the so called cabinet than the so called president.
He just reads a name off the list sent to him by central casting of whichever right wing/fascist propaganda tank he is listening to on any given day.
Or more likely, the tank Pence is enthralled with on any given day.
Gawd, I wish we were all just making this stuff up.
8
Must be nice to be rich, deaf, dumb and blind.
3
I find it hard to rate them as they are all so heinous. They all do have one thing in common that was not mentioned here, especially Kirstjen Nielson; they all show contempt for other people and our constitution. Just watch Kistjen contemptuous smirk as she is being called to task by Kamala Harris at a hearing. The fact that Kirstjen can separate children from parents without a single tickle of guilt or remorse and in fact, finds it smirk worthy is a stomach turning event akin to watching the Nazis. Watch Betsy DeVoss and her contemptuous smirking at all senate hearings. Trump and his entire cabinet show contempt for the truth, the constitution, the principles this country was founded on, people who are in need, and most of all the American people, (except the super wealthy.) They also universally act entitled. Beware of people who show contempt for others. I hope the voters keep this in mind on election day.
10
This is a true cabinet of scoundrels and fools.
It will be incredible if America survives 4 years of such malicious bungling, corruption, and cruel
policy choices. Yet almost 40 percent of Americans support this incompetent corruption!
What is wrong with us?
9
I think the only reason Wilbur said furloughed government workers should just get loans was to try to shift our eyes from his many other improper activities. Or maybe he is just stupid.
5
This is like giving the MVP award to one football player at the end of the Super Bowl. I'm certain that Wilbur will do the right thing when he steps to the podium to accept his award, by saying "Really, this belongs to everybody on the team, because I couldn't have done it without them... it was a total team effort!"
4
The real fun of playing this “What’s My Line” game is that all of these misfits qualify for ultra incompetent and smug self righteousness.
By the way, has anybody noticed Wilbur Ross’s eyes, Whenever He is Awake? That man has an Evil Stare
that eats into you like a laser!
Also whatever came of the revelation that Ross counts the Total Assets of his Clients Into His own Net Worth Statement?
Ahhhh, the beat goes on folks!
3
All I can say about Wilbur is "SOME PIG"... with apologies to Charlotte and Farmer Zuckerman.
5
Rick Perry didn’t get the due he deserves from the rest of us because he’s been hiding out in a silo somewhere in Colorado still studying for his job at the Energy Dept.
1
Mr. Ross was Vice Chair of the Bank of Cyprus. According to the Gurardian, it's a well known bank for certain shady characters. Can't therefore imagine who would want him in an oversite cabinet role? Hmmm.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/23/wilbur-ross-russian-deal-bank-of-cyprus-donald-trump-commerce-secretary
5
I was skeptical an 81 year old could be the worst of the worst in Trump's cabinet. But then I looked him up. A few factoids about Ross:
Wilbur is another thrice married Trumpster:
Marriages: Hilary (Geary) Ross (2004-present); Betsy (McCaughey) Ross (1995-2000, divorced); Judith (Nodine) Ross (1961-1995, divorced)
Wilbur pledged $2.25 million towards then-wife and Lt. Governor Betsy McCaughey Ross's campaign for Governor of New York, but withdrew the funding and filed for divorce.
Business dealings (numerous & despicable)
Wilbur's nickname is "King of Bankruptcy." He builds new companies from the assets of defaulted ones & invests in distressed companies.
e.g.:
2004: Formed the International Coal Group (ICG) after purchasing the assets of Horizon Natural Resources in a bankruptcy auction.
2006 - 12 miners killed after an explosion at a West Virginia mine operated by an ICG subsidiary. Ross is sued for negligence and settles lawsuits
2017 - NYT reports that Ross has financial ties to a shipping company whose clients include a Russian energy company co-owned by Putin's son-in-law. Another customer of the shipping company is Venezuela's state-run oil company, which has been sanctioned by the US government.
2018 - Center for Public Integrity: Ross failed to sell a bank stock holding after his confirmation but signed ethics documents saying holding were sold.
Lots more: https://www.cnn.com/2013/05/30/us/wilbur-ross-fast-facts/index.html
This is on your watch GOP!
8
I think they are all bad but Wilbur is more bad than others.
2
Considering the freaks in the photo, I can understand why our gentle young people are turning socialist. Blue suits and red ties, they look like cultists to me. If I had my way, they'd all be doing ten years in federal prison.
7
I'd laugh but it's not funny. Elect a clown, get a circus.
3
**" So it’s sort of pleasant to mention, just for the heck of it, that lately Miller’s seemed to be trying to fight premature balding by spraying some kind of black stuff on the top of his head."
I'm fond of Gail Collins and certainly not very fond of any of Trump's cabinet, but I'm forced to point out that if any of your male columnists or reporters had made even an amusing comment that could be construed as about some woman's appearance or dress or hairstyle, some woman would be offended and point out that it was irrelevant, sexist, and antifeminist.
2
I believe that all are children of G-d.
That said, these are Nuremberg-worthy.
Children stripped from their parents.
Children deprived of education.
Children poisoned by lead, mercury and toxins.
Adults? Deprived of health care, dignity, living wages.
Billionaires? Mindlessly worshipping the Golden Calf.
I believe that G-d's love is greater than these abominations, but I know that none of use knows if that is true.
Gail is terrific, but this is no longer funny.
3
Unfortunately, an octopus can regrow its arms. (My apologies to actual octopuses for the metaphor.) In this case, the entire organism is a vile, poisonous swamp dweller.
1
This is a impressive collection of incompetence! One has to applaud Trumps ability to identify talent-less hacks that are sure to compete for the brownest nose.
1
You can have all your Janeys-come-lately. I'm sticking with James Watt. Slogan: Watt's the W.O.A.T.
1
Well that was a fun read. Until I got to the paragraph that Rick Perry wasn't at the State of the Union.
2
Parasites. You could feed a family of 4 for the cost of one of those red silk ties.
3
Like a fish, This White House rots from the Trump, i mean from the head. President DT is the worst. Trump's 'checks and balances' tantrums are already on fire....And yes....we've only just begun....
3
Oh, Andrew Wheeler is the worst! The fact that he is “acting” EPA head means he doesn’t get any “worst of” votes. Also, as he spins his evil deeds while being a nice guy and attracting no attention makes him the scariest of all the Cabinet swamp creatures.
1
I'm so disappointed! So sad, and makes me wonder if there is some discrimination going on here. Even when it comes to giving award for worst anything, the top goes to an old white guy. Again.
Obviously Elaine Chao should have won. Married to Mitch the GOP mobster McConnell should certainly guarantee top place. If only in the absolutely-no-taste department. That she wants to privatize the FAA, and has done so much for transportation during her reign is just icing on the cake, which she takes.
3
My God Gail, what would we do without you to keep your eyes on the shifting sand/insanity and give us in a little humor which we desperately need lest we off ourselves.
Please hang in there, you have to admit it's a humor columnist's dream...you could never make up this stuff about Virginia.
I bet ole' Bobby Lee is laughing in his grave!
Great article....
1
Why do we consider the crooks in the cabinet when we don't consider the fatheads in the Senate that confirmed them without proper examination?
Maybe the worst person in the cabinet is Mitch McConnell.
5
And to think Melania actually had the gall to try to co-opt the "Be Best!" slogan from Michelle Obama.
"Be Worst!"
3
Well Melania herself claims that she’s the “Most Bullied Person” in the White House.
1
We are about to take a vacation with friends, and while we are all on the same page, the pack we have made is NO POLITICS.
NOTHING. NOT A WORD.
Not one mention of...
Valdemort.
Er... Donald or his minions.
Wow, Gail, with all that’s happening to Democrats in Virginia, this is what you chose to write about?
The rot starts at the head.
1
I think "Chuckles" takes the prize at this point. It's so difficult to pick from such a talented pool of slime.
We may be paying attention but we are basically powerless to evict the most appalling of these secretaries. Even when they are committing crimes, to say nothing or constant poor judgement, they don't get indicted; where is the hand of the law for people like Zinke and Pruitt? And Wilbur Ross. I agree that DeVos is sufficiently incompetent that her level of harm is reduced.
God save us all. Put them on a rocket and send them to Mars.
2
Not enough has been made of the contributions of Kirstjen Nielsen to advance the perception of women professionals. Secretary Nielsen exhibits no less of the worst qualities of the worst men: their obtuseness, mendacity, lack of empathy and unalloyed careerism. So in this regard, she is clearly the equal of men... the worst men, but still right up there with those. Many people maintain that if there were more women running government, we would have better governing. I have been a believer of that.... Ms. Nielsen proves that this is not necessarily true.
3
Aw, come on now. This worst list is short lived at best. I don't know of any prior administration that had an "all of the below zero" disastrous cabinet secretaries. Not one of them have been notable. They all are notably horrific in their own special way.
It's as if the least qualified person was purposely chosen to destroy, diminish, or destruct their office and all that they oversee. The last qualified cabinet member was "Mad Dog" Mattis who was the Defense Secretary.
Perhaps the best remain as Director of the CIA, Gina Haspel and the Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats. Of course part of their appeal is the donald's complete disregard for their perspectives on foreign policy matters.
Oh well, the rationality of trump is always the big question.
1
So do you suppose that trump threatens to fire his wife if Mitch McConnell doesn't do what he tells him to do? Or is that threat just implicit. The self-interest of our "leaders" is paramount. The country is a side thing.
2
Wilber Ross turned 1000 years old this year.
He seems to think that gathering all the money will help him make it to 2000.
2
There can be little doubt that Wilbur is a monstrous contributor, but destroying our nation and our planet has been a team effort, and Individual 1 has put together quite a team. He has managed to find, for almost every position, the worst possible candidate; a remarkable achievement in and of itself.
The Legion of Doom look like amateurs next to this cabal.
3
The main qualification:
Evil desire to undermine and destroy that department.
We are truly in a race to the bottom.
3
There is a name for this type of government which I recently learne: "kakistocracy". It means government led by the inept. To get the job, you have to be incompetent.
4
As you said about DeVos, the only thing saving us from these bad actors is their own incompetence. But that's not enough in some cases, such as the environmental protection rollbacks, allowing higher emissions into already polluted air.
Perhaps Mulvaney should have been included. After all, he's holding down three jobs and damaging the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau in the bargain.
But the worst member, if he can be called such, is Trump himself. No one else is telling as many lies and denigrating as many people, all while watching TV a good deal of each day.
1
Yeah, I think it is not that healthy to spend a lot of time paying attention to ignoramuses. I mean how much can one take.
Think of how it will be when we can turn the TV on and not be confronted with self aggrandizing fools destroying the planet, let alone the government.
I only hope that 2020 will be in time!
2
"...her ineffectiveness appeared to mitigate some of her bad intentions. "
What a great turn of phrase.
History books looking back on the trump administration will quote Gail:
"...their ineffectiveness appeared to mitigate some of their bad intentions."
Aside from the sleaziest, most corrupt bunch of characters on this picture, I also learned today that during guns safety debate congressman Matt Gaetz verbally attack parents of Parkland victims, Fred Guttenberg and Oliver family.
Beyond any words!
Guttenberg just told Stephanie Ruhle that all republicans just left the debate, apparently they didn't want to hear the truth.
We have to get rid of this vicious people and vote all of them out FOREVER!!!
1,700 hundred children die every year in mass shooting.
This doesn't happen anywhere except in this country.
5
Wilbur Ross' hard, pitiless countenance makes the early, not yet reformed Ebenezer Scrooge look like a great humanitarian.
1
Look at these self-serving millionaire and billionaire business people and big investors in Trump's let-thm-eat-cake, worst cabinet ever. They and Trump don't care a whit about people, small children, the planet, democratic government, our allies, ethics, laws, basic human decency, or quality of life for anyone but themselves.
Best reason in the world to raise taxes on the overly wealthy back to the 70% level (where it was from 1971-1980 until Reagan reduced it to 50%). Or how about 90% for the rich where it was in the 1950s and early 1960s?
9
Oh damn! I wanted Rick Perry to win. He is so much better looking than Wilbur Ross!
7
“I have followed politics a very long time … and this is the first time I can actually name more than one or two cabinet people from memory, because they are so freaking dangerously bad,” moaned one reader.
My sediments exactly. I wonder how many persons would agree with this statement?
8
Truthfully, Stephen Miller may be the scariest person in the whole administration. He has the emptiest eyes I have ever seen and every time I see him I can only think of one thing. With one of those little peaked caps with the SS runes on, he would look right at home in pictures of Hitler’s loyal followers. That despite being Jewish. That is scary.
15
Not only is Miller Jewish, but his ancestor immigrated to the US as a pogrom refugee from today's Belarus, and spoke only Yiddish.
There's a special place in you-know-where.
4
The process of comrade trump getting his Friendship
Degree from Putin University (PU) is through Steve Mnuchin's
buddy, Oleg Derepaska, to whom Paul Manafort owes a big
favor.
6
Nielsen is the worst because separating children from parents and locking them in cages rises to Hitlerian heights of evil. While the other cabinet members in the Clown Car are bad, Nielsen is emulating the Nazis in implementing a Final Solution to the fake border Wall crisis. These are the Japanese internment camps of today, a response to Mexican rapists and murderers and Islamic terrorists sneaking into our country. She of the twisted mouth wins my vote.
9
Yo Wilbur.
You are a disgrace.
8
We're collectively heading to a new planetary reality with 33 feet sea level increases and no glaciers left, leaving all of our major river beds dry for substantial parts of the year. Ever placed yourself back to the last precious time you remember you stood in front of the ocean? Now vividly imagine roughly 27 feet of water over your head. Trump, Pence, Wheeler & co are denying the simple science, but we cannot. We gotta act.
I believe it was in the year the Titanic sunk that the first scientific warning was published in a newspaper that the burn baby burn mentality of industrialization - on population explosion steroids at that - would inevitably bring global warming in its wake. So we're still relatively new to this.
Don Jr. (1977) is less new to it than the kids like Greta Thunberg (2002) striking for the climate as members of the first generation who get informed as teens by elementary science that the preceding generations are in the process of throwing them into a pit of sheer ecocidal and climate catastrophy.
Don Jr. is still posing to be 'new' to his dad promoting and profiting off similar abuse as the human trafficking pipeline constitutes. We're all new to realizing we are throwing future generations under the bus of our compulsive consumptive and traffic choices and addictions.
As long as we don't radically revise our consumptive and transportation choices, we're largely on board with this cynical, greedy gov gang of deniers, and we should nominate ourselves.
4
Not that he is the worst, but I of forgot to mention (understandably give his name) Secretary of Agriculture "Sonny" Perdue, as did most voters. And let's not forget, he was the Trump administration's designated survivor for last year's State of the Union
I admit, I didn't read the whole piece yet, just glanced at the headline, and one thought came to mind...this is our big year of reckoning, and I assume it won't be the last.
Actually, I think it should continue till we can get to better, cleaner place in this country.
We're just absorbing the vestiges of many years of deep corrosion, indecency, dishonesty, corruption, abuse, neglect, self interest and indifference of our public officials.
This could not last or we'll forever lose this country, the only one we have.
Billionaires could relocate to Mars for all I care, except for the good ones, we know who they are.
We should start rebuilding our society from scratch, where the collective will of people will be a predominant idea.
1
I still think the worst is the Secretary of Education.
She might not be doing anything destructive specifically, but she is overlooking an system that is on a downward spiral. Take away education and all else does not matter, because we have no future if we cannot think for ourselves.
There are so many different crisis's that are going to require great thinkers all working in unison just to save our species, let alone allow all of us to partake in life, liberty and happiness.
If everything in our society becomes two tier between the haves and the have-not(s), then we are relegated to becoming even more enslaved than what we are now.
Take time to read with your children.
932
@FunkyIrishman
"If everything in our society becomes two tier between the haves and the have-not(s), then we are relegated to becoming even more enslaved than what we are now."
Your ancestors went through that a long time ago. Then they did a 1776. That was a bit messy. All you guys and galls have to do this time around is a 2020.
115
@FunkyIrishman--unfortunately, many people already have their thinking done for them.
At Dump's rallies, people just parrot the dogma prepared for them, as at revival meetings: call & response.
106
@William Dufort
A "Funky Irishman" had his done in 1916.
19
Every one of these people is doing his or her job perfectly. The aim was to hollow out and destroy all the agencies and departments and by extension to neuter the federal government. There was no transition. Why have one when the only goal was to counter the stated missions and to eliminate all effective regulation? We may be rid of Pinocchio next fall, but the damage from all this will likely never be undone.
5
Not that he is the worst, but, excusing the bi-lingual pun, he was apparently forgotten in the competition. And let's remember, he was the Trump Administration's designated survivor for last year's State of the Union.
1
@Alan J. Shaw
Of course , I forgot to mention his name-- Sonny Perdue. Secretary of Agriculture. I guess, forgive the pun, he got "lost" in the shuffle
1
No worries. Wilbur Ross's time is running out and not only because of his advanced age.
As Mueller digs further into the nefarious Bank of Cyprus, a major conduit for money laundering where Wilbur Ross hung his hat for a number of years before joining Trump's ship of fools and ethically-challenged conmen, sufficient revelations will appear to ensure that Ross spends his last days in a cozy federal prison.
10
Every administration has its memorable people who were embarrassments to their presidents and memorable for their faux pas. In this administration, anyone with any sense runs out the door and what we have left is a bunch of toadies who have no sense of civic duty. In any other administration they wouldn't have been given the keys to their office. They are just a bunch of foxes overseeing the hen houses. The dumber they are, the better their job security. They don't have to worry that they will be an embarrassment to Donald as he incapable of such feelings.
5
Jewels like "...her ineffectiveness appeared to mitigate some of her bad intentions" aside, Ms Collins I give you negative style points for the painted on hair thing. As much as I have enjoyed your ability to mention the Romney dog strapped to the car roof thing, mocking a person's looks should be beneath us.
Oh thanks, Gail! When I went to the "cabinet" for my covfefe this morning all I could find were the faces of your prize winners, hiding behind my "Elect a clown, expect a circus" mug.
5
They need competition names, names that encapsulate their vileness, such as: "Ilsa, She-Wolf of the SS" for Nielsen, and "Wormtongue", for the disgusting Miller. My, we live in interesting times.
We hope that during the coming Era of Accountability all of these folks will be housed in the same orange-suited federal facility, where we can observe their daily activities on dedicated cable channels...
5
I’m just so darn proud to live in a country where two women can ascend to the rarefied heights of being among the very worst people in government. Time was, they were seldom allowed such scope from crummy and corrupt behavior, and had had to learn to tolerate so much insanity on the way up, that they almost always behaved like the adults in the room when they got there.
Yet now, we have both a DHS Secretary AND a head of national Education who can proudly say that they yield to no man in stupidity, viciousness and lying. It would be wrong to look down on DHS’ cravenness, but I don’t feel she comes close to DeVos’ good old-fashioned greedy grabbing every possible dollar for herself, for her family, and her cronies.
Sure, there will be nay-sayers and feminazis who will screech that they got beat out by an 81-year-old MAN, just because Wilbur Ross has different, ah, equipment and a busted-off X chromosome. But they forget the slow climb, the achievement! Look how far we’ve come!
Yes, there’s still a glass ceiling. But I believe that with strong women like this stepping forward to achieve such heights, the day will come—and soon—when the heirs of Laura Ingraham shall be Number One.
Verily, I see the day, not so far off, when we elect as President a woman of whom, after a couple years, we may proudly say, “Wow. She’s Trump’s equal.”
5
@Robert - Has anyone heard from Linda McMahon
lately?
2
Of all of them, she seems to be the one who actually kind of just does her actual job. Figures that it’d be the WWF that’d train up somebody more morally-capable than the Trump Admin at large.
I wonder if trump is deliberately choosing horrible people for his cabinet because he knows how incompetent he is and doesn't want anyone to out shine him? Or is it simply that they are all in the billionaire club or close to it?
4
Remember when republicans were freaking out over the shady dealings (the ones they could never find) of the Clinton Foundation? Hello? Is it only bad when it's a Democrat?
trump supporters seem unable to connect dots, like in those little activity books where the kid eventually figures out that the dots take the form of a kitty. Each and every person in trump's administration is greedy, enriching themselves, lying, covering up Russian contacts, etc etc etc. How many dots, people?
