Posted on 12/07/2016 6:28:47 AM PST by springwater13
Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and retired Marine Gen. John Kelly are likely to be tapped for secretary and deputy secretary of homeland security, according to a top transition official familiar with the president-elect's current thinking, but the source would not reveal which of the two men is favored for the top post and which is likely to be deputy secretary.
President-elect Trump has met separately with Kobach and Kelly. The agency will play a major role in implementing the ambitious immigration policies of his administration.
Because Trump has already tapped Gens. Michael Flynn and Jim Mattis for top positions in his administration, some are urging him to put Kobach at the helm of DHS and Kelly just below him.
At least two stakeholders seemed to prefer that arrangement.
"If he has too many generals in the cabinet it becomes almost an extension of the Joint Chiefs," Dan Stein, president of the anti-amnesty Federation for American Immigration Reform, told the Examiner Tuesday evening, adding that Kobach would bring "profound, deep and rich expertise on all faces of immigration law and immigration enforcement and policy."
"He is clearly the best prepared person in the country to implement the president-elect's immigration program," said Mark Krikorian, executive director Center for Immigration Studies, said of Kobach.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
Excellent!
I’d rather Kobach, but let’s be real: Kobach is quite young, and if Kelly gets the top nod, Kobach will essentially be understudy, ready for a promotion.
I don’t know if Kobach is confirmable with the Senate with flakes like Flake and Graham voting against. It’s probably for the best if he is Deputy. He will still have a lot of influence.
“If he has too many generals in the cabinet it becomes almost an extension of the Joint Chiefs,” Dan Stein, president of the anti-amnesty Federation for American Immigration Reform
__
Not like there’s anything wrong with it. This is war and our enemies are crafty.
goody goody—only education secretary is the bummer so far. overall we r doing very well.
I realize that border security is top priority but I hope they quickly get to TSA reform as well. What a miserably run agency.
Kobach is 50 (older than Barry was when he took office). I’ve been impressed with him so far (I live in home state) and think he will do a great job.
I’m sure Jeff Colyer is all for that. It would take Kobach out of the running as Brownback’s replacement in 2018.
I think that job was probably safe from Kobach anyway, maybe not.
Sorry to lose Kobach, but this is great.
I was NOT meaning to suggest that Kobach was TOO young. Only that he’s got plenty of time to gain still more on-the-job training.
Kobach is definitely interested in DHS... We’ll see if #2 is enough to pull him away from his interest in being Gov. of Kansas.
Kris Kobach is not that young. He is 50 years old. I have personally worked with Kris. He is one of the most impressive people I have ever met. And he is down to earth, not a pretentious bone in his body. He would make a fantastic head of DHS. Kelly could be his deputy.
n 1984, Kobach graduated from Washburn Rural High School in Topeka, Kansas, where he was co-valedictorian and class president. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Harvard University, graduating summa cum laude and first in his department. He then received an M.A. and Ph.D. in Politics at the University of Oxford, where he was a Marshall Scholar. He then attended Yale Law School, where he earned a Juris Doctor degree in 1995 and was an editor of the Yale Law Journal. During this time, he published two books: The Referendum: Direct Democracy in Switzerland (Dartmouth, 1994), and Political Capital: The Motives, Tactics, and Goals of Politicized Businesses in South Africa (University Press of America, 1990.
While at Harvard, Kobach served as Republican Club President. In that capacity, he supported the Afghan Mujahideen in their war against the Soviet Union, stating, "[T]he Afghan rebels' cause gets the least amount of attention and support in this country". Kobach served as a missionary to Uganda in 2005 and 2006. Previously, he had volunteered to help build a school in a South African township through the Get Ahead Foundation. He has also served as a Big Brother. He was a national rowing champion (men's pair event, master's division in 1998; men's double event, master's division, 2001, 2002). He is also an Eagle Scout.
n 2001, President George W. Bush awarded him a White House Fellowship to work for Attorney General John Ashcroft. At the end of the fellowship, he stayed on as Counsel to the Attorney General. Shortly after the attacks of September 11, 2001, he led a team of attorneys and researchers who formulated and established the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System. In addition, he took part in work to reshape the Board of Immigration Appeals in 2002. After his government service ended, he returned to UMKC to teach law until running for and winning election to Secretary of State. Upon winning election, Kobach left his position at UMKC.
Kris has been engaged in lawsuits all over the country on the immigration issue. He has presented a number of cases to SCOTUS.
Let me be clear: Kobach would make an excellent Sec of DHS. I never intended to suggest he was too young, or unqualified.
I don’t know if you’ve seen, but Kelly is now in. So it’s a matter of whether Trump has convinced Kobach to take the #2 position.
At 50, Kobach is not really young. But Kelly would likely get through the Senate much easier.
I hope Kris agrees to be the Deputy. Or he could be the head of ICE. He would have far more power as the Deputy. IMO Kris is Presidential material.
It’s Kelly for DHS secretary. Nothing yet on Kobach.
Trump is really bringing in some of the most staunchly conservative stars, from the most solidly conservative parts of the country (Kansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, etc.), as well as from the military.
It is a mix of accomplished 50 somethings with still a lot of fight left in them (and career ahead of them), and older/wiser greybeards who can finally make their capstone achievement for their country.
Personnel is policy. Trump could go golfing, and these guys will still make huge improvements on their own.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.