A Place For Tulsi in the New Administration?!

Catch this in a blog post from POLITICO:

GABBARD meets with TRUMP -- Network execs and anchors plan Monday meeting with president-elect -- ASHLEY PARKER joins the Post
By ANNA PALMER, JAKE SHERMAN, DANIEL LIPPMAN and ZACH MONTELLARO 11/21/16 01:00 PM EST

INTRIGUE -- TULSI GABBARD’s meeting with Donald Trump is raising eyebrows in Democratic circles. The Hawaii Democrat has had an eventful cycle: She backed Bernie Sanders and quit her leadership post at the DNC. She was thought to be eyeing a race for the Senate, but getting cozy with Trump probably won’t help. It’s unclear exactly what her motivation is, but some Democrats say it is another example of a frustrated House Democrat unable to move up in leadership.

-- @SaraMurray: “Interesting meeting on Trump's agenda today: @TulsiGabbard. A source tells me she’s under consideration for State, Defense & UN Ambassador”

Quite an interesting gossip tidbit, no?

Share
up
0 users have voted.

Comments

“President-elect Trump and I had a frank and positive conversation in which we discussed a variety of foreign policy issues in depth. I shared with him my grave concerns that escalating the war in Syria by implementing a so-called no-fly/safe zone would be disastrous for the Syrian people, our country and the world. It would lead to more death and suffering, exacerbate the refugee crisis, strengthen ISIS and Al Qaeda, and bring us into a direct conflict with Russia, which could result in a nuclear war. We discussed my bill to end our country’s illegal war to overthrow the Syrian government, and the need to focus our precious resources on rebuilding our own country, and on defeating Al Qaeda, ISIS and other terrorist groups who pose a threat to the American people.”

She's being crucified over at TOP for this. They're demanding she be primaried, "kicked out of the Democratic Party"--whatever that means--and forced to turn in her decoder ring.

up
0 users have voted.
MsGrin's picture

Wow, she's delivering a breath of sanity and being attacked. This is such a crazy year.

up
0 users have voted.

'What we are left with is an agency mandated to ensure transparency and disclosure that is actually working to keep the public in the dark' - Ann M. Ravel, former FEC member

Imagine if she had been head of the DNC!
I respect her, admire her courage and her good judgement.

Chortling at those who are criticizing her, wondering those critics didn't criticize Shrillary when she tried to get Republicans to vote for her. Alas, nothing worked. Thanks be to the Gods & Goddesses! BTW, National Review has some excellent articles about the demises of the Clintons and the Democrats.

up
0 users have voted.

someone opposed to war without end having a powerful foreign policy position.

up
0 users have voted.
Cassiodorus's picture

landscape-1445262691-970.jpg

up
0 users have voted.

"The war on Gaza, backed by the West, is a demonstration that the West is willing to cross all lines. That it will discard any nuance of humanity. That it is willing to commit genocide" -- Moon of Alabama

Even at TOP, the consensus was that the worst thing was too much for just talking with Trump.

After all, the worst thing--playing quarterback for the Cleveland Browns--is under consideration by the Trump administration to be the torture used when waterboarding doesn't work.

No. Please no, not that. How can you put another human being behind that offensive line?

up
0 users have voted.

I was in the stands on Sunday--freezing to death--when Kessler got his concussion.

up
0 users have voted.

Early in the season, I was watching a game and thinking, "Wow. Those offensive lineman must really hate that quarterback." Then whoever he was got knocked out of the game. Another one came in, and it was just as bad.

up
0 users have voted.
Citizen Of Earth's picture

the room filled with every washed up sociopath repub policitian from the past 30 years. What do you do when you are the only sane person in the room.

up
0 users have voted.

Donnie The #ShitHole Douchebag. Fake Friend to the Working Class. Real Asshole.

She had more to say, and it's straight talk:
http://gabbard.house.gov/index.php/press-releases/655-gabbard-statement-...

