UPROAR BUILDING – AT 11:48 A.M. ET:   Some of it is genuine, some of it pure politics, but there's a growing sense of unease with the probable appointment of Exxon-Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson as secretary of state.  From Powerline: 

The real potential problem with picking Tillerson is his close relationship with Vladimir Putin. This might do for an ambassador to Russia, just as Gov. Branstad’s relationship with China’s leader arguably recommends him to represent us in Beijing.

It seems problematic, though, to pick a Secretary of State who is tight with a world leader who is a thug, a butcher, a destabilizer, and an ally of Iran. I think it’s legitimate to wonder whether the selection of Tillerson would signal and facilitate a Russian reset that would make that of Obama-Clinton look like the Cold War by comparison.

Some Republican Senators are worrying about precisely this. Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham have voiced this concern. So has Sen. Marco Rubio.

Rubio put it this way on Twitter:  Being a “friend of Vladimir” is not an attribute I’m hoping for from a Secretary of State.

Well said.

If these three Senators were to vote against confirming Tillerson, and if all Democrats joined them, this would be enough to sink the nomination. It’s premature to call this scenario likely, but it’s a possibility. Indeed, it’s possible that McCain, Graham, and Rubio wouldn’t be the only Republican defectors.

COMMENT:  Very true.  Republicans in the Senate may well be looking for the chance to assert themselves, and Tillerson's nomination is hardly the kind to win widespread public love.  Here is a case that will test Trump's skills.  I'd rate the chances at confirmation of Tillerson at only 50-50.

December 12, 2016