Mcmaster actually seems to be very ideologically compatible with Trump/Tillerson/Kushner

[poli3]

He is basically a realist who wants to build a strong deterrent. He criticized Bush on Iraq, and Johnson on Vietnam and called out the Military-Industrial complex. He also called muslims overall peaceful.

He hasn't taken any strong positions on russia and sanctions either way.

He's not a neocon like Bolton, but he's not a muslim-baiter like Flynn either. Overall, he's only a neutral pick, but pretty much the best pick the dems could wish for from the Trump administration.

[pangaia]

1. Upon reading your take on McMaster,

I do not see how he is compatible with Trump/Tillerson/Kushner...

trump and his ilk are Muslim baiters,,,

[cos dem]

2. Why do you say "ideologically compatible"?

Maybe Tillerson and Mattis, but he doesn't seem that compatible with Orange Idiot.

Not that that's a bad thing...

[poli3]

4. He's not going to challenge Trump r.e. russia, etc.

His focus is on strengthening domestic security and the US military.

[cos dem]

5. Here's a Slate article about him.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/interrogation/2017/02/h_r_mcmaster_can_donald_trump_s_new_national_security_advisor_get_through.html

Article does say he seems an odd choice, but McMaster apparently projects the right "presence" which is probably why Orange picked him.

He does seem to be a skeptic in terms of foreign involvement, but I don't necessarily get the vibe that he will ignore Russia and let Orange and Putin consummate their romance. Maybe, who knows, but it doesn't appear to me that he is a Putin apologist like Bannon, Flynn, or Orange. He seems more in line with Mattis, who is also not a Russian apologist.

Maybe he can get rid of Bannon. The ultimate goal is getting rid of Orange, but in the meantime, I'm hoping for the most normal people we can get in the positions of authority. Flynn and Bannon were probably two of the worst picks, and I think the world will be a lot safer if Bannon joins Flynn in the unemployment line (maybe Bannon and Milo can go share a cardboard box in some wino alley somewhere).

[poli3]

7. he's not in line with mattis, he's in line with tillerson

Which is why you should be skeptical, he has a niche area of concern with strengthening the military and domestic security. He is critical of the military industrial complex and not a hawk, Bolton is more in line with Mattis.

[napi21]

3. He has a reputation fir speaking truth to power. I'm wondering how soon the Con is going to

realize he picked the wrong guy! The Con only picks people who agree with him! Gee, maybe The Con will go for THREE NSA Chiefs in the first year of his "RULE".

[unc70]

6. Cautiously optimistic

He seems much better than Flynn or someone like Bolton. He got his MA and PhD from UNC. Those here who know him speak highly. Who knows. Maybe he can throttle that Duke twit Stephen Miller.

[poli3]

8. Bolton would be far more likely ironically to pressure Trump r.e. russia

Mcmaster is more like Tillerson. Same way Tillerson doesn't pressure Trump, he's not going to, he's not a hawk, if Trump doesn't accept a mainstream recommendation he will offer an alternative defense recommendation measure (i.e. if sanctions are rejected, he won't fight for it, Mcmaster will suggest strengthening the US deterrent). Kushner/Bannon will still be running the show. He's mostly going to be a neutral advisor giving Trump intelligence reports and recommendations based off of recent intel, similar to Tillerson's role, but the ultimate decisions will come from Kushner/Bannon.

[unc70]

10. Don't think he will be neutral / passive

I don't know him, but have speed read his book. From that and from what I've heard from others, I expect he will more proactive than you suggest, and less neutral.

Time will come tell. Certainly far better than Flynn or Bolton.

[poli3]

12. of course he's the best possible nsa pick any dem could imagine from a repub president

But note that in all of his work, he's very sparse on addressing specific foreign policy issues, his focus is on tactics, he's more of a tactician than an ideologue who has his mind made up about russia either way.

[KittyWampus]

9. Considering the fact you think the Trump-Putin connections aren't as bad as Iran-Contra

And now you think McMaster is compatible with Trump... I really have to question the logic going on there.

You are absolutely entitled to your opinion but the logic seems flawed.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=8683265

[poli3]

11. reagan openly conspired with the iranians

With russia, the fbi/comey/chaffetz had a wink-wink nod-nod relationship and let it go on.

[Phoenix61]

13. He was set to retire this summer

So my guess is if he doesn't like it he will go ahead with his retirement plans. It's not like he needs the job.