Given the recent discussions about a potential Vice President pick by Donald Trump, several people have asked for my perspective.
Because I look at the office of the presidency slightly different than most, and specifically because the real challenge that needs to be addressed is located deep inside each institution of government, my perspective on the running mate is somewhat different than most.
The Vice President is the safety mechanism for continuity of government in the event that something happens to the President.
Additionally, for the unique nature of the 2024 election, the VP pick technically becomes the 2028 MAGA candidate by default and general intention. Therefore, the selection of Trump’s running mate holds a greater weight of importance given the single term objective.
The primary factor of President Trump’s pick for VP should be, who will be the 2028 nominee.
Prior to President Trump’s first term in office, traditionally the role of the Vice-President, the actual tasks they are assigned to carry out, were generally ceremonial in nature. However, President Trump approached the VP role differently, and gave substantive policy initiatives to Vice President Mike Pence. [Pence proved he was not a good executive]
It should also be remembered that another unique aspect to President Trump’s term was his control over every of aspect of economic policy and trade. This level of economic focus, with controls completely retained by President Trump, was then used as a mechanism to influence President Trump’s foreign policy.
As stated by several Trump economic officials when describing the Trump doctrine, “economic security is national security.” The America-First outlook was a domestic economic focus, used as a lever to influence foreign policy activity.
As a consequence, the President Trump economic team was extremely stable throughout his term. USTR Robert Lighthizer, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, CEA Chairman Larry Kudlow and Trade/Manufacturing Advisor Peter Navarro all worked in close coordination on their specific assignments that were instructions from President Trump.
The globe was broken into two general regions, west (Pacific) and east (Atlantic). Lighthizer was assigned eyes and trade policy toward Asia, while Ross assigned trade policy toward Europe. The total team were in close communication at all times and Donald Trump made every important decision for the econ/trade team. The team carried out Trump’s agenda; it was a very effective approach.
The reason I mention this economic and foreign policy aspect is because there’s little doubt this would again be the focus of President Trump in a second term. Trump is likely going to be the driving force of economic policy and foreign policy, in granular detail again. The VP needs to learn how Trump does it so effectively, so that MAGA continues into 2028.
Meanwhile, all of the other agencies need serious wolverines at the helm, fearlessly chewing down the mechanisms of, (a) the intelligence apparatus; and (b) the controlled bureaucratic and administrative state.
No executive can micromanage the details of this scale, the office of the president can only support their efforts and provide tools and resources for the dismantling.
Knowing this, and fully understanding the skills, strengths and weaknesses of each potential VP selection, I look at the Big Picture through the prism of who do I want at the helm, that has enough loyalty to ensure the deconstruction takes place and/or continues and holds the integrity/fortitude to provide me some measure of assurance. I guess this is the proverbial trust factor, only this time it’s even more important.
Right now, only one person hits that level of integrity for me, Dr. Ben Carson.
I trust Dr Ben Carson to understand the MAGA vision; to understand how the MAGA vision becomes manifest through policy; and, more importantly, to stay true to the MAGA vision if called upon to execute.
Perhaps there is someone else with the loyalty trait, the principal trait, the integrity trait, and the practical trait to continue after 4 years; however, if there is such a person, they don’t jump readily to mind.
The other cabinet members would all have big jobs, and none of them can come from the traditional system within DC. They need to be wolverines baring teeth and ready to start the “retribution phase” on day one.
Secretary of State: Ric Grenell
Defense Secretary: Vivek Ramaswamy
Treasury Secretary: Ron Paul
USTR: Robert Lighthizer or Peter Navarro
Commerce Secretary: Peter Navarro or Robert Lighthizer
EPA Administrator: Sarah Palin
FCC Commissioner: Mike Benz
CIA Director: Robert Kennedy Jr
FBI Director: Matt Gaetz
DOJ Attorney General: Ken Paxton
Office of the Director of National Intelligence: Rand Paul
NSA Director: Thomas Massie
Interior Secretary: Marjorie Taylor Greene
Something like that….
I agree on most of these but several could never get approved. Ken Paxton and RKjr will never get a job that requires approval by the Senate
Massie? Hard pass. The others? Seems nice but pie in the sky. POTUS Trump needs some regular old plain people. Not retreads that have been in politics for decades. I would like to see NON West Point military in senior positions.
I think RFK jr is brilliant as a pick for CIA director. It also shows compassion for the man, to finally find out what happened to his family and then fix the CIA so that sort of thing does not repeat.
I’d put Gaetz in as VP. Let him cool his heels in the larger ceremonial role and learn how to use the levers of power. If he keeps his nose clean, and cuts the smarm he’d to a shoo-in in’28. I’d trust him on the Maga thing.
Grenell is a brilliant choice of SoS.
Needs more women though. Tough to figure out who to trust.
Love the idea but I think Gaetz can not be Trump’s VP. I thought I read somewhere, maybe this website, that a VP must have residence in a state different from his president.
Policy, not law. Games political corporations play.
The Constitution prohibits electors from voting for both Pres and VP if they are residence of the same State. However, Trump could temporarily change his primary residence back to NY until after the election. Btw, Cheney and Bush were both from Texas, but Cheney took up residence in Wyoming so he could run with Bush.
Where in the Constitution does it state that? Thank you.
12th Amendment –
https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/amendmentxii
Trump switching his residency back to New York sets him up for more legal mayhem from the AG doesn’t it?
He would probably be better off moving to Trump Tower in Las Vegas.
Gaetz is not that important for VP pick. We should not change laws or jury rig them. We can find the right people within the accepted constitutional parameters.
