Commentary: No more Noem mess. But don't pop the champagne yet

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Her gleeful cruelty was matched only by the audacity of her incompetence.Packaged in cosplay costumes — cowgirl, soldier, even firefighter and pilot — we were supposed to see her as strong.

But far from the mother of dragons she seems to envision herself as, she came across as the killer of Cricket (poor pup), a childish narcissist in a deadly serious job.It was so over the top, you don’t even need a name.

You know who I’m talking about.So there’s little wonder that when President Trump dumped Kristi Noem as the head of Homeland Security this week, much of America — even a bipartisan slice, I dare say — reacted much like the residents of Oz when the house landed on the wicked witch.

From late-night talk shows to the halls of power, there was more than a bit of celebration, and some actually reasonable schadenfreude.Normally, the misfortune of others isn’t something I pile on, but oh, did that woman earn some scorn.

But while I’m not one to discourage a moment of joy in these troubling days, Noem’s unceremonious firing and what comes next likely won’t provide the relief and reset many are hoping for — or are claiming this is.For all the chaos and pain that federal agents from various departments have caused under Noem’s leadership, there’s every reason to believe Trump has plans to continue and even expand his deportation efforts, and maybe even use these poorly trained, poorly vetted troops to impose his will on the next election.

Politics Trump said on social media he will appoint Oklahoma Sen.Markwayne Mullin to lead the DHS, two days after Noem faced a grilling on Capitol Hill from GOP members as well as Democrats.What we are witnessing, rather than any acknowledgment of policy gone awry, is spotlight envy from a petty president who doesn’t like to share attention, and a backroom concession that maybe optics do matter when you’re attempti...