Panthers owner Vincent Viola nominated Secretary of Army by President-elect Donald Trump

[HAB911]

Source: SunSentinel

Florida Panthers majority owner Vincent Viola has been nominated to serve as the Secretary of the Army by President-elect Donald Trump.

The Viola family will retain ownership of the Panthers, the team said in a statement, but upon Senate confirmation and NHL approval, Viola has named minority owner Doug Cifu to take his place as chairman and governor of Sunrise Sports and Entertainment.

Cifu has been serving as vice chairman and alternate governor.

“We are honored and humbled to see Mr. Viola nominated as the Secretary of the Army. We could not be more proud for Vinnie and his dedication to our country,” Panthers President and CEO Matthew Caldwell said in a statement.

Read more: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/florida-panthers/sfl-president-elect-donald-trump-names-panthers-owner-vincent-viola-secretary-of-army-20161219-story.html

[William Seger]

1. How much did he contribute? (nt)

[wordpix]

2. article says nothing about Army experience except Viola graduated West Point

that's it? And he's owner of the FL Panthers, which BTW Don, does not qualify him to lead the entire US Army

[bluedigger]

3. Read it again.

"Viola, a native of Brooklyn, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1977 and later graduated from the U.S. Army Airborne, Infantry and Ranger Schools. He served in the 101st Airborne Division."

Compared to most other Trump picks so far, this guy is light years ahead in qualifications.

[alarimer]

21. Serving in the army does not make you a good administrator of a department.

This is what bothers me most about these appointments. Not one of these people has much, if any experience, running government agencies. These are primarily administrative responsibilities: payroll, hiring and firing of civilians (including the Corps of Engineers, which has a great deal of responsibility with regulations pertaining to navigable waterways- the Clean Water Act permits for example), various minutiae like that.

Evening owning a football team does not give you that experience. Being GM might, but unless you're Jerry Jones, owners generally butt out of day-to-day things.

[karynnj]

6. I suspect because it is a Florida article, the sports team is the lead - he actually has military

credientials. His resume is impressive. He was someone smart enough to get into West Point and he did serve in the army. This article says he founded the West Point anti terrorism center. He also was a huge success in the business world. http://www.ibtimes.com/who-vincent-viola-donald-trump-army-secretary-nominee-nhl-owner-veteran-businessman-2462505

I do not know anything about him otherwise, but from what is here, he might be one of the least troubllesome Trump appointees. If he were a Democrat, with these credientials, we would not have complained if Obama named him.

[hack89]

4. We need more hockey fans in government.

good choice.

The military experience is ok, I guess.

[Blue Idaho]

5. One of Donald Trump's problems is

Having a very limited sphere of friends. Since he trusts no one but his inner circle, he is doomed to fill his positions with inexperienced men (yes I said men) with limited talent beyond being rich.

Regardless of what the Donald thinks he will spend his time doing - the world will keep him tied up in conflict after conflict. May the gods help us all when he has to depend on these know nothings to keep us safe.

[karynnj]

7. This man does not appear to be inexperienced

He has a decent military background, was smart enough to get into West Point, and was a successful businessman. That he bought a sports team is not the sum total of what he did in his life. He was apparently not born to money. http://www.ibtimes.com/who-vincent-viola-donald-trump-army-secretary-nominee-nhl-owner-veteran-businessman-2462505

There are SO many really terrible Trump picks - with neither the character or experience for the jobs they have been nominated for, this appeaars to be one of the better ones unless there is a lot of bad stuff out there that has not surfaced. http://www.ibtimes.com/who-vincent-viola-donald-trump-army-secretary-nominee-nhl-owner-veteran-businessman-2462505

[0rganism]

8. kinda makes me wonder how he slipped through

so far, the vast majority of Trump's picks seem like deliberate trolling. this guy could be legit. maybe he's ultra-homophobic or something...

[Blue Idaho]

9. Thanks for the research...

I wrote my reply based on the early info from this thread. This guy may be one of Donald's better picks but I still believe that generally speaking his cabinet suffers from the fatal flaws of the president elect.

[karynnj]

11. Agree completely.

I googled because I know that if you go to West Point, you have a military obligation. I agree that almost everyone else in the cabinet is a really bad choice.

[Ford_Prefect]

10. I suspect he's another Good Christian Warrior to lead the battle against the godless terrorists

whether they are from Tehran, Beijing, Berkeley or Ferguson.

[karynnj]

12. Fordham University - especially their theology department - is not conservative

It is a Jesuit school -- think Pope Francis. Fordham is where he opted to fund a theology chair - http://www.ibtimes.com/who-vincent-viola-donald-trump-army-secretary-nominee-nhl-owner-veteran-businessman-2462505

[Ford_Prefect]

14. This kind of ideological purity is derived from a sense of very traditional faith applied rigorously

rather than Neo-Christian heresy. I have met a number of well educated officers in the "new" Army who share this kind of driven view. They are good, capable, educated, talented officers who are serious soldiers and effective leaders. They see themselves on a mission to preserve civilization from chaos rather than subduing the "godless heathen". They resemble those who went into the secret wars as imagining that they have a special duty to perform. They organize in ways similar to the Freemasons of 19th century British empire forming a caste within American military organisations. Since the time W was in office more of them have been advanced to senior ranks. They are professional soldiers in a very real sense but they are also driven men, who view their profession somewhat differently than Colin Powell or Eisenhower. There is a very real chance Vincent Viola is one of them or associates with them.

[karynnj]

17. Is there a link to the man nominated

The only thing I saw in the articles I read suggested he was a Catholic, who was connected enough to Catholicism to endow a chair of Catholic theology at a Jesuit University. The Jesuits are the most liberal of Catholics.

[Ford_Prefect]

20. What have I said above that disagrees with his Fordham and Jesuit background?

The people I have met are very modern liberal thinkers in many respects but they also have a different view of what that requires and perhaps entitles them to do and be. They are not the kind of fool who drools at the feet of a Falwell or a Trump, but they may see them as a means to an end or at least an opportunity to shape history.

[leftyladyfrommo]

13. My God. He actually has qualifications.

What a shock. I expected him to be one of their fellow draft dodgers.

[tenorly]

15. It's an Italian last name; but in Spanish it means 'Vincent rapes'

An unwitting metaphor for what his policies will probably be like as Army chief.

[Vinca]

16. Oh, why the hell not. Anyone know which department Meatloaf gets?

[HAB911]

19. Stallone turned down a spot on the National Endowment for the Arts

meat could do that

[LP2K12]

18. His past contributions make me feel a little better about him...

He's donated to Cory Booker, Kathleen Rice, Rhose Island Democratic State Committee, Democratic Sentorial Campaign Committee, Hodes for Senate, Friends of Schumer, Lieberman, etc.

That being said he also donated to Romney and McCain, but I see far more leanings towards the Dem party. Maybe he just plays the field well as a businessman. Hopefully though, he's got some common sense.

http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/vincent-viola.asp?cycle=14