Geatz supposedly has a zipper problem that would be an unnecessary distraction from the objective.
Support that statement with some facts Mr. B. A. Brown. You have used the word “supposedly.”
Gaetz could move up the coast a few states, for the Time Being. Like a Second House, if that is enough to do it….
There are only 2 women I know of that REALLY understand and act according to national interest with a MAGA-type focus…..but one is Dutch and the other German……
I think huckabee-sanders has proven herself enough to get a top level cabinet position maybe even veep after a thorough vetting.
NO.
First, she is GREAT where she is.
Second, you aren’t paying attention to some nuances between her and her father and Trump.
Her Father is more RINO than you suspect., he’s trying to help his daughter with Trump, but I’ve watched her face sometimes when Trump is garnering some Nice Praise.
So NO!!! Her Father’s Baggage is NOT worth it. And there is more of that than most people care to remember.
But I saw something blazed in my memory that was sliced out of ALL film of it, the same night it happened.
The Night of May 27th about 2007, if I remember the year right, when a dear friend of his gave him the Microphone at the end of a CHILDREN’S and Young People’s Christian Big Huge Gathering for Prayers, and the Man gave the Microphone to Mike Huckabee, a Presidential Candidate, to talk to the Children for 15 Minutes, “BUT NOT ABOUT POLITICS”.
His big windup at the end of it was all about all the Mexican illegals flooding the USA at that time.
Mike is like, These people are a lot more stronger Family Oriented now than most Americans, and What IF we gave all these ILLEGAL ALIENS the VOTE in the US ELECTIONS, and THEY VOTED TO BAN ABORTIONS.
Lou Engles, Karen Wheaton, The Call.
2007.
MIKE HAD PROMISED NO POLITICS (because he was a preacher before he was Gov of Arkansas in the First slot after Bill Clinton) but asked the KIDS to talk to their parents That night when they got home, about his idea of giving ILLEGAL ALIENS the VOTE in USA Elections, specifically the Presidential Elections, but in all elections in the USA.
Just because someone CUT that piece out of THAT particular Meeting in the last 15 minutes of it, doesn’t mean that little strip was destroyed or that I am the only one who remembers it.
I remember that one also. That is not the way to speak to children. Manipulation.
If RFK Jr was put at the head of CIA, the collective sound of pants being pissed at Langley would rival the noise of Niagara Falls.
SOUNDS Pure Awesome!
Truly.
But RFK Jr is heavy into CLIMATE CHANGE, also – just like the CIA.
RFK, Jr should be NOWHERE near a Trump cabinet…NO WAY. He is anti-2nd and a climate change nut. Wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him.
I forgot he was anti-2A. How stupid of HIM of all people for THAT. About as stupid as the Climate change racketeering….
Why does the list need more women?
The list should be based on only two things:
Loyalty to the OBJECTIVE
Competency to execute the objective.
If the lists results in all white men, but meets those two criteria, SO WHAT?
We need good men as in no political choices. If a woman is exceptional for the task – so be it.
Here are Sundance’s choices:
Vice President: Dr. Ben Carson
Secretary of State: Ric Grenell
Defense Secretary: Vivek Ramaswamy
Treasury Secretary: Ron Paul
USTR: Robert Lighthizer or Peter Navarro
Commerce Secretary: Peter Navarro or Robert Lighthizer
EPA Administrator: Sarah Palin
FCC Commissioner: Mike Benz
CIA Director: Robert Kennedy Jr
FBI Director: Matt Gaetz
DOJ Attorney General: Ken Paxton
Office of the Director of National Intelligence: Rand Paul
NSA Director: Thomas Massie
Interior Secretary: Marjorie Taylor Greene
And here is my response:
I’m mixed on having Carson as VP. He’s a good guy, but I’m not sure if he would be up for that kind of job. He’s also way too mild-mannered to serve as an effective successor to Trump in 2028. That is, if he even runs. He’d be 77 on Election Day that year. He may well step aside either way.
Grenell as Secretary of State? Not just no, but HELL no. The only real difference between him and Mike Pompeo is that he is willing to keep pretending to be MAGA as long as there’s a real possibility of Trump serving a second term. At his core, he is just another neocon who wants to hijack MAGA from within and turn it into Neoconservatism Lite. He needs to just go away and hope that he doesn’t get indicted for his acts of collaboration with Deep State actors during Trump’s first term. I hope that happens, by the way.
Vivek definitely deserves a place in a second Trump administration, but I don’t think he’s cut out for Secretary of Defense. He’d be much better suited for Health and Human Services, given his pre-political profession. Or better yet, make him VP and give Health and Human Services to Carson. Vivek has what it takes to succeed Trump as leader of the MAGA movement, and Carson would certainly be content with running a Department that fits his lifelong passion. I’m still confused to this day as to why he got HUD instead of that during Trump’s first term, BTW.
With all due respect to Ron Paul, he’s too old and worn out to have any position in government anymore. FHS, he’ll be almost 90 in January 2025. And he’s not exactly in the best health, either. I’d let the guy rest and give the job to Rand instead. Give DNI to someone else, if anybody at all.
I’m up for Lighthizer coming back, but not Navarro. The latter has too much of an anti-China bias to serve effectively, especially post-COVID. I can easily see him sabotaging Sino-American trade talks to make sure China is treated as unfairly as possible. MAGA is about fair trade, which means the deals have to be mutually beneficial. It’s not about getting revenge on China, and if Navarro can’t see that then he needs to go away. BTW, it’s precisely because of his massive anti-China bias that I suspect that Navarro is a closet neocon.
Sarah Palin as EPA Administrator? Sure.
