Thread by @GodlessNZ

(1) I like & respect Adm Ronny Jackson & wish he'd never been nominated for VA Sec. He could have stayed in his current role with the same level of reputation he had in January 2018 and served for many more years. I think his rep has been irreparably damaged.

(2) The career fate of Adm Jackson is far less important atm than the historic French state visit and the foreign & domestic policy challenges with which we must grapple. Clearly, Democrats planned this as the latest in their desperate, lame attacks on this Presidency & voters.

(3) It reflects badly on the President and his team. The damage is recoverable, but it wasn't necessary in the first place. I still do not accept that any missteps so far have been significant enough to reduce my ability to trust & support POTUS. They are minor.

(4) 95% of the media stories on this mini-scandal are Democrat-drafted. Here's one that isn't:

talkingpointsmemo.com/news/lack-of-t…

(5) I don't have time to read this IG report but I suspect that between these two managers, one should have been moved to another unit, or both should have been. I hate it when the victim of workplace bullying is punished. It often happens.

(6) It's possible Obama deliberately raved about Jackson in the 4 performance reviews, planting seeds that could be used against a future administration. A bit of a long bow to draw, though. Maybe Jackson is a charmer who hides his flaws well, most of the time.

(7) For all the Democrats' harping on about the need for an excellent VA Sec... they were instrumental in driving this vital department into the ground, contributing to preventable deaths and harm to our precious veterans and their families. So they can sit down IMO.

(8) As many have opined this week regarding the Pompeo confirmation, Senators should return to common sense confirmations that respect the duly elected POTUS unless there is a genuinely major issue. Democrats justify it all because of muh Garland. Puh-leese.

(9) Obama nominated Merrick Garland for the SCOTUS and the GOP held the seat open, ultimately for the outstanding Neil Gorsuch. At the time I thought it was not great, but I later came to see it was the right move for the GOP to make. But Democrats have retaliated 500 times over.

(10) The GOP blocking Garland was pretty much the first step in us finally responding under the Democrats' #NewRules. Maybe messing up the first 10 confirmation decisions would have been fair enough for the Democrats. No. Total war, total intransigence is the only gear they have.

(11) IMHO #ConfirmPompeo is a watershed moment in the long revenge war over Merrick Garland. Even some Democrats are now speaking out against it. Quite a few, actually.

And Democrats whine that they weren't invited to tonight's state dinner. LOL.

(12) If POTUS had invited the usual number of Democrats to the state dinner, some of them would have loudly boycotted it. I think that's a key reason they were snubbed. I think POTUS is saying enough is enough, which is a good thing.

(13) I hope the President orders his staff to do more and better vetting of major nominees. I'm tired of these minor unforced errors. We are doing SO well, winning on all the major policy areas at the same time, against all odds. Jackson should withdraw tomorrow.

(14) There are several really good jobs in the military for Adm Jackson. He's an outstanding combat surgeon. He could lead research, training, all kinds of things. I don't think he has a future in the WH or at the VA. Those roles aren't the best use of his skills, either.

(15) My wish list:
>A new VA nominee with substantial corporate management experience, who is also a veteran.
>A role for Jackson that is a better fit for him.
>A new WH Physician and a new POTUS physical exam.

END

(16) ADDENDUM

BREAKING: Ronny Jackson has withdrawn his acceptance of the nomination.

(17) Statement from Adm Ronny Jackson. As I outlined above, this or a refutation of the allegations should have been made 2 days ago.