Ron Paul was one of only three Republican Congressmen who supported Ronald Reagan during his 1976 primary challenge to incumbent President Gerald Ford.  Ron Paul continued his strong endorsement until he saw President Reagan's first budget.

Candidates say anything to get elected and Trump will likely be no different. 

One of Trump's most profound campaign promises which deeply resonated with voters was his insistence that he would "Drain the Swamp" in Washington.  Receiving a startling low 5% of the vote in the District of Columbia indicates many believe he might actually try to Drain the Swamp.

We'll track who President Trump surrounds himself with, their history and keep track of the swamp level so you don't have to!  We'll also follow the tenets of Trump's Ethics Reform plan though many require Congressional Action
There are two cabinet positions that really matter in every presidential administration. This goes back to Washington's first administration. First, there is the Secretary of State. Second, there is the Secretary of the Treasury. The other cabinet positions of importance are the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, which determines who is going to get prosecuted, and the Department of Homeland Security, which is the real enforcement arm of the government. Watch who gets appointed to these five positions. That will tell you the direction of the Trump administration.

             Trump's Revolution Is Over.
             Gary North - November 12, 2016

Trump's Appointments and Advisors

Rex Tillerson, Secretary of State

Chief foreign affairs adviser to the president and carries out the U.S. foreign policy agenda.

Steven Mnuchin, Secretary of Treasury

Oversight of U.S. economic and financial systems.

General James Mattis, Secretary of Defense

Principal defense policy adviser, with authority over the U.S. military.

General John Kelly, Secretary of Homeland Security

Responsible for protecting the nation from terrorism and cyberattacks, recovery from natural disasters and border protection.

Jeff Sessions Attorney General

Primary law enforcement officer of the federal government.

Senator Jeff Sessions: “Good People Don’t Smoke Marijuana”
:
Target Liberty points out that Sessions:
  • Voted YES on extending the PATRIOT Act's roving wiretaps. (Feb 2011)
  • Voted YES on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad. (Aug 2007)
  • Voted YES on enlarging NATO to include Eastern Europe. (May 2002)
  • Voted NO on limiting the President's power to impose economic sanctions. (Jul 1998)
  • In 2005, Sessions spoke at a rally in Washington, D.C. in favor of the War in Iraq that was held in opposition to an anti-war protest held the day before.

Stephen Bannon, Chief Strategist And Senior Counselor

A key adviser for the president in crafting messaging, an agenda and employing political tactics to see it through.

Reince Priebus , Chief Of Staff

Responsible for day-to-day operations in the West Wing and traditionally controls access to the president.

Kellyanne Conway,
Counselor To The President

Sean Spicer, Press Secretary

Informs the press and public about the activities of the president and the administration.

As the Press Secretary is nothing more than a "paid liar" which parrots talking points from the administration, it doesn't matter who fills the shoes or what their personal beliefs on Liberty are.

There is no room for a Press Secretary's personal beliefs to alter how/when he delivers his talking points from the administration's spin machine.

Mike Pompeo, CIA Director

Oversees the federal government's civilian foreign intelligence gathering service.

Ben Carson, Housing and Urban Development

Oversees policy on home ownership, housing assistance, fair housing practices, addressing homelessness and housing development.

Tom Price, Health and Human Services

Charged with enhancing the health and well-being of Americans, including medicine, public health and social services.

Betsy DeVos, Education Secretary

Addresses national education issues, equal access to education, federal aid and research on the nation's school systems.

DeVos fails on two key promises Trump repeatedly made to voters:

She’s a board member of Jeb Bush’s Common Core-supporting education foundation (and one of its biggest donors), not to mention “closely aligned to Republican education officials like Sen. Lamar Alexander” — which should give any education freedom lover convulsions. Alexander, R-Tenn is the same guy who promised he was “ending the national school board” by rushing a huge federal education bill into law this spring that gives Education Secretary “mother, may I” control over what kids learn and when.  In short, these are a bunch of nanny statists who may promise “local control” and a love for kids, but whose every effort is directed in the opposite direction.

Favors school choice.  Still to be determined, not a glowing track record.

Don McGahn, White House Counsel

Provides principal legal advice to the president and the administration.

White House Counsel advises the President on all legal  and ethical issues surrounding the administration.
  • The Washington Post describes him as a “libertarian election lawyer”
  • Obama's Robert Bauer notes “It will be interesting to see how Don’s suspicion of government — his deep libertarianism — will affect his advice on questions of executive authority, And as somebody who has never shied away from a fight, he would not likely be a ‘yes man’ in this or any other aspect of the job.”
  • Forbes reports that McGahn used to work for Freedom Partners, a non-profit free market organization.
  • Should serve as some consolation to those concerned about the future of civil liberties under the Trump administration.
  • Longstanding familial ties to the Trump organization
  • “Inside the Beltway” background as former FEC chairman.
  • Questionable views on Citizens United articulated  here.
    • Criticized ‘Overreach’ of Campaign Finance Regulations- “The general rule is not regulation.  The general rule is the First Amendment.” Argued that simpler rules, less regulation  better for political process.
    • Crucial player in creating the overspending campaign finance system that his boss now denounces.

