The quote (featured in Peter Baker's analysis, "Trump Signals a ‘Seismic Shift,’ Shocking the Washington Establishment") is from David Marchick, co-author of The Peaceful Transfer of Power. The incoming president's choices for spots in the White House, the cabinet, and the Executive Branch are loyalists all. Several though lack evident qualifications and appear short of the requisite character for positions of leadership. From Baker's report:
He has chosen a bomb-throwing backbench congressman who has spent his career attacking fellow Republicans and fending off sex-and-drugs allegations to run the same Justice Department that investigated him, though it did not charge him, on suspicion of trafficking underage girls. He has chosen a conspiracy theorist with no medical training who disparages the foundations of conventional health care to run the Department of Health and Human Services.
He has chosen a weekend morning television host with a history of defending convicted war criminals while sporting a Christian Crusader tattoo that has been adopted as a symbol by the far right to run the most powerful armed forces in the history of the world. He has chosen a former congresswoman who has defended Middle East dictators and echoed positions favored by Russia to oversee the nation’s intelligence agencies.
(Baker wrote before we learned that Trump chose Dr. Oz to head the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.)
Remember "We're not going back" -- the campaign pledge of Kamala Harris? Well, now Steve Bannon, fresh out of prison just weeks before the election, is saying it (as quoted by Baker).
Even Republicans in the United States Senate, who have had ample time to take Trump's measure (and who saved him from conviction after two impeachments) are taken aback. As David Graham reports in the Atlantic ("Washington Is Shocked"), "On Capitol Hill, Republican senators say they are shocked by many of Trump’s Cabinet picks."
Wow. Well, these are serious men and women, right? Chosen to oversee the country's business. But we're seen this movie before. These guys and gals of the GOP are likely to vote to confirm every nominee Trump throws at them. Because:
There is never a bridge too far.
Congressional Republicans have been going through a ritual of sorts regarding their leader for nearly a decade. A few might begin by murmuring hints of unease, even criticism. Most will stay silent. Increasingly large numbers will cheer enthusiastically. The conservative media will also cheer. And, when push comes to shove, the unenthusiastic, the initial doubters, will do whatever is required to back their leader.
Not every time, but almost. 'Never a bridge too far' is an extremely reliable rule of thumb regarding Republican acquiescence to Donald Trump. Some senators -- Susan Collins, perhaps -- will vote No occasionally, but not enough to block Trump's choices. The votes will be there to give him his way.
At this stage, two full months before Trump is sworn in, we can't be certain how this will turn out. My suspicion is that Matt Gaetz might not get confirmed. But I wouldn't bet against any of Trump's other picks, no matter how unfit they are. No matter how shocking.
Party over country. Political power over country. Personal ambition over country. That's where the GOP is today. That's why we can count on the Republican majorities in both houses to put aside qualms about national security, law enforcement, public health, fiscal responsibility -- whatever is at stake. They are not going to stand in Trump's way.