Giuliani emerges as favorite for Trump's secretary of state

[webfact]

Giuliani emerges as favorite for Trump's secretary of state

By STEVE PEOPLES, JULIE PACE and JILL COLVIN

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has emerged as the favorite to serve as secretary of state in Donald Trump's incoming administration, a senior Trump official said on Monday — another indication the president-elect is putting a prize on loyalty as he narrows down his Cabinet picks.

 

The official, who was not authorized to speak on the record and requested anonymity, said there was no real competition for the job and that it was Giuliani's if he wanted it. But a second official cautioned that John Bolton, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, remained in contention for the job.

 

Giuliani, 72, would be an out-of-box choice to lead the State Department. A former mayor, federal prosecutor and top Trump adviser, he lacks extensive foreign policy experience. Known for his hard-line law-and-order views and brusque manner, he would set a very different tone than previous holders of the job, including Trump's ex-rival Hillary Clinton, Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice.

 

Bolton has years of federal government experience, but he has also raised eyebrows with some of his hawkish stances, including a 2015 op-ed in The New York Times in which he advocated bombing Iran to halt the country's development of nuclear weapons.

 

A spokeswoman for Giuliani did not immediately respond to a request for comment about his interest in the job. But the former mayor said Monday night at a gathering of CEOs sponsored by the Wall Street Journal that he "won't be attorney general" in Trump's administration — a job for which he'd long been seen as a top contender.

 

Asked about the secretary of state speculation, Trump said that Bolton "would be a very good choice." But asked if there was anyone better, he replied with a mischievous smile: "Maybe me, I don't know."

 

Trump was also considering Monday whether to inject new diversity into the GOP by recommending a woman to lead the Republican Party and an openly gay man to represent the United States at the United Nations.

 

The moves, among dozens under consideration from his transition team, follow an intense and extended backlash from Trump's decision on Sunday to appoint Steve Bannon, a man celebrated by the white nationalist movement, to serve as his chief strategist and senior adviser.

 

"After winning the presidency but losing the popular vote, President-elect Trump must try to bring Americans together — not continue to fan the flames of division and bigotry," said House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi. She called Bannon's appointment "an alarming signal" that Trump "remains committed to the hateful and divisive vision that defined his campaign."

 

His inauguration just 66 days away, however, Trump focused on building his team and speaking to foreign leaders. He remained sequestered in Trump Tower in New York.

 

Inexperienced on the international stage, the Republican president-elect spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone. His transition office said in a readout that "he is very much looking forward to having a strong and enduring relationship with Russia and the people of Russia." Trump has spoken in recent days with the leaders of China, Mexico, South Korea and Canada.

 

At the same time, Trump was considering tapping Richard Grenell as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. He would be the first openly gay person to fill a Cabinet-level foreign policy post. Grenell, known in part for aggressive criticism of rivals on Twitter, previously served as U.S. spokesman at the U.N. under President George W. Bush.

 

Trump was also weighing whether to select Michigan GOP chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel, a niece of chief Trump critic and 2012 presidential nominee Mitt Romney. She would be the second woman ever to lead the Republican National Committee — and the first in four decades.

 

"I'll be interested in whatever Mr. Trump wants," McDaniel told The Associated Press on Monday, adding that she was planning to seek the Michigan GOP chairmanship again.

 

Appointing McDaniel to run the GOP's political arm could be an effort to help the party heal the anger after a campaign in which Trump demeaned women. The appointment of Grenell, who has openly supported same-sex marriage, could begin to ease concerns by the gay community about Vice President-elect Mike Pence's opposition to same-sex marriage during his time as Indiana governor.

 

The personnel moves under consideration were confirmed by people with direct knowledge of Trump's thinking who were not authorized to publicly disclose private discussions. They stressed that the decisions were not final.

 

Internal deliberations about staffing come a day after Trump made overtures to warring Republican circles by appointing Bannon and RNC Chairman Reince Priebus as his White House chief of staff.

 

The former media executive led a website that appealed to the so-called "alt-right" — a movement often associated with efforts on the far right to preserve "white identity," oppose multiculturalism and defend "Western values."

 

Priebus on Monday defended the media mogul, saying the two made an effective pair as they steered Trump past Democrat Hillary Clinton and toward the presidency. He sought to distance Bannon from the incendiary headlines on his website, saying they were written by unspecified others.

 

"Together, we've been able to manage a lot of the decision making in regard to the campaign," Priebus told NBC's "Today." ''It's worked very, very well."

