TILLERSON AT THE PLATE – AT 10:19 A.M. ET:  Confirmation hearings for the President-elect's choice for secretary of state are underway today.  From Fox:

Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson, at the start of his confirmation hearing Wednesday, named radical Islam, China and Russia as the primary challenges confronting an American government that's “stumbled” under the Obama administration.

“If we do not lead, we risk plunging the world deeper into confusion and danger,” he told senators.

Tillerson, the ExxonMobil CEO vying to be confirmed as the nation's top diplomat, testified in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee amid swirling questions about alleged meddling in U.S. politics by the Kremlin and Tillerson’s own business ties to Russia. But the energy executive took on the Russian issue head-on during his opening statement.

“We must also be clear-eyed about our relationship with Russia,” Tillerson said. “Russia today poses a danger, but it is not unpredictable in advancing its own interests … our NATO allies are right to be alarmed at a resurgent Russia.”

Tillerson also took aim at China’s “illegal” building of man-made islands in the South China Sea and radical Islam, which he said posed “a grave risk to the stability of nations and the well-being of their citizens.”

Tillerson testified a day after a contentious Senate session involving Attorney General nominee Sen. Jeff Sessions. The audience at Tillerson’s Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing again appeared to be filled with protesters including Code Pink activists were dressed in Statue of Liberty garb, a man outfitted in a suit made of money and some protesters suited up in T-Rex costumes – a play on Tillerson’s name.

COMMENT:  Thus far Tillerson has been saying the right things.  However, his past ties with Russia, and suspicions about the President-elect's own ties with Russia, are dominating concerns about the new administration's foreign policy.   They are legitimate areas of inquiry.

I'm periodically monitoring the hearings.  Tillerson is impressive.  He speaks slowly, thinks very clearly, and answers questions by breaking down his points into logical components.  I can understand why he was nominated. 

Unless something really horrible comes out, I can't see him being rejected.  But things are strange in Washington.

January 11,  2017