Senator McCain says has 'concerns' about Tillerson nomination

[DonViejo]

Source: Reuters

29 DEC 2016 AT 08:30 ET

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, will have to explain his relationship with Russian leader Vladimir Putin at his confirmation hearing, senior Republican senator John McCain said on Thursday.

McCain, who is chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, also called President Putin “a thug and a murderer”.

Speaking on a tour of the Baltic states, where there is widespread concern that Moscow wants to reassert its power across the region, McCain said he had concerns about Tillerson, who opposed sanctions on Russia after its annexation of Crimea.

“I and several of my colleagues have concerns about Mr Tillerson, and some of his past activities, specifically his relationship with Vladimir Putin,” McCain told reporters. “I have concerns but at the same time I’m certain we will give Mr Tillerson an opportunity to make his case about why he is qualified to be Secretary of State.”

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/2016/12/senator-mccain-says-has-concerns-about-tillerson-nomination/

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Public Waffling - butter on both sides

Has he ever voted against anything he was concerned about?

[True_Blue]

8. McCain is a political opportunist but

He is politically savvy and his positions depend on which way he thinks the political wind will blow. I'm hoping he can foresee the disasters that Trump will bring upon America. I guess we'll see.

[heliarc]

9. Talking a lot

McCain sure has been chatty lately. I'm actually wondering if it's time for him to ponder defecting to the democratic party again.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. "Rex Tillerson, will have to explain his relationship with Russian leader Vladimir Putin"

And as soon as he tells them to f-off and he'll deal with anyone he wants, McCain and his cadre will say "Okay" and that will be the end of it.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

3. Among Trump's cabinet selections, Tillerson may be one of the sanest.

There could have been worse choices, like Bolton.

[edhopper]

4. sane maybe

but his loyalty is with Big Oil and the Oil Oligarchs, not the interests of the American people.
He is a major funder of Climate Changer Deniers and is personally in business with Putin and probably the Saudis.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

5. Well, I never said he was perfect. ...

But he might have the maturity to divest from investments and shift his loyalty to U.S. policy. I hope he can re-focus better than Cheney did.

I don't expect any moral maturity from Betsy DeVos, for example. Public schools will be screwed.

[edhopper]

6. But we know his agenda

anti-Climate Change, pro-Oil rich countries.

You really think he will turn his back on his company?

Plus, with no foreign policy experience, he will be a amateur in the office.

[PRETZEL]

7. Ultimately it will be business as usual

McCain told reporters. “I have concerns but at the same time I’m certain we will give Mr Tillerson an opportunity to make his case about why he is qualified to be Secretary of State.”

Basically I'm of the opinion that McCain is saying that the Dems will be allowed their pound of flesh but in the end, it'll be a done deal.

[heliarc]

10. I think he's sticking his neck out...

To signal to the democratic party that they can make a deal with him if they're smart enough to take him up on in. I'm hoping that rumors McCain wants the right sweetheart deal to defect are true after all these years.

[PRETZEL]

11. I don't know,

maybe McCain is looking for some kind of deal, but I really don't see him defecting (if you mean literally defecting) on this.

I think deep down he thinks this is more than likely his last term. Maybe over the next 4 - 6 years he may just well want to go out on his terms.