 

President Barack Obama avoided any direct criticism of Trump's personnel moves during an afternoon news conference, suggesting that the new president deserves "room to staff up."

 

"It's important for us to let him make his decisions," Obama said. "The American people will judge over the course of the next couple of years whether they like what they see."

___

Associated Press writers Thomas Beaumont in Des Moines, Iowa, Ken Thomas in New York, Donna Cassata in Washington and Bill Barrow in Atlanta contributed to this report.

 

-- © Associated Press

[brewsterbudgen]

Truly terrifying, although maybe not as much doomsday potential as if it goes to John Bolton.

[nottocus]

Whoever Trump chooses will be the right man/woman.

[jaidam]

Mayor Giuliani was a real inspiration after the 9/11 attacks. He kept his cool and IMO prevented the whole of NYC running around like headless chickens. A dose of his steady rational logic is exactly what is needed for secretary of state. Just look at the disaster Kerry caused by blatting around the middle east arming the enemies of the west, causing more bloodshed than Atilla the Hun. 

 This is more good news from President-elect Trumps team.

[coma]

Wouldn't he be a better choice as attorney-general ? No field experience and getting a little long in the tooth to be doing all the travelling required by a Secretary Of State.

[Tawan Dok Krating Daeng]

1 hour ago, jaidam said:

Mayor Giuliani was a real inspiration after the 9/11 attacks. He kept his cool and IMO prevented the whole of NYC running around like headless chickens. A dose of his steady rational logic is exactly what is needed for secretary of state. Just look at the disaster Kerry caused by blatting around the middle east arming the enemies of the west, causing more bloodshed than Atilla the Hun. 

 This is more good news from President-elect Trumps team.

 

Former Mayor Giuliani still has to answer for his close involvement with and promotion of Bernard Kerik, the former New York Police Commissioner and nominee as Director of Homeland Security under GW Bush who served 4 years for felony corruption and fraud.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/19/nyregion/19kerik.html?_r=0

 

Giuliani is more tainted than Hillary. Like Trump, he doesn't pass the laugh test.

[Jingthing]

And so it begins.

Where can I buy vomit bags wholesale?

[elgordo38]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

But the former mayor said Monday night at a gathering of CEOs sponsored by the Wall Street Journal that he "won't be attorney general" in Trump's administration —

Ah come on coax me 

[bark]

42 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

And so it begins.

Where can I buy vomit bags wholesale?

Do you want with the Trump Logo ?

[DriveByTrucker]

How about draining the swamp? Was that another lie to mislead voters?

[Humberstone]

5 minutes ago, ALLSEEINGEYE said:

Keep fear alive!!! 

It is moronic lies like this that have led to the BS that people are believing now.

Engage your brain before you engage your keyboard and perpetuate such nonsense.  

 

I agree. What is it with posters quoting 'fake news' sites as well? What happened to checking the sources before posting?

[kamahele]

3 hours ago, jaidam said:

Mayor Giuliani was a real inspiration after the 9/11 attacks. He kept his cool and IMO prevented the whole of NYC running around like headless chickens. A dose of his steady rational logic is exactly what is needed for secretary of state. Just look at the disaster Kerry caused by blatting around the middle east arming the enemies of the west, causing more bloodshed than Atilla the Hun. 

 This is more good news from President-elect Trumps team.

Sure, for one brief moment in time, Giuliani was inspirational. However he had previously and also since then, proven himself to be disaster at times who whores himself out to the highest bidder. Ask his wives...

[Scott]

Off-topic posts and replies removed.  

[Jingthing]

I preferred Times Square before Giuliani made it boring.

[Jack Mountain]

This guy is too old and he has already some old age problems. Recently he said that 9/11 never would have happened under a republican president. :-)

[Jingthing]

This guy is too old and he has already some old age problems. Recently he said that 9/11 never would have happened under a republican president. :-)

Just thank your lucky stars it ain't Sarah Palin.

[Jingthing]

Update. He's OUT now. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/

Quote

In a surprise development, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani appeared to take himself out of the running for attorney general.

Hope it's not going to be Bolton now. If so, it's DUCK and COVER time again ... (oldies will get it).

[elgordo38]

17 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Update. He's OUT now. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/

Hope it's not going to be Bolton now. If so, it's DUCK and COVER time again ... (oldies will get it).

Yes your right Jingthing here is a comment made by Bill Gross of Janus funds a highly respected guy in the investment field.

"The Trumpian Fox has entered the Populist Henhouse, not so much by stealth but as a result of Middle America's misinterpretation of what will make America great again," Gross wrote.

