Kaine to vote for Mattis, oppose Tillerson

[Jose Garcia]

Source: The Hill

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) announced Friday that he will support President-Elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Pentagon but not his secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

The former Democratic vice presidential nominee said he will support James Mattis to the lead the Defense Department because he thinks he is "well prepared" and could provide Trump with "wise and strategic counsel."

"In his testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday, he demonstrated a clear-eyed view of our current national security environment and a deep appreciation for the challenges facing U.S. servicemembers and their families," he said in a statement.

Kaine on Thursday voted to give Mattis a waiver which will allow him to bypass the requirement that defense secretaries be out of uniform for at least seven years.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/314152-kaine-to-vote-for-mattis-oppose-tillerson

[BlueCaliDem]

1. General James Mattis seems to be an okay pick. He strikes a harsh tone against Russia, which is the

best we can hope for in this suddenly pro-Putin incoming Administration.

[Dopers_Greed]

2. Mattis is the least nauseating out of Dumpf's picks

Better save the fight for a more deplorable adversary

[nycbos]

3. Yup absolutely.

Have of politics is picking and choosing your battles.

[old guy]

4. Bad move.

First, they have to make a special waiver to make him eligible and second and maybe most important tRump wants this guy. He can say all the right things in these hearings to curry favor from Dems and then do the opposite once he is in and nobody will be able to stop him. No thanks.

[yeoman6987]

5. The full senate gave him the waiver yesterday. Only 18 voted no

And trump wants him that's true but if democratic senators are voting for him, he's pretty much in.

[Renew Deal]

6. Wouldn't Trump want everyone he picks?

He'd want the next one too

[exboyfil]

7. Yes. Best to choose your battles

It is precedent setting to have a recently retired active duty military person as SecDef, but I am far less concerned right now than AG, SecState, SecHUD, SecEd, etc.

[old guy]

8. No doubt.

That doesn't mean we have to normalize these actions. The guys nickname is "Mad Dog" for crap sake. You can rationalize if you choose that is certainly your right. I will stick with no thanks.

[longship]

9. My biggie, not yet mentioned here is Perry!!!

The last two DOEnergy secys were PhD physicists, one of whom earned a Nobel Prize.

The DOEnergy controls the US nuclear arsenal and the many federal laboratories at the cutting edge of science, which is kind of why one wants a really smart person in that position. Rick "Dumb as a bag of hammers" Perry is not close to being qualified for the position. He has a mind uniquely untroubled by thought.

[malthaussen]

10. Because by all means, we want a general nicknamed "Mad Dog..."

... as SECDEF.

-- Mal

[FSogol]

11. At least Mad Dog Mathis recognizes that water boarding and torture are war crimes and don't work.

When asked by Trump, What do you think of waterboarding?"

Mathis said, 'I've never found it to be useful.' He said, 'I've always found, give me a pack of cigarettes and a couple of beers and I do better with that than I do with torture.'"

http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/23/politics/waterboarding-trump-mattis/

Mathis might be the best check on a Trump presidency so far.