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Trump Picks Republican To Fill Empty Commissioner Seat At FCC (arstechnica.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the musical-chairs dept.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: The Federal Communications Commission's empty slots are about to be filled. President Donald Trump will nominate Republican Brendan Carr to the FCC's fifth and final commissioner position, the White House announced last night. Carr served as FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai's Wireless, Public Safety, and International Legal Advisor for three years. After Trump elevated Pai to the chairmanship in January, Pai appointed Carr to become the FCC's general counsel. "Brendan has a distinguished record of public service, having worked at the agency for over five years, including most recently as the FCC's General Counsel," Pai said after the White House announcement. "In particular, Brendan's expertise on wireless policy and public safety will be a tremendous asset to the Commission."

28 of 71 comments (clear)

  1. Short-circuit the discussion. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Why bother wasting emotional energy on this? At this point the FCC, much like the EPA, is just a political sham rubber-stamping anything big business wants, and there aint shit anyone can do about it.

    1. Re:Short-circuit the discussion. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      there aint shit anyone can do about it.

      Nonsense. We can reduce the reelection rates in congress every two years. We can completely clean the house of democrats AND republicans IF we want to. The government is us... So shut the fuck up, and vote them out!

    2. Re: Short-circuit the discussion. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Just checked; US House reelection rate has never dipped below 85%, since 1964. The two party system is working better than any oligarch could have dreamed of.

    3. Re:Short-circuit the discussion. by k6mfw · · Score: 1

      Nonsense. We can reduce the reelection rates in congress every two years.

      I'll put this in the good-luck-with-that dept. Even though congress has approval rating that extremely low (I'd say with ratings like this congress and govt are becoming unsustainable), just about everyone is re-elected (go figure).

      --
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    4. Re:Short-circuit the discussion. by CrimsonAvenger · · Score: 2

      Even though congress has approval rating that extremely low (I'd say with ratings like this congress and govt are becoming unsustainable), just about everyone is re-elected (go figure).

      And this is surprising to you? All it means is that people generally like THEIR Rep and Senators. The ones they vote for.

      Just because I like the guy I vote for doesn't mean I like the 431 people that the rest of you clowns voted for....

      --

      "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
    5. Re:Short-circuit the discussion. by SuricouRaven · · Score: 1

      It could also be interpreted as most people voting based purely on party affiliation, rather than the individual representative.

    6. Re:Short-circuit the discussion. by gtall · · Score: 1

      Well, that and they refuse to move election day to a SATURDAY when people can actually make it to the polls.

    7. Re: Short-circuit the discussion. by RabidReindeer · · Score: 1

      It's a racket. Longevity gets you on influential committees. Influential committees mean that you get better chances of shipping pork home to the voters. And that's just the official clubs that you can get on when you've been around a while.

      This is the dirty reason why the Pelosis and McConnells, the McCains and Rubios, Conyers, Grahams, Kennedys, DeLays and so forth keep their jobs forever. Because of that sweet, sweet bacon.

      Maybe that's why the Muslims extremists hate us so much!

  2. This should not surprise anyone.... by Xenographic · · Score: 1

    Is there any surprise here, except perhaps from people who don't know how FCC commissioners are chosen?

    Commissioners

    The FCC is directed by five commissioners appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate for five-year terms, except when filling an unexpired term. The U.S. President designates one of the commissioners to serve as chairman. Only three commissioners may be members of the same political party. None of them may have a financial interest in any FCC-related business

    Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Federal_Communications_Commission&oldid=785668648#Commissioners

    1. Re:This should not surprise anyone.... by Ichijo · · Score: 1

      Only three commissioners may be members of the same political party.

      Two would be better.

      --
      Any sufficiently unpopular but cohesive argument is indistinguishable from trolling.
    2. Re:This should not surprise anyone.... by aardvarkjoe · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Two would be better.

      But then we'd have to admit that there are more than two political parties. Can't let the voters discover that!

      --

      How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?
    3. Re:This should not surprise anyone.... by markdavis · · Score: 1

      >"But then we'd have to admit that there are more than two political parties. Can't let the voters discover that!"

      Really, they never will with the electoral college in place and the lack of some form of instant runoff voting. But we really need that to change. I won't hold my breath...

    4. Re:This should not surprise anyone.... by SuricouRaven · · Score: 1

      Keeping third parties from influence is one of the areas on which democrats and republicans are happy to cooperate.

    5. Re:This should not surprise anyone.... by gtall · · Score: 1

      Really? They don't seem to be cooperating on Russian influence. The Republicans in the White House have their fingers in their years...Na, Na, Na...I can't hear you....

    6. Re:This should not surprise anyone.... by Citizen+of+Earth · · Score: 1, Interesting

      It should be well-known by now that there are thee parties: the Republicans, the Opposition, and the Democrats. The Opposition is also known as the mainstream media. The Democrats are pretty much irrelevant by now and the three shrieking crazy old ladies and one profanity-prone man who are their spokespeople are helping to bury them for good.

  3. Dumb title by MSTCrow5429 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Obvious Trump nominated a Republican. Democrats nominate Democrats. During a GOP presidency, there are 3 Republicans and 2 Democrats, and during a Democrat presidency, there are 2 Republicans and 3 Democrats. Why no civics?

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    1. Re: Dumb title by ArchieBunker · · Score: 1

      Been hearing that since January now.

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      Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
    2. Re:Dumb title by guises · · Score: 1

      It's not entirely obvious: the president nominates all of the commissioners, and only three are allowed to be from the president's own party. Ajit Pai was originally nominated by Obama, in order to fill one of the two opposition seats during his presidency.

    3. Re:Dumb title by Skuld-Chan · · Score: 1

      Not really true, but whatever:

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

    4. Re:Dumb title by mjwx · · Score: 1

      Obvious Trump nominated a Republican. Democrats nominate Democrats

      This,

      I dislike Trump as much as the next person with more than one brain cell to share amongst their 17 brother and/or cousins, but seriously, there is no surprise or overt foul-doing here.

      Is there something wrong with the nominee? If not this is business as usual.

      --
      Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
    5. Re:Dumb title by MSTCrow5429 · · Score: 1

      Good point. I was operating under the assumption that the current make-up of the board was already known.

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    6. Re:Dumb title by MSTCrow5429 · · Score: 1

      What "best" serving in an office means is subjective. Technocracy doesn't work, or at least not as its largely progressive supporters argue, because it ignores the fundamental questions of means and ends of government.

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      Slashdot: Playing Favorites Since 1997
  4. Re: Melania by dougdonovan · · Score: 1

    you mean carr is not a billionaire ?

  5. He coulda nominated an "I" by rsilvergun · · Score: 1

    coulda being the operative word.

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  6. The President is the leader of the GOP by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Who really cares what this giant tub of frosting does any more? He is now the face of the GOP from coast to coast and his opposition only has to stand back and watch. His kind of stink does not wash out.

    http://static.deathandtaxesmag...

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
    1. Re:The President is the leader of the GOP by SuricouRaven · · Score: 1

      Because he still has more than three years left in office, and that's enough time to do a lot of damage.

    2. Re:The President is the leader of the GOP by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      I loathe the man, but show me your tennis game at that age.

      Remember, Donald Trump is 2 years younger than Mick Jagger.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
  7. Re: Wouldn't help... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    They don't do that on purpose, just as they don't do the even easier thing of putting on two Republicans that have dropped party momentarily, etc. The one thing Republicans and Democrats can agree on is, fuck everyone who isn't a Republican or a Democrat.