By contrast, all trumpies have to hear is one word: Uranium, and they fill in page after page of pretend dots no one else can see. All the while, whining "Lies!" incessantly about stacks of finished dot puzzles that all spell out P.U.T.I.N.
I guess unless FOX tells these 'independent thinkers' that the dots actually make a picture, they can't see anything for themselves through the haze of hatred for Ms. Pelosi.
5
"I have the BEST people"
3
In the 5fh grade we had to do a report on presidents. I chose warren harding because he had the shortest entry in the encyclopedia. I was too naive at that age to understand what scandals were, and there was little else in his entry. I think trump will end up likewise... a legacy of scandals. Oh for the simple days of Teapot Dome!
2
This is as wrong as dedging up cases of students donning black face in Virginia 30-35 years ago...something we all did literally or figuratively back then.
It is also age discrimination. You are besmirching the already besmirched reputation of a doddering geriatric who will be gone before the new Congress digs into his sad history of personal aggrandizement and lying.
The choice also suffers from the typical American myopia regarding what's really important and what has the best chance of ending it all --Climate Change! This alone is sufficient to catapult the current (any trump nominated) EPA head to the top of the list.
How can we hope to maintain our trust in mainstream media when such atrocious judgement governs something as simple as picking the worst Cabinet Officer. There is EPA and then all of the rest.
...and by the way, doesn't being married to Mitch McConnell count for anything?...
1
Thank you for highlighting the stunning inhumanity and bold corruption of this Trump's administration.
But Kirstjen Nielsen and Stephen Miller's despicable efforts to separate thousands of families at the Mexican border are the absolute "Worst".
How can any human being with a soul tear a terrified, sobbing young child away from their mother? These are Gestapo tactics.
America should be very very worried.
7
It would be funny if it weren't so sad. These people are on the public payroll, a disgrace, the anthesis of everything this country stands for, and clearly not performing their jobs. They all should be removed from their positions and the public payroll. What an insult to all thinking and conscious Americans.
9
I have the best people was lie #1!
Indeed, as maddening as the Russian connection is, it is the assemblage of this rogues gallery of corrupt and incompetent “officials” that comprises the greatest crime of the Trump dynasty.
3
Sec. Perry was probably busy coordinating the next shipment of plutonium to our state (Nevada) without telling us about it. I'm convinced this is retribution by Trump for Nevada not voting for him and booting Heller in favor of Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto. I'm sure he's also thrilled by our choice of a Democratic governor and a Democratic female majority (first in the nation) in our state legislature.
https://www.kolotv.com/content/news/505096611.html
4
Great article Gail. It is simply unbelievable, not just on American standards but on world standards, that Trump has appointed the most incompetent and corrupt people to his cabinet and other key positions. Even weak presidents in the past have tried to appoint smart, competent people around them. Next in line will probably be Erik Prince for Secretary of Defense. Of "Blackwater" fame, Prince and his U.S. backed mercenary forces executed hundreds of civilians in overseas conflicts. He is now attempting to turn the American military into a mercenary force and he has Trump's ear.
3
It is no surprise. One would expect that the worst president ever would surround himself with the worst Cabinet members ever. MIA is Ben Carson. Has he accomplished one thing in his portfolio? Strangely he was a significant medical practitioner before he joined Trump and his merry band of misfits.Casey Stengel once lamented about his N.Y. Mets. Cant anyone here play the game? Well we can all ask that question of the Trump gang.
2
It's a toss up whether The Onion or Trump could have picked a better cabinet.
3
I can't believe I'm writing this, but at least Elaine Chao has had executive experience. Though, under her "leadership," DOL explored privatizing unemployment insurance and the employment system and gave Congressional testimony that was described by a stakeholder as "factually incorrect." The former certainly would have got her into the running under the Bush Jr. Administration and the latter seems to be business as usual for some of these folks.
3
I was still young during the Reagan years, but I remember hearing about similar horror lists from his cabinet appointees--leaders who came from the industries they were supposed to regulate and did their level best to help the industries over the public interests. James Watt comes to my admittedly hazy mind.
Trump is Reagan-esque...? Yay??
4
@Jacob Sommer Isn't Trump continuing the noble Reagan championship of greed as well as disdain for the have-nots?
1
@Jacob Sommer Absolutely correct. The difference now is that Reagan was not corrupt like trump; and, Nancy was his handler, since Reagan was possibly in the early stages of Alzheimer's Disease. Reagan's fellow actor, James Garner was quoted as saying that "Ronnie never had an original thought in his head."
1
Why the right is furious at Trump
I don't know if people actually listened to Trumps SOTU speech, but the right is going crazy, message boards and twitter are off the scale, and many on the conservative side are feeling betrayed.
During his speech Trump said he wanted to bring in the most legal immigrants ever. he slipped it in during the speech, but there are actually people who listen to these things. People are also wondered why he hasn't done anything to stop chain migration or anchor babies. The distraction of the Wall is fooling most but many on the right are very unhappy, this is the first real fracture in Trump's base.
If you notice not a word about any of this in the Times or anywhere else.
1
This body has got to earn the title "The Greatest Team of Misfits That Ever Existed." It further illustrates the lack of judgement in the present administration and the fact "nobody of substance" will willingly serve in this administration.
5
These people, and their ilk, are precisely the reason why many folks voted for trump in the first place. You gotta give him credit - he is the liarest of liars, the conniest of con artists.
It would all be so funny - and it is, whilst their is still single-malt left around - but it's so tragic and devastating.
I grieve for a country that I once so loved and admired, despite its faults.
7
I’m surprised you didn’t even mention the Sycophant in Chief, Vice President Mike Pence. Let’s not forget that he also is a member of the Cabinet. He gets my vote for Worst Cabinet Member. First, his groveling, his unmatched obsequiousness, knows no bounds. But he is not mindless. He knows exactly what he’s doing, which only exacerbates the insidiousness of his actions.
Second, his hypocrisy knows no bounds. Where were his Christian morals—much less his American values—when he publicly praised the racist and law-breaking sheriff, Joe Arpaio? Where were his Christian morals when he publicly supported the cruel and inhumane separation of immigrant children from their parents?
With Pence—and unlike other Cabinet members—you get the sense that he SHOULD know better, that he SHOULD know to be above such behavior. Yet he clearly isn’t. That makes him the Worst in my book.
19
Can we go back to the softball parent, and have the kids donate their trophies for this altruistic purpose? I'll buy the red, white and blue masking tape and the black marker (no sniffing, now) to apply the names.
1
You know, we have some very intelligent readers writing comments here and it is perhaps the luck of the draw or the preferences of the reviewers that say who will be recognized. No one can read them all, but thank you for your efforts.
Why does Trump pick the dregs for his cabinet or everyone else who surrounds him? Trumps always motto, Dregs are us.
4
Regarding Mr. Miller:
Someone needs to tell him he isn’t an Anglo-Saxon Protestant whose family has been in the United States for two centuries.
10
Actually, Mr. Ross, the fact that there was "no sign of it," protesters and making protesters disappear, is simply because, well, bone saws.
7
When can we expect the medals ceremony? And which national anthem will be playing? I suggest the Russian national anthem. And, as long as we're giving participation awards, how can we not recognize the contributions of Sarah Huckabee Sanders? She certainly deserves something.
11
But none of them would matter (as despicable as they are), unless the worst among us coalesced into sufficient votes for Trump, and the worst among us coalesced around a purity tests and self-indulgent trucculence, and either did not vote, or voted for a third party candidate to make some great point. Neither Trump, nor his unleashing of a horror show, would be possible without active collusion of people who voted.
5
The way to get rid of Trump’s Wall to to start calling it by it’s name: The Stephen Miller Wall.
Every chance we get.
11
"The Ross victory is a little suspect, since it came right after he gave an interview in which he expressed befuddlement about why furloughed government workers were going to food banks and homeless shelters when they could — you know, just go see their banker and take out a loan."
No Way!
He just saved his best for the final "kick".
You can always recognize a "Pro"!
2
The context of the Rick Perry citation cries out for a movie treatment: Jerry Bruckheimer and Steve Mnuchin present "Energy Rising"--An assemblage of white-clad Furies reflect the power of light to disintegrate the Trump administration and disinfect the Capitol. Only the Secretary stands in the way of total purification!
I say we are allowed to rate Presidential SOTU Addresses the way they do in the Olympics. In this case T. ought to get a 2 for organization (it was sort of logical but not much — beginning, middle and end?); a 0 for delivery: boringly read, periodic sniffs for really big lies; overly long by 45 minutes, and supercilious in its attitude toward the rest of government. Finally, it gets a 1 for expression of leadership because it was overly critical, extremely exculpatory of his own responsibility and uninviting in “getting others to participate.” The overall score is probably no more than a 2 — and that is being generous.
However, if a person can avoid re-election because he simply bores the bejezzus out of the electorate at the same time having nothing coherent come out out of his mind, while attracting the worst agency heads in history, this guy scores a ten.
3
Pass this along to the editors:
Nielsen, who SHOULD BE WHOM one reader called “the queen of mendacity,” got votes for her work separating thousands of families at the Mexican border. The Trump immigration policies were on so many people’s minds, they put Stephen Miller in fourth place even though he’s not actually in the cabinet.
3
When Ross was first appointed to Commerce, I was actually kind of relieved, because he at least seemed to have sane, well-thought-out positions compared to the rest of the ideologues and half-wits in line for positions in Trump's cabinet. Unfortunately, he's proven himself to be just as out-of-touch as the rest of them. It still astounds me that this "let them eat cake" crew has successfully pitched themselves as "men of the people" to a substantial slice of the American public.
5
You need to add a miss or mr congeniality competition next time. Perhaps a talent division. No swimsuit comp, though. Please.
5
Whoops, I think I see a pattern with Trump's cabinet appointments--maybe even with the Republican party politicians and those GOPers appointed to high government positions.
Keep in mind that the Republican Party has campaigned against its own government for decades--ever since Reagan declared government is not the solution, it is the "problem."
Reagan also appointed incompetents to the government agencies top on the GOP list for dismantling, such as Anne Gorsuch & her sidekick Rita Lavalle of the EPA or James Watt of Interior, all inept, corrupt, and forced to resign.
In Trump's cabinet, many came from the business world where they were big investors and a number made their fortunes by buying up "distressed" companies or milking distressed people (DeVos had a collection agency for distressed student loans).
These Trump people brought their vulture capitalism skills to government. No revolution needed.
Just hire a bunch of inexperienced, incompetents to run top agencies on the GOP chopping block. Who needs a clean environment anyway, livable wages,decent health care, a quality education, or safe roads & bridges, when business needs cheap labor, no gvt. regulations or meddling gvt. oversight, and no taxes going to the communities and cities where businesses use gvt. services?
So what is the GOP game plan? Run the government agencies into the ground that business finds annoying and interfering with their profits and privatize what is public for $$ (roads, water..
6
You get an A for effort in humor, but I quit laughing some time ago. This president and his Team of Users has effectively turned a signature requirement of office - ‘taking care that the laws be faithfully executed’ into its own dark humor.
I challenge the media to take the major, underlying, enabling legislation...environmental protection, the dept. of education, financial protections, - as well as the no-doubt blithe abdication of responsibility to ‘regulations to enforce’ and see if the new, proposed regulations in every area actually further the intent of the legislation.
We didn’t pass laws to then enable an anti- government agenda of privatization. We don’t pass laws to protect our air, water, to then allow their further pollution. We didn’t want to prevent another financial meltdown to then, by regulation, allow questionable practices to re-emerge. Shall we laugh at today’s newest attempt to ‘take care’ that payday lenders, charging....400% interest.... (MSNBC), be allowed easier access to desperate people?
Legislation can’t deal with every nut and bolt of actual enforcement. But the duty to further, to follow the intent, is implicit. And this in-your-face, contrarian, president and his department selections make a mockery of our legislation every day. And we allow it. Every day.
7
Maybe you should have had a cutoff date, so that the Ross fiasco wouldn't have biased his chances. n.b. I did vote for Ross:
"The Ross victory is a little suspect, since it came right after he gave an interview in which he expressed befuddlement about why furloughed government workers were going to food banks and homeless shelters when they could — you know, just go see their banker and take out a loan."
I think DeVoss might have edged him out. One could argue that Ross was out of his area of expertise in advising workers what to do when there is no paycheck. DeVos is out of her area of expertise, period.
I think that Nielsen gets a bad rap because, don't forget that trump screamed and yelled at her about her poor performance in incarcerating immigrants (this from "Mr. Unity", Donald J. trump). That event no doubt caused her to react erratically. It's not her fault.
I'm no fan of Elaine Chao, but she and McConnell probably will retire after the 2020 election. I don't see that, after being trump's servant, that he wants to have to kowtow to Dems after they win the Senate.
All in all , Gail, it was a successfully run contest. We need a celebratory dinner... maybe we can add these awards to the Academy Awards ceremony. I think that for the next one, you need to choose some of us to gather together for the nominating meeting at some posh resort. I'll volunteer, and we could use last years funds to fly there first class... and sleep on trump mattresses.
5
Nielsen is at fault, however, for proceeding to stay in office and knuckling under to the worst President this country has ever had, and the worst man we’ve ever had as president.
4
Yes Gail we are paying attention. I've noticed that your humor approach mitigates the seriousness of these outrages. Also noticed that your approach is not a good thing.
2
Great column Gail. People need a forum to let off steam, as they say, and express themselves about the general unending mess in Washington DC and the White House in particular.
Now we need another list of the worst elected politicians in the house and senate. I'm sure Mitch McConnell would win first place in a contest like that.
15
Gail, you're right! The one bright spot in this entire fiasco of an Administration is that we're all paying attention now!
8
I agree that "at least we're all paying attention" is the immediate best outcome of the 2016 election. Broad realization that failure to actively engage in democracy will lead to its perversion is hopefully the legacy. I was comfortably on cruise control. Unfortunately, I was not alone.
7
I have a bit of a hard time in deciding if Betsy anti-ed or Scotty & Co anti-earth, or anti-family Kirstjen are the winners collectively. Maybe good ole Stephen should top honors.
9
Any intelligent candidate with a modicum of integrity realizes that to associate with Trump is a losing proposition—probably in the short term and must definitely long run.
And so we get the cabinet HE deserves...but woe to the rest of us!
9
Ross must have anticipated this contest because his absurdity clueless comments during the shutdown made him a cinch for the top spot. However, on any given day any one of Trump's best people has what it takes to deserve an equal or greater level of contempt.
12
Hey, don’t denigrate Wilbur’s hard work and stick-to-it-iveness. It’s the best of America.
If these are “the best people,” the ones Trump promised to choose, that should speak volumes about HIM.
11
Elaine Chao is unfit for public office for more than her association with International Shipping (with all vessels registered in foreign ports to avoid taxes, BTW). Someone should check her inability in the past to hold a job unless Daddy was making huge campaign donations. Now with Mitch as her husband she is finally able to land another job.
18
The depressing thing about this contest is that it doesn't stop and there's no bottom - just the latest moving of the goal posts with every new day.
Take Rick Perry for example - turns out the Department of Energy has been secretly shipping plutonium around the country despite ongoing legal efforts to block it.
https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2019/01/30/doe-secretly-shipped-plutonium-nevada/2725872002/
The one thing for certain is that the biggest loser in this contest is America.
21
@Larry Roth
"Take Rick Perry"... Please.
2
Never have so few been so ruinous to so many.
23
@Joe, super sentence Joe or should say Winston, Ha Ha, thank You Joe. !!
I challenge the RESULT! I should and will support Wilbur Ross. But I do challenge the word CABINET. Many other objects would better describe this collection of misfit weapons: dumpster, septic tank, ...
12
I love that. Not a Cabinet. A Dumpster. As in Dumpster Fire.
1
The worst kakistocracy in the history of Western civilization.
The solutions are simple:
1) Women - run for office - local, state or national
2) Everyone - vote the GOP OUT in 2020 - everywhere
24
None of the cabinet members have the influence of Fox and conservative pundits. They are Trump's true cabinet.
18
Trump praised "only the best". He was right: never has a Cabinet been better at lying, self-dealing and meeting the needs of those industries it is meant to regulate.
17
Wilbur Ross needs to be put out to pasture. Let him play with his grand-kids. A creaky rocking chair for a cranky old guy. Most appropriate.
There needs to be *mandatory retirement* for all politicians and government workers by age 80 (if not 75) and 75 for presidential candidates (if not 70).
Too much hardening of arteries and hardening of attitudes in the very old, and they need to get out of the way so younger, more flexible minds can take over.
This isn't ageist, it's simply reasonable. I'm a white guy pushing 70, and I'm completely sick of seeing doddering old white guys with their sagging jowls running the country!
23
I’m a 68 year old white woman and I agree! Why would anyone want to do this at my age? When I watch these people who clearly are cranky in pain with failing faculties running our country, I worry. This means someone else is doing everything for them. Yes there are some who still function at a very high level.
And while I am on my cranky creaky soap box: all candidates for federal offices should pass a background check at some level.
13
@Ambient Kestrel Yeah, when you start wearing slippers in public (even if they are $500 Stubbs & Wootton slippers with the seal of the Commerce Department embroidered on them), you're too old for the Cabinet.
4
Exactly my thoughts!
Thank you!
It is a real challenge to pick the worst of a very, very bad lot. I guess I would vote for the whole lot, as a group.
Anyone want to write a new version of the Twelve Days of Christmas, for each day using the most outrageous "gift" proposed by each Secretary in the order of their awfulness?
11
Thank you. It's good to be reminded a few prominent members of Trump's circus.
5
I wasn't able to vote this time, but I highly approve of the outcomes. Are ties allowed? Ross and DeVos? Rolls off the tongue like poetry. The scary kind.
9
A Pelosi applause to all the contestants. Well done!
23
Kudos to the readers who named Wilber Fudd er I mean Ross as the winner of this year’s contest! He is exactly the opposite of the kind of person I’d like to see in any cabinet. His “let them eat cake” ideas are so ugly he should be banned from public speaking.
Sincerely
Deborah Pascale
11
What happened to hateful Mulvaney (remember payday lenders)? Ought to at least get a runner-up...
14
It is rumored that Satan has begun his own investigation into the losers, in the event that one of them tries to escape his clutches by claiming that they're more virtuous than the others. Other sources report that he has begun building a wall to prevent their attempted illegal entry into heaven, claiming that "St. Peter will pay for it!".
13
It would be funny were it not so sad. That there are so many slobbering grifters willing to enable a wannabe king who is mentally ill says volumes about how sick our Democracy is.
14
Whaaaaat? Hello, Muck Mulvaney?
12
I nominate David Pecker as Ambassador to Deplorable Palm Beach, not for any achievements but for having the most mockable name in the Trump Circus.
12
Profiting handsomely from the opioid crisis, despite the thousands upon thousands of resulting deaths, is a pretty notable “achievement” in my book.
7
A Den of thieves and disgusting human beings in the service of an idiot with kids from three different women.
What a great Christian for the phony evangelicals to rally around.
19
The Wicked Witch of the West's flying monkies come to mind.
5
I think you should have made Wilbur and Kirsten the King and Queen of Mendacity.
7
This is probably the silliest thing I have ever read. and that is saying something when you consider the garbage columns this newspaper publishes on a regular basis by Paul Krugman and others. No standard is too low. This column really is totally devoid of any intelligent commentary and the author clearly appears to have an incredibly inflated view of herself. Did she actually read it over before it was published ? Hard to believe.
Is there anything this newspaper won't publish as long as it attacks the President ? It doesn't matter how tasteless or incoherent it is. One wonders what the writer thinks of Governor Northam and his cabinet. No one is falling asleep in cabinet meetings there. God only knows what they're doing in cabinet meetings or anywhere else. Oh right that is a Democratic administration so they're off limits no matter what transgressions are revealed on a daily basis.
This newspaper needs to find some journalistic standards and integrity in a hurry because the President's criticisms of it are ringing truer and truer every day.
2
@craig johnston You must not be a regular reader of Gail's columns. They're always critical of incompetence with a sardonic twist. I notice you don't address the underlying criticism of the twerks she skewers. And Ross's nodding off is well-documented - by Trump himself. The rest, well, the evidence is clear in their actions. Trump craves the Times; his criticisms are based on his desire to bel liked by the press. Next time, get a clue...
