“The question Americans should be asking is simpler:
Who has he spent his career serving?”
My mind immediately translated that into “to whom is he beholden?” and I have to confess that my blood went just a little cold…….
The DNI is an extremely sensitive and powerful position. On paper, he sounds very qualified and given t’s propensity for loyalty, it was a little puzzling…. I was surprised to hear Clayton’s name as I thought t was set on Pulte and wondered who had either gotten to t or talked some sense into him. I’m still wondering…….
Frankly, Clayton scares me a little and not for lack of qualifications. I need to sit with this a bit.
Thanks you for this article. It sure gets more and more interesting.
Deb..."To whom is he beholden?"...that's exactly the right translation...and the fact that it gave you a chill means your instincts are WORKING.
You're also doing something most people skip: separating qualifications...from ALIGNMENT.
A résumé tells you what someone can do; a career PATTERN... tells you who they do it FOR.
And "I need to sit with this a bit" is precisely the discipline this series is about...resisting the urge to land on a CONCLUSION... before the evidence settles.
Keep asking who benefits...and keep watching what he DOES... rather than what's said ABOUT him.
I listened to Slotkin, and although she was speaking of Pulte, she said he wasn't qualified because the law required the director to have experience in intelligence.
This guy's resume looks like his experience could easily be in money laundering. Just kidding.
But...you've raised a genuinely important point: the statute DOES set qualifications for the DNI...the law calls for extensive national security expertise.
That's not a courtesy or a tradition; it's a legal REQUIREMENT...Congress wrote PRECISELY because this position sits atop the entire intelligence community.
So...the serious version of your joke...is the right question: does a career in finance and securities law meet that bar?
That's what senators are SUPPOSED to probe in confirmation...and it's worth watching whether they actually DO.
Thanks for listening closely to Slotkin. That kind of attention...to what the law ACTUALLY says...is exactly the skill we've been building here.
The system is probably more the reason for the revolving door as people get in a rhythm and keep repeating ow they do things. It will be interesting to see who he decides he serves. Hopefully the Americans..
Teri...you've hit on something important...the revolving door isn't USUALLY a conspiracy... it's a HABIT.
Systems create grooves...and people slide into them...without ever making a conscious choice to serve ONE master...over another.
That's almost more concerning than DELIBERATE capture...because...habits...don't announce themselves.
And...you're right that the REAL answer comes next: not from his confirmation testimony... but from his FIRST hard call...the moment when serving AMERICANS...and serving the SYSTEM... point in different directions.
This is going to be someone who's going to be asked these same questions, and then some,by the Democrats,when he goes before congress, Jack, popcorn 🍿 at the ready!! Of course the chief tasks he's going to tackle, for trump, is of course, the Votes for the 2028 Election and his political enemies. Interesting article tonight, and will reStack ASAP 💯👍
Karen...Ha! Keep that popcorn handy...confirmation hearings are one of the FEW places these questions get asked on the record...under oath...with cameras rolling.
That's exactly why they matter: not for the theater...but...because we get to compare his answers against his ACTIONS... later.
Whatever his REAL priorities turn out to be...the hearing gives us the baseline to measure him AGAINST.
And...thank you for the restack... it genuinely helps get these ideas in front of more people!
They keep doing this. Nominate someone no one likes, bring out who they REALLY want, and who looks much better by comparison.
They have learned to do this because they are no longer getting away with enough Rs to get their boy through.
At the beginning:
RFKjr. In spite of murdering people, they won't change him.
Only a few Rs are peeling off.
If DT can get away with the things he is doing (STILL)
They are ALL ACCESSORIES TO MURDER, but they have rolled in enough people, and FAST enough to stay ahead of America's system.
Also took out (and no one have stopped them) HEADS of agencies and hundreds thousands of workers. They have dismantled agencies, and have seen Congress won't stop them.
Congressional people are so blind, cowardly, fearful, and that imagine if they can keep from making waves, they can keep collecting 💰💰💰💰💰💰💰
I've seen this show before. It's the same horror we've dealt with and I am done with this story arc. He will be dangerous to our country in the sensitive position of DNI and we have to stop it. We know who he is indebted too. The cycle cannot continue. Sadly, since he is not Pulte, our worthless senate will confirm 😢
Jack, when I read the following:
“The question Americans should be asking is simpler:
Who has he spent his career serving?”
My mind immediately translated that into “to whom is he beholden?” and I have to confess that my blood went just a little cold…….
The DNI is an extremely sensitive and powerful position. On paper, he sounds very qualified and given t’s propensity for loyalty, it was a little puzzling…. I was surprised to hear Clayton’s name as I thought t was set on Pulte and wondered who had either gotten to t or talked some sense into him. I’m still wondering…….
