At least Mattis retired and threw some shade Trump’s way.
I am looking at a future in which many of the dignity wraiths who have floated through this administration, or are currently serving there now, are all writing books and going on talk shows and telling amusing stories about how really crazy Trump was, how ignorant, how over-reactive and having a good chuckle over an anecdote or two about what a wild time it was to serve the most ill prepared president in .U.S… history. Had all of these people resigned on the day they realized he was incompetent to serve and was a danger to our national security, as Mattis arguably did, we might be living in a different reality.
It reminds me of the whole Mueller thing, who is undoubtedly sitting somewhere, drinking his coffee, and asking himself what in the world people expected from him. He gave us an entire documented and provable case of high crimes and misdemeanors and yet we are having the same arguments we were having before the report was released. And we blame it on misdirection by Barr. But of course, it is actually due to political cowardice of Washington.
There is not a thing Mattis could say that isn’t already suspected or actually known through reporting. All of our institutions appear to be completely powerless against this human stain occupying the presidency due to all of the enablers (looking at you, Mitch) who will never pay the price for their actions that are actively harming the country as we speak.
If you think Nancy Pelosi is feckless, get in a conflict with her one time. When the dust settles I’ll ask what’s left of you if you still think that. This opera is very far from over. Same idea for Schiff, among many others.
I find it interesting the number of people who have been thinking that any of these lifetime institutionalists would undermine the institutions they’ve been serving for decades…
I believe Barr was considered an institutionalist (even by some of the folks who are defending the institutionalists, Mattis and Mueller) before he became AG. How did that work out?
Something to keep in mind as the story continues to develop… Justice Kennedy’s son worked for Deuchesbank - was he involved in approving trump’s loans?
Pelosi assumed the Speakership 238 days ago. I fail to see anyone brought remotely close to account for their conduct in the two+ years previous to her elevation in the House. Almost everyone has told various House committees to shove it up their ass on providing testimony or documents. And for now have gotten away with their intransigence free of legal complications. 238 days. She’s toothless, and a procrastinator. And woefully devoid of any evidence of significant progress on the Trump criminalty front.
One key to the Internet is that you don’t actually have to keep paraphrasing or expressing your opinion of something like a Secretary of Defense’s resignation letter:
“Dear Mr. President:
I have been privileged to serve as our country’s 26th Secretary of Defense which has allowed me to serve alongside our men and women of the Department in defense of our citizens and our ideals.
I am proud of the progress that has been made over the past two years on some of the key goals articulated in our National Defense Strategy: putting the Department on a more sound budgetary footing, improving readiness and lethality in our forces, and reforming the Department’s business practices for greater performance. Our troops continue to provide the capabilities needed to prevail in conflict and sustain strong U.S. global influence. One core belief I have always held is that our strength as a nation is inextricably linked to the strength of our unique and comprehensive system of alliances and partnerships. While the US remains the indispensable nation in the free world, we cannot protect our interests or serve that role effectively without maintaining strong alliances and showing respect to those allies. Like you, I have said from the beginning that the armed forces of the United States should not be the policeman of the world. Instead, we must use all tools of American power to provide for the common defense, including providing effective leadership to our alliances. NATO’s 29 democracies demonstrated that strength in their commitment to fighting alongside us following the 9-11 attack on America. The Defeat-ISIS coalition of 74 nations is further proof.
Similarly, I believe we must be resolute and unambiguous in our approach to those countries whose strategic interests are increasingly in tension with ours. It is clear that China and Russia, for example, want to shape a world consistent with their authoritarian model - gaining veto authority over other nations’ economic, diplomatic, and security decisions - to promote their own interests at the expense of their neighbors, America and our allies. That is why we must use all the tools of American power to provide for the common defense. My views on treating allies with respect and also being clear-eyed about both malign actors and strategic competitors are strongly held and informed by over four decades of immersion in these issues. We must do everything possible to advance an international order that is most conducive to our security, prosperity and values, and we are strengthened in this effort by the solidarity of our alliances.
Because you have the right to have a Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned with yours on these and other subjects, I believe it is right for me to step down from my position. The end date for my tenure is February 28, 2019, a date that should allow sufficient time for a successor to be nominated and confirmed as well as to make sure the Department’s interests are properly articulated and protected at upcoming events to include Congressional posture hearings and the NATO Defense Ministerial meeting in February. Further, that a full transition to a new Secretary of Defense occurs well in advance of the transition of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in September in order to ensure stability Within the Department.
I pledge my full effort to a smooth transition that ensures the needs and interests of the 2.15 million Service Members and 732,079 DoD civilians receive undistracted attention of the Department at all times so that they can fulfill their critical, round-the-clock mission to protect the American people.
I very much appreciate this opportunity to serve the nation and our men and women in uniform.”
He thinks that Trump, the defense industry lobbyist currently warming the secdef chair at the pentagon, and john muthaf***** bolton are “defending the country”? Despicable.
(BTW, wikipedia says the deputy secdef is grover norquist’s brother, is that really true?)
The problem is with these things that they’re close-hold enough that you may not get more than one source with knowledge that’s willing to speak up and take the risk.
With other things, sure, be more diligent and thorough. But dealing with the crookedest criminal ever to be in the Whitehouse, no need to be so careful.
Particularly because you can meet every denial with the very simple answer that Trump can prove you wrong at will. He has copies of his loan documents, go ahead and release them. If he refuses, then everyone can just presume that the source is correct. Because it likely is.
I just hope O’Donnell’s information does not end up like the Steele dossier. Everyone knows it’s true, but there’s no concrete evidence in the public domain because of the constant battering by the F’ing Moron and his sycophants.
