‘Learning Curve’ as Rick Perry Pursues a Job He Initially Misunderstood

The New York Times ^ | January 18, 2017 | David E. Sangerjan

[Trump20162020]

WASHINGTON — When President-elect Donald J. Trump offered Rick Perry the job of energy secretary five weeks ago, Mr. Perry gladly accepted, believing he was taking on a role as a global ambassador for the American oil and gas industry that he had long championed in his home state.

In the days after, Mr. Perry, the former Texas governor, discovered that he would be no such thing — that in fact, if confirmed by the Senate, he would become the steward of a vast national security complex he knew almost nothing about, caring for the most fearsome weapons on the planet, the United States’ nuclear arsenal.

[Cowboy Bob]

So, the DoD doesn’t control our nuclear weapons...Energy does? OMG...you mean Hazel O’Leary controlled our nuclear stockpile? Thank god they didn’t tell us at the time.

[JPX2011]

Actually, I don’t care that Perry knows next-to-nothing (supposedly) about nuclear weapons, nuclear stockpiles, or nuclear energy. There is a fallacy in thinking among liberal technocratic circles that it takes ‘experts’ to run things. Not so.

Consider: why do companies hire CEOs from other companies that previously had no experience in their sectors? Because they know how to run organizations. That’s what I expect from Perry. How good is he at sniffing out B.S.; that’s the true test of his ability to run DOE.

[JPX2011]

As an addendum, for example, if I was asked to run DOE here’s how I would do it. Take for example Yucca Mountain. Here’s what I’d do. I’d hire an advisor and say break this down for me into three parts:

1.) The science
2.) The law
3.) The ideology

I’d begin by stripping out whatever Obama-era ideology was embedded in current DOE policy and then review the science and the law portions and make whatever recommendations I needed to Trump: a new law, more funding, or whatever is required.

Or take NIF. Now granted, the only thing I know about NIF is what I get from Youtube videos but that’s probably more than the general public. Now everything I’ve seen suggests its a multi-billion dollar boondoggle. I’d say convince me that ignition is a better process than plasma-tokamak whatever over at ITER.

The point is, you don’t need to be a theoretical physicist to do this stuff. That’s a lie, and so more fake news from the NY Slimes.

[wbarmy]

I think the reason Trump put Perry there was to find a way to close Energy, not to make it work better. But I could be wrong.

[SeeSharp]

Consider: why do companies hire CEOs from other companies that previously had no experience in their sectors? Because they know how to run organizations

Actually, the "run organizations" bit usually falls to one of the VP's. Corporate CEO's are hired for their ability to schmooze major stock holders and BS the trade rags.

[JPX2011]

That’s very true. So I’d amend my analogy and say poaching VP’s from other sectors. So the question becomes is Perry decent VP material or was he just the dumb CEO of Texas? To me that is the bigger question rather does he know how nuclear fission happens.

I’m not saying he is, because I don’t know. What I do know is I sure as sh*t don’t accept the premise of the NY Times.

[House Atreides]

More FAKE NEWS from the New York Slimes.

[kristinn]

This article is garbage.

The Washington Examiner's T. Becket Adams took it apart on Twiiter.

Start here.

[M. Thatcher]

Fake news.

[JPX2011]

And there you have it. Thank you for that.

[Gaffer]

It sure read like garbage. The writer seems to be able to read Perry’s mind and thoughts and could even think of what he was going to say....amazing. All based on his debate flub years ago.

Hit piece.

[kristinn]

They used to get away with it. No more.

[jazminerose]

All you need to do is look at the photo of Perry’s predecessor and it all becomes completely clear.

The Treason Times makes it sound as if Perry is going to personally control our nuclear warheads.

So what grand accomplishments do we have to thank Mr Monitz for?

Perry has a strong track record as an executive running a state the size of Texas. And he has great relationships with leaders in the private sector.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

I’ll chuckle about this appointment as long as it lasts.

[buckalfa]

“So, the DoD doesn’t control our nuclear weapons...Energy does? OMG...”

No, the DOE does not control nuclear weapons but rather the US nuclear energy/fuel apparatus under a quasi public corporation known as the US Energy Corporation (USEC). Think of the old Atomic Energy Commission (AEC).

[Red Steel]

Yeah that’s right. Jimmuh Carter created the DOE partly because he didn’t trust the military with total control over the nukes.

[Beagle8U]

Hardly a dunce, Rick Perry was a United States Air Force Captain in addition of being the Gov of Texas. In his spare time he managed a successful business career.

[spintreebob]

wiki says Perry will be managing the below:

United States Secretary of Energy
United States Deputy Secretary of Energy
United States Associate Deputy Secretary of Energy
Under Secretary for Science and Energy
Office of Science
Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy
Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy
Assistant Secretary for Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability
Indian Energy Policy and Programs
Technology Transitions
Under Secretary for Nuclear Security
National Nuclear Security Administration
Under Secretary for Management and Performance
National Laboratory Operations Board
Associate Under Secretary for Environment, Health, Safety and Security
Management
Chief Human Capital Officer
Chief Information Officer
Economic Impact and Diversity
Hearings and Appeals
Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management
Legacy Management
Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy
Energy Information Administration
Bonneville Power Administration
Southeastern Power Administration
Southwestern Power Administration
Western Area Power Administration
Assistant Secretary for International Affairs
Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
General Counsel
Chief Financial Officer
Enterprise Assessments
Energy Policy and System Analysis
Intelligence and Counterintelligence
Loan Programs Office
Public Affairs
Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization

[olezip]

In the days after, Mr. Perry, the former Texas governor, discovered that he would be no such thing — that in fact, if confirmed by the Senate, he would become the steward of a vast national security complex he knew almost nothing about, caring for the most fearsome weapons on the planet, the United States’ nuclear arsenal.

The NY Times continues to produce fake or grossly misleading news. The Department of Energy was created to make the USA free of dependence of other countries for energy. For those at the NYT, energy independence includes oil, gas, coal, green sources of energy, and nuclear.

Maybe Wikipedia could help the NYT understand the history of the Dept. of Energy.