Government Is Confusing

It appears Rep. Eric Swalwell of California misunderstands a number of things about how our United States government operates. A few months ago, he seemed to suggest that the United States military might employ tactical nuclear weapons in order to enforce hypothetical laws against gun ownership. He later claimed he was joking in an obvious use of hyperbole, but given that the conversation apparently did feature the potential use of force to bring about those laws' intended design, it was at very least a joke in poor taste.

But them came a Q&A in the New York Times recently in which Rep. Swalwell, now one of the candidates for the Democratic nomination for president, explained what kind of policies a Swalwell administration would pursue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Among the steps he would take would be the firing "on day one" of Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of current President Donald Trump, who is this administration's point man on Israeli-Palestinian policy. I've linked to a Washington Free Beacon article about the story because the Times piece is behind the paywall.

Rep. Swalwell most certainly overestimates his chances of getting anywhere near the Oval Office without a tour group. But he also does not appear to understand that often, presidential staffs and advisors leave when the President who hires them leaves office. I suspect that even Jared Kushner has more pride than to hang around long enough to be fired by Eric Swalwell.

But as mentioned, whether or not Mr. Kushner has a job in the White House come January 2021 is unlikely to have squat to do with any decisions made by Rep. Swalwell.