Too much of a good thing can become a big problem!

When politicians make appointments, they should always expect a certain amount of personal loyalty. Nobody benefits when appointees make elected officials look bad.

At least two other things are needed for a good appointment, though.

One obvious qualifier is competence, both general and specific. It’s important that an appointee has a record of success in other positions, so you can be confident they will handle their new responsibilities well. General competence can be extended to new areas, if the appointee is humble about what they don’t know and willing to consult others.

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It’s important that an appointee has a record of success in other positions, so you can be confident they will handle their new responsibilities well.

Another crucial qualifier, in public service, is loyalty to the country! We take this for granted, but it’s really crucial. Without loyalty to the country, personal loyalty to the leader or party can easily become a problem for the public.

Competence

Over and over, President-Elect Trump has seemed to lack humility about his own weaknesses, and to lack appetite for detailed and nuanced policy. In his personal and political life, Mr. Trump has often had difficulty controlling his initial impulses.

In Trump’s first term, he appointed many experienced military and civilian leaders, with proven loyalty to the Constitution and to the country. These leaders’ self-control, and their support for constitutional and congressional procedures, helped to protect the country through Trump’s first term.

Appointments in this presidential cycle are different. Many appointees seem to be far outside their zones of competence, and seem to have little loyalty to constitutional traditions or even to national security.

Because nothing else matters much if the country is betrayed, the most distressing for me is Tulsi Gabbard as a potential director of National Intelligence. Several others share similar characteristics, though.

Several of the prominent appointees have qualities and views that make them attractive to Mr. Trump — but many seem to have been chosen primarily for their opposition to diverse points of view, rather than to best carry out the “big-picture” public service missions of the agencies they’ve been asked to lead.

Congressional role

Congressional oversight — starting with the confirmation process — will be very important in setting a stage where President-Elect Trump’s campaign promises can be fulfilled and where his harmful impulses can be slowed or stopped.

A Congress of reasonably independent thinkers — especially those who aren’t beholden to billionaires — will be able to provide the needed oversight. A Congress without courage or independence cannot serve the country well in coming years.

What kind of Congress, cabinet, and national leadership will we have? We will see!