Maine Sen. Susan Collins said she was “shocked” by Donald Trump’s nomination of sex trafficking accused Matt Gaetz to be attorney general, the nation’s top law enforcement official. At least a dozen GOP senators refused to say Whether they will support Gaetz or not. Others raised questions about Trump’s surprising choice of politically inexperienced Fox News host and possible white nationalist Pete Hegseth. as defense secretary. The fact that Gaetz, Hegseth, and proposed Health and Human Services secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have been credibly accused of sexual misconduct probably wouldn’t be disqualifying; their future boss, the president-elect, is a convicted rapist.

I don’t know how much damage former Fox host and reality TV star Sean Duffy could do to the Department of Transportation, but Trump says he’ll rid our department of dangerous “DEI” and “woke” pilots. The sky is a nightmare. Really.

No, the real problem is that all of these candidates are completely unqualified for their very important jobs, and the possibility that, if confirmed, Gaetz and Hegseth will become foot soldiers in the two crusades that Trump is dead serious about: mass deportation and the prosecution of their perceived self-defense. political enemies. (Kennedy will likely be busy dismantling HHS vaccine guidelines and posing other dangers to public health.)

But for Trump, their lack of qualifications may actually be a selling point. They have no competence or expertise that would prevent them from being complete Trump sycophants in their role of doing Trump’s bidding and only his bidding. Add in anti-immigrant Stephen Miller as vice president for policy, “border czar” Tom Homan, deeply unqualified South Dakota Senator (and puppy killer) Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary, and Hegseth; deportation strike force. Trump has confirmed that he already plans to use the military to achieve his goals; Aside from the fact that this is unconstitutional.

Meanwhile, the transition team is discussing creating a list of generals and other military figures who betrayed Trump, including the possibility of bringing treason charges against them. Jell-O tower “I like that idea,” Montana GOP Sen. Kevin Cramer told Fox.

It’s as if Trump is provoking “serious” Republican senators to quarrel with him, but who knows if he’ll do so? Susan Collins says she’s “shocked” by Gaetz’s choice, but perhaps she can say she’s “learned her lesson,” as she did with Brett Kavanaugh after a tough confirmation debate. So will it go into a hard grill? Incoming Senate majority leader John Thune of South Dakota has promised an “aggressive” schedule for confirmation hearings, but he still hasn’t taken off the table the option of giving Trump recess appointments and letting his nominees go without hearings, which would be one of them. One of the biggest blows to the status of the Senate and our democracy.

There’s also the idea that Senate Republicans could get away with rejecting one of Trump’s damaging picks — with Gaetz at the top of the list as more witnesses come forward saying the former congressman had sex with an underage boy and participated in drugs. fueled the parties but then he would have to fall in line. I guess after all these years nothing coming from Trump’s Republican Party should surprise me. But responsible senators must take their responsibility to recommend and consent seriously and evaluate each candidate on their own merits or shortcomings. It’s not good enough to block one bad choice and gloss over the rest.

A coalition of health groups brought together more than 200 people at an organizing call Monday to launch the fight to block RFK Jr.’s appointment. We shouldn’t assume this is a done deal, either: Remember the success advocates had in preserving the Affordable Care Act during Trump’s first term. We will need a similar advocacy campaign against every Trump appointment.