22
@craig johnston - how are you getting the paper/web site free? You can't be paying for with this opinion.
3
@craig johnston
What do you read, sir? Give us a chance to see what good journalistic standards are today. And what excellent taste, coupled with perfect coherence, can be.
Give us a peek.
7
Well, blow me over...Elmer Fudd got the top prize! Actually, my vote went to Ms Nielsen, but she was a close second. So, I'll take that, too. I have to chuckle that Ms Chao, aka Mrs. Mitch, got under the radar. Did anyone notice her adoring smile toward her boss (Trump, not Mitch) last night? Without fail, every time the MSNBC camera man scanned her face, her demeanor was that of an enamored teen fawning over a screen or rock idol. That said a lot about HER soul, or lack thereof.
Now some readers may feel that Trump Inc is no laughing matter. And, true, this is seriously corrupt stuff we are now enduring. But personally, I am dependent on a good chuckle once a week..and preferably more often than that. So here's the deal. How about tweaking our Worst of the Worst list, like expanding it? I can think of a few White House employees to whom I would love to award a rotten tomato. There's Sarah S H, Kellyanne, Ivanka Lanka, Bolton!, and even Jared. And do not be afraid of the Senate, to wit, Mr. McConnell, Lindsey G, and...and...
16
I now do some p/t work for a "privileged" woman who has established a foundation dealing with elder abuse - a very worthy cause. She knows Mr. Ross and said that "the appointment for Wilbur was the cherry on the cake." I am trying to decide if I should tell her that Wilbur won the Worst Trump Cabinet Member competition.
7
I urge an honorable mention for Steve Mnuchin and his lovely wife, Cruella DeVille.
20
Wilbur Ross deserves his award here. Cluelessness combined with evil.
Stephen Miller should be given an award simply for being himself, "The Stephen 'Shrill' Miller Award," honoring those "who absolutely will never, ever, ever be invited to any party by anyone and yet retain their mendacity."
Finally, Betsy DeVos should be on the podium, totally uncaring and spiteful.
7
Maybe a “Best New Playah,” award?
“Personnel is policy”, Morton Blackwell, The Leadership Institute.
This explains why Trump's policy is as shameful, inept, bigoted, uneducated and ignorant as it is.
Cabinet members matter. It's no coincidence that the country is in a crisis at the same time as these inept, selfish fools, headed by the biggest of them all, occupy the White House.
15
No mention of Steve Mnuchin’s sticky-fingered wife?
10
And the Trump administration continues to soar to new depths of incompetence and depravity! Inspiring!
9
Trump, ever the dangerous idiot, has outdone himself in his expert selection of leaders to destroy the departments they ostensibly head.
That merits an award of some type, too, no?
9
Many strange, new creatures living in the White House swamp these days.
6
Fine. Wilbur Ross got it. And even though the photo you posted really made him the obvious pick, I still opted for Mike Pompeo with Steve Mnuchin and his money-grabbing spouse a close second. Oh well, at least Mike got a (dis)honorable mention.
May the Worst man win!...and he did.
11
I think Collins is terribly mistaken. Why, she must have forgotten that Trump surrounded himself with the "best" people after he took office. For proof, look no further than this Dec. 13, 2016 press release from the Republican Party of Florida.
============================
TALLAHASSEE, FL- Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) Chairman Blaise Ingoglia released the following statement on President-Elect Trump’s Cabinet appointments:
“President-Elect Trump began his White House bid as an unconventional candidate and this resonated with the American people. He has chosen to continue this unconventional way of thinking with his stellar Cabinet appointments. Trump has not only chosen outstanding leaders; he has chosen a Cabinet rich in extensive experience, strategic vision and individuals committed to his promise of a government with checks and balances, accountable to the people. The RPOF applauds President-Elect Trump’s Cabinet appointments...."
http://www.florida.gop/ingoglia_on_president_elect_trump_s_cabinet_appointments
9
Florida is worse than I thought. Thanks for the update.
4
@LarryAt27N
From now on, instead of using words such as "nincompoop" or "schlemiel" or "nematode" when I write of the idiots in Washington, I will use "unconventional."
Surrounding us with resonance.
@LarryAt27N, never vote Republican EVIL ever again, especially in 2020 if we are to survive.
Stephen Miller has always been my favorite. From the first days of the administration, when he toured the talk shows and intoned sleepy-eyed that Trump was he who must be obeyed, no other high level official has made the case so clearly for Trump’s real goal (to become Mussolini). Simple incompetence and toadyism should not be sufficient to win the prize, even with a healthy dose of casual arrogance and social ineptitude thrown in. I think truly ominous malevolence should make Stephen Miller the easy choice.
Besides, with Stephen Miller in the running, John Bolton hardly gets a mention.
12
And remember how Miller’s family feels about him!
2
They're all bad. This is like trying to decide who is worse: Hitler, Himmler, or Göring? The blind are leading the visually challenged, and yet the base loves and supports him.
Remember what happened to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette? Remember what happened to Nicholas II and his family?
Keep it up, Trumpsters. He and his henchmen will destroy everything.
11
Lol! Good one.
2
Please never distract me mid-article again with a way-too-tempting link to a piece on Stephen Miller's faux hairline. That was a good 10 minutes out of my life I'll never have again.
6
Steve Miller, cabinet member ex officio, needs to be reconsidered for first place. In fact, why not give him all of the trophies? And
a monogrammed straight jacket, for casual and formal wear.
4
Like the person said, they are so bad they stick in your head. Can you imagine what weasels this bunch were when they were growing up? Can't imagine how they made it on talent alone. Think of K Nielsen. A graduate of Georgetown, so you know she has a rolodex. She has to take a job like this one? There have to be some serious unmentioned flaws on that CV. We know Perry is mediocre, intellectually and competence wise. So why embarrass oneself. Maybe he is too stupid to know how dumb he is. I could go on. They are memorable cause they are so rancid.
5
This wretched group of undesirables actually is a political Rogues Gallery. Do they post pictures of the nation’s most notorious criminals in U.S. post offices anymore?
5
The Trump administration is completely expressed by Miller's astute decision to wear spray-on hair.
5
Trying to choose the worst of Trump's choices for members or his cabinet is akin to trying to choose the nastiest latrine I faced (in a manner of speaking) during my year in Vietnam. Superlatives fail.
6
Next column: Who is the worst Democrat in Virginia?
2
@Born In The Bronx
Things were VERY different 40 to 50 years ago. People should not be judged by their mistakes when they were young. Who was Trump ripping off in the good old days?
Unfortunately he hasn’t changed, though many have.
@Carole
Hey Carol, I graduated college in 1985 and can assure you things were not that different.
Btw, how about sexual assault in 2004, was that VERY different as well?
Check with Fox News for your impartial guidance.
As this award's recent history shows, this is a horse race that doesn't run out of horses and that's good. Because they seem to shoot on average about one a week in this administration. My brother-in-law assured me that a lack of experience in government would be no problem for the neophyte Trump because he would surround himself with the best people. Instead we got a circle-the-wagons around the mental patient that's reminiscent of the screenplay for "The Madness of King George". Grown men kowtowing, groveling, deferring and defending the indefensible and ignoring the ignorance. It's maddening but eternal. It's called avarice, cowardice and, before Trump, unAmerican. If you haven't figured out what shape the trophy should take yet, may I suggest a golden Trumpet. You can decide who or what will be blowing it.
10
This was a no-win challenge, kind of like choosing the fattest worm to put on the hook.
How about asking your readers to name Trump's worst lie? Now that is a fertile field; some 8000 plus according to WaPo. True, many are repeats which might narrow the field a bit, but still there would b enough left over to give everyone another nightmare.
Go, choir!
6
Our POTUS listens to a rabid racist whose family has disowned him, a guy who thinks using spray on hair is a good idea. We are in trouble. #SprayOnStephen has no place in our government, yet here we are.
9
They're all really repungent aren't they?
8
@Socrates. Re Ann Colter
One thing many of us have in common is a feeling of powerlessness. An intersection of events occurred that gives me hope. This intersection was the government shutdown. It created a new and powerful demographic.
A New Demographic
800,000 federal workers and millions of others were injured. Add persons and businesses impacted in any negative way and there’s the large demographic. This group could be the facilitators to spread and implement retaliation and comeuppance.
One Shutdown Deserves Another
The reason the government shut down was outside interference by Ann Coulter and Faux fake news network. The fake president backed off enacting legislation passed by the house and senate (by unanimous vote) in a republican congress and was set to sign the bipartisan bill until the likes of an anorexic agitator and supporting network for all intents and purposes “shut down the government.”
I suggest readers contact advertisers that support the Coulter program. Gather a following before doing so. Use your social media skills. We were made the fool by these arrogant, ignorant, damaging, and disgusting self-serving fake news purveyors. The only entity that lies more than the liar-in-chief is the Faux Network, and they parrot each other. It is time to return the favor.
Ann Coulter advertisers
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2007/3/4/307993/-
All advertisers
https://www.foxnewsadvertisers.com
Have a good week :))
7
Weird black stuff sprayed on Steven Miller's head? That's even better than the dog on Mitt Romney's car. Can't wait for the next installment.
5
Thanks now I have to find a picture of Stephen Miller with his spay hair. You crack me up!
4
The only thing that comes to the mind's ear in this hilarious editorial of Cabinet incompetence is the Addams Family's butler Lurch and his groan ... uhhhhhhh.
4
...a veritable sociopath convention...
9
The president is insanely incompetent as a human, it's a good thing the GOP is the same.
4
this election was rigged. Nielsen is obviously the worst of the worst. how can Wilbur top kidnapping children and forgetting where you hid them? fake news. i'm declaring a national emergency at the new York times.
4
That seems to be the ONLY inheritance we will have gained from this 'so-called' president's administration! That is unless you're in the top 1% who got the tax cut bequeathed to them. We are NOW on 'high alert' and will NEVER ignore things like overlooking a Supreme Court nominee or cabinet post EVER again. Justice will be served. The day of reckoning will come.
5
As an eighty-two year old faithful and alert watcher of our so-called leaders, I resented Gail’s comment that the commerce secretary...what’s his name? Must be forgiven because he is 81.
5
I still think it should have been a three way tie: Ross, Nielsen, and DeVos! Each is totally out of their depth and an embarrassment.
6
After reading this I realize we need a plumber. The swamp drain is clogged with all sorts of garbage.
5
Best to call the GOP for a plumber.
1
These current bunch of creeps will always be associated in history as the time when America officially lost its mind. Hopefully, the real meaning of MAGA will be the waking up the people to the actions of these destructive, disgusting human beings. Leaders with low caliber and character should never be allowed to lead the country again. Their goal is to ruin our lives through exploitation of workers and the environment for their personal gain. If they want to serve the public in a positive way, there are plenty of filthy bathrooms that need cleaning. I bet these incompetents can't even accomplish that.
9
It would be nice to see them in a Police style line up. In order of most votes. Or maybe Beauty Pagent style with Bert Parks softly crooning, “Her she comes, Ms. America”.
Is there any Cabinet Member, or senior staffer not on the take? One honest soul with Diogenes lantern hanging in their office?
3
i wonder if donald's cabinet is tired of all this winning? i know I am.....
3
Hah! Thanks, Gail Collins, for the best laugh I've had in ages. All of them appalling, yes, and extremely dangerous in terms of the damage they are inflicting, but at this point, we can either laugh or just open our veins and get into a warm bath. I feel like that old poster of the kitten hanging on for dear life, with the "Hang in there!" tagline. 713 days and counting...
6
Note on Ben Carson: "Did he ever get out of that elevator?”
Truth is, he was actually stuck on an escalator. Couldn't figure out how to get off. He may still be there though. Haven't heard anything from him in awhile.
3
Anyone who claims that Trump hasn't accomplished much should reconsider the Cabinet - a breathtaking Klown Kar filled with the most dangerous blockheads imaginable.
It is as if Trump held a meeting and said "Now bring me the very worst candidates you can think of" "That's right - the ones who will do the maximum damage" "And let's have one show up on Day #1 on a horse.."
Wow
5
u forgot to add Bin Salman (mbs) to the list. trump hired him to rid Bezos of his prized employee. hopefully, our media will find this smoking gun... and report it
2
It's comforting to think that most of the people reading this article are harmonious in their denunciations of this cavalcade of moral and ethical degenerates, but scary as can be that at least 35% of the souls in this nation think otherwise despite the greed, stupidity, duplicity and corruption that is on display 24/7 in this once fair land (and by 'fair land' I mean prior to Columbus).
6
I did not vote for the worse Cabinet member(s) because they are ALL pretty shady, self serving, pathetic, and ethically challenged characters.
If there were a contest for worse White House staff member I again could not vote since they all seem to be swamp dwellers whose only qualifications are how many backs they can stab in a day.
But if I had to give an award to someone in his administration It would go to "anonymous source" for spilling the beans on some of the truly stupid, and horrendous policies and actions of this clown car of an administration.
The only visible swamp draining happening in the trump administration are people under indictment, going to jail, or pushed out because they were getting more media air time than trump.
2
A leaders hire A people; B leaders hire C and D people; Mr. Trump hires Yes people.
3
Trump surrounds himself with mini-me’s. He would never hire someone who was richer, brighter, more personable than himself because he is incredibly insecure and would be threatened. And, we’re now in the third tier of hires, since anyone with a modicum of dignity and self-respect has been fired or has left with their tail between their legs - slimed for eternity.
Dumb, supercilious, classless, clueless, incompetent, criminal, contemptible, evil. The best people.
8
They might be The Gang Who Couldn't Shoot Straight, but even the lamest marksman hits something when armed with an Uzi.
Lex Luthor would die for such henchmen. As would Auric Goldfinger and, of course, Dr. Evil. These days, facts are putting comic book fiction out of business.
Seriously, though, Grover Norquist had it wrong: the GOP is not trying to drown the Federal Government but rather to make it a laughingstock, to exhibit Agent 86, er, Scott Pruitt, as he builds his Cone of Silence, or Ryan Zinke, as he hires a couple of guys from his home town at seven figures to do nothing at all to help Puerto Rico recover from Maria, so Trump can then point at the money Zinke spent to claim that it was, I don't know, the best ever relief effort or amazing or unprecedented ... no, too many syllables and sounding too much like "the un-President," which conjures a soda ad that featured a man of color.
Seriously, have you noticed how much Stephen Miller resembles James Woods's portrayal of Roy Cohn? And you're right, Gail: So much of what we see in those geeky Cabinet photos is a Potemkin government, when what's real is happening in Mick Mulvaney's office. How on Earth could he be left off the ballot? I smell fraud.
As for the man himself, even up a tree he could convince a young couple to eat an apple. When he hisses, people who actually believe those myths listen, which makes me wonder who they think they're listening to.
Faithfully recorded and transcribed from #rextillerson
3
Trump pick those fashioned in his own image, worst of the worst.
5
This sorry bunch is what emanates from Trump. Meaning (canned drum roll please) that el Prez. is 'dah winner. He's all about winning. Sad.
When I think about Wilber I hear Mr. Ed's plaintiff voice.
4
A future Executive Order to simply undo all decisions made by this despicable lot is on my wish list based on their acts against the country they swore to uphold. Let me throw in financial damages awarded from their own purses.
3
This is obviously "fake news". Donald Trump told us he picked the best people. Always the best people. He is the smartest president ever. He's got everything under control. He's going to get the Nobel Peace Prize for North Korea and another one for Syria and another one for Afghanistan. I only wish the media would leave him alone and let him use his executive timeouts to solve all the problems of the world.
2
Is it too late to vote?
Gail Collins has the brilliant knack of simultaneously making a reader laugh and cry but with this piece the accumulation of incompetent department heads that she skewers so mercilessly brings me to a near state of apoplectic delirium. Watching what I could stand of the SOTU speech had me once again feeling light-headed and nauseous, a common reaction to anything Trump. Witnessing all those Republican sycophants standing and enthusiastically clapping to his inane balderdash was incredibly depressing.Trump is such an obvious blowhard. How embarrassing to see him preening with his defiant, self satisfied smirks, chin raised and an angry cast to his eyes. He resembles Mussolini more and more each day.
3
Love Gail Collin’s columns—they always make me cringe but also laugh. That said, let’s keep attacks on physical appearance out of it. Poking fun of a guy for trying to cover baldness is beside the point
As i recall, last time anyone saw Carson he was dashing off to look for his luggage.
3
I love that Rick Perry was held back as the "designated survivor" on SOTU night. He was back at the undisclosed location, still trying to think of that third agency he'd eliminate. Whoops!
3
At the very top of the list for why anyone would want to serve as a Trump cabinet member is Power & Reconnection. It’s not now, or will ever be “I just want to serve my country!”
You know why nothing is really going to change until 2020? All you had to see was the “white” Republicans bobbing like corks on a fishing line anytime Trump said anything at the so-called State of Shame (opps, Union) address.
BTW, my suggestion for the top (BOTTOM) of the list is Mike Pense! What a shallow, disgusting human being!
1
Congrats, Gail, on "Meet Trump's Worst!". We all knew it was hard to pick the worst of the worst in Trump's cabinet. Poor Wilbur Ross! Can you do a neat quiz on who's the 2nd worst? 3rd worst? This will keep us all busy while the new Congress -- unthreatened by Trumpery -- decides how to bump Trump off his log. Here is my input from your Jan 31 piece:
History has a way of dealing with malign people sooner or later. It's gonna take time as the wheels of justice grind slow but fine. And the worst of the wurst of Trump's people will be dealt with like the way the folks in Satriale's Pork Store dealt with bad folks in "The Sopranos".
2
I know he's not around anymore but Scott Pruitt just might win the worst cabinet member in history. His incompetence and corruption were world class.
1
It's so hard to laugh these days. The "moral" yardstick of these sordid buffoons (Trump too) is obvious:
What would Al Capone do?
3
The stink stopped at the top.
2
Gail Collins just figuratively tarred and feathered the entire cabinet. If we were to follow this administration's desire to return to our traditional past we would literally ride them out of town on rails.
3
I did not vote for the worse Cabinet member(s) because they are ALL pretty shady, self serving, pathetic, and ethically challenged.
If there were a contest for worse White House staff member I again could not vote since they all seem to be swamp dwellers whose only qualifications are how many backs you can stab in a day.
But if I had to give an award to someone in his administration It would go to "anonymous source" for spilling the beans on some of the truly stupid policies and actions of this clown car of an administration.
1
Oh, go on, please do pursue the thought of Rick Perry’s survivorship. No one will assume you’d actually be recommending it.
1
Ms. Collins,
Please do some investigation, on who did wilbur's embalming?
3
the absolute worst is Pence. An absolute Nobody. Nothing to say. Frightened of his own shadow and with such a medieval ideology that I wouldn't put burning women (witches, no less) at the stake beyond him.
Americans, save yourselves! The rest of the world is speechless. Not even laughing anymore.
4
Swamp People - Season 1 and 2
4
This cabinet is the fetid, malodorous swamp the president promised to drain "on day one". This assemblage of corrupt and incompetent officials aptly describes the president's vulgar dismissal of African countries and Haiti just last year. During that same meeting the president saw the sludge and sewage of his handpicked Cabinet that caused him to vent and fume so publicly. The lowest of the low has infested this administration. Make America gag again.
3
Gail should throw in the name of the sub-cabinet member, you know, the one who writes trump's just awful speeches and presses SEND on trump's tweets, and expedites fastfood deliveries to white house luncheon guests.
3
Wilbur is a master grifter.
He "patented" a plan to buy up distressed companies, at or near bankruptcy, and wipe his hands clean of any pension liabilities. Easy money.
Of course, the pensions were taken over by a US government entity, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. Guess who the losers were? You and you and you.
A #1 grifter, for sure.
3
Collins shares Trump's exclamation-point disorder.
Rick Perry as the "designated survivor."
Words fail............
4
Honestly, Wilbur could easily be an extra on The Walking Dead....a joyless, emotionless, heartless, soulless, etc.
Kristjien or whatever.....scary as can be.....the lack of feeling and human emotion is startling to behold.