Frankly, Clayton scares me a little and not for lack of qualifications. I need to sit with this a bit.
Thanks you for this article. It sure gets more and more interesting.
Deb..."To whom is he beholden?"...that's exactly the right translation...and the fact that it gave you a chill means your instincts are WORKING.
You're also doing something most people skip: separating qualifications...from ALIGNMENT.
A résumé tells you what someone can do; a career PATTERN... tells you who they do it FOR.
And "I need to sit with this a bit" is precisely the discipline this series is about...resisting the urge to land on a CONCLUSION... before the evidence settles.
Keep asking who benefits...and keep watching what he DOES... rather than what's said ABOUT him.
That's...where the answer will show up.
-Jack
I agree!!!
I listened to Slotkin, and although she was speaking of Pulte, she said he wasn't qualified because the law required the director to have experience in intelligence.
This guy's resume looks like his experience could easily be in money laundering. Just kidding.
Sue
Ha! Sue...I'll let the joke stand on its own.
But...you've raised a genuinely important point: the statute DOES set qualifications for the DNI...the law calls for extensive national security expertise.
That's not a courtesy or a tradition; it's a legal REQUIREMENT...Congress wrote PRECISELY because this position sits atop the entire intelligence community.
So...the serious version of your joke...is the right question: does a career in finance and securities law meet that bar?
That's what senators are SUPPOSED to probe in confirmation...and it's worth watching whether they actually DO.
Thanks for listening closely to Slotkin. That kind of attention...to what the law ACTUALLY says...is exactly the skill we've been building here.
-Jack
The system is probably more the reason for the revolving door as people get in a rhythm and keep repeating ow they do things. It will be interesting to see who he decides he serves. Hopefully the Americans..
#HOLDFAST|
Teri
Teri...you've hit on something important...the revolving door isn't USUALLY a conspiracy... it's a HABIT.
Systems create grooves...and people slide into them...without ever making a conscious choice to serve ONE master...over another.
That's almost more concerning than DELIBERATE capture...because...habits...don't announce themselves.
And...you're right that the REAL answer comes next: not from his confirmation testimony... but from his FIRST hard call...the moment when serving AMERICANS...and serving the SYSTEM... point in different directions.
That's the moment to watch for.
Hoping with you.
#HOLDFAST
-Jack
Deb that’s a great question.. this is going to be interesting.. who is he serving??
This is going to be someone who's going to be asked these same questions, and then some,by the Democrats,when he goes before congress, Jack, popcorn 🍿 at the ready!! Of course the chief tasks he's going to tackle, for trump, is of course, the Votes for the 2028 Election and his political enemies. Interesting article tonight, and will reStack ASAP 💯👍
Karen...Ha! Keep that popcorn handy...confirmation hearings are one of the FEW places these questions get asked on the record...under oath...with cameras rolling.
That's exactly why they matter: not for the theater...but...because we get to compare his answers against his ACTIONS... later.
Whatever his REAL priorities turn out to be...the hearing gives us the baseline to measure him AGAINST.
And...thank you for the restack... it genuinely helps get these ideas in front of more people!
-Jack
They keep doing this. Nominate someone no one likes, bring out who they REALLY want, and who looks much better by comparison.
They have learned to do this because they are no longer getting away with enough Rs to get their boy through.
At the beginning:
RFKjr. In spite of murdering people, they won't change him.
Only a few Rs are peeling off.
If DT can get away with the things he is doing (STILL)
They are ALL ACCESSORIES TO MURDER, but they have rolled in enough people, and FAST enough to stay ahead of America's system.
Also took out (and no one have stopped them) HEADS of agencies and hundreds thousands of workers. They have dismantled agencies, and have seen Congress won't stop them.
Congressional people are so blind, cowardly, fearful, and that imagine if they can keep from making waves, they can keep collecting 💰💰💰💰💰💰💰
and keep their jobs.
"A system that treats proximity to concentrated power…as evidence of fitness for more power." Yes.
Oh, of course. He’s been doing “this” for years, smart, credentialed, knows all the ins and outs. Clearly he’s the PERFECT person to put in charge. 🙄
jeezus
The revolving door is something that has been going on for decades.
This is just one of many reasons why this country cannot work to its fullest potential.
I've seen this show before. It's the same horror we've dealt with and I am done with this story arc. He will be dangerous to our country in the sensitive position of DNI and we have to stop it. We know who he is indebted too. The cycle cannot continue. Sadly, since he is not Pulte, our worthless senate will confirm 😢
#HoldFast
OMG! Thank you, Jack. I’m reeling.
Thank you. The pattern and system make sense although at times it’s disgusting