Leonard Cohen: Political theater

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be defense secretary, gives a thumbs-up at the completion of his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be defense secretary, gives a thumbs-up at the completion of his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. AP PHOTO/BEN CURTIS

Published: 01-22-2025 7:51 AM

One cannot escape the irony of some of the political theater we have been subjected to lately. First Donald Trump, who proposes, on day one in office, to bring manufacturing back to America, and then peddles a Bible for $59.99 printed (where else but) in China. One would think that we have plenty of printing presses in the U.S. but I guess it would be much too expensive to have an American company take on the job.

Then along comes Pete Hegseth, up for a key cabinet position involving management of billions of dollars and over three million employees. Hegseth’s impressive management skills were evident when, recently, he ran a veterans organization into bankruptcy proceedings with $1,000 left in the bank and over $400,000 in debt. But not to worry, he graduated from Princeton , must be very bright, and will learn on the job. It can’t get better than this.

Leonard Cohen

Northampton

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