DeVos.......well, maybe she was the child left behind but with a billion dollar parachute....
1
The Trump Cabinet really is a league of extraordinarily bad, inept, unethical, unqualified people - a den of supervillains.
They are all shameful in their own special way. In a sense it's unsurprising because the fish rots from the head and they don't come much more rotten than Trump.
No sensible, selfless, truthful, ethical, altruistic person would want to have anything to do with the Trump maladministration.
Hence the current rabble of disgraceful charlatans, the common thread between which is that they are only in it for themselves.
History will rightly excoriate these people.
2
So these questions are off topic, but you brought it up. Really, you started.
The Miller-Brand spray-on hair! Does he use a stencil to get that Widow’s Peak shape? Who is the widow? Does he look in the mirror and narrow his eyes a bit and say “mmmm. Hot”? Is the sprayed triangle helping his tinder profile, like, swipe right for this awesome head of hair? Does that sprayed hair work as well as a border wall in keeping America safe? Is there bi-partisan agreement that Miller really looks pretty cute post spraying, almost as good as the late Ted Cruz with the man-beard?
Or is this just a case of following the leader into the world of worst bad hair?
3
Miller’s attempt at going blackface?
1
I'm glad to see that Stephen Miller, while not a cabinet member, got the attention of Gail's electorate. He is truly odious. Every time I am forced to look at his face (without the tragicomic black shoe polish on his head; his version of black face?), he reminds me of a younger Mr. Burns of The Simpsons, the owner of Springfield's nuclear power plant. Burns is evil incarnate, just like Stephen Miller. However, the affable, charming, sensitive, sympathetic Wilbur Ross deserves the award; he seems to be in a class by himself, even though he lives in a collective swamp of vipers.
3
Wasaaaah! My guy LOST!
4
Sorry Gail, no breaks for incompetence or criminality...his banks were washing money....
2
When you say Miller sprays black stuff on his bald pate , are you sure he doesn't spray any black color on his face? Of all our candidates for Trump's Worst, Miller has the least regard for how bigoted he shows himself .He seems to be a proud racist, a thorough bigot who hates non-whites . He pushes for the Wall praying that it would be able to keep the non-whites away from the Pure Whites like himself. I would think he would be most likely to put on Black Face even today when all non-Trump followers have matured and forgotten about past evils.
Jill Stein should get an honorable mention as none of this would be possible without her lying, deceiving, demagoguery in 2016.
Oh, and her acceptance of a little campaign cash from Republican operatives (they know how this goes down) and more than a little bucking up by Russian security services.
She could have been a contender with Betsy DeVos with her ignorant anti-vaccine rants!
Stupidity all around.
Will we never learn?
4
It should be a tie. They are all worse than worthless.
2
Ben Carson! You forgot Ben Carson with his dining room and. portraits of himself with Jesus!
3
Jeeves the butler. Looks like him, talks like him, even has the carpet slippers.Yaaaas.
1
Come to 2020 maybe we can put the rock back and this very creepy crawly group will slither into oblivion.
2
Seriously, each member of this basket of deplorables is worse than the one he's sitting next to. Truly a melange of greed, incompetence, and disdain for anyone not wealthy, white, and Republican.
3
Does Wilbur get a prize for his honor? It would be hard to match the $500 custom velvet slippers he wore to a Trump speech embroidered with the logo of the Commerce Department. Maybe some new Air Jordans he can use when he is run out of the White House?
5
I have a feeling that someone will have to summarize this column to Ross.
1
Ah yes - the worst of the worst.
Just don’t try picking the best of the worst - your head will explode!
2
Well, I'm borrowing this from another comment somewhere, but El Chapo as Drug Czar? Is this true?
It is so hard picking the worst of the worst of the Trump administration. Wilbur doesn't seem to know how stupid he sounds and how obviously unfamiliar he is on how the 90% live.
1
Is it too late.? Can I vote for Mnuchin’s wife?
She’s pretty awful.
4
Does anyone care in Cheeseville, Wisconsin? Or Toad Gulch, Tennessee? Or Indiana? Chanting “USA, USA” makes it all go away. Congrats, Wilber.
1
Ross. Hmmph, not my first pick.
That said, does he have a dog?
2
Time Magazine's Men of the Year:
* 1953 - "The American Fighting Man"
* 1968 - "The Apollo 8 Astronauts"
* 1975 - "American Women"
Why can't the Worst Trump Cabinet Member be the Whole Cabinet?
3
Prizes, Gail! I demand that this “competition” offer goodies to the winners, for they have richly earned their rewards. For Wilbur Ross, a huge block of moldy cheese, taken directly from a food bank somewhere in northern Virginia. For Betsy DeVos, an honorary diploma from now-defunct Trump University, which is exactly the sort of high-quality for-profit educational outfit she’s been promoting. For Ben Carson, a one-week, all-expenses-paid stay in a NYCHA apartment, preferably during the coldest days of the year, along with a little walking around money so he can warm up in and use the facilities in, say, Starbucks. I could go on and on, Gail, but you get the point. Perhaps in your next column you can lay out ideas for the nationally televised awards show (think Oscars, only huger!) to honor the victors.
625
@ProSkeptic John Kerry who negotiated a deal in which billions of dollars of cash where handed over to the terror sponsoring mullahs in Iran who have used it to expand their influence all the way from Tehran to the borders of Israel. Who daily call for the destruction of Israel and test ballistic missiles that can hit Israel and American bases. The idea that the the Trump hating left think that Obama and Kerry were good for our country and that Trump and Pompeo are dangerous is remarkable and frightening
1
@Harry
Have you forgotten it was their money?
45
@ProSkeptic
I am surprised that this bunch didn't come up with this idea themselves as what we have seen and heard with our own eyes and ears is not the truth. What they all say if the TRUTH and, after all, they are the greatest and best people, because you know who told us so!
8
Perfect! The race to the bottom! LOVE IT GAIL! Thanks!!!
1
I tell you, whoever made the decision to keep Perry away was probably the best decision made by this WH.
Although Perry is senior challenged, incompetent, makes bizarre comments, he is funny, basically not nuts, and would not ruin the country outright like so many of Trump's lackeys are doing.
God forbid if the Capital had been wiped out, I could not think of anybody better in Trump's circus to take up the reins of gov't.
3
Never have we has a Presidential Cabinet where all, absolutely all, are ethically challenged or outright corrupt. Trump drained the swamp alright, and dumped it into his cabinet posts.
5
Biggest worry is there is no clear headed adult in the cabinet who will stand up to Trump if he has the whim to bomb Canada because the prime minister insulted him. King Joffrey of Game of Thrones the nasty teen monster King Trump reminds me of.
1
It's just all so monumentally depressing. And every day, when I hope and pray that it won't get worse, it does. I just hope we make it to the 2020 election before that band of incompetents destroys the world as we know it.
Unfortunately it’s what we deserve for setting the bar so low. Just as Trump isn’t “my” President, this weak and under-qualified cabinet is nothing I ever asked for. Just a shallow bench of one clown after another,. Imagine if people of this caliber were in charge during WWII. We’d be speaking German now.
3
The cabinet takes its cues from their leader. The President sets the tone, so it is not surprising that we have people in the cabinet who are of such questionable character, and devoid of an awareness of the law that is written in every human heart .
Some people refer to this as having a conscience. President Trump has demonstrated overtly and almost on a daily basis that conscience and doing the right thing is irrelevant to him .
As a result, it is not such a big deal to discover that most of the cabinet is largely made up of a bunch of blathering , self inflated fools .
it's just so unbelievable that there is NoT 1 qualified individual that Trump hss hired. this is a pollution of the mind and body and the air we breathe. when will this nightmare end Mr. Mueller, unless of course ur 1 of them. OMG, the nightmare continues...
1
History will recognize Trump's genius in his ability consistently to appoint inept administrators who invariably fail to implement his noxious policy goals! ;-)
Cabinet officials are like basketball refs: if they do their job right you should not know them.
4
A picture of Trump and his entire Regime should be placed in the political / Governance thesaurus to illustrate the meaning of the term
" KAKISTOCRACY ".
1
When selecting the worst in Trump’s cabinet, apply these two rules:
1. Can’t pick a white guy.
2. Can’t pick a woman married to a Republican politician or billionaire.
That leaves Ben Carson as the worst.
1
I'll be honest, I was upset about Wilbur's win. I was even more upset that his slippers weren't featured prominently. I didn't even think I wanted to read the column after that. I persevered and was rewarded by getting to read the best funny line this week:
“Why not give it to them all? My daughter played softball and everybody got a trophy.”
Yegads! Way to bury the lead, Gail! It would make an Academy award winning movie short to see Trump's cabinet come out of a clown car, one by one, to collect their identical trophies for intentionally and completely failing our democratic republic.
1
Actually the people who are replacing Zinke and Pruitt are probably the worst. Without any fanfare they are personally attempting to undermine the well being of the country for money. These 'nobodies' are quietly unobtrusively implementing Trump's policies without the garish obnoxious show of the previous two.
1
The most frighteningly humor article unexpectedly now in my brain. Of course, it's Ross, or Nielsen, or the rest.
I feel like Stephen Miller should be in a category all to himself, thus automatically earning himself some sort of prize. An anti-Nobel anti-peace prize, if you will.
It’s just turtles, all the way up...
3
I can’t name a single Obama cabinet member but the Trump cast of rogues is at the tip of my tongue along with all of their transgressions. Why is that? Because they are truly bad for America.
3
As someone mentioned, the whole team should be given a trophy for the Worst. To single one out from the rest is to disrespect the rest. The list must add to it the back office team. Stephen Miller already made it. The champ of champ bald-faced liars belongs to Sarah Huckabee Sanders so she deserves a special mention. Pence makes it for being the most unctuous, servile butler ever to slink against the walls of the halls of the White House.
1
Oh, my, how funny! Thanks for the humor, Gail.
BenCarson is at home eating at the dining room table his wife bought
1
Just as Stephen Miller enjoys Cabinet statusyness, Ann Coulter and Sean Hannity also serve Trump as guiding frights.
Ya don't have to be in it to win it.
Any yet they continue to get what they want
1
I actually saw a Carson for President sticker on a car the other day! It is probably a collector's item.
But -- - - her emails!
Gail, we had a better candidate for president last time around. You joined the elite in replaying the memes from the right wing and not taking her seriously. You need 20,000 years of anti-Trump opinion columns to make up for what you enabled.
1
Sure, Miller’s a total tool, and I despise the expression of his political and professional self. But taking a shot at his baldness and vanity seems sophomoric, hurtful and irrelevant.
1
@Dave Ano
Thank you for this. Let's shoot for civility, everyone.
What person of real quality and character would serve in the Cabinet of DJT? The humiliating mandatory kissing of the ring which opens Cabinet meetings would nauseate anyone with a sense of dignity and self-worth.
I would add that Mr. Miller would do better if he strapped Mitt Romney's dog to his pate.
3
My pick came in second, cold-blooded Nielsen. You are absolutely right I couldn't remember a previous Cabinet member from other administrations mainly because they were not indicted for crimes or facing jail time or sexual abuse scandals. What a boring lot.
1
There are lots of 'should be' winners in the category of 'Worst' as readers point out. Whatever they are, they are not of the benevolent kind to anyone but their own in sharing that title. Perhaps more conspicuous as the net spreads is Trump's republican herd of enabling congressional lap dogs who stood clapping at near every tone deaf rambling of the chief at his SOTU speech.
Obviously, the Russians interfered in this election too. Kirstjen Nielsen would have won hands down.
1
Donald Trump has no self-respect. He uses his own mouth as a sewer pipe.
Trump sets the example for his administration appointees.
No president has run for office or remained in office while telling nearly as many lies as Trump, or while insulting people as frequently as Trump. He uses his own mouth as a sewer pipe.
Then today we have the story that Mike Pompeo is ringing the bell for more foreign policy mismanagement, misdirection, and disaster, https://nyti.ms/2DYfSON
Regarding other Trumpers, I like to pat myself on the back when I recall that I may have been the firsts person to call Kellyanne Conway a liar. When Trump's election was announced in 2016, she was asked about his statements about refusing to accept the results. She lied and said Al Gore said the same thing. I immediately posted that comment on the NYT story and warned that she was lying to us.
The Trumpers are trying to raise the bar. When Reagan was in office we commonly called him the biggest liar who had ever occupied the White House. The Bush Cheney team may have eclipsed that by lying us into our longest war, and about many other serious issues - foreign policy, the source of our threats, environmental policy. But to be fair, none of Trump's predecessors knew what the competition would be.
Every single one of them is the worst. It's a tie.
2
Dear Ms. Collins, Have to say I'm disappointed that the colorless and seemingly clueless Wilbur Ross won, with so many other colorful contestants to choose from. That said, would you consider starting another contest - most iconic photo taken of a Trump administration official? My vote for this new contest would go to the photograph of Steve Mnuchin, Cheshire cat grin intact, and his wife Louise Linton - with a vamp look and wearing black leather - holding up that giant dollar bill with his name on it.
3
Qualifications for Secretary of Education: NO college degree in education.
Yes, this position has been filled. Betsy DeVos. She has no college degree in education.
Our poor kids and grandkids.
1
Gail, in true form, brings up the ugly mess some of us are 'richer' than others, and mendacity comes to mind. However bad and corrupt and incompetent Trump's cabinet members are, they would not be where they are, enjoying the power to abuse it, if their boss wouldn't be alike, setting the example. Unfair, as Trump is so much 'better' in cheating others, given his life long experience; and his superb dedication to lying whenever he opens his mouth. What seems befuddling is the blind obedience of the republican party; could it be that these 'McConnell type rascals' are concerned in keeping their miserable, and despicable, seats in a runaway government, where misrule rules? Oh, almost forgot; a mystery to some of us, the cadre of willfully ignorant folks called 'Trump's base', unable or unwilling to think for themselves, in accepting a demagogue's dictum, that the truth is whatever he says it is...a thug so used to mix facts with fiction that he truly may not know the difference. But I digress, as we were talking about the malevolent prowess of Wilbur Ross, so deserving of being the victor of 'worst offender' of society's morals.
1
I hate to attack Gail Collins, but I think that she deserves it for this column.
Once upon a time, half a century ago, Teapot Dome was, we were taught, the definition of incompetence and corruption at the federal level. Of course, at the local level we had that Grand Sachem of the Society of St. Tammany, made forever famous by Thomas Nast and a certain New York newspaper, but the current administration will certainly go down in history as far in excess of either.
But I attack Ms. Collins because I believe that she could have written a much better column. Perhaps not quite the equal of Russel Baker (who can?) but this one is too serious.
1
In the disappointed but still wannabe worst category: Senaor Mitch McConnell as Secretary of Hear no, See no, and Speak no evil, and the Secretary of Episodic tantrums, Senator LIndsey Graham.
2
WRONG! The worst is Rck Perry. He has disappeared totally from the scene. But if nuclear weapons come back, thanks to the cancellation of the INF treaty, he will tell us that a bit more radioactivity is good for us. Bigly.
Stephen Miller's Christmas-ornament-flocking-fake hair is truly scary!
1
Say this about Trump and his administration: We're saved from their full malice only by their incompetence.
Ross won only because his depravity was on full display in recent news cycles. Kirstjen Nielsen is definitely the true winner.. She’s is Queen of Mean, as evidenced from her callous disregard in separating families at the border. Maybe she will be cast as a cartoon Disney villain. By the way, there was something unhinged about her aggressive clapping at the State of the Union address. I think the selling of her soul has taken a toll.
I love this.
They are all awful, but determining who is the worst is almost impossible. Only history will someday tell us which of them was the worst, because the damage they are doing to the nation, to people, to the environment, and to our future will only be fully realized in retrospect. What we know and see now is likely only the tip of the iceberg of evil and incompetence that is this administration.
I think Gail should increase the gravitas of this designation by giving it a name and a statue of some sort. My suggestion would be the " CABI ". The sculpture should be a representation of " thumbs down ". The award ceremony should be broadcast. Since the worthy recipient probably wouldn't show up to receive it, Gail should choose the most clever nominating comment to be read at that auspicious moment.
Wonderful column! Sessions, Sanders, Spicer, and the list goes on. An interesting Trivia game would be to name the short term appointees who have long faded from memory. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_short-tenure_Donald_Trump_political_appointments To quote President Trump, "No one can do it better than me." Sad
1
Ross probably is the worst, followed by Mnuchin and Devos. However I really like Miller and Nielsen and support their policies wholeheartedly. They know how to dissuade illegals from approaching our border. They know that the key to keeping illegals out of our country is to make it so tough to even get near our border that they don't make the trip in the first place. And don't start crying that separating parents and children is wrong. We separate criminal parents from their children everyday in this country. And what is an illegal who broke into our country? A criminal.
@Jim Tagley I feel the same way about Floridians.....
@gary Keep it in mind while you pay your NJ state income tax. We don't have an income tax here in Florida. All the people from NJ cover our taxes with their vacation spending. Hotel tax, restaurant sales tax, rental car taxes.
I would have voted for Sean Hannity, secretary of public relations.
2
NYT didn’t follow the Obama administration much after the ACA passed. There was Benghazi, the gun sales to Mexican gangs, an arms agreement with the murderous terrorist Iran regime, the $150 billion snuck out of the country to support terrorist, treating ISIS like a JV team, lack of progress in North Korea, failing to stimulate the economy, giving up on manufacturing jobs, and don’t forget his inability to get congress to accomplish anything his last 7 years. He illegally gave billions to health insurance companies, and bragged he would avoid congress and misuse executive authority with his pen and phone. Comey, Clapper, and Brennan, all lied to congress. Days after taking office, Holder dropped charges against the New Black Panthers for voter intimidation. Then there is Lynch meeting WJC on a tarmac to discuss grandchildren. Everyone agrees the Clinton investigation was fair. Everyone got immunity, nobody got charged, interviews without oaths and transcripts seemed appropriate. Yes, the NYT’s reported on these issues, slipping in a negative article or two between hundreds of puff pieces, some of which the administration had review privileges. Trump and his cabinet are savaged daily, with 90% negative perspectives. This perspective is just another part of the plan to highlight negative perspectives while ignoring the most dynamic changes a president has ever been able to implement his first 2 years in office.
1
@Jayi
You know, those “but what abouts” don’t really work any more, not even in Ohio.
1
I can't wait for the film to come out post-trump. Just imagine the actors to play this den of thieves. !? Steve Buscemi as Miller, Baldwin as the trump, and assorted members of the "Black Pearl" from " pirates of" films.
Without a doubt the most reprehensible collection of do nothing (but harm), know nothing (but malevolence), anarchists ever assembled.
If President Obama decided to pick the worst people possible to staff his cabinet I don't think he would have been capable of coming up with a more horrendous bunch. Under what rock did Trump find these wretched creatures? Yes it is amazing and sad that so many Americans can name so many secretaries right now. I know more of their names than I do of players on my beloved Patriots, who by the way won the Super Bowl. I will say I do remember the FEMA guy from Bush II's administration. "Heck of a job Brownie."
1
After watching the movie, Operation Finale, I learned the best expression for all of Trump's cabinet. Little Eichmanns. All of them.
Gail's nod to Ross is spot on. But as mentioned the sad fact is that there are too many close seconds on this gang that can't even shoot. Readers should check youtube to see Kate McKinnon's characterization of Wilbur Ross. Incredible acting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sld27PfAF3M (at 2:27)
The depth of the sleaze is stupefying.
1
Was there a Department of Commerce in W's rein? If there were I bet the secretary must be - what's his name - oh, yes, Jebbbbb Bush.
Don’t forget. Wilbur Ross was a big shot at a bank in Cyprus that laundered fortunes for Russian oligarchs. What an extraordinary coincidence!
2
I am shocked, shocked that Mr. Ross won! An incompetent, senile billionaire's 'let them eat cake' mentality is no match for the actively and occasionally effectively malevolent cabinet members like Nielsen and DeVos.
Dan Kravitz
What angers me the most about the pictures that come out of these cabinet meetings (and just about any other meetings) is the sheer whiteness, oldness and maleness of the participants. Often they are the only ones there. Nothing makes my blood boil more. It’s 2019, for Patricia’s sake! Where are the women, African Americans, young people, Native Americans, the poor, or anyone else who isn’t white, rich, old, and male? Oh, wait. They’re all at Nancy Pelosi’s House, polishing their creds, eating old white men for breakfast, and kicking up a storm.