As usual, the MSM were spinning every which way about this meeting and blog chat dove right in. What did it MEAN? Is he sounding her out for a spot in his administration? Is he trying to co-opt her and grab some Bernie glory by proxy? (oh noes!) Is she receptive to being a dutiful little Trumpette? (heaven forfend!) NO progressive would meet with Trump; she's a QUISLING!

It would have been amusing if it weren't such a frustrating display of the continuing battle for our minds being waged by the establishment's media mouthpieces. The Clintons & co. haven't given up.

More excerpts from Gabbard's statement:

“While the rules of political expediency would say I should have refused to meet with President-elect Trump, I never have and never will play politics with American and Syrian lives. ...

“For years, the issue of ending interventionist, regime change warfare has been one of my top priorities. This was the major reason I ran for Congress—I saw firsthand the cost of war, and the lives lost due to the interventionist warmongering policies our country has pursued for far too long.

“Let me be clear, I will never allow partisanship to undermine our national security when the lives of countless people lay in the balance."

up
0 users have voted.

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." --Jiddu Krishnamurti

dervish's picture

and agree whole-heartedly with her statement, thanks for posting it.

I find it a little hard to believe that Trump would take her onboard in his administration, but what a coup that would be if he did! It would be mind-blowing for people across the political spectrum.

The Dems hate her now only because she won't tow the party line on war-mongering and so forth, as it's a slap in the face to Hillary. It apparently doesn't occur to them that Hillary is now a defunct brand, utterly so, in fact, and her brand of hawkish politics really has no place in the Democratic party, at least not in one that can win.

up
0 users have voted.

"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."

... escalating the war in Syria by implementing a so-called no-fly/safe zone would be disastrous for the Syrian people, our country and the world. It would lead to more death and suffering, exacerbate the refugee crisis, strengthen ISIS and Al Qaeda, and bring us into a direct conflict with Russia, which could result in a nuclear war. ...

and these are all good, potentially personally profitable and therefore desirable things to the Clintons, their donors and evidently those who support them, whereas working to

... end our country’s illegal war to overthrow the Syrian government, and the need to focus our precious resources on rebuilding our own country, and on defeating Al Qaeda, ISIS and other terrorist groups ...

whose (sponsored) existence makes such fabulous excuses for attacking and subjugating other people's countries in order to steal their stuff, are bad things, not desirable (edit: nor) potentially personally profitable to the Clintons, their donors and evidently those who support them.

Of course the record-correcters over at TOP want Tulsi's head, complete with a gag stuffed in the silenced mouth of sanity!

up
0 users have voted.

Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

I admit, I had held out some hope that the GOS would do some soul searching after the election and that I could go "home". That Tulsi screed finally convinced me that they're gone forever.

up
0 users have voted.

For example, what if his infrastructure program is for real? Will democrats oppose it? What if Trump does actively try to get out of NAFTA, etc? Will the democrats oppose him? What if he does push American companies to move manufacturing back to America from China? Will the democrats oppose him? We could have the situation where it is the democratic party which is the party of right wing reaction. If in fact Trump is not trying to pull the proverbial fast one regarding some of these issues, then democrats might as well not have a presidential convention in 2020.

up
0 users have voted.

... We could have the situation where it is the democratic party which is the party of right wing reaction. ...

Seems to me that there is no right wing/left wing in that sense/situation - there's destructive psychopathy on one side and sustainability and civilization on the other, both being reduced to mere 'political positions', in much the same manner as believing in reality has been designated as an 'opinion' by those who don't.

It apparently all boils down to 2 corporate parties achieving whatever their funding/lucrative 'job creating' paymasters want at the expense of the public, their countries and the environment forming everyone's global life support system

up
0 users have voted.

Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

WindDancer13's picture

from light praise to saying that "Gabbard often sounds more like a hawkish Republican than a potential future Democratic leader."

The article
also talks about how Democrats may not work with Trump on the things this country needs.

