Ayers (left) and Kelly.
Posted on 12/08/2018 4:00:48 AM PST by be-baw
President Trump appears poised to make Nick Ayers his third chief of staff as he prepares for re-election, replacing John Kelly with a wunderkind political operative whose confident, no-nonsense manner has ruffled feathers but also stirred admiration.
Trump is poaching the 36-year-old Ayers from Vice President Mike Pence, for whom he has served as chief of staff since the summer of last year.
Beginning in his early 20s, Ayers served as campaign manager on gubernatorial and presidential campaigns, directed the Republican Governors Association, worked on the Trump-Pence 2016 operation, and advised several Republican candidates over the years as an outside consultant.
Ayers has a demanding management style that often chafed older subordinates. But his fans say he has proven himself a smart, effective political tactician.
“He’s very results-oriented. He doesn’t have a lot of patience for people who don’t pull their weight, and he’s a very strategic thinker,” said Alex Conant, a GOP strategist who worked with Ayers in 2012 on Mike Pawlenty’s short-lived bid for the Republican presidential nomination, and who counts himself a fan. "He’s been young for every job he’s ever had and he’s risen very quickly. Some people may not feel like he’s paid his dues."
Ayers' trademark assertiveness was on display last year, when he told a gathering of GOP donors that Republicans who don't unequivocally support Trump's agenda should be purged from Congress. He urged the donors to spend money to bankroll GOP primary challengers for Republican incumbents who don't get with the Trump program. Such remarks are rare for staffers, even those in senior positions, like chief of staff to the vice president.
Trump installed Kelly as chief of staff about 16 months ago to bring order to a chaotic West Wing, though granted, the president is the cause of most of the chaos.
Then serving as Homeland Security secretary, Kelly replaced Reince Priebus and immediately set about controlling access to the Oval Office and attempting to regulate the flow of information and people to Trump. At first appreciating the gravitas and discipline that Kelly, a retired four-star Marine general, brought to the post, Trump eventually bristled under his chief of staff's heavy hand.
Yet even if that was not the case, some might have questioned Trump if he had decided to keep Kelly around during the 2020 campaign. For all of the chief’s strengths, politics isn’t among them.
“Kelly has huge voids,” said a Republican insider who is otherwise pleased with the job he’s done in the West Wing and requested anonymity in order to speak candidly. “He does not have a political bone in his body.”
In some regard, Ayers is the next best choice to whom the president might most prefer: Jared Kushner, his son-in-law and senior adviser who functioned as something of a chief of staff and consigliere to then-candidate Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign. Indeed, at 37, Kushner and Ayers are roughly the same age.
Ayers’ selection as the chief of staff, if completed, is probably a welcome development for a Republican Party establishment always concerned about where Trump is getting advice.
The president is prone to field calls and seek advice from all sorts of political novices who were a part of his inner circle before he ran for president. Ayers, a clear-eyed operative who has been on the winning and losing end of campaigns, understands what it takes to succeed. That may comfort many Republicans in Washington heading into the next campaign.
“He brings a wealth of campaign experience and understands message progression,” said Ward Baker, a Republican consultant and former executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. “Nobody better to serve as chief of staff than Nick Ayers.”
Is he or is he not anything like Lee Atwater?
Switching gears from governing to campaigning.
Ayers (left) and Kelly.
A Jewish conservative Republican? I did not know they existed anymore.
“Kelly has huge voids... He does not have a political bone in his body.”
This means Kelly has no principals. He is a mercenary, available to the highest bidder. Trump should get rid of him as soon as possible.
“Switching gears from governing to campaigning.”
Most definitely. Perhaps the biggest plus to having Ayers as Chief at this time is that he would likely get the Trump team working together toward re-election.
I would like to think that Trump will easily win re-election but, as things stand now, he’s nowhere close to being able to cruise to victory. Not at all worried about the Mueller-BS, but I am concerned about the economy.
In Michigan, at least, it will be a hard slog.
His death left a huge void that hasn't since been filled; he was a tough, take-no-prisoners operative, something the GOP desperately needs.
“Is he or is he not anything like Lee Atwater?
His death left a huge void that hasn’t since been filled; he was a tough, take-no-prisoners operative, something the GOP desperately needs.”
This is needed badly. One talk show host referred to the “cowardly Republicans”,
and Trump needs someone to give him direction on how to whip the Republicans into doing what he needs and wants. Too bad this is coming so late.
“... Mike Pawlenty’s short-lived bid for the Republican presidential nomination”
I wonder what Tim Pawlenty thought, when someone named Mike ran in the same election?
The California election theft using ballot harvesting is treachery at it's max . When projected nationally, trump is defeated.
as are most ex high ranking military men. I only trust career noncoms.
Trump installed Kelly as chief of staff about 16 months ago to bring order to a chaotic West Wing, though granted, the president is the cause of most of the chaos.
...
I think the main problem at that time was leakers and backstabbers.
“I think the main problem at that time was leakers and backstabbers.”
No question, that was a big problem. IMO, Kelly was the right man for the job at that time. He established order and discipline that was sorely needed. I understand what his shortcomings are/were, and it’s a good time to replace him...as the team shifts into full campaign mode.
“The California election theft using ballot harvesting is treachery at it’s max . When projected nationally, trump is defeated. “
No doubt, adopting ballot harvesting will be a major priority of Dem-controlled state legislatures between now and Election Day 2020. And it sure doesn’t help that the dems have regained control over so many state governments.
I haven’t yet wrapped my head around the ballot harvesting problem, and I can only hope that the GOP is formulating and will implement a counter-strategy. One would hope the GOP will engage in it as well in states that have it.
I’m actually in a bit of shock about ballot harvesting. It may have the potential to destroy any semblance of free and fair elections that we still have in the USA.
Sounds like a deep-stater operative.
My thoughts/concerns
California has degenerated to Venezuela or Russia where voting is meaningless. The votes of our many California Freeper friends are basically futile.
A harvested ballot has no chain of custody. There is no way to determine if a ballot is harvested or created.
Absent total destruction of the Democrat party, America is over
The sad thing is ballot harvesting has been legalized in some jurisdictions, ushered in by other election law changes designed to increase voter turnout or participation in "democracy". We all know where pure democracy leads, mob rule.
The economy is the strongest in 20 yrs with employment at historical highs among blacks, hispanics and women.
Stop believing the gloom and doom bs you read and hear from a totally biased media
Any claiming they can accurately predict a recession is totally full of crap.
“... Mike Pawlenty’s short-lived bid for the Republican presidential nomination”
I wonder what Tim Pawlenty thought, when someone named Mike ran in the same election?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Must be why Tim lost, everyone voted for his brother, Mike.
Pence’s Chief of Staff? The Deep State Marches On.
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