Mike Benz as FCC Commissioner? I have no idea who this guy is, so I’ll reserve judgment for now.
RFK Jr. as CIA Director? Not just no, but HELL no. I like RFK Jr., but I don’t want him, or anybody else for that matter, serving as CIA Director. I want the CIA disbanded. No “ifs”, “ands”, or “buts”. If he wants to work with Trump, perhaps he can be involved in investigating the CIA’s files once that TERRORIST ORGANIZATION is disbanded.
Matt Gaetz as FBI Director? A few months ago I would’ve been for this, but now I want him to just go away. His antics during the last Speaker election prove that he can’t be trusted. Yes he ousted McCarthy, but then he promoted a guy who publicly endorsed DeSantis (Bob Good), and after that a known NeverTrumper (Tom Emmer). At best he has shockingly poor judgment, and at worst he is compromised. Given that he apparently wants to run for Governor of Florida in 2026 and went from ousting McCarthy to promoting Bob Good, I suspect it’s in fact the latter.
Ken Paxton as Attorney General? Yes, please!
Rand Paul as DNI? As I stated earlier, I’d rather have him in Treasury. On another note, I’m not sure if Trump should be appointing anybody at all to this position. Our intelligence agencies are so rotten that at the very minimum the CIA needs to be done away with for good. And other agencies may need to be done away with for good as well.
Thomas Massie as NSA Director? He endorsed DeSantis, so he’s automatically disqualified by Trump’s own standards. On another note, even if Trump did appoint him there remains a real question as to whether it’s worth allowing the NSA to continue to exist. As I stated earlier, our intelligence agencies are so rotten that at the very minimum the CIA needs to be done away with for good. And other agencies may need to be done away with for good as well.
Marjorie Taylor Greene as Secretary of the Interior? I’m a “no” on this one. She’s too much of a sleaze to be trusted with any position in a second Trump adminstration, and I personally believe she can’t even be trusted to serve in Congress anymore. She needs to just go away.
I would give DNI to Flynn along with carte blanch to fire/ destroy anyone that gets in his way.
Assuming the agencies that answer to the position are even salvageable.
Sundance said RAND PAUL, the son. – Not Ron, the dad.
I read the article. He suggested the dad for Treasury and the son for DNI.
SD said Ron at Treasury, Rand at ODNI.
Both –
Treasury Secretary: Ron Paul
Office of the Director of National Intelligence: Rand Paul
I’d like to see Rep. Donalds (Florida) with a post in Trump’s 2nd administration. I don’t know him well enough to suggest where the best place would be, but he is full MAGA. Maybe he would be a better VP for Trump than Carson, who might be best suited as Secretary of Health and Human Services?
Also, any suggestions for Education Secretary? I know, I know: this department should be abolished, but if it isn’t in the 2nd Trump admin, who would be a good fit? I like the ones who are currently wading into the lions’ den (aka colleges and universities)–Charlie Kirk, Candace Owens, etc.–but not at all sure if this would be advisable. Personally, I’d love to see
Candace Owens be assigned as Secretary, with the mission: dismantle the DEA…..
Amen on Rep. Donalds! Excellent addition.
Donalds is NOT full MAGA. If he was, he wouldn’t have backed Tom Emmer for Speaker.
As for Owens, I don’t trust her either. She comes off to me as being way too focused on issues surrounding her own race exclusively as opposed to issues surrounding all Americans.
Owens sees the larger picture. She is also fighting for Her people to be freed from the democratic plantation.
“Owens sees the larger picture.”
No, she doesn’t. If she did, she would be advocating for ALL Americans, not just a single race.
Candace Owens was a never Trumper and is a full time grifter. As far as Charlie Kirk goes, he’s an empty suit.
Byron Donald’s is a phony. Read up on him.
I think Universities are only a part of the problem . The bigger issue for me is the leftist dogma sewn into curriculum of k-12.
It’s all indoctrination about African American grievances, wokist DEI , climate change , globalism and anti-western civ from first grade on up. This is very serious in my opinion.
Teachers have no say over curriculum sent to them from above. Giving authority back to the states will help but not a final solution. We Also need to shine some Light on the communists at McGraw hill who publish the textbooks
Governor Henry McMaster (R-SC) should be good as Sec. Education.
Trump loyalist from Day 1 – first elected Republican (Lt. Gov. SC) to endorse him. Some people say Trump picked Gov. Haley as UN Ambassador so McMaster could move up.
He was good during the covid bs – quietly went about the business of keeping SC open as possible (no govt. vaccine mandates here) and worked hard to keep schools open.
He’s about the same age as Trump, Sec. Education would be a good job to retire on.
Candace Owens for Press Secretary – she can take own the libs.
“Mike Benz as FCC Commissioner? I have no idea who this guy is, so I’ll reserve judgment for now.”
Mike Benz,excellent choice!
https://foundationforfreedomonline.com/department-of-homeland-censorship-how-dhs-seized-power-over-online-speech/
https://www.youtube.com/live/2SImz_5KzIY?app=desktop
Would appreciate you spelling out your thinking on Ramaswamy as Defense Secretary… that one is definitely out of left field, so to speak, given his total lack of experience in that arena.
Vivek for might work in Commerce, Treasury, or Transportation.
I thought same, at first. Further reflection: DoD is a functionally a corporation with many corporate relationships. This is VR’s world, he’s a business guy. And he has said all the right things about meritocracy and woke.
That the department has failed a half dozen audits in a row is an opportunity for focus that would likely lead to a total overhaul.
