It’s unfortunate, but also good that government moves at a snail’s pace. This tax bill is moving a little fast for me and it’s kind of like the Democrat’s health bill eight years ago when Nancy Pelosi said, “You’ll have to pass it to see what in it.” That was pure partisan politics and perhaps that’s just the way things get done these days. Win enough elections and then brow beat the opposing school of thought. I’ll admit it would be hard to give the Democrats the checkbook after eight years and $9 trillion in deficit spending.
But we still must operate the government and run the company store even with the pathetic political climate we have. Yes, President Donald Trump is a political novice, but he’s is still the legitimate POTUS. It’s ironic just how much effort is spent on trying to destroy him and undermine him and play “gotcha” politics. Everone who becomes president of the United States must experience some on-the-job training; Obama did, and Clinton did and just go on down the line.
If folks spent the same amount of effort trying to help him just think about how productive his first term could be. You can expect opposition from the Democrats on policy issues, but impeachment, give me a break. Congress seems to complain that he doesn’t act presidential, and I would have to say that many of those in Congress don’t either. Just look at Rep. Maxine Waters the Democrat from Los Angeles. She is a 70-plus-year-old who acts like she’s at a civil rights rally, which she was before she got elected.
Now let’s look at some confirmation hearings and the reason I bring this up is that a couple of these folks are my friends. Greg Doud was nominated to be our agriculture trade negotiator. Greg is a humble guy and when he was approached he wasn’t so sure. But after being interviewed he realized that he did have the qualifications for the job and accepted the nomination. He was nominated early last summer. Greg worked for Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts on the Senate ag committee and had several other ag trade positions including one with NCBA.
Greg’s confirmation is being held up by one person at this point, I’m told—retiring Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake. Flake has made it no secret that he doesn’t like President Trump and is willing to retire over it; at least that is what he said in the media.
I spoke to a couple of my political buddies in Arizona and the word is that he hasn’t been polling very well in the primary elections in Arizona. It’s likely that his opponent would beat him, but the political establishment also realized that the person who would beat Flake would get beat in the general election by the Democrat. The word on the street is that the Arizona constituents are angry at Flake. But the power brokers are trying to get him a job in a Washington think tank. Approving Doud would be the right thing to do.
Another nomination sitting on the fence is Wyoming Attorney Karen Budd-Falen. It’s been rumored that she is the top choice for director of the BLM. We understand that she hasn’t been formally nominated for the post and is going through background checks just to be in a position to be nominated. Karen was on Trump’s transition team.
I can’t think of a better choice for director of the BLM. She has been litigating against their centralized policies all her life. She grew up on a ranch in Big Piney, WY, and has real world experience with public land ranching. After college she worked for the Department of Interior for a couple years when she realized that her life’s work was going to be an advocate for the ranching industry and the West. She then realized to do that she had to go to law school. She and her husband, Frank Falen, started their law firm in Cheyenne and have been practicing for 27 years. Karen is the premier litigator for public lands disputes in the West and her firm is associated with many landmark decisions regarding federal lands issues.
However, you mention her name in the environmental community and they start shaking. They will oppose her appointment at every step. The online publication Green Wire said, “Perhaps the only upside to this is that thus far the process for confirming the current president’s nominees has been grindingly slow. With that in mind, there may still be time to share your dismay about this nominee. The BLM should be run by someone who understands the value of public lands and their role in protecting the wider environment.”
That comment could use some additional definition, but I think they mean no oil and gas, no mining, no cattle grazing, no timber harvesting… In other words, let it be natural. But I always remember the phrase: “Graze it, log it, or let it burn.” It’s time for the Senate in both parties to quit worrying about Russia and get to work confirming Trump’s administration. — PETE CROW
