"...of the 544 top positions... the WH hasnt nominated anyone for 473 of those offices."

[babylonsister]

Another appalling thing about this admin I can't wrap my mind around. He needs all the help he can get.

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/despite-benghazi-focus-trump-looks-past-diplomatic-security?cid=sm_fb_maddow

Despite Benghazi focus, Trump looks past diplomatic security
04/18/17 09:34 AM
By Steve Benen


Donald Trump’s lax approach to filling key posts throughout his administration is becoming one of the president’s more glaring missteps. As of yesterday, of the 544 top positions requiring Senate confirmation, the White House hasn’t nominated anyone for 473 of those offices.

As Politico reported, that includes the office responsible for diplomatic security abroad.

President Donald Trump has yet to nominate the State Department official who oversees diplomatic security abroad – despite having made the 2012 Benghazi attacks a centerpiece of his campaign against Hillary Clinton.

Congressional Democrats say it’s a striking omission that shows Trump’s campaign rhetoric was just that. And even some Republicans are urging Trump to move faster to fill this and other key State Department posts.

Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) argued that Trump’s “failure to nominate an assistant secretary of state for diplomatic security shows the Republican focus on Benghazi was ‘a bunch of political cheap talk’ designed to tarnish {Hillary} Clinton’s reputation.”

Ya think?

Stepping back, there are a couple of relevant angles to keep in mind with a story like this, beyond the brazenness surrounding the Republicans’ obsession with Benghazi conspiracy theories. The first is that Trump’s incoherence on his administration’s staffing problems is getting worse, not better. Just last week, the president insisted he’s “waiting right now for so many people” to get confirmed by the Senate, but Democratic “obstructionists” are blocking his nominees.

This State Department office on diplomatic security is a great example of how wrong Trump is: there is no nominee. Senate Democrats aren’t to blame.

The other thing to keep in mind is the degree to which this is emblematic of the White House’s indifference towards the State Department.

Indeed, Eliot Engel told Politico, “Unfortunately, I think it’s indicative of the low priority that Trump and the administration are placing on diplomacy or anything to do with the State Department.”

There are 119 positions in the State Department requiring Senate confirmation. Trump hasn’t yet nominated anyone for 108 of them.

[Buns_of_Fire]

1. Tillerson was the first hint at how seriously he takes the State Department.

For that matter, all his cabinet picks told everyone all they needed to know about how seriously he takes governance.

I know. Capt. Obvious strikes again.

[maxsolomon]

2. 2 possibilities:

1. Deliberate. A Mafia family doesn't want to have that many people it has to trust to carry out their agenda.
2. Radioactivity. They can't find anyone remotely qualified that wants anything to do with *.

[babylonsister]

3. 3. They don't give a crap. Not 'their' business model. nt

[maxsolomon]

9. 4. Incompetence

they didn't know they had to do this, and they don't know how to start, and they won't ask Obama staffers for help.

[NewJeffCT]

10. I think that's probably a good part of it

These were the people that were surprised at how much hiring had to be done...

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. I wonder if he fully understands how many

jobs he's responsible for nominating people to. My guess is, probably not. I'm not sure anyone in his inner circle has any prior experience in government, and it sounds as if they have done absolutely nothing to reach out to previous administrations to find out what they need to do.

Meanwhile, it's government by neglect.

[babylonsister]

5. Yes. Gov't by neglect. That's good. nt

[Jim Lane]

6. I'm surprised that Bannon hasn't given him names of a lot of RWNJs for those posts.

Even though Bannon has no prior experience in government, he struck me as the type who would "always be closing."

[Hekate]

7. He and his are intentionally hollowing out the government to make it fail

That's all I can figure out. It's horrifying.

[gratuitous]

8. Ya think? Yes. And it can't be said too often

The whole Benghazi sideshow wasn't about Ambassador Stevens or overseas security or anything except a chance to score political points. For those on the Trump Train for whom this was a major issue, you got played. The Republicans exploited you and your concerns to get your vote. Now that they got it, they're showing you how little any of that matters to them. Do you feel foolish? Because you should. Do you see a Charms Blow Pop when you look in the mirror? You're a sucker either way.