Thing is, that department is so huge and so tied up with IC and, through its research arms, HHS (who ran the C – 19 response? DAR PA), the adjacent executives would need to act as a team; and the department secretary would need really strong and reliable deputies. It would be good to know VR’s track record in hiring/placing senior managerial level staff.
With all due credit to all the energy and passion displayed in the comments, I don’t doubt for a second that President Trump Trump already has his VP and his cabinet picked.
Now, maybe this thread is acting as a sort of test balloon for certain names, gauging the reactions of those who are really paying attention. But some names are a definite, I believe, based on past performance and remarks by President Trump.
So, here goes, not with my recommendation, but with my tea leaf reading.
Definite, IMHO
Dan Scavino, Jr. – Press Secretary
Chris Miller – Sec of Defense
Gen. Flynn – either VP or National Security advisor
Jack Posobiec – not sure, but something
Peter Navarro and Lightheizer – just as Sundance has suggested
Ezra Cohen- Watnick, CIA, until it is dismantled, which it will be.
Kash Patel – DOJ
Why? President Trump asked Gen. Flynn, in public, to be ready.
Kash Patel, because he was singled out and elevated, there at the end, and a few other reasons.
Cohen-Watnick because he took action to neuter the CIA already by denying Spec Ops support, plus he is a Flynn Protege.
Other names that are likely:
Alina Habba
Sidney Powell
John Ratcliffe, maybe SOS
(Hey John or whoever, if you need someone in L, I hereby raise my hand and volunteer to clean out the stables and make sure the lawyers don’t stand in the way of implementing policy)
Devin Nunes
Joseph Ladopo (Surgeon General)
Scott Atlas (NIH under a new Schedule F)
Matt Gaetz
Ben Carson
Gen. Charles Flynn (Chair, Joint Chiefs of Staff)
Col. Douglas Macgregor
Maybe Rudy Guiliani
Maybe JFK Jr. to head that commission that will be investigating Big Phrma, the link to autism, and jabs damage, because that will happen
Let’s see what happens
As for Kari Lake, and Ken Paxton and Mark Robinson and a few others who had elections stolen (eg PA), have we failed to learn how very important Governors are in the federal scheme – especially on the border?
A cabinet position is nice.
MAGA Governorships, otoh,is crucial.
Agree. Can’t take all the good ones away from congress or the states. That will leave wide open doors for the demonic hordes.
I had forgotten about Col. Macgregor. A definite top pick for me as SecDef.
I like the suggestion of JFK Jr to head a comission to look into Big Pharma, vaccines (in general), and all those #$%^ drug commercials flooding our TV for years……
Keep RFK, Jr. away from the Administration. He is married to left wing, Hollywood diva Cheryl Hines, and very good friends with radical Trump hater Larry David. Btw, he would never work in the Trump Administration.
Your list is better than the others submitted thus far. But is is RFK, Jr. not JFK, Jr.
RFK Jr yes for big pharma. No to Rudy – He is too burnt out (sorry to say) – was a great mayor for NYC.
Hmmm, no mention of Federal Reserve Chairman?
So who?
Why do we need a Federal Reserve of private banking interests? Nationalize it and end it’s reign of terror.
J.P. Morgan would be rolling in his grave, clawing at the coffin lid.
That place should get locked down on day 1 with a battallion of troops with a full audit on day 2.
Bravo! Excellent list Sundance. The Deep State would piss their pants.
LOL… these cabinet picks would make all the right heads explode.
I am late to the party and have not read all the comments. But here is my two cents.
Ben Carson is absolutely a brilliant, courageous, loyal conservative. I wholeheartedly respect and admire him.
I heard him speak in November and he said that he was not interested in returning to Washington DC. I don’t think he would accept an invitation to be Vice President.
Dr.Ben may have changed his mind….he is working on the transition team, I read.
Had some time to think on it, and cogitate a bit.
In 2022, it seems clear to me there were two different kinds of Candidates that PDJT endorsed, with a very few that maybe were in between these two (Vance, for example).
97% of the Candidates he endorsed, IMHO were ones that were not what I would consider “true MAGA” but that were running with the support of their State party, the RNC and the R Congressional campaign committees, and were likely or certain to win.
With varying degrees these candidates tended to NOT champion their “Trump endorsement” and did not campaign on “Election Integrity” (SAYING the 2020 election was stolen) and did not make being against COVID mandates a major campaign issue, either,..and tried to stay away from abortion.
In most cases, these candidates had no MAGA primary opponent, or PDJT calculated said primary opponent couldn’t win, and so to preserve the value of his endorsement he gave it to them.
Roughly 5% of his 2022 endorsements were what I would call ‘true MAGA’ and KL’s campaign is emblematic; LOUDLY championed their “Trump endorsement” and did NOT run away from it, …LOUDLY proclaimed (against the advice of the party) that hell yes 2020 election was stolen, and strongly, vocally opposed Covid mandates, and strongly hinted if not SAID what we here know, regarding Covid.
And, each of these candidates had STAFFS of mostly volunteers, that were targeted with threats, etc. and fought hard, and so are “battled scarred MAGA veterans” and so THIS is where I would like to see PDJT look for staffing his next admin.
They lost, NOT because they were poor candidates, but because the RNC, the State R party machines, and the R Congressional and Senate Canpaign committees worked hard to insure their defeat, which is the best reccomendation for positions in the Admin.
Majewski, Mastrianno, DePerno, Karamo, Masters, H. Walker, Tshibaka, and of coarse Kari Lake are the big names, there are many other “down ticket” and so less well known names that ALSO ran boldly against the RINO’s and had their hats handed to them.
