This display of sycophancy, arselicking, and shameless self-abasement around the Trump Cabinet table makes North Korea look like a thriving pluralist democracy with a robust opposition.
@DRPNL But that's how it's supposed to work. We have three branches of government based on the understanding that within the executive branch they are going to be on the same page, so we have two other branches to provide the balance.
Yes, if you look around the president's table during a political event like this you're going to find such a spectacle. But that's why it's important to keep in mind exactly what it is, the political show, and that you zoom out to see the rest of the government that provides checks and balances.
@volkris this kind of excessive spectacle is in fact quite rare - most presidents have selected people who are, as you say, on the same page. However, they are much more than mere “yes men”. They bring their expertise and knowledge to the role and are prepared to argue if necessary. What Trump demands (and gets) is unqualified approval got whatever ideas he is putting forward. Irving Janis’s theory of “groupthink” should required reading for all incoming members of Cabinet.
@DRPNL contrast this with the signal leak.
This was a public performance, so why would you expect candor? They were putting on a show for the public, and we all need to be clear about what this little press event was. This was a dog and pony show. This was not the place for argument. It wasn't the moment.
In contrast, the signal leak showed argument behind the scenes as it is supposed to be.
To be clear: Trump has absolutely no idea what he's doing, and absolutely no idea what's going on, but, we need to be clear the difference between a public performance that this was versus the behind the scene discussions of his handlers who do show different ideas.
