The Incoming Secretary of State in the U.S.
A commenter notes: Rex Tillerson (Trump’s nominee to head the State Department–pictured here with bromance partner Vladimir Putin) may have many admirable qualities, but it would be difficult to find a candidate more likely to cause fear and alarm among green advocates.
I’m unaware of any admirable qualities, but the balance of this statement is certainly correct. In fact, I would amplify it as follows: It would be impossible to find a candidate more likely to cause fear, alarm and utter revulsion among green advocates, as well as on the part of anyone else who favors democracy and honest government, who values the reputation that the U.S. has (actually, had) on the world stage, and all those with lungs and/or children.
Craig,
Oh hang on, when I wrote that observation I acknowledged many of Rex Tillerson’s considerable attributes.
Whatever else he may be, Rex Tillerson is still a human being, husband, father, grandfather. When you use words like “revulsion” to demean, dehumanize, and demonize, you reduce the your own credibility.
You wind up sounding like a mean-spirited bigoted agitator, whipping up a lynch mob.
(I’m reminded of the scene from the great movie “Inherit the Wind” (1960), where Fredrick March admonished a too ardent preacher )
Rex Tillerson was the CEO of a company whose products you use every day, and are essential to the quality of life of you and your family. If he’s harming those ” with lungs and/or children”, then so are you!.
There’s no evidence that Rex Tillerson is opposed to democracy, or honest government. As for the US reputation on the world stage, I think you live in a delusion if you image that the world believes the US has a reputation for honesty in foreign affairs.
I’ve no great desire to defend Rex Tillerson, and he wouldn’t be my choice of Secretary of State, but I’m not President (nor are you), and Donald Trump is entitled to choose who he believes is the best man for the job. His Presidency will be judged by the action of his Cabinet.
Perhaps if you were a little more open minded, you might find much in common with Rex Tillerson.
In my experience, human beings are complex often possessing admirable facets to their personality, along with disagreeable.
Learning about a person often lessens the sense of fear and loathing you once felt, but then it’s hard to hate someone when you discover they’re not the demon you feared, isn’t it ?
That’s a lovely sermon, but this guy’s a purely repulsive character. Sorry for being so blunt and direct. He intends (and now will probably succeed) to pump the last molecule of crude out of the ground and burn it, resulting in horrific and probably irreparable environmental damage. Why does he want to do that? To make him even wealthier than he is today. The fact that he has his own grandchildren whom he’s condemning to suffer because of his greed makes him that much more deplorable.
Craig,
Let me see if I understand you correctly;
Rex Tillerson is a ” purely repulsive character” because he “intends to pump the last molecule of crude out of the ground and burning it” ?
That’s it ? That’s your contention in a nut shell ?
Well apart from the fact that Rex Tillerson is retired from Exxon, and Rex Tillerson burns no more oil than the average consumer, let’s imagine you are correct. How does that make him anymore “purely repulsive”, than you, the person buying and benefiting from the oil ?
You live in a world, society and economy created by oil/gas products and services. The oil industry, is, and will be essential to the stability and economic well being for decades to come. The oil industry is financing both directly and indirectly energy technologies that will one day replace the need for fossil fuel.
Now if your contention had any validity, and is not based on mere hypocrisy you must be able to state without equivocation;
1) Rex Tillerson should immediately cease oil production, and I, Craig Shields can guarantee there will be no(or very little) consequences because :
[ List of replacement technologies available globally.]
2) I, Craig Shields don’t use any oil products.
Now since we both know perfectly well that you can’t fulfill either of those two conditions, how does that make Rex Tillerson “purely repulsive “, and you equally so, but with a slice of added hypocrisy ?
My objection to Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State, is not personal or even his qualifications, but that his appointment is compromised by perceived conflicts of interests, and divisiveness.
i don’t believe that he’s any more “purely repulsive than say Warren Buffett who also makes money form transporting oil.
Craig, I know I will never get an answer to my two questions. It’s easier to condemn other than see the moat in our own eye.
( Incidentally, I’m sure it’s not intentional, but did you see what you did when you wrote;
” pump the last molecule of crude out of the ground and burn it, resulting in horrific and probably irreparable environmental damage.” ?
By using such emotive language, you conjure up the image of selfishness and wanton vandalism. You manage to avoid the participation of the consumer in the process, thus isolating Rex Tillerson as solely responsible for both extraction and use thereby creating a scapgoat!
Interesting language, English ? )