[Steely Dan]

I was really hoping for John Bolton, which would have made liberals forget their hysterics regarding the appointment of Bannon.

Of course the whole notion of tantrums influencing the political appointments of an opposing president is all the more risible considering Citibank gave Obama a list of appointees to confirm.


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

[erobando]

On 11/15/2016 at 0:41 PM, jaidam said:

Mayor Giuliani was a real inspiration after the 9/11 attacks. He kept his cool and IMO prevented the whole of NYC running around like headless chickens. A dose of his steady rational logic is exactly what is needed for secretary of state. Just look at the disaster Kerry caused by blatting around the middle east arming the enemies of the west, causing more bloodshed than Atilla the Hun. 

 This is more good news from President-elect Trumps team.

I lived in NYC and worked in the financial district at the time. He wasn't horrible, nor was he anything special. Mostly he was concerned with enforcing archaic cabaret license laws LOL. Now he's really old and has a few screws loose. I could see him in a domestic cabinet role (like Homeland Security) but Secretary of State seems a poor fit.

[Ulysses G.]

2 hours ago, Steely Dan said:

I was really hoping for John Bolton, which would have made liberals forget their hysterics regarding the appointment of Bannon.

Of course the whole notion of tantrums influencing the political appointments of an opposing president is all the more risible considering Citibank gave Obama a list of appointees to confirm.
 

 

 

I am hoping for John Bolton too. I like pretty much everything he says on national security.

[Credo]

6 hours ago, Steely Dan said:

I was really hoping for John Bolton, which would have made liberals forget their hysterics regarding the appointment of Bannon.

Of course the whole notion of tantrums influencing the political appointments of an opposing president is all the more risible considering Citibank gave Obama a list of appointees to confirm.


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

I think such an inflammatory statement should be backed up with a credible link.   

[Andaman Al]

4 hours ago, Ulysses G. said:

 

 

I am hoping for John Bolton too. I like pretty much everything he says on national security.

Somethings in life are just no surprise!

[elgordo38]

14 hours ago, Steely Dan said:

I was really hoping for John Bolton, which would have made liberals forget their hysterics regarding the appointment of Bannon.

Of course the whole notion of tantrums influencing the political appointments of an opposing president is all the more risible considering Citibank gave Obama a list of appointees to confirm.


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

Ah yes John Bolton the original NAFTA negotiator. He surely will be able to advise the Donald on its strengths for the USA and weakness for Mexico and Canada. Bend over Canada and Mexico. 

[Steely Dan]

I think such an inflammatory statement should be backed up with a credible link.   

http://wallstreetonparade.com/2016/10/wikileaks-citigroup-exec-gave-obama-recommendation-of-hillary-for-state-eric-holder-for-doj/

There you go.


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

[Beats56]

On 15/11/2016 at 2:09 PM, Jingthing said:

And so it begins.

Where can I buy vomit bags wholesale?

Sorur grapes.

[Jingthing]

2 minutes ago, Beats56 said:

Sorur grapes.

 No, sir. It's much stronger stuff than that. Sour grapes implies this was just another U.S. election. It was not. 

[Beats56]

41 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

 No, sir. It's much stronger stuff than that. Sour grapes implies this was just another U.S. election. It was not. 

To be fair it was just a US election. I am not a American . ..Canadian but close enough to the border when home. I think Trump needs every chance to prove himself. people didnt appreciate when Regan won but turned out be a great president.I don't disagree with your politics that's up to you as you are free to say what you want. 

 

[Jingthing]

3 minutes ago, Beats56 said:

To be fair it was just a US election. I am not a American . ..Canadian but close enough to the border when home. I think Trump needs every chance to prove himself. people didnt appreciate when Regan won but turned out be a great president.I don't disagree with your politics that's up to you as you are free to say what you want. 

 

So are you. We can disagree. This election was historically different. Credible sober political commentators have compared the result as being similar to the impact of 911 on American society. I agree with them. Thus, not just another election. 

 

But I know what pedestrian sour grapes are. Like when you lose a tennis match over a dodgy line call.

 

You aren't feeling what so many millions of Americans are so you don't know the difference between that and what THIS is. 

Edited November 17, 2016 by Jingthing

[Beats56]

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

So are you. We can disagree. This election was historically different. Credible sober political commentators have compared the result as being similar to the impact of 911 on American society. I agree with them. Thus, not just another election. 

Ya if you listen to all left wing tv like CNN that got all wrong from the get go.

There were people saying Trump would be president in 2013 before he even ran.