Trump tweets end of Ratcliffe's nomination to top intelligence job

by Joan McCarter

Daily Kos Staff

Friday, Aug. 02, 2019 Friday, Aug. 02, 2019 at 11:24:57am PDT

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 28: U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) speaks during a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee June 28, 2018 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The committee held a hearing on 'Oversight of FBI and DOJ Actions Surrounding the 2016 Election.' (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) — Ratcliffe out.

The nomination of Trump toady and conspiracy theorist Rep. John Ratcliffe to be Director of National Intelligence lasted a week. The tweeter-in-chief informed the nation, and probably Ratcliffe at the same time, that it was over.

"Our great Republican Congressman John Ratcliffe is being treated very unfairly by the LameStream Media," he (or someone) wrote. "Rather than going through months of slander and libel, I explained to John how miserable it would be for him and his family to deal with these people…."

Yes, I'm sure that's what happened, that Trump sat him down and explained it all. "John has therefore decided to stay in Congress where he has done such an outstanding job representing the people of Texas, and our Country," Trump continued. Whether or not that decision came as a surprise to Ratcliffe is unclear. Trump said he'd soon be announcing a new nominee.

In the several days since the nomination was announced, numerous questions arose about Ratcliffe's qualifications and whether he had exaggerated his résumé, including whether he had any intelligence experience at all. The pick was causing headaches for Senate Republicans, including chairman of the Intelligence Committee Richard Burr who had warned Trump not to tap Ratcliffe for the job because he was so blindingly partisan.

Friday, Aug 2, 2019 · 7:33:20 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Here’s Ratcliffe:

While I am and will remain very grateful to the President for his intention to nominate me as Director of National Intelligence, I am withdrawing from consideration.
— John Ratcliffe (@RepRatcliffe) August 2, 2019

That’s about 11 minutes after Trump’s tweet canning him. Classy, Donald, throwing him out before he had a chance to exit gracefully. Not that Ratcliffe has any grace, but still.