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Obama’s DHS pick a major Democratic donor, senators question credentials

American

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Obama

President Obama's pick to lead the sprawling Department of Homeland Security is a major Democratic donor who used to work with the president's 2008 campaign, leading one senator to call the choice "deeply concerning."

The president plans to nominate former Pentagon lawyer Jeh Johnson on Friday afternoon.

"It would appear that the president plans to nominate a loyalist and fundraiser to this post," Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said in a statement. "This is deeply concerning. This huge department must have a proven manager with strong relevant law enforcement experience, recognized independence and integrity, who can restore this department to its full capability."

The White House touted Johnson's experience, as general counsel at the Defense Department during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A White House official called Johnson "one the most highly qualified and respected national security leaders." He served during Obama's first term.

But his background, aside from being a trusted legal adviser helping oversee those two wars, is also that of a big-money Democratic donor.
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So they're going to put another Obama lacky in to run our border defense. Just great.
 
American said:
Obama




So they're going to put another Obama lacky in to run our border defense. Just great.
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A Republican who doesn't like Obama's choice of leaders? Shocking, I say!
 
American said:
Obama




So they're going to put another Obama lacky in to run our border defense. Just great.
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I do not know enough about the guy to know whether he is a good pick, but nothing in the article suggested he was anything other than qualified, and being a donor does not mean you are disqualified or for that matter a "lackey". In fact, the donor thing is literally looking for something to bitch about, which makes me suspect the guy probably actually is qualified if this is what they choose to go after.
 
Redress said:
I do not know enough about the guy to know whether he is a good pick, but nothing in the article suggested he was anything other than qualified, and being a donor does not mean you are disqualified or for that matter a "lackey". In fact, the donor thing is literally looking for something to bitch about, which makes me suspect the guy probably actually is qualified if this is what they choose to go after.
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My concern is based upon my lifelong acquaintance and friendship with many attorneys and judges and doctors. The person's education and experience is strictly within their field of endeavor. Rarely do they have awareness, experience, or education needed to properly manage any organizational entity including their own practices.

A different truism is the best company salesman most often does not make the best manager of anything; even other salesman.

I have no information concerning his operational management experience and that alone gives me pause.

Good day to you Redress

Thom Paine
 
American said:
Obama




So they're going to put another Obama lacky in to run our border defense. Just great.
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How exactly is a lawyer well qualified to run a agency tasked with defending the homeland? What about writing legal breifs makes someone a manager, a security expert, etc? Napolitano was a bad pick, this is much worse. This is like making a budget bureaucrat in charge of the entire countries intelligence operation.

(b) Mission

(1) In General. - The primary mission of the Department is to

(A) prevent terrorist attacks within the United States;

(B) reduce the vulnerability of the United States to terrorism; and

(C) minimize the damage, and assist in the recovery, from terrorist attacks that do occur within the United States."
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Wouldnt the acting secretary be more qualified?
 
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Redress said:
I do not know enough about the guy to know whether he is a good pick, but nothing in the article suggested he was anything other than qualified, and being a donor does not mean you are disqualified or for that matter a "lackey". In fact, the donor thing is literally looking for something to bitch about, which makes me suspect the guy probably actually is qualified if this is what they choose to go after.
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You mean, nothing in the article suggested he WAS qualified.
 
this slam thread didn't take long..
kudos, you're quicker than Dems .
 
As general counsel at the Defense Department during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Johnson oversaw the escalation of the use of unmanned drone strikes, the revamping of military commissions to try terrorism suspects rather than using civilian courts and the repeal of the military's ban on openly gay service members.
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What does that mean? A lawyer for the dept was making policy decisions?
 
Redress said:
I do not know enough about the guy to know whether he is a good pick, but nothing in the article suggested he was anything other than qualified, and being a donor does not mean you are disqualified or for that matter a "lackey". In fact, the donor thing is literally looking for something to bitch about, which makes me suspect the guy probably actually is qualified if this is what they choose to go after.
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Oh come on, you now Obama is political. He's probably a buddy. Look, I get that but people should have some background.
 
jonny5 said:
You mean, nothing in the article suggested he WAS qualified.
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You missed the fact he has been working in the field? That is what we call a qualification...
 
American said:
Oh come on, you now Obama is political. He's probably a buddy. Look, I get that but people should have some background.
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Can you name a president who was not political?
 
Redress said:
You missed the fact he has been working in the field? That is what we call a qualification...
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Hes working in the field of law, not public administration, law enforcement, defense, emergency management. Just because you are a lawyer for a hospital doesn't mean youre qualified to run a hospital.
 
American said:
Obama




So they're going to put another Obama lacky in to run our border defense. Just great.
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I have two comments:

1. If he's taking over from Janet Napolitano, whose only claim to fame was that she is a lawyer and a politician, it's hard to imagine this guy would be any less qualified.

2. What the hell kind of first name is "Jeh"?
 
CanadaJohn said:
I have two comments:

1. If he's taking over from Janet Napolitano, whose only claim to fame was that she is a lawyer and a politician, it's hard to imagine this guy would be any less qualified.

2. What the hell kind of first name is "Jeh"?
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Jeh-ovah
 
American said:
Obama




So they're going to put another Obama lacky in to run our border defense. Just great.
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A story from Fox News. I'm stunned that they would have something critical of the President. This just in for all of you right wing extremists that apparently weren't paying attention last November. ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

One of those consequences is that they get to appoint whomever the hell they want for these kinds of positions. Unless it can be demonstrably proven that the guy is manifestly unqualified for the position, which nothing so far suggests that, then the Republicans ought to quit playing their stupid 'gotcha' games and confirm the guy.
 
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Well, if that right wing nutbag Cornyn is opposing his nomination, this guy must be pretty good.
 
Wiggen said:
A story from Fox News. I'm stunned that they would have something critical of the President. This just in for all of you right wing extremists that apparently weren't paying attention last November. ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

One of those consequences is that they get to appoint whomever the hell they want for these kinds of positions. Unless it can be demonstrably proven that the guy is manifestly unqualified for the position, which nothing so far suggests that, then the Republicans ought to quit playing their stupid 'gotcha' games and confirm the guy.
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No surprise from you, all you have are your election day talking point. Here's the dirty little secret, lots of people were elected on Election Day, not just your personal savior. Get over it. I doubt you shut you hole up and sat down the day Bush was re-elected.
 
Wiggen said:
A story from Fox News. I'm stunned that they would have something critical of the President. This just in for all of you right wing extremists that apparently weren't paying attention last November. ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

One of those consequences is that they get to appoint whomever the hell they want for these kinds of positions. Unless it can be demonstrably proven that the guy is manifestly unqualified for the position, which nothing so far suggests that, then the Republicans ought to quit playing their stupid 'gotcha' games and confirm the guy.
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I'm admittedly just a Canadian, but doesn't a cabinet position such as DHS Secretary require Senate approval? Isn't this one of those appointments where you don't necessarily get to "appoint whomever the hell they want" but usually the President's choice is respected?

In addition, I love when liberals say "elections have consequences" and then out of the other side of their mouth moan and groan because the Republican led House doesn't do whatever King Obama wants.
 
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