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Columns Voters need to keep in mind that when we head to the election booth on Nov. 5, we’re voting for a whole team, not just an individual. People who are frustrated, unhappy, or otherwise feel like the system isn’t working for them are likely to vote for the candidate who promises to shake things up, get rid of all the elitists, and bring back good times for everyone. I’d be tempted to vote for that candidate myself were it not for my understanding that he’s prone to erratic behavior and will not have anyone close to him to rein in his wildest impulses.
Instead of focusing only on the candidates this year, we should think about their staffing agendas. To paraphrase John Donne, no president is an island. Whoever we elect will nominate or appoint a chief of staff, secretaries of the cabinet, national security advisor, White House counsel, press secretary, a variety of advisors (homeland security, science, climate), ambassadors, federal judges, possibly including Supreme Court justice nominees, and miscellaneous assistants, aides and all sorts of people to help with important decision making as well as day-to-day routine governing.
Let’s look at what the likely staffing scenarios are for the two leading candidates in this year’s presidential election. One candidate currently serves with a president who has staffed his departments with career professionals, many if not most of whom have a lifetime of public service experience. These include a secretary of state with decades of experience, including senior positions in two previous administrations. Another example of professionalism is the U.S. special presidential envoy for climate, a man who has been a secretary of state, a U.S. senator, and even was once the presidential nominee of a major party. The list is lengthy, but the point is short: One of our current presidential candidates serves with professionals and is almost certainly going to create an equally qualified team.
Now let’s look at the other candidate – the man who promises to shake things up and make things better for us. His concept of shaking things up is to eliminate most of the government’s professionals and replace them with his followers. But which followers will he select? Will they be people who believe in keeping the fundamentals of our democracy intact? Not likely. He has made it clear that he will create a staff of sycophants, none of whom will have sufficient backbone to challenge any future presidential misbehavior. Just look at the types of folks this candidate currently surrounds himself with: An anti-vaxxer with a worm in his brain and a penchant for manhandling the carcasses of both bear and whale; a shape-shifting vice presidential running mate who once said the presidential candidate himself was “America’s Hitler.”
As the United States draws close to one of the most contentious presidential elections in our history, we really do need to remember we’re voting for an entire team. Regardless how appealing an individual candidate’s message might sound, we have to consider what the overall impact of a candidate’s staffing choices will have on our well-being and our democracy.
