Unforeseen Contingencies

Unforeseen Contingencies welcomes the 45th President, Donald John Trump. This is one of the happiest of unforeseen contingencies in a long time... perhaps since the collapse of the Soviet Union! (That's probably the correct comparison: America's deranged, rabid left and a regime run by a Stalinist secret police.)  "We" here at Unforeseen Contingencies are heartened (somewhat to our own surprise) by how the coming Trump administration is developing.

Generally speaking, Mr. Trump's proposed cabinet members are good, even excellent in some cases.  Almost none of the them, maybe none, are advocates of expansion of federal power and federal lawlessness.  A number of them -- Betsy DeVos, Scott Pruitt, Rick Perry, for example, are cogent critics of the bureaucracies they will head.  As Secretary of Defense, James Mattis will actually be concerned with defending America, rather than making certain that people confused about their sex are integrated into every military unit. "We" also have high expectations for Nikki Hailey at U.N., Ben Carson at HUD, and especially Jeff Sessions at DoJ.  Imagine, for the first time in eight years, an Attorney General who sees his job as enforcing the law, instead of promoting gun control and race war!  (I note that some libertarians, e.g. Michael Tanner of Cato, have opposed Sessions, because they disagree with him on issues such as asset forfeiture laws and immigration.  This makes no sense to me; as a law enforcement officer Sessions will follow the law, instead of help make it as a Senator...isn't that where he belongs?  For clarity, I agree that asset forfeiture laws are a terrible idea and unjust.  But disagreeing on this issue is quite different from the criminality of "Fast and Furious" Holder and "Secret Negotiation with Bill" Lynch, or even the lawlessness endorsed by "I Support Obama's Illegal Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants" Gary Johnson.)

Mr. Trump is not yet President, but we at Unforeseen Contingencies are optimistic -- guardedly optimistic, for one should always have a measure of skepticism and distrust for those with power.  Donald Trump has an opportunity to reverse the dangerous growth of government and its power, and to defeat enemies of liberty abroad and at home.  If he can do this, America will remain great.

Mr. Trump, here's wishing you success in this.