Trump's picks will be crucial for success.

 JOB OF CABINET MEMBERS IS TO FACILITATE POLICIES OF PRESIDENT

NOT PROTECT THE BUREAUCRACY

The daily media spin and attempts to create division in the Trump team is underway. Rumors and speculation of who will be nominated for cabinet positions is all over the place. Some to push certain people, some to create anxiety in Trump supporters.

The report that Mike Pompeo and Nikki Haley are not being considered is some relief. Reports of Marco Rubio for Secretary of state is concerning, I suspect he will not have the president's agenda as his foremost concern.

Trump needs every House and Senate vote he can get, so Republican Representatives and Senators from states with Democratic governors should all be out of the question. Nominees from states with Republican governors need to have their replacements vetted before being nominated.

I do expect that Trump will be in a position to hit the ground running on Jan. 20, 2025, unlike in 2017 where he was vulnerable to the machinations of the entrenched bureaucracy that is all about self preservation and manipulation. We can expect they are planning now on how to hinder Trump's agenda rather than implement it. His best strategy is to begin by setting an example by firing the head of the FBI and CIA and hopefully replacing them with less biased heads of these important positions.

Another very important pick will be Attorney General, we can expect he will be getting advice from all over for the place, so far, no one has been mentioned.

The Secretary of State is a very powerful position, it must be filled with a thoroughly loyal and competent person, that can be trusted and be truthful and transparent to the president, a rare person for Trump to find in the bureaucracy. A person also must have the trust and competence to be trusted by allies and competitors, a very hard position to fill. I see no Kissinger or Jim Baker at present, hopefully one exists. I suspect it needs to be someone who is not in the government now, maybe John Mearsheimer, Jeffrey Sacks or someone who can be a realist, not an ideologue or a delusional advocate for the impossible.

Sometimes the cabinet position is more of an agenda setter and the real work is done by the appointments just under the head.

I suspect some of these mentioned are being floated to get the reaction, both from the opposition and Trump supporters, none of these positions are final until they are sent to Senate in January, don't be surprised if there are changes. 

The next 60 days will be crucial for Trump's success or failure, we can bet there are those who seek to sow the seeds of failure on both side of the isle. Washington is indeed a minefield that requires very careful navigation.