In MAGA world, ‘kakistocracy’ Trumps gerontocracy

TOI correspondent from Washington: MAGA supremo and President-elect Donald Trump continued to torch established norms as he picked Robert Kennedy Jr, an anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist, to move the well being portfolio, and demanded his time period in workplace begin from November 5, the day he received the election, as a substitute of the constitutionally mandated January 20 following the election.
Kennedy’s task to the Dept of Well being and Human Companies (HHS) was extensively anticipated contemplating Trump had urged him to “go wild” on the well being entrance even earlier than he was elected. Nevertheless it nonetheless despatched a jolt via the normal institution contemplating Kennedy’s outlier stand on many points regarding public well being: Amongst them, his idea that vaccines trigger autism; his marketing campaign to take away fluoride from water provide which specialists say had useful results; his canvassing for uncooked milk, and dodgy Covid therapies, together with selling hydroxychloroquine, which the FDA mentioned is ineffective in treating Covid-19.
Nonetheless, his marketing campaign towards America’s junk meals fetish is extensively appreciated — even by Donald Trump, who’s himself a burger king sworn to colas. “For too lengthy, Individuals have been crushed by the economic meals advanced and drug firms who’ve engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation on the subject of Public Well being… HHS will play an enormous function in serving to be certain that everyone shall be protected against dangerous chemical substances, pollution, pesticides, pharmaceutical merchandise, and meals components which have contributed to the overwhelming Well being Disaster on this Nation,” Trump mentioned in an announcement, including that Kennedy “will restore the traditions of Gold Customary Scientific Analysis, and beacons of Transparency, to finish the Persistent Illness epidemic” in America.
In impact, Kennedy shall be heading a division with a $ 2 trillion price range and 80,000 staff, with oversight of the very businesses (FDA, CDC, NIH and so on) which he has been at battle towards and which have debunked a lot of his claims. He can even be preventing the unhealthy junk meals habits of the very voters who put Trump in workplace; MAGA Republicans win many of the unhealthiest, least-educated, poorest states in America, with a few of the worst well being metrics, together with weight problems.
Like most of Trump’s nominees, Kennedy too seems to have some skeletons within the closet — in his case actually a bear carcass he dumped in NYC’s Central Park after initially aspiring to pores and skin it for meat; and one other time sawing off the top of a beached whale and driving dwelling with it strapped to his automotive roof.
Typical of the Kennedy household (he’s the nephew of President John F Kennedy and son of his brother Robert F Kennedy). RFK jr has different spotty scandals and controversies on his resume. However Trump is trying a Hail Mary for his dodgy nominees to his upcoming administration by indicating he intends to skip FBI background checks (due to his deep mistrust of the establishment) and bypass senate affirmation hearings, the 2 wire-trippers for questionable nominees.
So off the charts are Trump’s nominees that liberal political junkies and language professionals are proffering a not often used time period to explain his administration-in-the-making: Kakistocracy which describes a authorities led by the least appropriate or competent residents of a state. Aghast liberal and reasonable commentators can not seem to resolve which is Trump’s worst nomination. “Any one of many final three of Trump’s Cupboard-level picks (Gabbard as DNI, Gaetz as AG, RFK Jr for HHS), standing alone, would arguably have been the worst in American historical past. The truth that Trump made all three in a span of roughly 24 hours is astonishing. Congratulations, Mr President-Elect—and everybody who voted for him—on this kakistocratic hat trick,” anti-Trump Republican George Conway, who ex-wife Kellyanne Conway is a Trump loyalist, wrote on X.
The purported kakistocracy would usually have needed to move the odor take a look at of gerontocracy within the US Senate (whose median age is round 66 years). However GOP Senate grandees are being intimidated by youthful MAGA Republicans within the Home of Representatives (median age 56) with warnings that they are going to be defeated in upcoming elections in the event that they resist Trump nominees. A 3rd of the 100-member Senate will go to the polls in mid-term elections in 2026.
A lot in thrall are MAGA Republicans of Trump that one lawmaker touched new heights of sycophancy in America. “There’s no query he’s the chief of our celebration. So now he’s received a mission and his objectives and goals. No matter that’s, we have to embrace it. All of it. Each single phrase. If Donald Trump says bounce three ft excessive and scratch your head, all of us bounce three ft excessive and scratch our heads and that’s it,” Troy Nehls, a Republican Congressman from Texas, mentioned in a single interview.