No, seriously… What the heck am I reading?

A report from The Washington Post seems to suggest that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is pretty much just occupying space, as far as his appointed office.

According to the Post, he’s not really interacting with the president and he’s not very visible.

“Most of his interactions are with an insular circle of political aides who are new to the State Department. Many career diplomats say they still have not met him, and some have been instructed not to speak to him directly — or even make eye contact.”

Did that say they have been instructed not to speak to him directly or even make eye contact?

Yup. That’s what it said. Wow.

He made a trip to China earlier in March and only allowed a reporter from the Independent Journal Review to travel with him.

Tillerson claimed the decision not to allow more reporters had to do with a desire to save money, saying the plane “flies faster, allows me to be more efficient” with fewer people on it.

I guess for the sake of reporters it’s best they do give Tillerson a wide berth, especially when flying.

He sounds like the kind of guy who might get overly ramped up if the plane were to hit a bit of turbulence, and could start tossing journalists out the exit door to lighten the load.

I’m trying to maintain at least an elementary level of seriousness, here, but all of this is a bit much.

So how is he serving as the nation’s top diplomat if no one is allowed to look him in the eyes or speak directly to him?

Tillerson was prepared to retire before being offered the job as Secretary of State. He may be having second thoughts about putting that retirement on hold.