This column brings to mind a Lincoln quote in Ken Burn's outstanding film "The Civil War." Commenting on a corrupt Pennsylvania politician, Lincoln quipped, "The only thing he wouldn't steal is a red hot stove."
The rogues gallery Trump has assembled deserves equal skewering. Thank you, Ms. Collins, for your regular doses of sanity-saving humor. Mr. Lincoln would approve.
1
Now that you've tarred poor Wilbur as the Oldest and the Worst, who, dear readers, is the youngest of this motley crew??
Answer can be found here:
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/whos-in-trumps-cabinet-a-full-list-of-the-presidents-top-advisers
I did get a chuckle out this bit of info:
"Cabinet Published July 31 Last Update January 7"
Clearly a work in progress -- the web page and the cabinet.
The biggest, most-amazing, astounding, remarkable, going-down-in-history list in the history of the country.
Just think: If Donald Trump hadn't been president, we never would have experienced such an astonishing list of names and their associated crimes. Bigly.
“A Confederacy of Dunces”
A Cornucopia of Crooks
Are these people for real? Are they walking around some hall in a D.C. building, klonked on the head, and put on the Cabinet.
What per cent of our populace are of this ilk?
Astounding.
@Dry Socket
To date apparently 41% of our populace are of this ilk.
I weep for the republic.
3
I think you must be realistic. The supply of Fox news hosts and retired lieutenant colonels is almost unlimited.
(Why are blue suits back in style? Because they set off red power ties so well?)
"Even when George W. Bush was hanging out with Dick Cheney, did you know who was running the Department of Commerce?"
Yes, it was some guy from Houston whose name escapes me right now.
And all of 'em wealthy and totally disconnected from the average American. How in the world, given the American propensity to recoil in revulsion from such types, did we end up here? I guess mine is the common reaction? You know; the one expressed by post party revelers who wake up in an unknown bed next to a strange and repulsive partner, all the while wondering what in the world was done the night before? Best to remove ourselves from this situation as quickly as possible, and leave no phone numbers....
John~
American Net'Zen
1
I want Gail to write a new version “Dante’s Inferno”, in which, with H.L. Mencken as her guide, she encounters all of these people as she travels down through the circles.
This is not even funny anymore.
1
In the makeup department, Miller must have shared his dye with the VP who looked as though he had two caterpillars for eyebrows.
Rick Perry as the "Designated Survivor" is scary. How about Kiefer Sutherland ?
Nielsen is the worst of the horrendous. A cheap, knock-off Eva Braun, she relishes the Job. The evil witch in old fairy tales that lures Children to her house in the Woods, then eats them. The gleam in her eye, when she’s bowing to Trump. The icy, frozen face that could never manufacture a tear. Trumps very own Ice Queen. She is terrifying. Hide.
4
The rot starts at the top.
Heck, let them draw straws ( non-plastic) of course. It's difficult to find a positive note out of anyone in this cabinet. Not one has any experience for their position, not one.
1
I love this column- they’re all so bad haha hat its mind boggling. I agree Wilbur is total trash, Betsy seems close. Ben, if he’s awake might do some real damage. Our air, water and national parks are definitely in danger- and the nicest guy, Rick Perry, ( honestly, he seems nice..) is minding the Nukes, or maybe just the waste. Whoa. We live in interesting times....
1
Rick Perry, the designated survivor. Oh, the Humanity.
We are DOOMED.
1
I note that Chao is on the 'governing' board of Wells Fargo. Her spouse runs the GOP-ruled Senate which deals with laws regulating--or not--banks. No conflict of interest there, eh?
1
@Cody McCall
The entire administration with their deep ties to deep pocketed corporate interests governs by conflict of interest ... starting with this president.
Emoluments Clause, anyone?
My God, Gail, why did you put the link about Mr. Miller's hair in there? After witnessing that fuzzy spray on his pate, so expertly curved to roll back the years, I couldn't pay attention to the rest of the article!
Which in a way is perhaps why it is so effective: after all, your second place winner, despite her awful deeds is more of a gofer implementing Miller's machinations concerning immigration intolerance.
As for Trump being on the list, I beg to differ: he's more like an orange decanter placed atop the cabinet, filled with the distilled bile from folks like Miller, Hannity and the like, ready to pour its contents on his base in order to keep the bend going.
What a hangover our country is going to have!
How many of Obama’s cabinet members can I recall? Actually, quite a few, because of the important work they did. Start with John Kerry, who negotiated the Iran Accord and the Paris Climate Accord. How about Ash Carter, who made the armed services look more like the composition of the rest of America. And Sally Jewell, whose lifelong love of nature extended to her service at Interior. Ernest Muniz, a brilliant physicist whose expertise contributed to both the Iran and Paris accords. And, sadly, Sylvia Burwell, whose name I can’t forget because she was the defendant in all those frivolous anti-ACA suits Republicans brought. Yeah, I remember a lot of them, and it saddens me when I recall how they’ve been replaced by such malevolent, corrupt, unintelligent hacks.
924
@Ockham9. The most unforgettable member of Obama’s cabinet is HRC,
12
@Ockham9
You forgot the four (4), yes, four, Republicans that served in Obama’s cabinet. That, might be a tribute to him looking to be inclusive, but it didn’t work in the least. Looking back on it, Obama appears hopelessly naive, or interested in pushing his right of center agenda.
Obama, did have unprecedented success, in getting more Republicans elected then any President in history, (And, lost the Supreme Court to conservatives for generations.)
Can anyone imagine Trump installing a Democrat in his cabinet? Never!
1
I claim foul! (Well, that was an inadvertently accurate noun and adjective for this contest.)
It's not fair to have a contest with no specific judging criteria preceding the kick-off. For example, you can't crown a figure skating champion without defining the scoring system. You know, things like artistry and technical elements: salchows, spins, axels and flips.
And the elements must be weighted.
Stupidity: DeVos, Perry and Carson score well.
Mendacity: Tough call, as there are so many contenders and few can match the boss. But Sanders, Conway, Mnuchin, and Nielsen stand out.
Cupidity: A team requirement, so how to choose . . . It's like the cabinet members' uniform. But, surely Wilbur ranks high. Javanka scores well too. And Mnuchin is a contender. Again, few can rise to challenge the boss.
Cluelessness: Wilbur has few equals, although Perry and Carson are in the game.
So, it depends on what you value most.
But I genuinely feel for all of them. On most teams, the strivers hope to emulate the captain. If you look at each criterion objectively, Trump stands alone at the top. It is no wonder that they all have to try so hard. It's a very high bar.
447
@Barking Doggerel I think another category is outright corruption (personal gain from position) and that includes Ross, DeVoss, Mnuchin, and of course there are the lost and not forgotten, Pruitt, Zinke, oh my, the list is too long. Just list them all.
45
@Barking Doggerel: You state, "For example, you can't crown a figure skating champion without defining the scoring system."
Yes we *can*, because this is a *trump* contest. We have to adhere to *his* rules. But we have to keep trump away from the women skaters.
25
@Barking Doggerel
Irreparability: The uneducated can be educated - although minds can be irreparably harmed. The economy can turn around. However once our national heritage of parks, water, and air are gone they are gone. Zinke, Berhardt, Pruitt, and Wheeler all would trade away our land, air, water, or parks for a $1. They would poison the world and kill with mercury for profit.
36
A cabinet of the worst kind. They are not at all kind and not kind-of-worst; they are the bottom feeders ensuring that the top of the food chain predator corporations and uber-rich can pretend that the wealth that is there to be had comes from the middle class even as they shrink that part of the economic food chain.
The cabinet are in their own version of days of yore, riding to and fro, trumpeters announcing their exalted visits. With their ermine lined gold toilet seats and squeezing all the life blood out of the small businesses and deep-in-debt post college people who are daily buffaloed by the buffoon who rails against border crossers rather than the people the oath of office would have the president sworn to protect from enemies foreign "and domestic". Unlike the old cartoon character Pogo, we have met the enemy, and they are not us but the Trump tier of appointees and their policies.
163
@Ed Marth They are indeed the worst of the worst, but look, just look at ALL of them. Pockets full of money. Our system REWARDS their particular ways of doing business. THAT is the real problem. That sneaky, snarky, shady, environment raping business model that is America.
8
Great column, Gail. But, just “paying attention” is not nearly enough. We have to run Grifter & Friends out of the government. And so far it’s not clear to me who has the best shot at doing that. Thoughts?
2
We have Ross with his fatuous remarks. We have Nielsen, the enforcer of Trump’s terrible border policies. We have the inept and uncaring DeVos. What a team of rivals, for the worst cabinet member position! There were days of yore when giants walked in the White House. Those walls were the mute listeners when Edwin Stanton or William Seward practiced their powers of persuasion on Lincoln. What wouldn’t I give to hear some of those words! Then all the despondency, the heartache and the hopelessness would just melt away.
1
Aaah yes, how will we ever be able to forget this unique collection of inept and corrupt characters? And the most common characteristic of the bunch seems to be that they all have a deeply rooted aversion to the rules and regulations for which their departments are known. Only an evil and Machiavellian commander-in-chief a la Trump could have come up with such a cabinet to help him "govern." Or, run the country into the ground, that is.
256
@Rafael Gonzalez
It seems the choices were indeed deliberate:
http://fortune.com/2017/02/25/bannon-trump-cabinet-cpac/
"Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Thursday, White House chief strategist Steve Bannon said that President Trump’s cabinet picks are aimed at “deconstruction of the administrative state,” meaning weakening regulatory agencies and other bureaucratic entities."
"Trump’s FCC chairman and energy secretary have also been critics of the very agencies they’re now tasked with managing. Rick Perry, Trump’s pick for energy secretary, famously called to eliminate the department while running for President in 2011."
Bannon impishly declared himself a “Leninist,” saying that the Soviet leader “wanted to destroy the state, and that’s my goal too. I want to bring everything crashing down, and destroy all of today’s establishment.”
"It’s not a stretch to see Bannon’s comments reflected not only in Trump’s cabinet picks, but in his slow progress in filling hundreds of lower-level cabinet positions. Until they’re filled, those positions are staffed by temporary administrators with reduced power, leaving enforcement and other matters in limbo."
17
"At least we’re all paying attention."
We are? Trump maintains a 41% approval rating. All this would not be possible if it were not for the Trump core voter. They put the wind beneath his fire breathing dragon wings. Without them this cast of misfits would never be close to a cabinet position in any administration.
Trump's worst are Hillary Clinton's deplorables. Oh right we can't point this out. It would be so politically incorrect.
3
When a "former Obama administration official" is quoted in the news, I ask myself, "Who?" because I don't remember being alarmed at them. I think Janet Napolitano was DHS Secretary before Jeh Johnson, and Eric Holder was AG before Loretta Lynch.
But w/ this guy, I know all the cabinet members and where they made their money, what their jobs were BEFORE joining the administration, whether they ever served in a political capacity, and in the case of former, staff people and cabinet members, whether they were fired (NSA head Michael Flynn), forced out (AG Jeff Sessions) or resigned (Communications Director Hope Hicks).
We have all learned quite a bit of Constitutional law because so many people around Trump have been BREAKING it!
I didn't realize it was possible to laugh when staring into the barrel of a loaded gun.
1
I whole-heartedly agree with the reader who wrote that Trump’s cabinet is the first he could remember since they are ALL JUST So BAD! Sad....very sad indeed!
Just think how many more nominees for worst ever we could have if Trump had filled even half of the open positions in his administration; but, perhaps after watching how Trump has destroyed the reputations of these people, no one else is willing to jump into the dumpster fire to join him.
It was Wilbur Ross, with his banking connections, who was instrumental in bailing out Donald from his many casino bankruptcies back in the day. That makes him a master of commerce.
Carson and Perry were two of the reputed stooges recruited to oppose Donald on the debate stage during the primary. (Look at the toadies Graham, Huckabee & daughter, Santorum, Christie, to see some of the other "losers" on that debate stage.)
Roger Stone relates the story of how he won a high school election, by choosing an opponent who was the biggest loser in his class. Dirty tricks, dirty outcome.
The others (Mnuchen et al) were in the top tax brackets.
This "award" seems premature. It's only February. There's so much more evil to come... "If you're optimistic, you haven't been paying attention." - Paul Schrader
Good timing here, this came out right next to the article on NASA’s report on that Chinese hoax, global warming. I’m counting the days until I can vote these people out. Would love not to have politics on the brain every day again, ever.
The word 'kakistocracy' is Greek in origin and describes
a system of government run by the worst, least qualified, or most unscrupulous citizens. Sound familiar? And since all members of this Trumpian administration are equally the worst of all certifiable kakistocrats, it only seems fair that they share that title by rotating it from one to another on a monthly basis. Unfortunately, there will be enough winners to go around until 2020. No worries!
And these are the best people he know!
Private school profiteer for Education.
Department abolisher for Energy.
EPA opponent for EPA.
Oil driller for the Interior
Marie-Antoinette for Commerce
Foreign agent for NSA
Greenhorns in 30s as advisors
Senate majority leader by his, um, ears!
1
Rick Perry was the cabinet member chosen to not attend the SOU address and lead the country in the event of a catastrophe at the Capitol? (!!) . Who made *that* decision? Can we vote on THAT next time?
and the guy they want involved in the Venezuela mess is basically accused of war crimes.
It isn't a race to the bottom for DJT--he knows his first Cabinet picks were rock bottom so he kept on digging.
Kirstjen Nielsen is the worst. She should be vehemently opposing this worthless wall. Meanwhile, Democrats should offer Trump $57 (or even $570) billion for border security, but no wall, never a wall. The money could come from rescinding the tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations. No wall? Trump would never go for it. He would then be exposed for the true fraud that he is, not caring at all about his country, only about a "win" for himself. Nancy Pelosi played him perfectly, forcing Trump to own the shutdown, forcing him to eat into his own base. Democrats should thank Nielsen and Homeland Security for that.
The rest of these cabinet stooges also serve only to wound Trump. And that helps Democrats. Democrats: let Trump do the work to do himself in ... and he will. Just stand back and let him. And put up a strong candidate to oppose him next year. Don't give him any free advantages on that one.
Betsy DeVos has no experience working in a school environment, does not support public education, and advocates diverting money from public education into for-profit Christian-based schools. But she donated $9.5 million to Trump's campaign.
Ben Carson: "Illegal immigrants caught voting should be stripped of their citizenship." And "I'm looking very forward to demonstrating the fact that the thing that is most important is having a brain."
And Rick Perry running the country? We might as well stick with Kiefer Sutherland.
Democrats: how hard is this going to be?
157
@Blue Moon Sorry, I'd prefer Martin Sheen as Jed Bartlet over Kiefer Sutherland.
8
Keifer would be a HUGE improvement!
5
@Blue Moon. This could be harder than you think given gerrymandering and voter suppression and the tendency of the electorate to go for the person with entertainment value but not necessarily any brains. Dems will need someone who has received psychological advice in how to deal with a name-calling narcissist.
17
Like he said, we'd get tired of all the winning.
I want a recount, I'm sure Steve Mnuchin garnered more votes than you one line mention. Still, congratulations Wilbur, you make it look truly effortless, which of course in the main criteria for being in the Trump cabinet. And Ms. Devos, stick with what you're not doing.
I find it so hard to choose that I must declare THEY ARE ALL WINNERS! I am beginning to think that our leader chose them from their "perp photos".
I must admit that when our leader won the presidency I didn't expect much from him, but he has exceeded my wildest expectations.
Gail, I don't know how you can consistently overlook Rick "Oops" Perry. The irony of him being named to head the dept he advocated eliminating, than couldn't remember the name is just too much. Especially given the fact that he succeeded two renowned nuclear physicists, one of whom was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. I know Perry has been quiet and that counts for something, but I want to know who picked him as the "designated survivor" for the SOTU speech. Do they draw straws or flip coins? Paper, rock, scissors? Of course none of this is really funny.
181
@Mike
I didn’t know who was going to be the designated survivor but was scared there might be an attack and one of those fools might end up running the government without Democratic oversight.
7
@Mike: Everybody remembers "oops": nobody seems to remember that Perry had some relatively humane things to say about immigration (especially for a Republican) in the debates. Maybe that's why he has been so quiet lately. And I'm not coming to his defense because I'm from Texas: I wasn't born here; they had to pay me to get me to come. And I've voted against Rick on multiple occasions.
8
Rick Perry wasn’t so much the designated survivor as he was an insurance policy for everybody else.
Then again, he might be the perfect trump successor. This is the guy who said,
"I will tell you: It's three agencies of government, when I get there, that are gone: Commerce, Education and the -- what's the third one there? Let's see. ... OK. So Commerce, Education and the -- ... The third agency of government I would -- I would do away with the Education, the ... Commerce and -- let's see -- I can't. The third one, I can't. Sorry. Oops."
1
Keep up your great observations and commentary , Gail; thank you!
2
I've called or written my various Republican politicians on a variety of issues over the years. Invariably, they always do whatever will upset New York Times readers the most. My position on the issue really makes no difference.
I'm fairly well convinced driving NYT readers crazy is a guiding principle of all Republican strategy. Outrage as a barometer for success. If you're not angry, Republicans are doing something wrong. That's how they look at it. Sad but true.
1
I can’t choose, they are all denizens of the swamp that trump promised to clean up. Which we now know was an imaginary promise or fake news. Take your pick.
2
Let’s not forget Mitch McConnell and his wife Elaine Chao’s brother in law being nominated to run Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation despite lack of any pension experience.
3
It is not because I on't think that Wilbur Ross deserves to win. I certainly would not want to take that prize away from him.
But I am wondering Gail, can we have a shot at nominating the worst Senate Majority Leader? You know, the one who could care less about the public well-being or the Constitution?
After careful consideration of all the past and present Senate Majority Leaders I would have to nominate Mitch McConnell.
He is the first, I believe, to refuse to allow a Supreme Court Justice nominee to be brought into the Senate for consideration, all because McConnell could away with it, because he owned the Republican Senate. No sense of right, wrong or lawful.
McConnell was the first to be overheard, along with John Boehner and Paul Ryan, to swear that he would d all he could to make sure that Obama was a one term President. Because Obama was Black
McConnell refused to bring to the floor the Bi-partisan budget for a vote, because as he said "he did not want to waste the ...time as Trump was going to just veto it. He must have forgotten that the Senate can override the veto. McConnell all by himself could have avoided the Shutdown.
And of course there were the Kavanaugh fiasco. The list could go on and on.
But to be sure that we have the right criteria in place may I suggest the following: Most Petty; Most Venal; Most Cynical; Most Mean; Most Horrid; Most Hateful,
If that is not enough of a criteria you could also add: The Very Worst!
7
This seems an idle exercise. As malevolent or incompetent as the cabinet members may be, none of them can come close to reaching the moral depths plumbed by their boss.
In this case it appears that none of the acorns fall far from the Presidential tree. If it weren’t so destructive to our country, you could just chalk this cabinet up to being some sort of farce.
Seems Trump has learned from Putin. Surround yourself with oligarchs exclusively beholden to him.
2
What we have is what Frank Rich called the Trump cabinet crime syndicate. The self dealing and brazen corruption of our great leader and his pusillanimous posse is obvious and obscene. Not one of the current criminals, “acting “criminals, and trump’s mafiaesque family have been censured, much less fired. Much less indicted. Michael “the fixer” Cohen, the court jester Roger Stone, and marvelous mr. Manafort et al will be jailed and ruined by their perfidy. If the company you keep shows who you are then the trumpist
cadres show him to be the worst of the worst. Will any of the current crop of toadies and grifters be fired or convicted?
Wilbur! How much harm can someone do when asleep! Disappointed for Betsy, better luck next year if we are all still here. Talking of which maybe there should be a mandatory retirement age and Wilbur can spend his twilight years in a nice nursing home, with nurse Sarah, and espouse wisdom gained from a long life of wealth, not having to visit food banks, travel on the underground with all those poor people, whilst asking the manager, Mr Miller, for more cake.
