Browsing: we have to consider what the overall impact of a candidate’s staffing choices will have on our well-being and our democracy.

     Instead of focusing only on the candidates this year, we should think about their staffing agendas. To paraphrase John Donne, no president is an island. Whoever we elect will nominate or appoint a Chief of Staff, Secretaries of the Cabinet, National Security Advisor, White House Counsel, Press Secretary, a variety of Advisors (homeland security, science, climate), Ambassadors, Federal Judges, possibly including Supreme Court Justice nominees, and miscellaneous assistants, aides and all sorts of people to help with important decision making as well as day-to-day routine governing.