Heard the candidate for A.G. for Nevada speak, she’s a real force to be recconed with THERES your A.G…gal in Az ran as head of education, would be a great person to help liquidate U.S. dept of Ed, Cara Castronuevo in NYS, etc.
Again, not only these candidates that were true MAGA, and that the RINOS targeted, but their STAFFS as well, who in many cases ran STELLER campaigns and are “blooded” having withstood the attacks to reputations, background checks, etc.
And, as an additional plus, these are people that are PISSED and will be going into DC detirmined to kick ass.
Also don’t see Sidney Powell and while I think Rudy is probably “too old”, Sidney has the skills, knows what needs to be done, and has earned a role in fixing DOJ.
The idea of picking those who have proven themselves by having been blooded is excellent.
So what if no one knows their names?
If they do a Trump like job at whatever they are given, their names will be known soon enough.
Integrity and intention are key.
Interesting list and I’m in agreement with a lot of it, but I think Vivek should be sec of education. Our schools are seriously screwed up and you’re gonna need someone with drive and intelligence to tackle that one. Mike Flynn might be an option at defense. Also, RFK jr at CIA? Uhh that’s a no. If you want someone who’s a dem with intelligence and at least seems to be evenhanded, Jonathan Turley. Though that’s gonna be a tough nut to crack with anyone. Perhaps Victor Davis Hanson.
One other avenue I think President Trump should consider. Putting folks in the Cabinet to get them out of positions. Like make Lindsey Graham the UN rep, so someone who’s MAGA can rep South Carolina in the Senate. I guess there’s a chance they can mess around, but Trump could fire them at that point.
Thanks for your list!
“Schools are seriously screwed up” amen !!
Vivek might be the one who could fix our schools ?? . Not a bad idea for his brains and energy!! He might agree to do it for a year then move on to fix the fbi or some other mess? Actually in my opinion fixing schools is even more urgent need than fixing the fbi
public schools in my town are majority Hispanic and having trouble making do with English teaching materials . Very little effort is being made to requireSpanish speakers learn English.
Hispanic migrants in my town are breeding like crazy so schools are overcrowded,my town is building more and more schools ,
Public schools are looking like indoctrination centers for leftist ideology with sorry performance in reading and math
Vivek might be the one to fix it?
As sec ed, he might be alright – but remember….he’ll be tasked with the dissolution of that department, since it is within the states’ purview, not the feds.
Consider other appointments if he can get rid of dep ed within, say 11 months.
Steve Mnuchin did a great job in Trump’s 1st admin. Was he Treasury Secretary or something else? The banking bizz got a lot more local thru plans that Trump & Mnuchin set in motion. Two different credit unions opened several branches in my area during the 1st Trump admin. Mnuchin knows more about the machinery of finance than either of the Pauls. Use Ron and Rand for advice and service to the cause. Give experts like Mnuchin the real power.
Steve M was phenomenal, that pic of Trump turning to comment to him and Lighthizer is historic; I believe SM was SOT, an encore performance would work well, anywhere involving the Country’s finance works.
Both Bannon and Navarro have a completely different view of Mnuchin. He won’t be back if they have anything to do with staffing. Same for Kudlow.
I want Russ Voight at Tresury and Mike Davis at DOJ. No one without retribution as a primary job duty need apply.
I’d be careful about plucking out House members especially if their seat isn’t super safe.
Scott Walker was the first politician I have ever seen that had the guts to fight organized labor. I’d like to see him at Labor.
If Kari Lake wasn’t running for Senate, she’d be my VP choice. Beyond her, no one really stands out as the MAGA successor. I’d be fine with a loyal seat warmer with the understanding that everyone gets behind a Senator Lake in 2028.
Keep liberals Mnuchin and Kudlow away from the Trump Administration. According to Trump advisor Peter Navarro they did a lot to prevent MAGA/America First policies from being implemented.
Did you give out white flags as Christmas gifts this year? It would be your signature gift!
I would definitely prefer a pitbull like Kari Lake as VP,,,and no, MTG should not even be in the cabinet as dogcatcher,,,put Dr Ben in that slot instead,,,,disband the CIA/DOJ/DOE/FBI altogether, along with DHS and FEMA,,,they are all as useless as tits on a boar hog
Dr. Carson would be a terrible choice if the goal is to win an election. As a VP, should Trump win, I think hed be just fine. As a 2028 candidate, we can kiss the race goodbye. Hed have 0% chance of winning. So, overall just a terrible choice.
Then it would be time for the young guns like Vance, Gaetz to challenge him. For the first4 years, he is perfect. Inner cities would be open to his message. Worry about 5 years from now in 4 years.
I don’t get Gaetz – something seems questionable about Him. Perhaps duplicitous?
Why
The GOPe in Congress will never give assent to the comfirmable positions in this list and without them never confirm. The trick should be to nom other unpalatable choice and have these serve as “interim”.
in DC, interim can be a long time.
Note to would be new commenters. Go ahead and make your counter proposals and disagreements. Present your reasons, state your case. But you can leave off that jerk attitude and accusations, and your comment will be approved.
If your logic is nothing but insults and accusations, you have nothing to offer.
Trump’s picks first time around were appalling. He has to get it right from go-get this time. No Deep State vermin!
He can pick, but that is not a sure thing to be ‘chosen’….that role is the Despicable Turtle’s contribution to this goatshow.
Elise Stefanik for VP. President or Vice President is too important a job for anyone but a New Yorker.
That could be solid ticket. Good discussion about Trump-Stefanik on another blog site.
OMG I love the dream team list!
