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maxsolomon

(32,992 posts)
Tue Mar 13, 2018, 06:03 PM Mar 2018

Do you prefer an Incompetent Seat-Warmer, or a Malevolent Go-Getter?

I'm having a debate on another board, and the basic thrust is this: I'd rather have Betsy DeVos or Ben Carson in charge of a Federal Department than a Scott Pruitt.

In the former case, the Departments are moldering from neglect and incompetent leadership, but the in latter case, the EPA is being actively torn down and de-fanged by someone with an agenda and who knows what he's doing.

Brownie versus Machiavelli. Both are bad, but we have to favor the least worst while Dems are in the Wilderness.

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Do you prefer an Incompetent Seat-Warmer, or a Malevolent Go-Getter? (Original Post) maxsolomon Mar 2018 OP
The incompetent seat warmer. Snackshack Mar 2018 #1
I feel same Proud Liberal Dem Mar 2018 #3
But DeVos isnt that, she is actively working to destroy our entire public education system and Eliot Rosewater Mar 2018 #2
I think the results would be the same; just that Carson and DeVos's version would be an politicaljunkie41910 Mar 2018 #4
over 2 terms, agreed. maxsolomon Mar 2018 #5

Snackshack

(2,540 posts)
1. The incompetent seat warmer.
Tue Mar 13, 2018, 06:25 PM
Mar 2018

Just like I am thankful for the fact that Trump won as opposed to a Cruz / Bush / Rubio. Republicans would be much further along in their unraveling of the social safety net and our Democracy in general had a more competent, less chaotic person won the White House.

I preferred and hoped HRC would win but that did not happen. Republicans have been laying the ground work for years to get in the position of complete control of the government they currently enjoy so they could roll back every social program enacted since FDR. It is only by republicans blind bad luck or our good luck that the person in charge once republicans got in control would sow so much chaos and discord that nothing can really get done.


Proud Liberal Dem

(24,355 posts)
3. I feel same
Tue Mar 13, 2018, 06:33 PM
Mar 2018

It's also why impeaching Trump or having Mueller perp walk him out of the WH, though understandably desirable, might not work out so well for us in the end since that would give us the stable and "sane" Pence, who would be able to work better with Congressional Republicans (if still in charge) to help facilitate their agenda. Better to have an incompetent and defanged Trump in the WH until 2020 (unless he becomes a more literal danger to the country/world) than somebody who can actually accomplish bad things.

Eliot Rosewater

(31,097 posts)
2. But DeVos isnt that, she is actively working to destroy our entire public education system and
Tue Mar 13, 2018, 06:29 PM
Mar 2018

make it a profit center for her family.

In general though I agree with you, Carson is a good example. Imagine being that stupid and he is very stupid but able to do surgery.

I think if we were allowed to know what the various traitors are doing to our institutions, we would be in horror.

politicaljunkie41910

(3,335 posts)
4. I think the results would be the same; just that Carson and DeVos's version would be an
Tue Mar 13, 2018, 06:42 PM
Mar 2018

incompetent dismantling due to incompetent leadership, and Pruitt's method would be a controlled dismantling while lining his pockets.

maxsolomon

(32,992 posts)
5. over 2 terms, agreed.
Tue Mar 13, 2018, 07:06 PM
Mar 2018

but Pruitt's program to de-fang the EPA seems to be progressing faster, whereas HUD still writes the checks (for now).

Carson's tenure there seems marked by stasis; by the strangling of any new initiatives to address the crisis of homelessness or affordability. there's been very little news beyond the 31K dining room set "scandal".

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