But don't blame them; as if Donald Trump is going to surround himself for very long with more intelligent and not corrupt individuals; the visionaries, academics, scientists, the professionally competent, those with a high level of moral backbone and who know the value of truth and facts - of course not - who wants to be reminded daily of everything you are not.
2
I'm disappointed that Nielsen didn't win (she was my first choice). I'll stand with my choice. The words old, sleepy Wilbur Ross said were terrible. But Nielsen has separated children from their parents and some may be permanently lost, maybe thousands. Think of the trauma inflicted on such a massive scale. It hurts to even think about it.
I wish 2020 was here already so we could get rid of all of these evil, corrupt, terrible people.
And I hope none of them can ever again go out to a restaurant again. That's a silly thought, I know. But there has to be some consequence for their criminal behavior and that's probably going to be it.
2
Wilbur Ross has the unfair advantage of his charming appearance: He could fit in with Stadler and Waldorf of The Muppet Show fame completing it as a trio of three amigos without needing to be translated into foam and cloth. I'd love to hear him say, "That bear thinks he's funny."
1
No mention of Jared? Trump did put a lot of trust in young Jared. Or has he lost his touch and his sheen?
Trump's entire time in the White House could be a case study in what not to do when running anything be it a business or a country. He has not put the most competent people in charge. He has put people in who represent their own interests, who don't care about working for America as a whole, who have no concept of what public service is.
Trump doesn't have any idea of what good government is about. The only ones who did have left to save their sanity I'm sure. I can't think of a single thing that this administration has done that has benefitted American interests as a whole. Benefitting the rich yes, the rest of us no. And for heartless, right now Wilbur Ross takes the cake. 800K is not a small number of people when you take into account the businesses that they support.
Trump is not a good employer. He is careless, reckless, and selfish. He doesn't respect hard work, integrity, or honesty. He requires mindless adoration. In return he'll say a few meaningless things to keep the masses happy. He and the GOP are the biggest threat to America. Putin and the rest must be having a great laugh over American gullibility.
3
Democrats will have to do damage control again! Wasn't getting the country back on track after the Great Recession enough?!
3
What comes most to mind is the phrase "drain the swamp." Trump was two years too early in using that phrase.
2
I STILL say it's an ignominious umpteen-way tie.
(Including Trump, Pence, former cabinet members, Jared, Ivanka, Bannon, Sarah Huckabee . . .there's simply no way to distinguish among them. It's awfulness all the way down.)
149
@Glenn Ribotsky
Time Magazine, this is your next cover...
"Who wins the Worst?"
4
I'm not sure I feel better knowing that some of Trump's Cabinet Secretaries, charged with carrying out the Trump agenda, are failing because they are so inept and incompetent. It seems to me that this is taking relief on a foundation of sand. Its possible to destroy decades of progress without succeeding in any active ways, just by willful neglect, mindless incompetence, and the occasional policy blunder. Trump's habit of installing longtime critics of agencies roles and duties in charge of those very agencies (the "fox in charge of the henhouse" strategy of organizational structure) is green-lighting (perhaps 'gaslighting' would be a more accurate term?) a lot of industry agendas rolling back environmental, consumer, worker safety, food safety, banking stability, and many other "bothersome and costly regulations". Bothersome to whom? The people they are protecting? For a president who seems to see his primary function as 'insuring the safety of the American people', Trump sure is eager and willing to gut a whole lot of public protections, giving them up for higher profits extracted from those newly available cheats, frauds, pollutions, and deceptions that his agency heads have re-allowed. There is little comfort in knowing that Trump's Cabinet shares his own incompetence, after all, "even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while". And every time they do, it costs We the People plenty.
112
There are many reasons to nominate DeVos for the Worst title, but “her bungling of college campus sex policy” is not one of them.
The previous policy flouted basic American ideals of due process and fairness, creating Star Chamber proceedings that found men guilty upon accusation. Before the Obama-era rules, crimes against women were ignored and trivialized. The new rules swung the pendulum much too far, substituting one injustice for another.
We need to rely on the criminal justice system for serious crimes like rape and sexual assault. For lesser transgressions, we need administrative proceedings that are free from political agendas.
2
I'm thinking of rescinding my vote, this Alex Azar, secretary of HHS is starting to creep me out seriously! But I accept the results because I play fair.
3
I'm telling you, it's Back to the Future II.
Just wish we had that DeLorean time machine now, don't we folks?
3
Commendations to Ms Collins and all those who submitted “worse scoundrel” in Trump’s cabinet.
It is too easy to make light of Trump’s promise of draining the swamp. But such is Trump’s bombast that his followers may credit him with emptying the bog only to fail to see the cesspool which has replaced it.
The very people that this rogue’s gallery of self-serving civil servants hurt are those who turned to Trump to return the US to some “utopian” time. I doubt that even Ms Collins well targeted wit will pull the veil from their eyes.
However, should Ms Collins every decide to leave NYT, I believe she would be welcomed by the writers for Stephen Colbert.
I was so overwhelmed I had to name them all, and let the FBI sort them out.
I remember, or think I remember a 1950's horror flick, where a woman opens a cabinet at her great grandfather's old, place and......well, the shockwave from her scream is still reverberating around the planet.
3
You have to hand it to Trump, who else could assemble such a cast. The movie to be made, "When America Lost it's Soul," or "Pact with the Devil,"or "Grifters," should have a great time assembling the actors. President, hmm, that's a tough one, how about Alex Baldwin. Wilbur Ross, maybe Jason Alexander or Larry David.
3
I demand a recount, I'm certain that Steve Mnuchin got more votes than your one line mention. But congratulations to Wilbur, he does make it look effortless and thoughtless, which are the prime criteria for being a member of the cabinet club.
2
I love reading Gail Collins’s columns. I am as appalled as many about the incredibly low quality of the Trump cabinet, but I don’t want to lose my sense of humor either.
4
The freedom to write in a free press, even during these challenging times, is not to be taken for granted. The freedom to be rewarded for published sarcasm by a regular salary and have a following as a journalist is not to be taken for granted.
The choice to continue, almost daily, to focus on Trump, his harmful words and done-deeds merits challenging. "Meet Trump's Worst!" is seductively misleading. No more facts/alt- facts are needed. The time is long overdue to explore and note "OUR worst!" Each of our own contributions to enabling what is happening, which should not be. Each of our own contributions to what IS NOT happening, which is critically needed, for planning, achieving and sustaining equitable types, levels and qualities of wellbeing for ALL. How does one choose about our own"Worst!..." between toxic complacency and violating complicity? Who will be the "fair" judges? Sarcasm? As a divided nation, united in its name only, with a diverse population enables and even fosters daily WE-THEYness. Garbed in a history, legacy and traditions which can and do violate at the same time that continua of GOOD exists. Side by Side. Of what help is planned and transmitted sarcasm now? When candidates for our WORST can include infectious willful blindness? Deafness? Ignorance? Silence?Willful paralysis?
@S.Einstein
Being sarcastic about the negatives of Trump's cabinet is not causing the problem, but is a reflection of a very serious problem.
We all wish that things were not so dire with our government, but satire helps reduce the sting.
S. Einstein,
The world knows many phrases that discuss laughing and crying, What you see here are Americans struggling with their nation being threatened by dangerous and unpatriotic forces. Here's my phrase: Robert Frost, "Ie we couldn't laugh we would all go insane." Can you share one?
1
Thank you for sharing, Jon. It's more than threats. IT IS real harm. Temporary and more permanent.To Somas. Psyches. Souls and Spirits. Children "kidnapped" from their parents. Children starving to death in Yemen. Words, in whatever tone voiced, graphic design, etc. may not be enough, whatever their meanings. Complacencies and complicities are more than words. James Baldwin reminded all of US: "I can't believe what you say, because I see what you do." Tolstoy: "Everyone wants to change the world, no one wants to change himself". My concern, Jon, is how words all too often become self-satiating and needed doing doesn't even begin.
I’m looking forward to returning to not being able to reel off all the cabinet members’ names at the drop of a hat.
4
Words cannot describe how bad things really are.
The only words I can come up with, concern the fact that we must not allow ALL Trump's enablers to continue to get away with destroying everything GOOD.
"We the people" have helped build much GOOD around the world.
Boring words for sure ---- but just for starters --- "GOOD people" would not support a "so-called" president who seeks the votes of white supremacists to stay in power.
That's just a boring start . . .
6
You might wonder why a Brit has the temerity to comment on American politicians given the current state of affairs here. But we have something in common. We currently have the very worst government that the right wing could foist upon us. A ship of fools determined to destroy the economy and social cohesion to keep the Conservative Party together and in power as we look into the abyss of a no deal departure from the EU.
It strikes me that it is not so different to what you are experiencing. But to describe this group as Trump's cabinet is surely a bit of a stretch. Is this not what the Republican's have foisted on the nation? After all it's hard to imagine that Trump would have much interest in the selection process. Is he not just the man with the pen to enact the GOP's agenda?
The right has presented its best and it's a pretty rotten bunch.
Perhaps there's a glimmer of hope on both sides of the ocean as it appears the hubris and incompetence is catching up with them. But is it too late for us? We will find out in the next few weeks. You it seems, after the mid terms, may already be on the road to redemption.
4
It seems that corruption is one element that makes people sit up and pay attention. I voted for the first time against Richard "I am not a crook" Nixon (Thank you 26th Amendment), I remember watching the Watergate hearing and learning the names of all the players.
I thought, okay, this has all been brought out in the open, government officials went to jail, resigned and reforms were put in place to prevent this level of corruption from happening again. However there was a ton of apathy, and many of my generation did not seem to care all that much. (shame on you, fellow boomers!).
Well here we are 45 years later and it is happening again. It seems like folks are more concerned and willing to do something about it. The midterms were a step in the right direction. More young people, particularly women are getting involved. We need to continue to do the work of standing up to an administration so blatantly corrupt and uncaring of the people.
Now how about an award to the best liar. Conway, Miller, Sanders, 45 .....?
4
Surely the Champion of the Race to the Bottom is the guy who appointed all the others -- i mean: who's in charge here?
3
It is so hard to pick the worst of this bunch of unworthies.
You may have to do like the Oscars: create separate categories and even different award dates. Also develop a catchy name, like The Worsties.
You could award a Worsty for Corruption, for Incompetence, for Lying, for Mean-Spiritedness.
Of course, you could also have a Liftetime Achievement Award - which would have to go to Trump, of course.
3
It is true. The President and his cabinet are so abysmally bad, corrupt, uncaring, and/or immoral that I know the names of all these characters as well as ranking Republicans and Democrats. When our democracy is in mortal danger, we each find ourselves being more vigilant and involved than ever before. But oh, for the calm and dignified days of the Obama Administration.
172
@MKathryn
Believe it or not I live in Canada and I know all these names too. I’m a political junkie but I have been neglecting Canadian news as I am riveted to yours. I think Wilbur was a worthy winner but it could have been either of them.
13
@MKathryn
The Founding Fathers killed " our democracy" when they created a divided limited different power constitutional republic of united states with women, enslaved blacks, free brown Natives and white men who did not own property who were not divinely naturally created equal persons with certain unalienable rights.
Thus no Presidents Al Gore and Hillary Clinton. Thus every state has two Senators. Thus we do not vote for judges. Thus the size of the House and Electoral College are capped to the disadvantage of more populous States.
9
@MKathryn
And someone amongst this pathetic crew is a "leaker"...
Who's betting it's CON-way?
3
I don't understand why government workers need to take out loans. Why don't they just sell some of their stock!
7
Or just borrow $25,000 from their parents.
Obviously everyone's parents would have 25K they don't need.
2
Try to focus on something meaningful.. the financial impact of the short shut down on many is indicative of a workforce
that needs to examine their personal fiscal situation.. one
of two states exist: either those so dangerously affected are
living in a compressed state beyond means or: the government
is a lousy employer
Betsy DeVos was a very strong contender. Unfortunately she had that bicycle accident that laid her up for a long time so that there were weeks when the Department of Education ran smoothly. She's back in the saddle now and working manfully to win the next contest!
7
There has to be an atoll, an island, a galaxy far, far away where this entire ensemble can be sent, so they can enjoy each other’s company ( maybe Sartre’s No Exit) and spare the rest of us the fallout from this reign of dangerous inanity. Sarah Sanders wasn’t included, but maybe she could be den mother .
The ultimate question is how long will it take to clean up the mess, nationally and internationally.
6
It is very unfair: you are asking readers to choose between the plague and the cholera.
10
The worst is still a matter of reference, kind of like "What did you do for (to?) me lately". The group (half of whom are just "acting", have set a new bar as to the lowest possible denominator. Kaptain Kaos has actually been consistent in one area... picking the absolutely worst person in the world for each cabinet position. And, when he has to replace them, he finds someone even worse. You would think the odds would favor at least one decent pick, but K.K. has defied the odds. He is the New England Patriots of bad picks.
1
Here it is: the crowning of a race to the bottom. The only surprise from this 'competition' is that it is so far from farcical, which, in a sane world, it would be.
Frankly, we would be well served by having anodyne career politicians in the White House. Best of all would be again enjoying "No Drama Obama!"
Perhaps we need a Collins Contest II. Readers should be surveyed to see which Cabinet member has accomplished the most. That should have the entire readership stymied for weeks (if not months).
4
Although a humorous and lighthearted look at a time when we sorely need it, the inimical cabinet members that surround the POTUS should come as no surprise.
The plan to "deconstruct" the government that was touted in 2016 as Trump/Bannon's major agenda has been realized in every administrative department that the Executive Branch oversees.
The levels of corruption and self-aggrandizement of these scoundrels are made clearer every day. The turnover rate of its membership in two years through firing and various resignations has been unprecedented. It almost seems as though the faster they leave, the more incompetent and corrupt their replacements become.
SNL could surely do an entire program based on the ridiculous shenanigans that these cabinet members (current and former) have indulged in. And perhaps Ms. Collins could be their guest host for the show.
107
Why subject Gail to hosting that show. Why not Mike Pence, a true Trump man who is as ignorant as they come. GREAT article Gail, I love Your hard hitting humor, but You know unfortunately it is ALL true and very sad indeed for the Country that once was respected around the world. No more! Please vote in 2020 and never again any Republican anywhere, anytime in the foreseeable future. Please ! And may God help our poor Country taken over by the worst President, Cabinet, Republicans in Congress and Judges in the history of the United Sates of America.
8
@james bunty
I suggest John Oliver recreating a trump cabinet meeting with dogs (much like his Supreme Court parody). A sleeping pub for Wilbur, a clueless Boston Terrier for Rick Perry, ... I think you get the idea.
2
For channeling her religious/business fervor into delivering sub-standard education to America’s schoolchildren, in order to enrich her family’s for-profit-education enterprises, Betsy DeVos will be responsible for long lasting damage to impressionable minds, for decades to come.
For creating and facilitating the conditions for extreme psychological and physical trauma, particularly of small children, on our southern borders, at the behest of her boss, Kirsten Nielsen will also be able to take credit for doing long lasting psychic damage for decades to come.
By continuing the “sterling” work of his predecessor at the EPA, Scott Pruitt, Andrew Wheeler is applying a lobbyist’s zeal to the task of lowering pollution standards for our air, land and water which will do incalculable long lasting damage on our environment for decades to come, but reap rich short term rewards fo the Kochs and their ilk.
My point here is to recognize the long lasting nature of the damage these three cabinet members can wreak on hearts, minds and bodies which is so out of proportion to their individual significance. They are malevolence personified.
221
Great column - though it may cost me another because of Trump sleepless night.
Since you mentioned it - Carlos Gutierrez was Secretary of Commerce in the George W Bush administration.
1
Being Canadian I was only peripherally knowledgeable about US politics until Trump descended the escalator then everything changed. I am sure many Americans also began to take much more interest at the same time. The incompetent Trump administration and the gutlessness of the GOP have become a daily reminder of how badly things can go off the rails. The inability of a majority of Americans to efficiently remove from office a man who poses an existential threat to your democracy is unfathomable. What is it going to take?
17
Gee, and I didn't even get a mention for Jeff Sessions, who, despite recusing himself (his sole ethical act) was ultimately the architect of this artificial mess at the border, introduced Trump to that evil monster Stephen Miller, and was easily the most effective Trump appointee at carrying out Trump's evil agenda.
He probably did more damage than all the other cabinet secretaries combined.
10
wait!
I missed the vote?
Now, that's upsetting, but I think I'm kind of relieved too.
It would keep me up all night trying to come up with the worst ... so many choices!
So I guess Thank You is in order? You Ms. Collins, have saved me from sleepless nights.
2
In a few after we kick him out of office Trump will be thinking about a Presidential Library. In stead of books, he could not think of a single one, Trump should create a rogues gallery of memorable Trump cronies, family and cabinet members based on Gail Collin's excellent picks. Some of them would need mug shots with numbers under them, but hey.
4
Paying attention indeed. The following stereotype about falling asleep in meetings will be dutifully reported to the Gray Panthers: "Hey, the man is 81. Give him a break." Of course you could lower the threshold to 71, divert attention, and be unnoticed except at the White House during Executive Time.
It seems wrong not to mention Secretary of Energy Perry. He’s been quiet not making any waves and no interviews. Can he be voted most liked or Mr Congeniality among the cabinet members?
45
@Michael Piscopiello - Perry is doing his required
damages as the STEALTH Secretary of Energy.
6
@Michael Piscopiello
After Trump, Perry is by far the stupidest.
The others are just evil.
8
@Michael Piscopiello Oops!
1
Gail,
Although the topic of Trump's worst Cabinet Member is important and meritorious of our time and surely deserves a public vote, there is another matter on the horizon that I believe needs your thoughtful input.
As you know, sooner or later, and with our help, Donald J. Trump will join the exclusive club of "past Presidents". And as you also know, all past Presidents have a "Presidential Library". When I think about this and the implications of the word "Library", I foresee some serious problems that require not only your attention but also the suggestions and thoughtful insight of your dedicated readers.
In reality, even to the casual observer, the mere inclusion of the name "Donald J. Trump" and the word "library" in the same sentence is a dubious relationship that creates quite a serious linguistic challenge. And, in deference to the word "oxy" I don't want to use the word "oxymoron" to describe it.
Gail, only you have the seriousness of intellect and journalistic integrity to explore the numerous conundrums that bubble to the surface when we start to think of "The Donald J. Trump Presidential Library" and all its implications.
Please give this topic some thought. It needs and deserves your attention.
21
@JPM
You are absolutely correct. Trump and library, hmm, an interesting observation. perhaps, may I suggest to built in Moscow.
4
Obviously, the only book in the "Library" will be "Whose Boat is This Boat" since it spent weeks on the Bestseller Lists.
1
@JPM
My vote for the location of the Trump presidential library would be New York City. Besides being the home base of the Trump "empire" it has a built-in multitude of adoring people that would make it especially attractive. I'm kidding. Rambling on, it would be very inexpensive, housing only one book which would be all about him. No one would visit the museum or read the book. If at all, It would only exist for a few months and close following his impending forced abdication. The building, named the Trump University Tower could be converted into a homeless shelter for recovering Trump addicts.
1
What to do, what to do with Stephen Miller and Jared Kushner? As a member of the tribe, I vote for herem or excommunication. If it was good enough to do to Spinoza, they might by all rights just qualify. I need 9 more willing tribal members to form a minyan, including the rebbe. Any volunteers?
Rock on Gail!
15
"At least we’re all paying attention." Eyes glued on an horrific disaster scene. But we are the injured.
Trump, his cabinet and Republicans in Congress run around picking pockets of unconscious victims, kicking mangled limbs of the injured, splashing vinegar on open wounds and laughing at the howls of anguish.
Hey, we don't just have the worst president in US history, we have the worst ever cabinet members and the worst ever of the rotted Republican Party. No previous period in American history ever saw such a triangulation of the worst...Trump truly does have a magnetic personality, repelling the best, attracting the worst.
And yes, we are paying attention. That is one of the few good things to emerge from the horrific Trump disaster. Complacency in the past when too many took our democracy for granted is no longer an option.
Another good thing this horrific disaster has produced: activism. The wounded are on the rise. And they aren't going to take it anymore. If Mueller doesn't end the nightmare, if the House Democrats can't end the nightmare, The People will.
