Well then, very few modern presidents begin their first terms getting everything they want in a Cabinet. Lest we forget, even George W. Bush's first Labor nominee, Linda Chavez, was taken down by oppo research. Although she served honorably in the Reagan and Bush-the-First White Houses, in 2001 somebody said she had once given money to an illegal alien in exchange for housework. Oh, the humanity! That is, oh, Linda Chavez's humanity, which was always on full display.
Republicans do the same thing these days. Remember Zoe Baird and Kimba Wood? It's an unfortunate part of Washington politics that good people have to have their reputations ruined so the opposing party can claim to have put scalps on the wall.
Some of us are quite surprised how good the Trump Cabinet is looking today. He always did promise to surround himself with the best people, and that campaign promise looks to be kept. Rex Tillerson at State, James Mattis at Defense, and John Kelly at Homeland should make the rest of us sleep better o' nights. And Ben Carson, Elaine Chao and Betsy DeVos are shining lights in their own departments. (Now if those handful of presidential advisers, who don't have to be confirmed by the Senate, were only half as competent.)
The new president's press conference last week was a real hoot. Especially the part when he said his administration was running smoothly. That must be one of those alternate facts his folks keep talking about. Because from out here in Fly Over Country, this past week has been anything but smooth in D.C. But, once again, that's normal for a new administration just kicking in.
Which is why Alexander Acosta seems like the perfect fit to become the new, new Labor secretary.
Somebody in the commentariat called this pick the calm in the storm. That is, Mr. Acosta shares something in common with James Mattis: He's getting praise from all quarters.
Not that Alexander Acosta is exactly a Andrew Puzder, who was the president's first non-conformist choice to lead the Labor Department. In keeping another campaign promise--this one to disrupt Washington--the president's choice of Mr. Puzder at Labor made for interesting chatter. Liberals were beside themselves over the possibility that a labor secretary might know something about labor. That is, a nominee who had real-world business experience and knew, for one example, that the minimum wage only hurts folks at the bottom of the wage scale.
Having failed at getting Betsy DeVos' scalp on the wall for her heresy of wanting even poor kids to get the best education in this country, the national Democrats settled for Andrew Puzder. The rest of us can only wish him well.
So what did the country get in exchange? A nominee who's not only qualified, and has been confirmed by the Senate for posts before, but as an extra added bonus, happens to be Hispanic. So the opposition party, bless it, will have a harder time going on the Sunday talk shows to accuse the president of appointing nothing but white males. (Which might surprise Betsy DeVos, Elaine Chao, Ben Carson . . . .)
Alexander Acosta also has a résumé down to there. He's a law school dean, a former assistant attorney general, with--as the New York Times notes--deep experience in labor relations, law and education. He also clerked for Samuel Alito, which speaks volumes. He's also been a prosecutor, as a U.S. attorney in Florida.
From all accounts, Alexander Acosta isn't a splashy pick. He's just competent, educated, respected, and as a former member of the National Labor Relations Board, prepared to take over at Labor.
This nominee isn't flashy. Just capable.
But after last week in Washington, D.C., capable will do.
Editorial on 02/19/2017