Trump Cabinet

[Turkeytop]

Trump picks Conway Twitter... ER Kellyanne Conway as special counselor.

Conway is to be the special guest on Rachel Madow's show tonight.

[Deleted User 8570]

Lawyer Robert Lighthizer for U.S. Trade Representative. He was Deputy Trade Representative under. Reagan.

NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday he will nominate lawyer Robert Lighthizer as U.S. trade representative, picking an experienced trade official who has questioned the conservative movement's commitment to free trade.

Lighthizer, who served as deputy USTR under President Ronald Reagan, would play a key role in Trump's trade agenda. The president-elect has vigorously opposed the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership pact, but has said he would ink one-on-one trade deals with individual countries. Trump has also signaled a tough stance on trade with China, including levying a hefty tariff on Chinese imports.

"Ambassador Lighthizer is going to do an outstanding job representing the United States as we fight for good trade deals that put the American worker first," Trump said Tuesday in a statement announcing his pick. "He has extensive experience striking agreements that protect some of the most important sectors of our economy, and has repeatedly fought in the private sector to prevent bad deals from hurting Americans. He will do an amazing job helping turn around the failed trade policies which have robbed so many Americans of prosperity."

Lighthizer, who played a senior role during Bob Dole's 1996 campaign, has more recently worked on trade issues as a lawyer, representing manufacturing, agricultural and high-tech companies, according to his law firm biography. Lighthizer's bio also states that he focused on "market-opening trade actions on behalf of U.S. companies seeking access to foreign markets."

Yet in 2008, he openly questioned GOP presidential nominee John McCain's commitment to free trade in a New York Times opinion article.

"Mr. McCain may be a conservative. But his unbridled free-trade policies don't help make that case," Lighthizer wrote at the time, suggesting that free trade had long been popular among liberals.

"Moreover, many American conservatives have opposed free trade. Jesse Helms, the most outspoken conservative in the Senate for three decades, was no free trader. Neither was Alexander Hamilton, who could be considered the founder of American conservatism," he wrote.

Meanwhile, Trump returned to his New York headquarters Monday after spending the holidays at his private club in South Florida. With less than three weeks until his Jan. 20 inauguration, Trump is expected to fill out a handful of remaining Cabinet-level posts in the coming days.

In addition to the USTR, Trump is also weighing picks to lead the departments of Agriculture and Veterans Affairs, as well as a director of national intelligence. In addition, Trump is still filling out some top White House positions.

Trump has already signaled that he plans to spread work on his trade policies beyond USTR. His transition team has said billionaire investor Wilbur Ross, Trump's nominee to head the Commerce Department, will play a lead role on trade. The president-elect has also named economist Peter Navarro to a newly created White House National Trade Council.

Trump indicated Tuesday that Lighthizer would work "in close coordination" with Ross and Navarro.

Lighthizer declared his allegiance to Trump's approach on trade.

"I am fully committed to President-elect Trump's mission to level the playing field for American workers and forge better trade policies which will benefit all Americans," he said.

[Deleted User 8570]

Midwestern Economic Activity took a big jump in December according to a 9 state survey.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Soaring numbers in a monthly survey of business supply managers suggest that economic conditions are improving in nine Midwest and Plains states, according to a report issued Tuesday.

The Mid-America Business Conditions Index report shows that the overall economic index for the region jumped to 53.1 in December from 46.5 in November. The October figure was 43.8.

"This is the second straight increase in the overall index and points to an improving regional manufacturing economy," said Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, who oversees the survey. "I expect this to generate even healthier growth for both manufacturing and nonmanufacturing for the first half of 2017."

The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers said any score above 50 suggests growth in that factor, while a score below that suggests decline. The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

After six consecutive months of below-growth survey readings, the regional employment gauge for December rose to its highest level since May 2016, climbing to 50.9 from 41.9 in November.

"The growth gap between regional manufacturing and nonmanufacturing appears to be closing. The key for regional manufacturing will be any changes in sales abroad driven by the value of the U.S. dollar and global economic improvements," Goss said.

Looking ahead six months, economic optimism, as reflected by the December business confidence index, rose to 63.3 from 61.6 in November.

Supply managers bolstered their inventories in December, which survey organizers said was another sign of growing confidence in the regional economy. The inventory index, which tracks the change in the level of raw materials and supplies, jumped to 52.8 from November's 42.8.

[Bryce]

Seems like there are a whole bunch of one percenters headed for the White House.

For the party Obama is throwing Friday...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/rel ... 53997e5c00

[Deleted User 8570]

Former Indiana Senator Dan Coats (R) for Director of National Intelligence.

[Deleted User 8570]

David Shulkin, currently the top VA health official for Veterans Affairs Secretary.

[Deleted User 8570]

The final cabinet piece is in place: Former Georgia Governor Sonny Purdue for Agriculture Secretary.

[audiophile]

Perfect...with Sonny days things should really start to grow.