Posted on 12/01/2016 9:23:40 AM PST by MaxistheBest
Donald Trump will meet with Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) on Friday, his team announced before suggesting she's in the mix for a cabinet job that could cost Democrats a seat in the Senate.
"She comes very highly recommended, very highly qualified, is a proven leader and would be an asset in any role or capacity," Trump spokesman Jason Miller told reporters on a Thursday morning conference call.
A Heitkamp appointment would give Trump's cabinet the veneer of bipartisanship, and all but certainly hand Republicans control of another Senate seat, giving them a 53-47 edge in the upper chamber. The first-term senator won a hard-fought race in 2012 and is a top GOP target in the 2018 midterm elections in a state where Trump won by a 36-point margin
Heitkamp has expressed frustration with the Senate's partisanship in the past and recently toyed with a run for governor before deciding against it. She didn't do anything to tamp down speculation she might leave to join the administration in her statement on the upcoming sit-down, saying that "whatever job" she has she'll fight for North Dakota.
"I appreciate the President-elect inviting me for a meeting,” she said. “Every single day, my work is motivated first and foremost by how I can be most helpful to the people of North Dakota. They are my driving force and have been throughout my career in public service. Whatever job I do, I hope to work with the President-elect and all of my colleagues in Congress on both sides of the aisle to best support my state.”
Heitkamp has experience on environmental issues, energy production and agriculture. Her former jobs include working for the Environmental Protection Agency and a coal and synthetic fuels plant. While Trump's team declined to discuss which roles she might be a good fit for, the EPA, Interior and Agriculture would all be logical landing places.
Democrats are facing a tough 2016 election map, defending 10 seats in states Trump won, including five in heavily Republican territory and only one swing-state target. If Heitkamp leaves, that makes incoming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's (D-N.Y.) job of holding together his caucus to fight Republicans while minimizing election losses in two years that much harder
Bannon and Team Trump at it's best..the governor can take up to May 2017 to schedule an election for the seat. Schumer will have one less vote on any appointments, including for Supreme Court.
Bannon said if they take the right steps, they could own politics in America for the next 50 years. This could be step one!
And given the climate in the USA right now, there is a very good chance that this Senate seat goes red again.
I like Bannon Thinking Big.
We have not had that in Republicans since Newt in 1994.
Trump shows how to win and win in different ways.
the SCM looks for ways to make anything and everything some kind of devious plot....
I despise them...
I’d trust her to do Trump’s bidding before I would trust some of the GOP Senators whose names have been floated for appointments.
Never play chess, or fight wars against a man, when your only experience is checkers. Play-Doh. And safety pins are your symbol.
1. Heitkamp has experience on environmental issues, energy production and agriculture. Her former jobs include working for the Environmental Protection Agency and a coal and synthetic fuels plan
2. A Heitkamp appointment would give Trump's cabinet the veneer of bipartisanship, and all but certainly hand Republicans control of another Senate seat, giving them a 53-47 edge in the upper chamber.
3."If Heitkamp leaves, that makes incoming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's (D-N.Y.) job of holding together his caucus to fight Republicans while minimizing election losses in two years that much harder"
Bannon and Team Trump at it's best..the governor can take up to May 2017 to schedule an election for the seat. Schumer will have one less vote on any appointments, including for Supreme Court.
Voted against Manchin-Toomey. Only Democrat senator to vote against the “no fly list” lawless, no due process, restriction. No history of mishanling confidential information. Way more qualified than Petraeus for whatever cabinet post Trump may be thinking of. #nopetraeus
Brilliant move.
Note that the media seems unable to sapproach this as “She is a talented individual who would be an asset to any administration.”
Nope. Such an idea is inconceivable. The media shows no such respect to this woman.
Instead, it’s just: Trump is scheming to gain power in the Senate. He’s a monster.
I’m so tired of the media.
Tread cautiously, please, Pres. Trump. You value loyalty, so please remember that a Democrat’s loyalty is to party first, last, and always -— and their goal will be to disrupt, create havoc, and cause failure of your Conservative efforts. Remember the story about the guy who tried to save a snake and died of snakebite -— he knew it was a snake . . .
“I’d trust her to do Trump’s bidding”
If she were a Senator in Florida, she would be a conservative Republican. She is really hated by the leftwing, especially for her support of the Second Amendment and energy independence.
He can appoint her, fill her seat with an R, then fire her the first time she pulls the crap that the Enviro whackos always do. They can’t help themselves and Trump knows it! Brilliant!
If I remember correctly, she won her Senate race in a heavily Republican state by coming across as a more credible person when it comes to protecting the energy sector in North Dakota.
“so please remember that a Democrat’s loyalty is to party first, last, and always”
I don’t think she warrants much fear. She is easily the most hated Democrat BY Democrats. Trump will place her in a position to help him on a few issues and not hurt him. The upside is really very large here, it’s almost a no brainer!
Republicans need to pick up the senate seats held by Dims in ND and Montana, and if Heitkamp is qualified for a cabinet position, this could be a good move to aid a pickup in the senate.
I wonder what the Democrats will offer her to turn down the job?
I think we need some serious details here.... #2 & #3 I can go along with.
In a politically-appointed cabinet position, she can be fired by Trump at any time.
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