In a mere month, America’s “stable genius” will once again be chowing down on Big Macs behind the Resolute Desk, and this nation will embark on its second quest to be made great again by a convicted felon and his hand-selected leadership cadre. As with all things Trump, look for “only the best” to again serve as the driving force for that ever-so elusive “greatness.” America, here’s your team.

Let’s begin with the less obvious posts. To date, the ambassadorial squad seems to be filling out nicely. You’ve got sleep-aid hawker and Palestine denier Mike Huckabee as Israeli ambassador; Trump’s son-in-law’s tax-evading, witness intimidating father (whom Trump pardoned after several years imprisonment) representing us in France; and that paragon of diplomatic nuance Kimberly Guilfoyle (ex-Fox News talking head and son Don Jr.’s about- to-be “ex”) awarded a “parting gift”: the ambassadorship to Greece, of all places!

The health and human services sector of the new regime is absolutely knock- out. Former Democrat, vaccine denier and self-described owner of a worm- eaten brain Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., as Health Secretary will join forces with fellow grifter Dr. Mehmet Oz to assure that from cradle to grave, Americans get the quality of health care for which they just voted! On the intelligence front, how could one imagine the greatness of America reflourishing without al-Assad sympathizer and Russian talking-point maven Tulsi Gabbard exercising oversight of 18 intelligence gathering agencies? And it’s really a toss-up whether now-withdrawn Florida representative Matt Gaetz (he of congressional investigations into illegal drug use and sex trafficking scandals) or Trump loyalist firebrand Kash (“Journalists, we’re coming after you!”) Patel would serve the American people more effectively as FBI Director.

Just for continuity sake, America’s reemergence into greatness will be shepherded by some Trump 1.0 veterans. Deporter-in-chief wannabe Stephen Miller reprises his White House advisorship role, while recently released professional bigmouth Peter Navarro rejoins the party as “Trade Counsellor.”

Rounding out Trump’s tribe of misfits are the Mutt and Jeff of American politics, the billionaire bros Elon and Vivek. Their job is ostensibly to cut the federal budget by one-third. Observers might offer that the quickest solution here would be to cut government purchases and subsidies of Musk’s products and services, but that’s not likely. Ironically, in the name of reducing manpower and enhancing government cost savings, it will take two people to do this job. Priceless.

Even to the most diehard MAGA fanatic, upper level personnel selections must seem, well, unusual. The party line is that these are the people who have the courage and ability to “drain the swamp,” to shake up Washington as we know it. In truth, these people have two things in common — they are quite simply public figures who have been seen by Trump on television and therefore “must” be at the top of their game. And they have pledged their undying, but transactional loyalty to a fatted calf, not to the American people.

Given Trump’s refusal to subject any of these nominees to formal, traditional background vetting, this question needs to be asked of the Senate: “Will you exercise your constitutional mandate to “advise and consent” regarding these nominees, or will you instead choose to “advise with knee bent”? Courage is such a rare commodity.

STEPHEN HUDDY

Williamsport

Submitted by Virtual Newsroom