Guess Who Recommended Rex Tillerson, for Secretary of State, to Trump?

I have been fairly neutral on Mobil Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson as the likely Secretary of State. He doesn't have much of a paper trail. He is in favor of a carbon tax but that is the only clear negative in his sketchy public profile outside of his Mobil Exxon work. So for the most part, I have not said much about him. He is an unknown quantity.

There is, of course, serious problems if super war hawk John Bolton gets the Deputy Secretary of State position.

That said, there is a new piece of news that does raise concerns about Tillerson. Politico reports:

Tillerson was brought into Trump Tower for an interview with Trump at the recommendation of former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who count Exxon among their private consulting clients, according to two sources familiar with the conversations. His name was first publicly floated for the job in early December and he met privately with Trump on Tuesday. Rice sat down with the President-elect in late November, and Gates followed her three days later.

Rice and Gates are serious war hawks. If they like Tillerson at State, it is a serious red flag.

 -RW