Kari Lake for Press Secretary unless she wins her Senate Race. Then keep her there. Amazing communication skills. Gaetz does want to run for Governor of Florida. I want to see that happen. I can see a position for Vivek—just not at DOD. HHS would be a good fit for him. Joseph Ladopo (Surgeon General or head of CDC) or Dr Atlas who would be a good fit at NIH. No Sidney Powell, as she showed bad judgment getting in with some crackpots (who I suspect set her up) and she’d be bad PR or Guiliani who is a drunk. Poso someplace especially intel related same with Flynn. Paxton or Robert Barnes would both be great AGs and RFK Jr needs to play a role that will deal with Big Pharma. BUT it’s gonna take more than just changing people, all agencies and departments need to be reduced in size and have those that can’t be let-go put in places where they can make less trouble. Part of the problem is structure and size —not just personnel.
“..or Giuliani who is a drunk” ?
Churchill was a heavy drinker.
Oct. 30, 1863, in the New York Times: “When someone charged Gen. Grant, in the President’s hearing, with drinking too much liquor, Mr. Lincoln, recalling Gen. Grant’s successes, said that if he could find out what brand of whiskey Grant drank, he would send a barrel of it to all the other commanders.”
Winnie was a functional drunk, and, alas, while was often right, and heroic, and understood the Nazis & Hitler, he made some absolutely staggering mistakes. He seized a battleship the Brits had built for the Turks, a thinned-skinned over-gunned w too small a caliber gun one-off that yet so enraged the Turks so they joined the German side in WWI! Then he launched the Gallapolis campaign against those now enemy Turks. (It was the HMS Agincourt. And hey, it fired ONE salvo at Jutland.)
I could go on. But, ’nuff said.
This: “Part of the problem is structure and size —not just personnel.”
I have enough organizational experience to say that once a structure is in place, it takes a LOT to change/dismantle it. It’s worth considering this in a framework of “input-throughput-output”. Changing personnel at the top only goes so far. All of the components that add up to the culture of an organization must be disrupted to effect long-lasting change (unless it’s being completely dismantled), and that is done by infusing new/different personnel and practices.
Where do all the unionized federal employees go once their agency is dismantled? Or downsized? There needs to be strategic thinking about this, because they will be pissed/disgruntled and thus ripe for recruitment into nefarious factions. Even if into the world of private business. A long-range view, like 20 years, is essential.
20 years?
We’ll be indeed fortunate to have the full President Trump second term.
The unionized feds can go pound sand. There’s no room for them in a true republic….only claim for greatness being a sponge at the federal trough.
WOW! My heart be still!
Definitely a dream team
The best part is that Trump gets to decide. I’ll trust his judgment.
Yes, I agree. Don’t know what he would think of two political enemies, i.e., Kennedy, and Massie heading up Intel given all the problems he had with it already. As Jack Kennedy knew, you either put blood relatives in law enforcement and Intel, or you find the closest thing to it.
Sundance’s picks need a 72-hour cooling off period before they can be taken seriously.
Ken Paxton is excellent pick for AG, hope it happens; not so enthusiastic about the Thomas Massie or Vivek picks, Massie seems to be schizo about his politics, the jury’s still out on Vivek, the balance of picks is AOK. Chris Kobach in Kansas has a solid history in so far as I know, maybe Trump ought to pick him for his future Cabinet, he’d make a good DOJ asset to assist Paxton. But, these elected officials, most of them you just can’t judge ’til they’ve been in office a while, the ones, e.g., Gaetz, they hit the ground running the right direction.
I’m a woman and I call BS on the woke quotas requiring this outward appearance or that number of X chromosomes. Get the person with the strongest character and the best track record. Sundance already included SP and MTG.
As a woman, I second your opinion, Deb M.
Secretary of State: Ric Grenell Agree
Defense Secretary: Vivek Ramaswamy No. No knowledge of DoD. Kash Patel instead.
Treasury Secretary: Ron Paul Okay, the father Paul.
USTR: Robert Lighthizer or Peter Navarro Agree
Commerce Secretary: Peter Navarro or Robert Lighthizer Agree
EPA Administrator: Sarah Palin Maybe
FCC Commissioner: Mike Benz Agree.
CIA Director: Robert Kennedy Jr On the fence. Can he be trusted?
FBI Director: Matt Gaetz No. Needed in Congress. Tough one. Someone w/inside know.
DOJ Attorney General: Ken Paxton No. Needed in Texas. Mike Davis (I know there is bad blood.)
Office of the Director of National Intelligence: Rand Paul No. Gen. Mike Flynn. He knows where all the secrets lie.
NSA Director: Thomas Massie No. Needed in Congress. Let Mike Flynn suggest.
Interior Secretary: Marjorie Taylor Greene No. Needed in Congress. Hageman from WY.
Chief of Staff: Steve Bannon
I could get on board with most of these. But I prefer Mark Robinson to Ben Carson. I am associated MR and he’s total MAGA. And he brings the wood when he’s debating or just discussing policy.
Ben fails Trumps biggest test for running for office. He’s too low energy. I love the good doctor, but he isn’t built for the campaign.
Mr Robinson on the other hand was born for the campaign. Not only does he take the race card out of the lefts hands, but you bet your bottom dollar none of those soy boy reporters will have the ba—s to call him Uncle Tom to his face. Any sort of “not black enough” ammo will go right out the door for the leftist propaganda machine. He’s also super quick on his feet, and a total pragmatic thinker. He is the PERFECT choice for VP.
Other than that I can dig the rest. I don’t like RFK but putting him in charge of the unit that killed his father and uncle is so beautiful. The irony is delicious. And he would be so ensconced in ripping that place to shreds that he wouldn’t have time to get wrapped up in deep state bs. Love it.
