Trump in Transition (v5)

Reuters photo

Ah, a quiet Sunday night, after a long day of getting ready for the holidays, and a chance to sit down and reflect on the past few days of the POTUS-elect and his transition.

The clock is ticking - we're under 47 days now till the Inauguration and the start of his administration.

Let's start with the easy one: I did another check to see if there had been an official announcement on the alleged appointment of Dr. Ben "Hey, I've lived in a city before" Carson and found that even the National Mortgage Professionals Magazine is wondering if Carson's going to head HUD. Glad I'm not the only one wondering what's happening on that front. Maybe no news is good news - or maybe no news is the news, who knows.

We did have an announcement since we last talked - a few, actually.

We added another billionaire, Wilbur Ross, as Secretary of Commerce, and another former Goldman Sachs-er, Steve Mnuchin, as Treasury Secretary, and businessman Todd Ricketts as Deputy Commerce Secretary. The first two more of what we would expect in the swamp that Trump promised to drain. Mnuchin, who was Trump's chief fundraiser, made a bundle while foreclosing on some 36,000 mortgages back in the day, which might make things ugly during his confirmation, and with all those blue-collar Trump voters who lost their homes back in the day.

The Ricketts announcement is much more fun and interesting -- and may not have happened at all, if not for one really impressive baseball season. You see, Ricketts is one of the owners of the Chicago Cubs, and we all know what happened with them. Here's part of the POTUS-elect's statement:

Todd Ricketts is an immensely successful businessman with unparalleled knowledge of the finance industry. As Deputy Commerce Secretary he will help us cut waste and streamline government so that it works for the people of America. The incredible job he and the Ricketts family did in the purchase and turnaround of the Chicago Cubs - one perfect step after another, leading to the World Championship, is what I want representing our people. I am very proud to have him on our team.

Had the Cubbies lost that dramatic Game Seven of the World Series, I doubt we would be looking at Ricketts for any Cabinet Apprentice position. After all, earlier in the year, Trump was much less fond of the Ricketts family. Here's what Trump tweeted about them back in February:

I hear the Ricket(t)s family, who own the Chicago Cubs, are secretly spending $s against me. They better be careful, they have a lot to hide!

According to the article linked above, Trump denied knowing "Those Ricketts." (who were supporting Scott Walker) and added

I actually said they ought to focus on the Chicago Cubs and, you know, stop playing around. They spent millions of dollars fighting me in Florida. I'll start spending on them. I'll start taking ads telling them all what a rotten job they're doing with the Chicago Cubs. I mean, they are spending on me. I mean, so am I allowed to say that?

Those Ricketts, darn them. We could have been looking at Paul Dolan in the administration, if only the Indians had won.