Rick Perry, Secretary of Energy

Oversees national energy, nuclear and environmental issues, and science and technology to address them.

Andrew Puzder, Secretary of Labor

Oversees the welfare, working conditions and opportunities for workers, job seekers and retirees.

Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation

Responsible for national transportation policy and promotes transportation of and among various modes.

Ryan Zinke, Secretary of Interior

Oversees public lands, national parks, Native American relations, mineral extraction.

Wilbur Ross, Secretary of Commerce

Oversees the welfare, working conditions and opportunities for workers, job seekers and retirees.

David Shulkin, Department of Veterans Affairs

Principally charged with providing benefits and health care to veterans of the U.S. military.

Department of Agriculture, TBA

Oversees agricultural economy, food safety, nutrition, rural development.

Gen. Michael Flynn, National Security Adviser

Principal adviser to the president on national security affairs, leading White House national security staff.

Sub-Cabinet Positions

Nikki Haley, Ambassador to the United Nations

Principal U.S. representative at the United Nations.
Scott Pruitt, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency

Oversees federal regulations, distributing grants and conducting studies to ensure that environmental risk is addressed in policy.
Currently the OK State AG, he has eight years experience as a State Senator.  He is a member of a pending federal lawsuit which has sued the Obama administration for its agenda to combat climate change.  As a #ScienceDenier, he may signal a curtailing of environmental regulations in that regard.

Being Libertarian is hopeful that Pruitt seeks "to change those regulations which seem to grate against common sense and which have an enormous stifling effect on commerce."

As many business owners will tell you, EPA regulations come with so much regulatory burden that dedicated counsel is required on payroll, leading to increased costs to consumers.  Pruitt supports our values of Limited Government and Free Markets. 

In what is ironically a 'negative ad' by
Mick Mulvaney, Director, Office of Management and Budget

Oversees the president's budget, assesses agency practices and coordinates interagency programs.
Jared Kushner, Senior Adviser to the President

Advises the president and works with senior leadership, including the chief of staff and chief strategist to enact the president's agenda
Linda McMahon, Administrator Of Small Business Administration

Charged with providing assistance, guidance and benefits to entrepreneurs and small businesses.
TBD, Chair Of The Council Of Economic Advisers

Provides the president with domestic and international economic advice and information.
Dan Coats, Director Of National Intelligence

Promotes integration of the nation's 16 intelligence agencies.
Seema Verma, Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services Administrator

Oversees health coverage through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program and the Health Insurance Marketplace.
FEMA Director

Principally charged with preparedness and response to disasters, natural and man-made.
National Security Agency Director

Responsible for collecting and processing data for foreign intelligence and counterintelligence efforts.
Federal Housing Administrator

Responsible for collecting and processing data for foreign intelligence and counterintelligence efforts.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director

Responsible for accountability under federal consumer finance laws.
NOAA Administrator

Charged with studying and predicting changes in climate and weather, and protection of marine and coastal areas.
Transportation Security Administrator

Responsible for securing passenger travel and freight movement.
Bureau Of Land Management Director

Oversees land owned and managed by the federal government.
National Park Service Director

Responsible for managing national parks, monuments and other protected sites.
Customs And Border Protection Commissioner

Responsible for protecting against the illegal entry of people and goods into the country.
National Institutes Of Health Director

Primarily responsible for conducting biomedical research and distributing federal funds for such research.
Food And Drugs Commissioner

Manages the Food and Drug Administration, regulating safety in food, medicine, cosmetics and other areas.
Immigration And Customs Enforcement Director

Responsible for enforcing laws regarding the movement of people and goods into the country.
Thomas Bossert, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism

Advises the president on homeland security, counterterrorism and cybersecurity, as well as coordinating policy work by the Cabinet on those issues.
Robert Lighthizer , U.S. Trade Representative

Responsible for national trade, commodity and direct investment policy; oversees negotiations with other countries.
Communications Director

Oversees the president's public agenda and promotion in the media

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Trump's Ethics Reform plan

On October 17, 2016 -Candidate Trump released his FIVE-POINT PLAN FOR ETHICS REFORM with the stated purpose of Draining the Swamp.
First: Re-institute a 5-year ban on all executive branch officials lobbying the government for 5 years after they leave government service. Ask Congress to pass this ban into law so that it cannot be lifted by executive order.

Second: Ask Congress to institute its own 5-year ban on lobbying by former members of Congress and their staffs.

Third: Expand the definition of lobbyist so we close all the loopholes that former government officials use by labeling themselves consultants and advisors when we all know they are lobbyists.

Fourth: Issue a lifetime ban against senior executive branch officials lobbying on behalf of a foreign government.

Fifth: Ask Congress to pass a campaign finance reform that prevents registered foreign lobbyists from raising money in American elections.

Rumor Mill


Top jobs still to be filled: Agriculture

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