DRAINING THE SWAMP – AT 9:43 A.M. ET:  President-elect Trump is starting to make good on his pledge to drain the Washington swamp.  From the Daily Mail: 

Donald Trump's staff has announced a tough new anti-lobbying for all members of his transition team and all other officials who work for the President-elect.

People who work with Trump must sever all their ties to the lobbying industry, and they are not allowed to lobby on behalf of anyone for five years after they leave the Donald's side.

The ban also applies to the transition team members charged with helping to find, vet and hire for the incoming Republican administration, Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said late Wednesday in New York.

Additionally, neither the transition advisers nor incoming officials are permitted to be registered federal or state lobbyists, Spicer said. He described the measures as helping to ensure people won't be able to use government service 'to enrich themselves.

COMMENT:  I wonder what The New York Times and CNN will say about this.  They'll probably find a way to call it racist, sexist, anti-gay. 

It's a positive move, and sets the right tone.  However, there could be negatives – removing from government service some extremely talented people.  There should be some way in which waivers can be granted in special circumstances.

November 17, 2016