Gail, next time you have a contest to name the worst, consider expanding the field to America's worst...ever. Let us choose from the past to the present, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from serial killers to occupants of the White House. Benedict Arnold, Jeffrey Dahmer, Herbert Hoover, Mitch McConnell will be in the running. But, I'm confident Trump, Conway, Sanders and Nielsen will top the list.
10
For those who bemoan Betsy DeVos, lets recall that the "good" billionaire, Michael Bloomberg, during his illegal third term chose Cathie Black to be his Schools Chancellor. Ms. Black's only recommendation was that she attended the same cocktail parties as Bloomberg and probably pretended to laugh at his invariably lame jokes. Fortunately, amid the outcry, she had the good graces to resign.
Bloomberg suffers from the same disease as Trump, unswerving faith in his own rightness, having been walled-off from reality by his bubble of billions. Even now, he is financing a costly effort towards 2020, with nobody on his gravy train willing to tell him he's already an also ran.
4
@stan continople Who cares about Bloomberg, he's not the president. Surprised you didn't bring up Hillary, all Trumpites seem to do so when their heros are maligned.
2
Yes and don't forget the Carl's Jr. Nominee for labor (I think labor...hard to keep this merry band of billionaire misfits straight). He used to make his minimum wage employees get off the clock when the store traffic slowed down.
But thank Putin and the Republican senators he owns. They approved Trump's swamp creatures.
8
I like the premise...picking out the worst. Perhaps next year we could alleviate some of the pressure of picking just one by choosing three who are most like the Three Stooges, the Marx Brothers or Kukla, Fran and Ollie.
5
None of this will change until a majority of Americans believe that government can be, and SHOULD be, a positive influence in their lives. The Grover Norquist "shrink the government to obsolescence" theory should be debunked and rejected, because it inevitably leads to ineffective, corrupt, and lazy politics. Give me FDR. Social Security. Medicare. The GI Bill. Land Grant Universities. Interstate Highways. Flood Control. Pell Grants. And you can toss nihilism into the ash bin of history.
8
Thank you, Gail Collins - no arguing with this year's rankings. And I'm glad Stephen Miller got an honorable mention, cabinet member or not. By the way, word on the street is that SM's hair stuff is, of all things, truck bed liner. As you probably know, it's impervious to absolutely everything, including decency and empathy.
6
People in Trump's cabinet reflect their leader. Our supreme leader only led his business through a half dozen bankruptcies. That is a race to the bottom not once but a "mere" six times. Beat that !
5
I don't usually like to interrupt a party such as the one Ms. Collins has created, but I must. The press created the monster in the White House and now, like a cat with a ball of yarn, the press gets to play with their creation. We had endless stories about the man whose election I dreaded, and now we have endless stories about the man I hope is not reelected. I get the strong impression that some pundits will truly miss having Trump to kick around. Otherwise, what is the purpose of this exercise other than pandering to an already convinced base?
3
Let's have all of the Saturday Night Live players take over these positions. No doubt they would do a much better job. Only problem is that Kate McKinnon plays so many of these unsavory characters, she would have her hands full.
7
History will show that for the first time, America has a full-fledged kakistocracy ("government by the worst people"). How proud the Founders must be.
Kudos to Wilbur Ross for emerging victorious in an unprecedentedly incompetent field, and a round of Pelosi-style applause also must go to the people most responsible for it all: the Trump base and everyone who didn't vote in 2016.
26
Trump said he’d hire "top, top people" and would fill his administration "with only the best and most serious people."
Serious people, serious trouble.
8
Did I know who was running the Department of Commerce? I didn't know we had a Department of Commerce.
3
Things have gotten so bad they're funny.
I miss the dog on the car.
9
I agree with the man who marvels that he can now name more than two cabinet members from memory. I now know more about the government now than I have ever before (and I lived through Watergate). I think it must like the same rapt attention I would give to an advancing avalanche heading towards me just before it sweep me and all I hold dear into oblivion
5
President Rick Perry once sounded like a joke or a nightmare.
Now it doesn’t sound like such a bad idea, considering whom he would be succeeding.
4
In a race to the deepest depths of the bottom of the barrel the wise racer lets the other racers win.
4
Isn't it wonderful knowing that we are governed by the best and the brightest.
3
I’m trying to remember when the call for votes went out, but how about Whittaker? Acting AG who ran a fraudulent company?
7
@Jon Did he ever have confirmation hearings? If not, he's not even legitimately Acting AG. You can only take that position without a confirmation hearing if you were already the second in command, which he wasn't. Rosenstein was, sitting as Acting .
Next time, might I suggest that we need multiple award categories: Most Mendacious, Most Clueless, Most Absent, and Most Dangerously Effective. One award can’t capture the full range of, um, qualities of this gang.
40
Hi Gail,
How did you count the votes? Did you include the recommends in the vote counts? The results here seem out of alignment with all the comments I read in your column to vote for the worst. I remember seeing Nielsen mention much more than Ross.
I just opened all the comments and did a simple search and come up with about 288 mentions for Ross in various combinations of his names. Nielsen 262 times (+12 from Nielson). DeVos 179. Miller 113. Pompeo 85 and Mnunchin 92. Carson 53. Perry 89. And Wheeler for 185. Not bad for someone for who "there were virtually no votes for." (yes, my choice, but then again many others wrote to say that without an environment to live in that is being/will be irreparably harmed the rest won't matter very much).
Yes, this was a simple search that counted multiple mentions of the names and commiserating, but it was the same "rules" for all.
5
My pick won! And as Gail says, it was because of the "Why don't they just get a loan" thing.
If you're wondering where Ben Carson is, he's out
shopping for furniture.
28
Interior nominee David Bernhardt deserves a retroactive award for Worst Cabinet Member, since he was apparently calling the shots behind the scenes while Ryan Zinke was "running" the Department of Interior. The same could be said of fossil fuel executives when Scott Pruitt was director of EPA--and now under Andrew Wheeler.
If there were an Oscars-like awards ceremony for this crew, each winner could insist that the people truly responsible for his or her "success" join in the celebration on-stage. "Come on up here, destroyers of the environment. You know I couldn't have done it without you!" "Hey, religious educators, it's you who should be getting this trophy. I'm merely the vessel for your agenda!"
25
Worth noting, too, that all of these toadies are in their position not just to dismantle the government agencies under their purview, but also to express complete and total fealty to the Donald at those embarrassing Cabinet meetings.
That said, can we have a recount, so I can nominate Pastor Mike Pence who yesterday told CBS News that he was so proud of Trump because he stood for what he believes even though 800,000 people were thrown out of work for no reason whatsoever beyond a childlike tantrum. "All Americans, even those who sacrificed, should admire the President for taking a principled, honorable stance for national security," said our sage VP.
49
@Paul Bernish You mean Mike Pence believes in lying, bankruptcies and double speak? Shocking, who would have thought it. Well the apple does not fall from the tree and that goes for the rest of Trump's cabinet as well.
2
I know this appears to be counterintuitive, but, as I read through this list I was feeling better and better about this administration---the depth and breadth of incompetence pretty much assures the American people that whatever policies Trump comes up their implementation will be bungled in someway----
18
@Amanda Jones I get your need for reassurance, but do you really want Pompeo to bungle things?
Let's not forget that Wilbur Ross's initial assignment was to weaponize the U.S. Census to try to exclude non-citizens, or anyone suspected of being an immigrant.
This was not what was written in the Constitution, but it an urgent goal of Republicans, who want to limit the number of people who are counted as living in our country, so that urban areas and those with immigrant populations have less representation in Congress and less Federal assistance.
The matter is being adjudicated in the courts and the Administration wants it speeded up to the Supremes to get it decided by May.
Ross lied to Congress about when and how the question of citizenship was first discussed, and by whom. He really won the first "lying to Congress" medal and thus has an extra reason for being the number one worst Cabinet creature.
33
"Dead last. That’s where a group of presidential scholars placed Donald Trump in the pantheon of American presidents."
That was from a February 2018 article in the Washington Post titled: "The 10 worst presidents: Besides Trump, whom do scholars scorn the most?"
So, you can't expect the worst president to choose the best when making cabinet appointments. It is a miracle that more of them have been indicted.
24
@RK
Stay tuned.
Is Wilbur Ross some kind of savant that will utter intelligent, insightful, and astute sentences whenever an issue of commerce comes up? He must have some redeeming value. Of course, to give him the benefit of the doubt, the statements he does make that confound even the least intelligent of us are those which get the media attention. I do not recall that he is memorable for taking financial advantage of his position like several of his compatriots and that has to count for something. So, in the final analysis, we may not have enough data about him to make a considered decision on his inappropriateness for office. It may be because of the naps.
9
@Janet In this administration, Ross's redeeming value is that he's a rich old white guy.
1
One thing is certain. When this administration ends, whether in 2020 or 2024, the people you cited today Ross, Davos etc. will disappear completely from the political arena. No one running for president after 2024 (Repubican, Democrat or Independent) would dare nominate anyone to a cabinet position who
exhibits the qualities of the Keystone Cops.
Only the current president could align himself with such mass incompetence. it is so sad for the American people it is laughable which is why Gail Collins is so important in maintaining what little sense of humor we have left.
41
Wow! This is like being able to rattle off the roster of the Mets when the players are all unknowns and the team is in last place and when the team has a great season, you have no idea who plays first or left field. Wilbur Ross, as general manager of the last place team, would suggest to the public complaining of high concession prices "Why don't they just bring in their own lunch, drinks, and snacks when the come to the ballpark?" You know Wilbur Ross, the guy who has no idea outside food is not allowed. As he heads back in to the catered box where he sits for every game. And Trump supporters are all giddy thinking "Finally. An administration who thinks like me." Let me help straighten them out. Who is on first, what is on second, and I don't know is on third.
39
Gail's piece is right on factual. This would be a hilariously humorous "Saturday Night Live" skit if it were not so tragic. We must all pay attention to this nightmare even though it is exhausting us. "Eternal Vigilance" is the price of democracy.
68
Every cabinet member was selected for their willingness to destroy, neglect and dismantle the agency they lead. Wilbur Ross, our Commerce Secretary has no problem commenting out loud about the revenue opportunity he sees for banks to give high interest loans to federal workers who were forced to work without pay by republican senate unwilling to vote for a budget to fund our government and against the wall
84
Ms. Collins gives us an entertaining tour of the inept members of Trump’s Cabinet. They mirror the limitations of their boss. But we should not depend on such a collection of lost toys.
Trump's mistake was populating his Cabinet with such ne’er do wells. If he and his Administration actually had skills in policy, management, and leadership, our country would be in worse shape than it is. Yes, worse is still an option.
He’s learning how to be a political leader. His party lost seats in the House, and he committed an unforced error in his shutdown stunt. While we may take satisfaction in his setbacks, making mistakes is how most of us learn. While Trump is a slow learner, he is beginning to understand, however dimly, that some things don’t work. His SOTU speech was bad, but not as bad as last year and way better than his inaugural. He’s learning presidential messaging—not well but better.
Trump could still be re-elected. If he can figure out that he needs Cabinet members with relevant knowledge and skills, then they will dismantle the regulations that keep our environment safe, our healthcare effective, and our schools truly public. Many of his executive actions don’t take effect until a future date, like actual withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord that has to wait until after the 2020 election.
A re-elected Trump with four years of on-the-job training, may stumble upon the effective levers of power. Then worse is no longer optional.
40
Each cabinet member was chosen to be terrible, to harm their agency, to push out effective workers and leaders. This was the plan - the question we need to ask is who benefits from a weak federal government? The answer is rogue nations and billionaires.
45
@David Potenziani
We must also remember who actually is pulling the levers. The GOP and they will be there long after Trump has been defeated or tun out of office.
@David Potenziani Re Trump's speech--- even he can read a teleprompter. Arduous though it may be. We had better all wake up ("get woke") ....the alternative is the end of the American experiment in democracy.
2
I suddenly realized who Wilbur Ross reminded me of - it’s the man in Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” painting. Although in this iconic work of art the scream is said to symbolize “the anxiety of modern man,” I think in the case of Wilbur Ross it would be caused by finding out that the U.S. was going back to the Eisenhower taxation rates of 90% for the highest earners.
45
@Susan
One hopes the scream might be because the media has finally shone the light on him.
In March, he will testify before the House. At that time we will find out to what extent the Commerce Department has tilted to benefit the Russians.
23
@Susan I also thought Wilbur Ross bears a remarkable resemblance to the Grinch and his mission to take away the joy from the citizens of Whovile.
2
@Susan
Look at the photo again...he's a dead ringer for the Arquillian alien inside the head of the body in the morgue in Men In Black. Perhaps he can get royalties(?).
Very insightful article and how this cabinet has made this country not great again but is pushing it back 30-40 years with the rollbacks on the environment, education, commerce, energy and the list goes on and on. When 45 was running his catch phrase was draining the swamp, I'm sorry but you have added to the swamp and then some. It will take years to undo the damage that his cronies and him are doing to this country and our relationships with allies. Hopefully the present house of representatives will start the undoing.
49
@Jenifer: It took me a long time to figure out that what Trump and his minions mean about 'draining the swamp' had to do with getting rid of any and all regulations that helped the people but harmed the bottom line of business. It wasn't about getting rid of people making money via corruption (which is happening now). It was all about de-regulation. That's the 'swamp' they mean.
24
@sophia Please stop saying "draining the swamp" Swamps are diverse natural wetlands that historically have suffered under these sorts of people.
How about "draining the cesspool" or "pumpimg the ceptic tank"?
Does anyone else wonder why we readers know the names, faces and stories of all these swamp creatures? I’ve been politically aware (and sometimes active) since Kennedy but this is the first time I (we, I expect) have this level of awareness of cabinet members, advisors and spokespersons. All this time, energy and passion (theirs and ours) is a major distraction in our lives and in the ability of the Administration to effective lead agencies, policies and ... the rest of us. After the treatment of immigrants (legal and otherwise) and government workers (including contractors) I resent this the most.
53
There's the good bad news. Finally a few Americans can name a Cabinet member, many can name more than one.
This is an achievement in a country in which only slightly more than a third of us can name our Representative. I bet the number is a lot lower, if you want people to name the people who represent them in the state assemblies.
Yes, once you get to the point in which the defining aspect of a Cabinet member is that you're not sure if his or her incompetence makes them more unworthy, or their corruption does - that is a new low water mark.
And just think! In this day and age, a lot of people can name at least a few of the Supreme Court Justices, too!
30
With each change or new addition to the Trump Cabinet, I can't help but think 'Look who's the latest fox being given the key to the hen house'.
42
I'd like to point out that Andrew Wheeler, acting administrator of the EPA, is working to make the MATS (mercury and air toxics) regulation a dead letter, and also refuses to set standards for PFAS and PFOAS in water.
He's a bland fellow that doesn't draw the attention the rest of these bozozs do, but he's doing a lot more harm. Elimination of MATS is estimated to cause 500 to 2,000 excess deaths each year, and increases in neurological disease and also asthma and COPD. Impacts of PFOAS and PFAS in drinking water are sufficiently scary that even some Republicans are pushing back.
There's nobody else outside the defense department who is killing so many people, by intent, as Andrew Wheeler.
154
@Lee Harrison
one can only hope the water in the bottles at the meeting is from Dimock, PA where the EPA said the water presents no health hazard.
4
Rachel Carson must be spinning in her grave at 5000 RPMs by now.
1
@Lee Harrison In olden times, subjects poisoned kings. In 2019, the government and its corporations poison subjects, welcoming that their own children consume every poison. If we have laws against child abuse, the government refuses to enforce them or vacates them. Let America Poison Again.
4
Gail, you are right that we are all paying attention and it is a daunting task.We not only keep track of the cabinet, known as the swamp, but we also have to keep track of former Trump campaign officials who are sentenced or have plead guilty and to make it even more challenging there are Russian oligarchs who seem ubiquitous.So many names, so much scandal-there is no joy in this name the worst exercise.We want our government back!
32
Trump chooses characters with philosophies diametrically opposed to the cabinet positions they occupy, in the interests of deconstructing our system of government (and, of course, destroying Obama’s legacy). And he obviously doesn’t want anyone who might try to invoke the 25th Amendment (let’s not forget about that!)
If they were not currently indisposed (for one reason or another), it would be unsurprising if Trump picked Vladimir Putin/Kim Jong-un (it’s a toss-up, really) for Secretary of State, Bernie Madoff for Secretary of the Treasury, and Vladimir Putin/Kim Jong-un (still a toss-up) for Secretary of Defense.
Obviously, Trump was unable to get his first-pick draft choices. Feel free to fill in the rest for yourself. Remember: they must be worse than Trump’s selections, and they must be readily available. Good luck with that.
42
Yes, and he only fills the positions that benefit him and his friends. The rest go unfilled because they are of no use to him. He is also nominating someone for head of the World Bank who has been known to diss it. I suppose we should at least be glad he didn’t put Ivanka in charge of it.
23
@Blue Moon Don't forget El Chapo for the DEA
C'mon now, Gail, you know how the system works...
If you can't fight city hall the trick is to cripple, starve and mismanage city hall to the point where it's no longer a threat. Pass all the legislation in the world, but if an agency hasn't the resources to enforce that law what's the point?
No budget, no leadership, no problem.
I'd like to call the following exhibit for your consideration: SCOTT PRUITT . A man who understood that every dollar spent on office decor and travel expense was one less dollar for field enforcement. And he could spend the taxpayer's money like a teenager with their first credit card...
66
Lets get real the number one skill required to be a member of Trumps cabinet is to worship at the feet of Trump. Competence or any expertise is actually a detriment to joining his club. Can’t see this ending well for any of us.
91
I’d like to propose that this contest be run quarterly for four reasons.
First, based on their performances, it is evident that Donald’s cabinet members take this competition extremely seriously and will go to great lengths in an effort to win. Or lose, actually, would be more accurate, at least from the vantage point of the American citizens.
Two, it is always a photo finish. Self evident.
Three, with the turnover and the acting candidates, it is important to level the playing field. Can you win the worst title if you have only been in the job 2 months? Actually, given Donald’s choices, the answer is probably yes, but still. We should strive for an appearance of fairness.
Fourth, the comments are worth their weight in gold. Thanks to all for being so on point and nonetheless, entertaining.
102
@NJLatelifemom
I like this idea. Some of the winners/losers will be "acting" worst since Trump likes his "acting" cabinet members for flexibility! Seems appropriate since we have an "acting" President.
2
@NJLatelifemom
And fifth, hopefully this national clown show will end this year, so we need to have as many contests as possible before the buffoonery comes to a close....
@NJLatelifemom Could someone please develop a chart or spread sheet?
Ross may be the winner of the 'Worst Trump Cabinet Member' competition, but there are equally culpable winners amongst prominent GOP senators like McConnell, Romney, Graham, Cruz, Cornyn, Burr, Johnson, and Thune who are are in lock-step support of trump’s kowtowing to Putin’s demands for US sanctions relief on Russian oligarchs and their business interests. It shows just how deeply and all pervasively the trump administration’s self-serving corruption which dramatically threatens national security has taken hold. Under normal circumstances this kind of abject support of blatant political meddling in full view would sound alarms all over the place. But a kind of public nonchalance about these developments seems to have settled in, emboldening these senators to sense that they can turn a blind eye to activity bordering on treason with impunity, which is extremely troubling.
44
Only in America, my very own America, are things so bad that we can spend our time voting for the absolutely worst department head under an absolutely worst president.
Here in Sweden today, by contrast, we are just saying goodbye to my favorite political figure, Jan Björklund, Liberal Party leader who after many years of honorable service is stepping down. A truly decent human being who worked very hard to try to get the administration to take steps to restore Swedish secondary schools, now far below those of Finland.
As is often the case, Gail manages to be very funny and deadly serious at the same time. Thanks Gail.
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
Citizen US SE
83
@Larry Lundgren For the uneducated (read American) reader, it might be good to point out that in Sweden, as in much of the world, the Liberal party is right of center.
2
@D. Yohalem - Yes but center in Sweden is very likely seen as left by most Republicans.
One way of comparing is to note that every Swedish party, even the SD, supports Universal Health care, parental leave and more all seen in the Congress as left wing even socialist.
