Pence purges lobbyists from transition team

Pence purges lobbyists from transition team days after Trump said he couldn't shake them because they're 'the only people' in Washington

Donald Trump's transition team is getting a make-over that will leave it free of lobbyists.

Transition head and Vice president-elect Mike Pence showed lobbyists the door on Tuesday, Fox News reports, replacing the team that Chris Christie had constructed when he was in charge with one that 'makes good' on Trump's promise to drain the swamp.

Confronted by 60 Minutes' Lesley Stahl in an exclusive that aired Sunday, Trump said his operation was full of lobbyists because 'that’s the only people you have down there.'

'Everybody’s a lobbyist down there,' the New Yorker said of the seat of government. 'They’re lobbyists or special interests.'

Trump insisted that he's 'trying to clean up Washington.'

'But everybody that works for government, they then leave government and they become a lobbyist, essentially. I mean, the whole place is one big lobbyist.'

The president-elect told his flabbergasted interviewer, 'I’m saying that they know the system right now, but we’re going to phase that out. You have to phase it out.'

Since the sit-down Trump took a hard look at his own operation, which was comprised not only of lobbyists, but corporate lawyers and old school bureaucrats.

Encouraging course correction. I'm sure it took them considerable time just to find people who weren't insiders.

a reply to: loam

Ha...Isn't Harry Reids kids all lobbyists? I thought Hillary's brother was also a lobbyist..?

Great start...Obama wanted to do the same thing but it was clear he had some opposition within his party...

Wow, impressive thing to do. He might have to import people to work there and they will be approached by the special interests and it will be the same ol thing again. But at least they won't be experienced lobbyists.

I'm available to be on Trump's team, but I'm never going to move to Washington DC. So I guess I am not qualified.

Can't believe he's bending to liberals. So I guess that's it then. No KKK.

Shhhh, " The Donald " is kicking that bureaucratic, insider, establishment ass.



Buck

Adding some more about this.

A lot of Republican lobbyists were geared up for a Clinton Administration and privately held Trump in contempt. But the moment he won, they used connections via Chris Christie and others to descend on the Trump team like vultures. Mike Pence has now shooed them away and it is no coincidence at all that Pence’s take over of the transition coincides with the leaks of a transition in chaos.

Politico has the latest and you get the strongest hint yet that the “chaos” stories are all from disgruntled lobbyists suddenly denied access.

The “Trump Transition in Chaos” Stories Are From Disgruntled Lobbyists

Chaos is most likely inside the Lobby dens.

My theory:
I think that most of the original team was put together ahead of time by Christie, when he was still in charge of the transition team.
They were all there almost on day one.
Christie was probably working on the team ahead of time.
I think that when Trump saw the team that Christie put together it contributed to his decision to remove Christie from that job.

a reply to: BlueAjah

Christie was just "bridging" the gaps.

a reply to: rickymouse

It might be worth a shot
You can apply here:
www.greatagain.gov...

a reply to: BlueAjah

Your theory has plausibility.

One of the things Trump would have learned in his business dealings is that in order to succeed, you have to have the right people in the right jobs.

If he is genuine about wanting to tackle the corruption in Washington, he will have to do things differently than they have been heretofore. This is likely to cause upset in the ranks of the established places of power. So far, he still has all the right people upset with him (Qatar and Saudi Arabia come to mind along with the Bushes voting against him) for the changes he is advocating.

I want to believe he means what he says, but I'm a touch too jaded and cynical to not think there is still something coming down the pike that will screw things up.

oohh. this is good.

i cant wait to see the alternative trump's camp has in mind.

originally posted by: BlueAjah
My theory:
I think that most of the original team was put together ahead of time by Christie, when he was still in charge of the transition team.
They were all there almost on day one.
Christie was probably working on the team ahead of time.
I think that when Trump saw the team that Christie put together it contributed to his decision to remove Christie from that job.

That's pretty much everyone's theory with the exception that the word on the street is that Jared Kushner was behind it because he's got a grudge against Chris Christie who prosecuted and locked up Kushner's father.

After all Familia is all we really have.............

I have to respect this move by Trump/Pence.

I'm sure most of us can agree that lobbyists need to go.

Hmm, seems Christie was going to continue with the lobbyist corruption and had been making deals behind the scenes.

Good that Trump gave him the boot.

a reply to: loam

I feel this move shows real hope for this administration. Good for them.

a positive move. I suppose the microscope will give us the most minute detail up to the second. So we will be well apprised of the minutia from all angles.

LOL

This country.

He better be careful, he is making some very powerful and ruthless enemies with deep pockets and the ability to cause insurrection.

originally posted by: SaturnFX
He better be careful, he is making some very powerful and ruthless enemies with deep pockets and the ability to cause insurrection.

It would be a terrible idea to revolt against a populist movement. The only result would be scorched Earth. Im not sure there'd be much reason for anyone to try, unless dying alongside everyone else isn't a concern.

The capacity of atrocities among the enraged is nauseating.