There's currently a split in the Democratic Party about whether to work with Trump on legislation like infrastructure and paid family leave, or deny him any victories which would legitimize him as president.

Gabbard appears to be in the former camp. If the majority of Hill Democrats do decide to work with President Trump, she could become an increasingly important player in cutting deals.

How sad is it that jobs and helping Americans comes after party politics?

up
0 users have voted.

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle
If there is no struggle there is no progress.--Frederick Douglass

snoopydawg's picture

Many people are saying that it's only going to help big businesses and they will get tax breaks and no real infrastructure jobs will be created.
I will try to find the article I read about it.

up
0 users have voted.

Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

WindDancer13's picture

scrutinized, but just saying that the Dems won't work with him just to show they can be as obstinate, unworthy, and as uncaring as the Reps is plain stupid.

Depending on who wrote the article and for what publication, I may take it with a huge grain of salt. We have seen way too much partisan bending of numbers and facts to take anything we read now at face value.

up
0 users have voted.

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle
If there is no struggle there is no progress.--Frederick Douglass

dervish's picture

as it moves through the committee process etc. If the Dems can make passage contingent on a package of deal-sweeteners, maybe it will be a good thing. There likely won't be many good things coming our way for awhile.

up
0 users have voted.

"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."

On Trump's plan. https://medium.com/senator-bernie-sanders/lets-rebuild-our-infrastructur...

It sounds like Trump's plan is a lot like what Hillary hinted about.

up
0 users have voted.

helping Trump with infrastructure has an "at least with Mussolini the trains were on time" kind of vibe to it.

Of course, coming from partisan democrats that's about as sincere as Trump is a person who respects women--it's all bluster and partisan nonsense. They care about Trump's hitler-germany-like politics about as much as they care about the black and brown folks they claim to (that is, not at all).

up
0 users have voted.
WindDancer13's picture

Standing Rock. How does our treatment of the water protectors stack up against Hitler-Germany-like politics?

The thought of Native Americans being required to wear yellow tipis pinned to their chests has crossed the minds of many Dems, I am sure.

up
0 users have voted.

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle
If there is no struggle there is no progress.--Frederick Douglass

lotlizard's picture

up
0 users have voted.

Mon, 11/21/2016 - 5:12pm — WindDancer13

The WaPo article about this meeting swings

from light praise to saying that "Gabbard often sounds more like a hawkish Republican than a potential future Democratic leader."

The article also talks about how Democrats may not work with Trump on the things this country needs.

There's currently a split in the Democratic Party about whether to work with Trump on legislation like infrastructure and paid family leave, or deny him any victories which would legitimize him as president.

Gabbard appears to be in the former camp. If the majority of Hill Democrats do decide to work with President Trump, she could become an increasingly important player in cutting deals.

How sad is it that jobs and helping Americans comes after party politics?

Well, it was the corporate Republican Party's's turn last time to obstruct anything the corporate Dem President pretended to propose which might possibly benefit the people or country rather than their paymasters...

up
0 users have voted.

Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

Roy Blakeley's picture

To show that he is willing to "reach across the aisle" (I will resist any references to grabbing) before appointing a right winger but he has shown more sanity than Obama and Clinton on certain aspects of foreign policy so I hold out a sliver of hope. She would be an interesting choice: a major in the army, a Hindu and a surfer, and way more integrity than most politicians of either party.

up
0 users have voted.
snoopydawg's picture

Where they were happy that the people who voted for Trump are going to possibly be kicked off of Medicaid.
I rarely comment over there but I couldn't stay silent about how callous the comments were so I commented in it and told them that they should be ashamed of themselves because if this happens then a lot of children are going to be kicked off too and they didn't have a say in it.
I'm sure you can imagine the response I got.
5 recs, but close to 20 responses doubling down on the cruelty.
The typical response to me is that they voted for him even though he said he would dismantle the ACA and the Medicaid expansion came from that.
People still think that Obama walks on water because he got that POS legislation passed.
Many people are paying more for their premiums then they are for their mortgages and still can't afford to see a doctor because their deductibles are so high and they don't have the money to pay out of pocket.
And now they are getting double digit premium increases.
Tell me how that site is any different than red state?

up
0 users have voted.

Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Bisbonian's picture

you're welcome.

up
0 users have voted.

"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X

dervish's picture

over there, don't even look. Maybe in a year or two they'll calm down, or go broke.

up
0 users have voted.

"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."

The only other "Democrat" I am aware that Trump talked to was that poor excuse for a President hiding out in the Oval Office and giving Trump President lessons. The Watertown Daily Times of New York State decided that what Obama was telling Trump was so good that "Trump should heed Obama’s advice". And like any professor with what appears to be a promising student, Obama Says He'll Give Trump a Chance, Even If He Attacks Legacy

So when do you change parties, Barry? How much more evidence do we need that you'd rather belong to the other party?

This assumes that Gabbard wasn't testing the waters for a party change herself.

up
0 users have voted.

Vowing To Oppose Everything Trump Attempts.

sojourns's picture

Sounds to me like she asserted herself professionally. Like 'em or hate 'em, positive democratic influence is needed to assert positive movement. Tulsi did, to her merit, resign from the DNC, largely because she could see the rot -- as primarily manifested by Wasserman-Schultz. I wonder if someone can die from perm poisoning? I digress.

Was it just window dressing? Perhaps, or someone on Donny Boy's Klan is trying to feel out were certain Dem's are on the subject.
You can bet Schumer wouldn't have promoted anything meaningful at all.

up
0 users have voted.

"I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones."
John Cage

ThoughtfulVoter's picture

Or maybe Tulsi is really what she says...she is against regime change and Trump has also spoken out against that in the primary. And she wants to encourage him to stick to his campaign rhetoric.

up
0 users have voted.
snoopydawg's picture

cheforacle bejammin075 Nov 21 · 12:55:45 PM
Tulsi has repeatedly made comments which seem to conflict with reality. She echoes propaganda of Putinists who claim the situation in Syria is the result of American aggression there.
Reply 38 Flag

Putin wouldn't have been invited by Assad to help fight against the terrorists that the USA, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Israel among others have created and funded to help them overthrow him because he turned them down from building their own pipelines in Syria
Here again is the hypocrisy from the people who say that they are progressives.
The anti war movement died the day Obama was elected president , but it will return once Trump is sworn in.

up
0 users have voted.

Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

is a wonderful pipe dream.

up
0 users have voted.

native

dervish's picture

but yeah, SoS would be fantastic.

up
0 users have voted.

"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."

ThoughtfulVoter's picture

up
0 users have voted.
Big Al's picture

a pro-Israel, anti-Iran, anti-Muslim administration.

up
0 users have voted.
dervish's picture

Her views on Syria are more enlightened than virtually any on the D team, and she generally opposes these aggressive interventions. Nothing is more anti-Muslim than bombing them.

up
0 users have voted.

"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."

This is an outrage! As true Democrats, we must do everything to ensure that none of us associate with... you know... the president. This administration must consist purely of Republican nutjobs. That's how we gain power.

up
0 users have voted.

From what I can tell, TOP is pro-war and pro-imperialism--this is the legacy of Obama and Clinton which has imprinted itself on the entire party. The Cold War diaries continue at the site and they still keep pressing the Putin button. The Democratic party will be rich rewarded by the MIC.

up
0 users have voted.
dervish's picture

if they can't provide any voters or win any elections, no rewards will be forthcoming.

up
0 users have voted.

"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."

The corporate parties don't need no stinking voters! Even if the corporate preference doesn't suppress enough voters or flip/manufacture enough votes against similar cheating attempts on the other side, there are always 'Decider' Super Delegates and the corrupted Supreme Court to fix that.

up
0 users have voted.

Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

Zenza's picture

Administration, because we need her voice in the House and elsewhere in the future.

up
0 users have voted.