SD's Thune picked to head Senate

[Bonasababy]

What do folks that know him think--will he stand up to Trumps 2025 plan to decimate/sell public lands? From what I have seen from afar he may not be as loony as some in his party and is a classic politician but hasn't been terribly friendly to sportsmen or public lands.

 

[SAJ-99]

Looking less crazy is a pretty low bar these days. We will quickly find out. The time of just accusing the government of reckless spending is gone now that he has to increase the debt ceiling and vote on the budget.

 

[Djfan]

Not sure how I feel about this. He doesn't come across as a guy who is out to cooperate with the incoming administration.

 

[jimh406]

The majority leader's job is to help get the President's agenda passed. If he doesn't work on that, he's probably not going to keep his job.

That being said, Project 2025 is not Trump's platform. Trump's platform is posted on his website. Public land is not mentioned on it.

However, Trump has said in the past that he doesn't like the idea of public land sales in interviews.

 

[SAJ-99]

He doesn't come across as a guy who is out to cooperate with the incoming administration.

Cooperate in what way? He said publicly he is on board. Maybe he realizes he represents one of the least populated states by density. Lots of rural areas. This means schools and hospitals are spread out, resulting in a need for federal funds to keep them running. The national party is trying to shoot that cash cow. Again, talk is cheap, particularly when you know your ideas will never get implemented and you will never see any real consequences. Reality sucks.

 

[twodogs]

The majority leader's job is to help get the President's agenda passed. If he doesn't work on that, he's probably not going to keep his job.

That being said, Project 2025 is not Trump's platform. Trump's platform is posted on his website. Public land is not mentioned on it.

However, Trump has said in the past that he doesn't like the idea of public land sales in interviews.

Lordy. Project 2025 is alive and well, given that he's brought on many of the people that authored it. It may not be mentioned on his platform, but I can assure you the mechanics of it are already in motion. I'll be forever pleased to be proven wrong, but I have my doubts about it. Personally I believe that 100% tariffs, firing half the federal government, and selling off federal lands, are bad ideas, but the wisdom of the American people has decided otherwise, and who am I to argue with that?

 

[grizzly_]

but the wisdom of the American people has decided otherwise, and who am I to argue with that?

I feel like our country was built on arguing for your opinion, even if it's unpopular.

 

[WYelker]

Haha. I Yet to see anything at all from Trump over the last 8 years of his political career, suggesting that he is going to massively sell off public lands. Can anyone show me where this has been mentioned, hinted at by Trump?

As for the DOGE, I cant wait. There is so much waste in Government. I am not sure it will be 50% RIF. But there is a huge room for improvement. Hell just in education alone we save a crap ton. Nothing would be better than seeing the department of education reduced by 70% and sending all the money wasted at the federal level to the states for hiring teachers, improving salaries, and allowing the local schools to meet the needs of local students.