Why In The World Would Trump Tap Perry To Be Energy Secretary? - by Jim Hightower

[DonViejo]

Perk up people – for I bring you tidings of great joy: Gov. “Oops” is back!

Yes, Rick Perry, the former Texas governor who specialized in putting the “goober” in gubernatorial, is being brought back from well-earned obscurity in rural Texas to join the menagerie of characters in “The Donald Show.” For us lovers of low political comedy, Perry is literally an early Christmas gift from on high — not from heaven (not that high), but from the dizzying heights of Trump Tower. That’s where the orange-haired Impresario-in-chief has been holding tryouts for his Washington cast, and Perry is a slapstick-perfect choice for Trump’s bizarre cabinet.

Who can forget Perry’s classic “oops moment” during his first failed run for the White House? Campaigning as a far-out, right-wing slasher of government services, he boldly declared in a televised debate that — by gollies — he would eliminate three federal agencies entirely, dramatically reeling off the names of his three victims: The Department of Commerce, Department of Education, and… and… and, alas, as a national TV audience watched in horror, Rick’s brain just could not recall the third federal department he planned to kill off.

He was roundly ridiculed as being dumber than a dust bunny. But now — proving once again that being even quasi-smart is not a requirement for getting a high political job — Perry has been hired by Trump to be our next Secretary of Energy. Yes, that is the very agency that was third on the Goober’s elimination list! He is actually being appointed to head the $32 billion department he couldn’t name during the 2012 presidential race.

Here’s another comic twist in Rick’s appointment. While briefly running for president again this go ’round, Perry assailed Trump as a “barking carnival act.” And now he’s a tail-wagging dog in Donnie’s carnival.

more
http://www.nationalmemo.com/trump-taps-perry-energy-secretary/

[HAB911]

1. Doesn't take any brains

to oversee the dismantling and elimination of the agency

[haele]

8. Especially if you want to allow corporations free access to anything valuable the agency.

There's a lot of experiments, laboratories, and especially patents (just to name a few things) that the DoE has already that is worth trillions to anyone in free R&D who can buy it for micro-pennies on the taxpayer dollar.
Just think what Exxon-Mobile, GE, IBM, United Technologies...and certain foreign business entities can do if they can just walk into any DoE facility, rummage through, and take what they want without oversight. Just think of what they can hide so they can continue to make profits with outdated, unsafe technologies for the next few decades until the time is right to spring the research and technology the DoE was working on now to "save" the wealthy in the world when the environment and energy resources go to hell because of a reliance on cheap oil. Just think of all the money these companies can make buying government patents that were supposed to be available to everyone and charging premium rates just to develop something like a new battery or developing new energy sources for inter-solar exploration...

Haele

[spanone]

2. why do i feel like i'm living in a kurt vonnegut novel????

[skamaria]

4. We are and we are stuck in time!

[ReverendHeretic]

3. I am sorry for a couple of things

I. That Perry was selected. He is so pro oil and coal that our environment will suffer greatly.
2. That his "Oops" is still ridiculed. This guy just had major back surgery a couple of weeeks before the debate. Had he been smart, he would have begged off rather than appearing and trying to talk while fully dosed on oxycodone. I feel for the guy, 'cuz I've been there.

Drugs do bad things to people, especially the opioid pain killers that actually don't kill pain. They just make you not care.

Why not consider rewriting this about the merits of the selection, rather than stomping on an ailing guy who was in intensive pain and on large doses of drugs that fuck up your ability to think?

[yeoman6987]

5. Perfect!!!!!!

There are tons of things to criticize governor perry for. Let's focus on those. You are so right. I'm surprised this oops thing still has legs.

[guillaumeb]

7. If it were only the drugs and one single incident that might explain things.

But Perry has been known as a lightweight for his entire political career.

[ReverendHeretic]

13. I agree, but the Oops moment was something quite different.

And it is unfortunate that some concentrate on that, rather on the danger that a Perry nomination represents.

In fact, by continuing to mention Oops, rather than the meat of the subject, we risk confusing and shocking those who will ignore just how conniving, sly, and power-hungry of a Texas pol he was and will be. He did not become governor of one the largest states just by good luck, Texas charm, or being a good ole boy. He made connections, he forced people out who offended him, and he was ready and willing to stab folks in the back when it suited him.

Continually raising Oops is a trap. For our side.

[guillaumeb]

14. Agreed.

And the danger of Trump was also minimized by those who felt that his crudeness, obvious lack of morality, and his ruthless business dealings would be seen as disqualifying by the electorate.

[ReverendHeretic]

15. Except for the religious right and them

Two Corinthians who walked into a Trump Tower bar.

[niyad]

11. welcome to du. unfortunately, surgery and drugs do not explain gov goodhair's lack of

mental acuity throughout his entire life.

[kentuck]

6. He needs someone to take the heat when he re-opens the Dakota Access Pipeline?

http://fortune.com/2016/12/14/rick-perry-donald-trump-energy-dakota-pipeline/

Rick Perry Is a Board Member of the Company Behind the Dakota Access Pipeline

[niyad]

12. okay, knew that the mango mussolini has shares in the oil company--perry being

a board member explains a lot.

[femmocrat]

9. To give us all the middle finger?

He probably enjoys the irony of the "oops" moment.

[HughBeaumont]

10. Headline should really read -

Why In The World Would Trump Tap (insert billionaire and/or fundie wingnut here) To Be (insert position they're designated to dismantle fox/henhouse style here)?

Of course, the article would be 58 pages long . . .