Retired Admiral James Stavridis talks to the media about the meeting with Donald Trump and the Trump transition team today in HQ.  The media frame this meeting as Stavridis floated as potential cabinet pick. WE DOUBT.

Stavridis was former head of NATO Allied Command during the most consequential NATO intervention in the Mid-East. The Obama/Clinton/Panetta NATO attack against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.  It was Stavridis who coordinated the intervention on behalf of the U.S. State Department, CIA, White House and French leader Nicolas Sarzoky.
Hopefully, this meeting was simply to gain Stavridis perspective on the construct of the current NATO architecture.   Admiral Stavridis is an interventionist’s globalist.

We pause today to remember the 2,403 American heroes who selflessly gave their lives at Pearl Harbor 75 years ago, on a date that will forever live in infamy. We also honor the 1,178 Americans who were wounded, and the countless others who instinctively did their duty, rushing to their posts in the midst of the chaos.
Their shared sacrifice reminds us of the great costs paid by those who came before us to secure the liberties we enjoy, and inspires us to rise to meet the new challenges that stand before us today.
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It’s not yet on the Trump Schedule, however additional people are reporting a likelihood of a return visit by President-elect Donald Trump to Louisiana.  
The last trip by Donald Trump and Mike Pence was during the severe flooding earlier in the year, where both candidates wanted to show their support for the community and relief efforts.   Hillary Clinton also promised to visit, but never did. 
There is an ongoing Senate race in Louisiana where the republican state treasurer John Kennedy is favored to win the election.  A visit by Donald Trump would surely boost their supporters.

BATON ROUGE – President-elect Donald Trump is expected in Baton Rouge Friday afternoon, multiple sources told WBRZ Tuesday.
Sources spoke on condition of anonymity as the event is still being planned.  Two sources with knowledge of a planned visit said staff were trying to find a venue.  Before the election, Trump’s schedule was regularly updated with seemingly spur-of-the-moment rallies that were heavily attended.  Events are known to attract thousands of people.
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President Elect Donald Trump and his Secretary of Defense nominee, General James “Mad Dog” Mattis, are traveling together today to Fayetteville North Carolina for a Thank You Rally.

It is not coincidental that President Stompy Feet delivers a speech today in Tampa Florida declaring he is important too: (more…)

Former CIA Director David Petraeus, a potential candidate for Secretary of State, was interviewed by George Stephanopoulos earlier today.
An interesting aspect – It appears Stephanopoulos, a severe Clinton loyalist, is attempting to head off the potential for Petraeus by undermining him during this broadcast.
This highlights an aspect we won’t see discussed on MSM. If you understand the Benghazi Brief, you can see how Petraeus might be a risk to Secretary Clinton if he were to become the Secretary of State.  However, Petraeus’s prior refusal to push-back against the Clinton/Panetta covert Egypt, Libya and Syria construct has been the source of my own angst toward Petraeus.
That said, does Petraeus hold a hidden, albeit substantive, chip on his shoulder?… hmmmm… that might be useful.  Odds are, no.  But you never know.

A person has to wonder just how frank the Trump/Petraeus questioning was? (more…)

General James “Mad Dog” Mattis has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to be Secretary of Defense.  A video of General Mattis discussing his perspectives on a variety of issues is below.  Well worth watching:

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Ok, this one strategic maneuver has just pegged my too-much-winning needle on max overdrive. Donald Trump took a congratulatory phone call from the President of Taiwan, and now the Chinese will be apoplectic.
Those of you who have been with us for a while, will note our arguments against China’s MFN (Most Favored Nation) trade status have continually fallen on deaf ears within DC.  Why?  Because they are political ears paid to remain necessarily deaf, while various Chinese national interests have taken influence over our legislative priorities on trade and commerce.

In short, we’ve been ripped off.  Bigly.  For decades.
Rule #1 in any trade deal is to fully understand who is the customer within the equation.  The U.S. market is the biggest trade customer on this entire beautiful blue planet.  We hold all the leverage.  Access, or denial of access, to this market is the leverage.  (more…)

Oh My Gosh – what an amazing Trump/Pence Victory Rally in Cincinnati.  Pinch me.  All this winning is exhausting; but we’ll be ok… we can take it. Bigly.
During the event tonight President-elect Donald Trump made the officially unofficial announcement that General James Mattis will be nominated to be Secretary of Defense.

From our earlier discussion – The last retired General to run the Department of Defense was George C Marshall in 1950-1951, and he was only brought in for one very specific year. Thereafter the DoD has been headed by various business and political officials, with a smattering of institutionally academic military leaders.
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According to a report citing two transition sources, Governor Sarah Palin is being considered for the position of Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Governor Palin has been a strong supporter of Donald Trump for several years and was one of his most fierce defenders against the insufferable GOP establishment class.  She would make an exceptional cabinet member in either VA or Interior.
The bench for possible VA Secretary is extremely deep and loaded with dream team candidates, including:  Governor Sarah Palin, Senator Scott Brown and Chairman Jeff Miller (House VA Committee).   The challenge of modernizing, restructuring, removing the corruptocrats and rebuilding the VA structure to provide improved veteran benefits, including healthcare, is urgent and important.
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A very interesting and insightful interview with King Abdullah II of Jordan.  The discussion includes perspectives on the incoming Donald Trump presidency, the Syrian and Mid-East conflict and the larger issues of radical Islamic extremism.
Well worth watching, especially if you have followed the evolutionary relationship between Jordan, Egypt and Russia. If you don’t have time for the full interview watch the first 7-8 minutes:

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