The sharp division is made when a party must take a stand on people who have come to Sweden from Middle East, Horn of Africa, and Afghanistan. On that the Liberal party has been one of the most welcoming.
Thanks for the reply.
Larry
3
I feel that a special mention should go to Trump himself. That is an impeccable and consistent track record of surrounding himself with shady characters who tend to get indicted.
I that department, Trump has years of experience. Practice, practice, practice.
60
@Aurace Rengifo
He should certainly be recognized for finally breaking the record set by Warren G Harding with his Teapot Dome scandal for most corruption in an administration ever. Trump has more corruption, the best corruption you've ever seen.
2
Remember when the US Department of Health and Human Services used to be called Health, Education and Welfare? The first sign that government was taking the threat of "socialism" -- called out by Trump in SOTU -- seriously. Now we provide "services" to humans, not "welfare." And definitely not socialism. What about Social Security? We all love it, especially those of us getting it. (Yes, we might even live long enough to get a return on our contributions.) But doesn't it look like it might be a form of socialism? Time to rename it something less threatening. Like "Human Security." As innocuous as a home alarm system. But only for humans. Not other mammals. Definitely not socialism.
33
@Richard: How about welfare for farmers? Trump puts a tariff on, soybean prices fall (as an example) and then he hands out tax payer dollars to bail them out! And many, many of these 'farmers' are Big Ag, not family farms (very few of those left and will be fewer still after Trump gets done with them, more to be gobbled up by Big Ag).
Who exactly are the socialists now? Yeah, the farmers.
Such hypocrisy.
3
Theresa May, I tell you!
Theresa May.
5
Since the beginning Trump's term has been a feast for environmentalist-hating extractive industry gluttons.
The GOP was once the party of conservation, now they're shills for oil, mining and all environmental short-sightedness.
Teddy Roosevelt is probably spinning.
116
@Dana Charbonneau: Not only is Teddy Roosevelt spinning, but also John Muir, the father of our national parks, the gemstones of America which are being very badly hurt by Trump and his administration.
6
In the late sixties I was told by a friend who worked in the office of the chief of police (I won't name the city) that applicants to the department were given an intelligence test and those who scored too high were rejected. The rational was that highly intelligent people took initiative, and they wanted people who would follow orders unquestioningly.
The Trump folks may have a similar test, but a little more complicated, as it would have to involve an inverse proportion between their intelligence and their net worth.
128
@michaeltide Sort of the same thing happened to me. Out ran, out sit upped, out pull uped, out tested all the candidates for a fireman job in a rural community. Their biggest issue, I was educated and might be bored with the job. The panel actually said that, then asked me to respond. How does one respond to that without throwing it back in their faces. Needless to say, I didn't get that job.
34
@michaeltide
When you have a new guest in your home, you can test them by purposefully leaving money lying around. If it goes missing, you know who took it. I figure anyone looking to work for trump would "pass" this test. The only difference is you would eliminate the person as a house guest in the future, and tell others to watch their purses around the culprit, whearas Trump would hire the thief.
2
@michaeltide
Donald Trump has said for years, even before he was elected President, that he prefers to surround himself with dumb people in his businesses so they will make him look smart in comparison. So far, that strategy doesn't seem to be working out so well for him or our country.
5
Not one of them comes across as a champion of the common man.
71
WE, the American public, have nothing 'in common' with these corrupt shills.
Nor do they with us.
Their money, self entitlement, isolation from society as we know it - is only topped by their lack of empathy and compassion, their egos, and their extreme Hubris!
Trump and his picking of people for posts is synonymous with a 'wrecking ball' to the very agencies and departments that they are made heads of. It is purposely done - that is the crying shame and crime !
1
No doubt Trump considers these appointments as further evidence of his "successes" in office, fulfilling his promise to "drain the swamp." He didn't mention that he planned to replace the existing swamp with the Fire Swamp of "The Princess Bride." We should be grateful that he and the Republican Trumpettes have proven unable to "replace" Obamacare--but of course, it's difficult to come up with something worse than what we had before, which is what they've always preferred.
32
@carrobin Trump has replaced the swamp (which performs essantial ecological services) with a septic tank - one with no drainage.
2
I read in a history book that Imperial China required officials to pass tests of their competence before being appointed to high office. Why can't we do that?
306
@Charlesbalpha
5 years ago I would ask in a snarky tone whether you wanted to try to keep certain members of the population from attempting to be the President. Were you advocating that only a person with a lot of formal education should be a leader? Were you trying to keep the common man out?
Today, I say bring on the tests! But instead of Confucius and other strenuous feats of memorization of poetry and the like, they would consist of questions about the branches of government and what they do, how they work, and all of that stuff that seems super important right now.
Also, they'd have 30 seconds to tell us how much milk costs in the area they're in at the time of the test.
And 30 more seconds to quote the average bank fee, which is around 35 bucks. Fun fact: rich people don't pay bank fees, did you all know that? Poor people generate tons of fee revenue for the banks.
Test them all!
49
@Charlesbalpha I will settle for everyone, including the President and Vice President, taking the US citizenship test and having the results posted on the White House website. For extra credit, they submit their tax returns for the past seven years.
71
@Charlesbalpha
Because we would be accused of being "so unfair" and not being inclusive.
Our world is turning into, if you want something, you can take it, even if you have no qualifications.
If someone wants to be president, our parties should set some list of standards they must meet before they can be nominated. Let the crybabies shout discrimination...we wouldn't make a twelve year old the QB of a pro football team, so why should we give that job in our country to someone who has never played the game?
5
How can one choose? That said, if in some past administration someone on an SNL season ran weekend news skits about characters like this, no one would believe it when in 2017 the real ones showed up.
As it is no one can believe that these really are wealthy, prominent, government officials.
71
@Joan In California
You made a good point in support of Farhad Manjoo's column today about abolishing billionaires, and rebutting the comments asserting that billionaires are the brilliant, creative, driven people who keep the economy rolling.
30
@Thomas Zaslavsky
I'm sick of hearing that. Oh CEOs won't CEO for us anymore if they can't make 20 million a year even if the company fails. Ok then. I know many competent people who will CEO for 5 million a year.
27
You mean the Bizarro World White House SNL piece aired 10/10/81 (the first year of the Reagan administration)?
The still-relevant part of the sketch:
"[ flashback to Bizarro President appointing his Cabinet ]
Bizarro President: For Secretary of Interior, man who likes strip-mining and air pollution. For Secretary of Education, man who want to destroy department. For Secretary of State, scary man with morals of a styrofoam cup..
[ blend back to the present-day ]"
4
Ms. Collins, what if you had to write a pleasant note on some of these characters, along the lines of "Poor Wilbur, caught in a Spider's Web!", it might be challenging. The creepy-crawly sense that all these 'champions' are reminiscent of a Charles Addams' cartoon, where the audience looks much the same.
This administration consists of long sessions of turn-overs and publicity speakers. Betsy DeVos is recognizable in name because she suggested apparently that school children should be armed against grisly bears;
Stephen Miller sounds familiar too, for the black goo that works miracles on the top of your failing crown;
Sometimes I have wondered what happened to Ben Carson, where there was at last reading a story about broken China;
When it comes to loyalty, perhaps a thumbs-up for General Kelly, who brings Mercy to mind in charge of looking after young Marie Antoinette, while standing strong all along for her formidable parent, the Archduchess of Austria.
Not all of us are paying attention, but trying to distinguish who is for real and who is not; all the cause of a giant vacuum and void.
Here's an open secret: Better public and people skills are needed for both Parties. True, this is known as a blinding flash of the obvious, but as for the rest of these virtual reality personalities, on occasion the memory bank remains firmly closed.
Thinking of Judge Ruth Ginsberg, bright and wise, wishing her warmth and comfort, during this taxing season in American history.
56
@Miss Ley
"Thinking of Judge Ruth Ginsberg, bright and wise, wishing her warmth and comfort, during this taxing season in American history."
It really is a tragedy that RBG didn't retire no later than early in Obama's second term. If she had, Merrick Garland or someone similar would be on the Supreme Court now for the next few decades rather than the distinct possibility of a third Trump appointee.
45
@Peter J. Miller,
Thank you, but let us not wander into the doom and gloom; the tragedy followed by despair, but remember this is the season to render our thanks to extraordinary Americans in our midst. Judge Ginsberg is one of these, and the honorable Merrick Garland is another, the only exemplar statesman as of now who brings to mind the word 'humble' with the strength of steel.
Kavanaugh is remembered, but there will always be, a scent of beer in his make-up for this American citizen and voter.
12
@Peter J. Miller Hindsight = 20/20.
1
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin should be a finalist at least, for his secret plan for his secret pal, sanctioned Russian Oligarch Oleg Deripaska.
Other Trump officials like Flynn gave up their plans to relieve sanctions on Russia and Russian bad actors in return for certain favors, mainly because they were fired, indicted or awaiting sentencing, in that order.
But Mnuchin bravely soldiered on, with secret documents that nullified the public ones which were supposed to remove control of Rusal from Oleg's much soiled hands. (Chutzpah is apparently what you learn at Goldman).
Deripaska keeps popping up in the news, most recently we learned that he received Trump campaign polling data that might be of interest to a US election interference operation.
But Mnuchin is in good shape because the GOP Senate, aka Trump protection racket, decided not to interfere with his Russian sanctions sleight of hand, even after it was made public.
We don't know why Mnuchin was trying to help out his secret pal, Oleg, but maybe we will some day.
233
Exactly!
2
@Look Ahead
And, is it just me, or does Mnuchin always seem to have a smug smile on his face?
3
Trump's cabinet proves that wealth is not a meritocracy.
262
@MKKW
Trump's cabinet is an excellent argument for confiscatory wealth and estate taxes.
That goes double for Trump.
190
This Cabinet brings to mind a word that has never before been so apt.
Today we are living in a kakistocracy: a nation governed by its worst and least competent.
20
@MKKW
That was proven to me the first time I met a Texas oil man.
3
In terms of who could create the longest-lasting damage, I'd venture that Andrew Wheeler, assuming he's approved to run the EPA, will be right up there. He's likely to be a more effective version of Scott Pruitt, pulling the right levers in order to make it easier to pollute our lakes, streams, fields and atmosphere. Pruitt at least was incompetent and had most of his policies blocked int he courts. And sadly, the confirmation hearings for Wheeler have gotten next to zero attention in the press.
366
@Brian--He got my vote, which apparently was virtually nonexistent, for all the reasons you mentioned.
26
Funny thing. I remember reading the comments and besides my own there were many votes for Wheeler along these exact lines. Causing the most irreparable damage. After all if you destroy the land, water, and air the rest doesn't matter a lot if you get sick and die living in what is left of our environment where the damage caused by others can be more likely reversed and some point.
8
Thank you a Brian. Don’t forget the EPA “Ice Queen” Ann Gorsuch Mom to one of our Supreme Court Justices. If you’re too young to recall her, look her up. Amazing how all of ‘‘tis appointed incompetence is so much more acceptable today. Sad commentary. Do they still teach citizenship in schools today ?
10
I guess Bernhardt is too new and Zinke being gone did not even deserve dishonorable mention. We don't have a restaurant on Half Dome yet, or uranium mines in Bears Ears at present.
An very few seemed to care abut a little mercury or dioxin in the drinking water, they must like pig waste in the streams, so Pruitt did not get many votes but maybe Wheeler can do better.
In any case these are part of those deregulations that Swindler Donald crowed about, of course with them in these jobs, crows may be gone in a short period of time.
I winder how soon it will be before you can buy condo down by the river in the Grand Canyon, and take a tram to get to it.?
133
History, verified by each individual's public record, will not be kind to them. In fact, there body of work will be discussed and vilified for generations to come.
123
@KB History? We're always hearing about what history will say about the Trump administration. But we are living it now. It is no consolation to think that our grandchildren will - at last - see the evil these men and women have done. It is up to us to stop it.
166
@KB
Given that the Trump administration is pouring on the gas, and the coal and oil, we may not have future generations to examine its history.
39
@Regulareater: Our grandchildren will be very busy fighting climate change and trying to stay alive to worry much about Trump's past sins. It's up to us, right now, to deal with both climate change and Trump's sins.
4
OMG, Gail, you found a picture of Sec Ross with his mouth closed! Well, the flies were safe that day.
The picture further shows Trump’s famous lack of class. He’s serving this Nation’s highest political officials in his cabinet gas-station type, plastic water bottles and expects the cabinet members to drink from paper cups. It’s a metaphor for the worth of his cabinet and cabinet meetings – throwaways.
More seriously, I strongly agree with FunkyIrishman’s comments today about education. Take away four years of useful education through chaos, lack of funding, or whatever Amway Lady DeVos delivers and how do you return those four years to a child? “Oh, here, we got rid of Trump. Now instead of starting in fifth grade next year, we’ll start you in first grade so you can make up all that you missed out on during the Trump/DeVos/Evangelical delusionals.”
Our democracy has had criminally bad stretches especially when the wealthy, or those obsessed with wealth and white supremacy, have been in control. The repair and then progress after them have come from those who were educated but importantly, had learned scholarship skills to continue on in as life reflective learners and leaders in their changing world.
Technology is making information and learning more accessible but the DeVos crew is making sure the ladders are pulled up and away from the new generations of Americans as well as making sure the paths to higher education are substantially narrowed.
236
@Liam Jumper Hey Liam, take a closer look, at least the paper cups have the Presidential Seal of Approval on them!
5
@Stephen Csiszar - I'm surprised they don't have trump's picture on them.
5
As usual a humorous and serious column by Ms. Collins.
This argument as to which Trump flunky is the worst is pointless.
They are all horrible.
While not a perfect analogy in mathematics, it is not a valid mathematical operation to subtract two infinite quantities.
The result is undefined.
The real problem is not the Trump flunkies but the person who chose them.
140
@david
I must disagree. The real problem is the organizations that chose them. The GOP. The Federalist Society. The Koch organization. The NRA. The Adelson billioinairists. The ALEC. The ... oh! so many!
78
@Thomas Zaslavsky
Oh, and maybe minority rule.
The problem is simple, and relatively easy to fix. If the 2020 group understand the root cause.
All this talk about whose the worst is like debating which grain of sand sank the ship. When the solution is before us all we need to do is pull the lever.
Which candidate is talking about Popular Vote? Ans. - Silence.
10
@Thomas Zaslavsky
The organizations and people you cite are certainly harmful influences.
But Trump makes the appointments and he alone decides what to do.
He knows best [just ask him] and no one forces him to make an appointment he does not want and no one prevents him from removing a cabinet member who doesn't kowtow appropriately..
3
So true! "this is the first time I can actually name more than one or two cabinet people from memory"
155
Trump's cabinet members have some things in common. 1. Unfitness for the job. 2. Wealth, some of questionable origin. 3. Total disdain for the non-wealthy. 4. Willingness to venerate Trump. It's as if Trump appointed himself to the positions.
995
VP Pence and his pasted smile win my vote. He shows us nothing - but, I admit, it's hard to take the spotlight away from the always publicity hungry Trump.
262
@betty sher = I'l take Pence any day and all day Sunday!. When he is put in after the other one leaves, Pelosi will be "acting President" anyway.
2
@willw No, like Spiro Agnew, he has to go first--and soon. Pence was head of the transition; there is NO way that he wasn't aware of the machinations happening under his eyes...even if he only has eyes for "Mother".
2
Congratulations to Wilbur Ross, 2019 Winner of the Worst Trump Cabinet Member competition !
It's not an easy contest to win; the competition is the worst of the worst.
But let's not get distracted by Wilbur 'Thurston Howell III' Ross winning this year or Amway Queen Betsy DeVos winning last year.
Not only is the entire Trump cabinet perfectly devoid of human decency and serious public policy, the non-Cabinet stars are equally irredeemable.
Mike Pence deserves dishonorable mention for whispering sweet medieval Christian Shariah Law misanthropy and misogyny into Daycare Donnie's ears all day long.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, perhaps the greatest dissembler in American history after the Birther-Liar-In-Chief, wins the anti-George Washington Award for never ever being able to tell the truth.
Kellyanne Conway sucks the life out of the truth just as quickly as any cold-blooded killer of facts.
Then there's superwoman heroine Ivanka Trump, world champion of all women around the world...who are named Ivanka Trump.
And her mute husband Jared, stripped of half his national security clearances, continues to conduct half-baked foreign policy experiments as a hobby.
Secretary of Propaganda Sean Hannity, who helped make the Trump Titanic possible.
Undersecretary of Propaganda Rush Limbaugh, who makes sure America's Whites R Us are paranoid, fearful and foaming at the mouth.
Secretary of Wall Ann Coulter, currently destroying the country for ratings.
"only the worst possible people"
1625
@Socrates
Excellent comment Socrates. I think we need to have different categories and then each participant will get top price. I do not think they even try.
107
@Socrates
I see your pithy and incisive style is influencing some of the rest of us. A comment like this is only going to add to that.
However, I think you mischaracterized Ann Coulter's job description. I believe she is Secretary of Legs. This is not a secretarial job; it is a Cabinet office of her own choice.
54
@Socrates Brilliant. But I don’t think Trump has talked to Mike Pence or made eye contact with him for about a year. Evangelical Shariah has still been outsourced to Pence, but Trump has as much use for Pence as he does a book.
85
It's good that we're all paying more attention to national politics but I'm not sure the price we are paying is worth it. Does decent governance have to put us so deeply to sleep that our somnolent sloth fails to perpetuate it?
Wilbur Ross appears to acknowledge the "theory" that the "Saudi government has a way of making protesters disappear." Isn't it sad that the protesting journalist Jamal Khashoggi can no longer put that theory to test?
This doesn't seem to bother Mike Pompeo, John Bolton or President Trump for that matter. But never mind; the American arms industry is getting well rewarded for the transfer of its lethal products from Saudi hands into the arms caches of ISIS and Al Qaeda.
296
@John lebaron
We didn't have decent governance for the most part, but we had a veil of decency over the indecency, which conducted itself modestly (i.e., behind closed doors). No longer!
12
@John lebaron Ottawa, which stood up to Saudi in the Khashoggi killing and demanded justice, is struggling mightily with a moral conundrum: Should we renege on contracts worth billions (and face more billions in penalties) because our light armored vehicles are being used to subjugate Saudi citizens and possibly to destroy what's left of Yemen. The financial impact on Ontario industry, which is still reeling after GM closed its highly productive plant in Oshawa last fall, would be massive, literally thousands of jobs.
24
Nothing facilitates malfeasance better than incompetence. What's depressing is that this analysis is based on what we know, and doesn't take into account what has yet to emerge.
Mr. Trump had so little awareness of the executive branch's workings he thought the White House came "pre-staffed", according to former Gov. Chris Christie.
What are the odds that he could or can name the most famous Sec. of Commerce--Herbert Hoover? And while he may be vaguely familiar with the name "Malcolm Baldridge" he might not associate it with the position, either.
He said he'd run the administration like his businesses, and like thousands of people have observed, he has.
517
@Grennan
Only a matter of time until the Munchkin announces that the Treasury is bankrupt...
13
@Paul
Every time we think nothing about the Trump administration would surprise us now, something does.
Mr. Trump has already cited an imaginary tax cut (immediately before the midterms); clearly his view of math and the fiscal mysteries of government takes a much more surreal, dadaist approach than traditional boring accounting standards.
Fortunately, Mr. Mnuchin hasn't yet encouraged Mr. Trump to put his own image on U.S. currency.
11
Just by being his cabinet, all of them are worst among equals. Their nauseating obsequiousness when flattering trump on demand at Kremlin West cabinet meetings provides confirmation.
466
Some psychologist once said that all happy families are similar in many respects--but each dysfunctional family is unhappy in its own particular way. It might be that sane and decent politicians and public officials are similar in some basic ways--but the dysfunctional ones are aberrant in their own odd ways--the collection of grotesques around Trump would make it seem so, at least.
180
@jb
It was Tolstoy in Anna Karenina: "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
See "Anna Karenina principle" (Wikipedia, for example); it has been popularized by Jared Diamond in his book "Guns, Germs and Steel."
121
@Blue Moon In fact, it's the opening sentence of the novel. Not foreshadowing, but a clear declaration of what is to come.
73
@Blue Moon--And Tolstoy was nothing if not a psychologist, eh?
14