I’d also like to see Lake in there somewhere if her senate seat is stolen like the Gov seat.
Ah, yes! Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. I saw him speak not so long ago and I was mesmerized by his speech sans teleprompters. He is truly a gifted orator. VP, indeed.
I am a HUGE Mark Robinson fan!!! He’s a strong, courageous, “Truth to power” Christian man and a great orator.
Agree 100% that he would be an outstanding choice and carry the MAGA torch into the 2030’s. Particularly if he had Trump as VP the first four years. 😉
Howlclan: “I agree on most of these but several could never get approved. Ken Paxton and RKjr will never get a job that requires approval by the Senate.”
Regardless of who controls the Senate in January 2025, no one on the Sundance list will get Senate approval if Donald Trump is elected our 47th president. Nor will anyone else Trump nominates receive Senate confirmation.
The Uniparty’s Senate allies, RINOs and Democrats alike, will align with functionaries inside the Administrative State to oppose anyone and everyone Trump nominates for a position requiring Senate confirmation.
While the Senate’s confirmation blockade is in force, hundreds of lawfare assaults will be launched in the courts which will attempt to deny Donald Trump’s authority to place acting managers in key positions while the confirmation process is underway.
It is also possible that no one among the ranks of the Biden Administration’s senior managers in each department or agency will resign on or before January 20th, 2025, and will be ready to file hundreds if not thousands of lawsuits in the DC courts upon notice of being fired.
How would the Uniparty RINO’s in the House of Representatives react if their constituencies in the Administrative State are under severe pressure from a newly inaugurated Trump Administration to accept Trump’s far-reaching MAGA reforms?
I will guess that within a month of his second inauguration, Donald Trump will be impeached for a third time on charges that he is abusing his powers as President by quickly dismissing key government officials who have been previously identified as whistleblowers requiring protection from alleged persecution.
In any case, a newly inaugurated President Trump must have at least two names available for becoming acting manager of a Senate confirmed federal position while the big lawfare fight over Trump’s authority to hire and fire is still in progress.
Wise warnings. Why it is essential to have a MAGA Congress as well as a MAGA President.
McConnell prepped the battlefield in 2022. Paul Singer, Dan Loeb and Larry Ellison…Republican billionaire donors were steered away from Trump supported Senate candidates.
Blake Masters in Arizona, Herschel Walker in Georgia, Adam Laxalt in Nevada, Dr. Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania, and General Don Bolduc in New Hampshire, were kept from the Senate because of his Trump hatred.
Dynamite!
Transportation: Sundance
What brilliant picks. But I don’t see Kash Patel anywhere on the list…
Press Secretary: Matt Walsh
I never understand why Sarah Huckabee Sanders isn’t the first name out of everyone’s mouth. I think she could handle just about anything.
Maybe VP?
Hmmm Hardly a mention of Ron DeSantis. I’ll go there and most of you won’t like it but I ask you to toss this around.
In your life there are ups and downs and sometimes big downs. Many people learn from their experience of massive failure. When things are the absolute worst, some people will actually choose to engage a competitor that contributed to their being stomped into the ground and left for the crows. Some roadkill may still be edible if it’s recent.
What I’m suggesting is to watch how RDS leaves the stage, and what he does until the VP is picked. Trump wrote a book called “Art of the Deal” and I would say that Big Ron is in desperate need of a deal right now. He is floundering, has made poor choices, and surrounded himself with all the wrong people. He has not developed his suspicious cat, but maybe if he falls low enough it is possible he could learn.
Who better to take on an “apprentice” than Trump. DJT is a maker of greatness who can invest in someone that is so far down many think unrecoverable. The MAGADon is an expert in distressed properties and can build a downtrodden broken one-story into an amazing skyscraper, once he owns that lowly forgotten property. The key is for the distressed property to get bad enough it is in the right position to be rehabbed.
Aside from Ron’s failure, he does have the base credentials of military service, a governorship reasonably well done, a policy perspective that is for the most part America First, and is malleable by MAGA if he were to grovel, apologize, and prove he can stand up and embrace the American people instead of the swamp who failed him biggly.
There was a time when RDS was seen as part of a dream ticket. He came to a fork in the road and chose the wrong path. Has he been beaten down enough to admit his choice was wrong? Will he embrace the branches that support the Treehouse or will he drop to the ground never to be seen again. We shall see.
I was a big fan of DeSantis as governor of Florida; however, I wonder if he is a closet globalist who governed as a conservative for show for the purpose of attracting MAGA voters. If he actually was chosen as VP, would he just be another Pence? If he was elected President, would he just be another globalist puppet?
Not closet. Soros endorsed him.* And he’s a Club for Growth Member.**
*Ron DeSantis Wins the Coveted George Soros Endorsement – Describing DeSantis as “Shrewd, Ruthless and Ambitious”… – The Last Refuge ~ 2/16/23 ~ https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2023/02/16/ron-desantis-wins-the-coveted-george-soros-endorsement-describing-desantis-as-shrewd-ruthless-and-ambitious/
**Club for Growth Invites Ron DeSantis to Join Wall Street Controlled Republican Candidates Haley, Pompeo, Pence, Youngkin and Scott for 2024 Planning Session at Donor Retreat – The Last Refuge ~ 2/10/23
Another Pence. Globalist puppet? Yes and beyond!
He’s missing too many key ingredients.
Integrity, loyalty, critical thinking, likability, his wife is a Prima Donna and he’s way too deeply indebted to to the Never MAGA billionaires. Aside from that, the only people that really like men in high heels are trannies and they aren’t a large enough constituency to make it happen.
