Ben Carson picked to head HUD

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After hesitation, Carson accepts Trump's offer to head U.S. housing department leftright 2/2leftright

What does Ben Carson know about housing? He's a surgeon.

He's spent his whole life living in houses.

Oh yeah trump is making great picks to appoint to important government positions....just the greatest.

A lack of experience may help you look at things objectively when deciding what to slash and burn.

Likes invert the situation and instead have a housing expert do your brain surgery, I'll sure he'll be very objective about what parts of your brain to slash and burn.

That's possible, and for what I know of him from relatives who worked out in Baltimore with him he liked being a competent surgeon - I'm tending to think he'll put as much effort into getting the best advice that he can here too and attempt to cultivate similar competence. People may or may not like the theory in and behind his decisions but I tend to doubt that he'll go from having high standards to being a slouch with the duties of this post based on this being a political appointment.

Ben Carson's mom got married at 13 to a man who turned out to be a bigamist. After they divorced (don't ask me how that works with bigamy, I don't know), she was unable to support her kids and they had to move into what he describes as Section 8 housing, with hordes of rats and armies of cockroaches or something like that. His mom couldn't read or write, but made him and his brother read two books a week apiece and submit written book reports to her, which she highlighted and checked as if she had reviewed them.

He said he came to realize that he was in control of his own life, and he could use his mind and hard work to get out of the ghetto.

Here's his 2013 prayer breakfast speech where he says a lot of this stuff:



I admit Carson says some eccentric things sometimes, but give him a chance. He knows about public housing and the American Dream because he's been there personally.

Well he's obviously a smart person to be a surgeon, so I suspect he will be okay. It just seems an odd choice; why not surgeon general?

Generally speaking, I agree with this----specifically speaking, while I can agree that he doesn't have experience in Housing, per se, he most definitely has experience in being the Director of something.

Also, I've met him a few times, where I used to cater-waiter (he always had his kids' foundation dinners, there), and one of the things that impressed me about him, is that he seems to have, genuinely, NOT forgotten where he comes-from (poor, without proper housing)----and that, IMO, qualifies him for this post.


I agree!

Yeah, I thought the same thing----or, like, Director of Health and Human Services----but, I'm thinking, maybe, he wanted to "branch-out" / do something different; or, maybe it's because he felt he could be closer to "the cause", so-to-speak (meaning, as SG, for instance, he would be working for the DOCTORS [and, indirectly, to the patients]; whereas, being the Director of Housing, he would be working, more directly, for those he wants to help).

I think Trump values Carson's life experience of being somebody that rose out of poverty, he is an inspirational figure to a lot of people and obviously a very intelligent man. Carson is a very high profile and I think central casting aspect of it is a big part of the reason why Trump wanted him to head HUD, I don't doubt Carson's and Trump's sincere motivation to help our inner cities so I hope their solutions reflect that.

I've heard rumbles about Sarah Palin as possibly Secretary of Veteran Affairs which I am sure would get similar cries about her qualifications but I think it is possible she could do a good job as well. She took on corrupt entrenched establishment in Alaska and was able to become governor, her son is a war veteran, she'd be a high profile and tireless advocate for a veterans in a VA system that is rife with with corruption.

In the end the media is not going to be happy with anybody Trump picks so you just have to move around them, the media are essentially prostitutes as we have all learned and a big part of the reason Trump won was because of how easy it was to manipulate them. They are not the feared and respected fourth estate, they are quite dumb and easily swept aside. Getting them talking about what Trump wants them to talk about is him already winning, insignificant losers most of the country hates waging a campaign against the President-Elect doesn't endear yourself to people nor does it lend them any credibility.

If you dislike Carson as HUD Secretary then name who you actually wanted picked that would of been okay

Yeah, I've been quite interested in Sarah Palin being SoVA, since I've heard the rumors----I, TOO, think she'd do a good job.

I've been a bit anxious since hearing one of our Senators from Maryland is retiring (Sen. Barbara Mikulski - the longest-serving female senator, ever), because she's been a HUGE supporter of veterans; and, Sarah Palin reminds me a bit, of her----little, big-mouth, fiercely caring / passionate about things----so, I'm really hoping she'll get it, cuz I believe she'll really fight for us (veterans). I mean, obviously, Sarah Palin will be working for ALL of the states, but still.

There's sooooo many problems with the VA----especially, in regard to VA hospitals, and PTSD benefits----and, I really feel that SP is someone who will NOT back-down in changing this mess.