I have NEVER trusted RDS — a major gut feeling.
Ron is a chameleon; a great deceiver.
Admin…please delete this reply…thank you.
Flynn for dni/cia
Sundance: any thoughts on Kari Lake? It may not matter if she wins a Senate seat in AZ, but where would you put her in this list if AZ does the unthinkable and refuses her again?
“…if AZ does the unthinkable and refuses her again?”
Lake won in AZ by a landslide! Remember the massive voter fraud that occurred in AZ? YES…massive fraud in 2020 AND in 2022!!!
Please watch this recent video below.
STATE OF DENIAL: ARIZONA – FULL-LENGTH FEATURE FILM – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqlGMvhZ6zo
It is my understanding that Grenell was instrumental in getting Assange out the the Ecuadorian embassy and put in prison.
No, thank you.
Glad I’m not the only one here who sees that as a deal breaker. That fact is often overlooked.
ahhhhh nope!
MAGA = 100% freedom of choice especially when it comes to submitting to vaccine tyranny.
This one issue completely eliminates Carson in my book.
__________
GOP Hero Ben Carson Supports Mandatory Vaccination – DC Clothesline ~ 2/6/15
https://dcclothesline.com/2015/02/06/gop-hero-ben-carson-supports-mandatory-vaccination/
Conservative Neurosurgeon Ben Carson Says Vaccines Are A Must | GBH ~ 1/10/16
https://www.wgbh.org/news/2015-02-03/conservative-neurosurgeon-ben-carson-says-vaccines-are-a-must
On that vaccine tyranny. They say the vaccine reduces symptoms. How do they know that? If people can have COVID without any symptoms at all to full blown deathly sick, how would they test a reduction of symptoms? They have no idea how sick anyone would get before infection so how do they test if there is no baseline of symptoms to start from?
They also say this about flu vaccine but those are different technology. I understand they can measure the load of virus in our systems but that doesn’t show a reduction, it’s just a static point.
I can understand a lab where one set of cells has had the vaccine and another did not, you could measure over time how the virus multiplies in each leading one to conclude the vaccine has some effect. But cells in a lab are not people with immune systems that determine the viral load which could distort the effect of a vaccine. Even if they inoculated people with COVID they still wouldn’t be able to predict what level of symptoms they would start or end up with.
Just speculating here but have never heard any discussion and was curious if anyone else has.
All good questions but afraid the medical industry will never provide answers. Instead we must be on our toes to find answers and connect the dots. Otherwise, our kids and grand kids will suffer horribly.
How the Government Covers Up Vaccine Injuries ~ October 2023
https://rumble.com/v3xholo-how-the-government-covers-up-vaccine-injuries.html
‘The Defender In-Depth’: VAERS Intentionally Undercounting, Obscuring Vaccine Injury Data, Expert Says • Children’s Health Defense ~ 11/22/23
https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/defender-in-depth-podcast-albert-benavides/?utm_source=luminate&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=defender-wk&utm_id=20231126
Wow! Was not aware of this. Agree that it’s a deal breaker.
“Dr. Ben Carson, the secretary of Housing and Urban Development under former President Donald Trump, criticized people for ignoring the benefits of natural immunity against COVID-19, saying the goal of pushing vaccinations is to maintain control over people.”
https://www.newsweek.com/trump-official-ben-carson-calls-politicians-drunk-power-over-covid-vaccine-control-1671282
Ratcliffe, Mike Davis, and Kash Patel, are other cabinet possibilities.
Jeff Clark in DOJ
I’m probably missing some background here, but just off the top of my head why exclude Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Kari Lake, Kristi Noem, Jim Jordan, Mark Robinson?
Especially, why take America-First people out of the House and Senate, where we will need them to pass MAGA legislation and (in the Senate) to approve Cabinet picks?
Good point—I would love to see wisc sen ron Johnson in cabinet but dem gov tony Evers would get to appoint his replacement and that is a problem
Nice list, Sundance. Of course, if we get the same or similar make-up of “Republicans” in the Senate and Senate leadership, we know most on this list will be DOA and have no chance of Senate approval.
In this likely event, Trump should then just name them as Acting Directors of X or Acting Secretary of Y. I think these Acting appointments would be 6-month appointments, limited by 2 or 3 terms. Hence, the bench has to be deep enough to replace the first “Acting” with new names for a second round of Actings…..
Anyone have more insight on placing someone as Acting Director/Secretary? Please jump in…..
Great picks. Basically the suggested appointments are a massive 180 “eff you” to what the whole fascist operation has become. I like Carson’s character, but not a big fan of his past, more pro-vaccine posture. (I’m not absolute anti-vax, but am “selective, discriminating vax” so to speak). Glad Vivek is included in the cabinet, whereby he might earn the people’s trust. Ron Paul in Treasury would be glorious–a recognition of his prophetic wisdom well overdue.
I have not read all the commentary about 45’s 2024 Dream Team, but I think Matt Whittaker was overlooked.
100% Carson
Right there with you !
Defense secretary; col. Douglas MacGregor.
If that isn’t a good choice, I hope there’s a follow- up article on why not.
Im old enough to remember Dr. Ben Carson dissing Obama TO HIS FACE at the Na tional Prayer Breakfast. https://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2013/03/11/174026740/ben-carson-says-no-apology-needed-after-controversial-speech
How about some Don Jr. ?? Maybe dismantle DOE
excellent
Suggest add wisc senator Ron Johnson to the list, at lease could replace Mayorkas. Loved his comments to Maria B. About the border. But he is loyal to MAGA and experienced in many areas