Trump has completely destroyed U.S. credibility when it comes to treaties, contracts, agreements, or anything else where trust in any form plays a part. These things were the bedrock foundation of American greatness for the last century.
Trump has completely destroyed U.S. scientific capability by defunding research in all areas--including fields with specific military application. These things were the basis of American leadership for the last century.
Trump has completely destroyed America's immigration system, driving out immigrants both legal and otherwise while blocking and deterring others from coming here. Immigration was the wellspring of American greatness that provided the country with some of the most brilliant minds on the planet, along with some of our most vital labor.
And now Trump is destroying our military by demoralizing the troops with pointless deployments to tourist ones, and driving the military leadership to distraction with pointless "manliness."
As has frequently been observed, if Trump actually was a Russian asset - as in 100% proven to be one via evidence that would stand up in court - what would he be doing differently from what he's already doing?
Moreover doe anyone believe that if he were an actual Russian asset, he would't brag about it publicly within a week? No I think that Putin discovered the same thing that many many people have discovered: he's cartoonishly easy to flatter into doing what you want.
I don't think he's a Russian agent, at least in the sense I think you mean. But he wouldn't be acting differently if he was. What Trump is is incredible bigoted and stupid. He's a mentally ill man who is mainlining his myriad psychological pathologies into our nation's veins. I'm sure that Putin does have the goods on him, but those goods are probably ancillary to Trump's real motivation. Trump really does believe that what he's doing is good for the U.S., because Trump is a big, dumb, crazy nut job.
I don't think Rump believes that he's doing good things for the country. I think he doesn't give a flying fig about the country. It's all about power, adulation, and grifting. The U.S. could collapse and burn as long as he'd get out with all the toys and a ticket to a non-extradition country.
So true! And it’s not just Russia. Trump is being manipulated by all the world’s leaders. They know that he is a sick, silly, shallow man, so they’ve adjusted their diplomatic strategies to align and exploit that. It’s all part of the general madness of our current political moment.
I vote for "useful idiot"! I believe he is clueless regarding the real damage he is doing to the United States. In his delusional mind, he is making the country stronger. In fact, he is perfectly carrying out Putin's plan and has never realized he is being used!
Charles, I think he can care less about the damage and destruction he’s causing and will continue to cause to the US of America. He enjoys and is eager to destroy our country in order to do the dirty work for Russia and satisfy his owner. And is having a good old time making billions for him and his buddies in the process. If being used means he could get the attention, god like praise, and take over the United States he’ll do what ever dark , obscure things he has to in order to please those who are using him like a puppet abroad and here in the mainland.
He thinks he’s the smart guy in the room and playing those around him. So far useful. How it ends for him remains the big question on both sides…not sure we have ever seen this level of infiltration at such a high level.
given the quality of his incompetent sycophant friends and advisors he may be the smartest guy in many of the rooms he is in - can the bar be at moron level? Now there is the Confederacy of Dunces Joseph O'Toole mocked.
Not really. Putin's Russia, as well as North Korea, & Hitler's Nazis are Trump's ROLE MODELS.
It is really hard to go against one's role model, it is like contesting the role he so much wants to emulate.
A powerful dictator who grifts almost everyone else, showing that he is "important".
So Trump, with the help of his controlers, is attempting to create another Russia, but more "important", as it is already bigger & richer than Russia.
Forgetting, of course, that part of the reason that Russia is much less strong than the former USSR, is the modus operandi of Putin, a recipe for economic decline.
Not to mention mob lawyer Roy Cohn. Between the Bratva and the Cosa Nostra, Trump has internalized "godfather" mentality instead of actual leadership. He has, however, jettisoned all codes of behavior associated with both.
No external enemy has ever done so much damage (!) to the US state and US society - and the entire world order - than the (utterly stupid!) US voters have done to their own country by voting for greedy criminal racist wannabe dictator conman Trump and his unscrupulous jerks.
The "land of the free and the brave" is missing or already doesn't exist anymore. It has become a cynical, unscrupulous Trump Enterprise. The USA has openly become a racist/fascist banana republic, what a shameful display!
I hear ya. I feel the same way but it's not really helpful to our situation. Best I can offer is to view much of the public as uninformed dumb animals who need our help. We have to win the House in 2026. Period.
People can only solve a problem when they recognize it, thats why I speak clear text. And yes, you have to win the next Mid-terms urgently (IF the election system is not already broken by than by Trump). But I believe it when I see it.
What I very much miss in the US society is organized peaceful societal and political public mass protests and clear public resistance. As long as this does not happen, the USA is on a clear path to fascism. The same happened in Germany in the 1930: People wanted to sit it out - out of fear - and stayed for too long silent. It took Hitler 3 month after election to totally destroy democracy.
There have been mass protests. And boycotts (ask Target-- though it's not the target I would choose). And they continue.
But you're right there needs to be much more. There is a change in the culture. Mass public protests don't seem to be the thing--esp among the younger.
Meanwhile Fred Wellman declared his candidacy in my MO 2CD this morning running against (R) Ann Wagner . https://fpwellman.substack.com/ He needs our support.
Dems should threaten accountability for those people/companies who are submitting to trump's corruption. And should be suing constantly. etc.
Yes! My husband and I, one of us 80 and the other 78, will be attending our local No Kings, our 2nd time of doing this. I can't walk far enough to join the march, so we'll park near the Veterans' Park, get out our chairs, and wait for the rest to arrive. I'm hoping no 2nd Amendment idiot will decide to mow us down but heck, we've lived long and productive lives.
2026 is a long way away. Democracy is a fragile thing and the founders seemed to assume no one would do what Trump is doing. Considerable destruction to our democracy, potentially irreversible, will be done by then. What can be done in the meantime? I'm not hearing much about this. A small measure of hope is that most of what comes out or their mouths is bluster and will not become manifest. But much has been put into play.
One should assume it is not bluster. They have already in 9 months gone far beyond most of the more dire predictions. It is wise IMO to be somewhat pessimistic in what they will do to fully motivate work against it. Better safe than sorry.
We have seen far more than enough and the days of debating "how far will they go" ARE OVER!
Our hope springs from what we the opposition is doing/will do. It should not depend much on what trump will do.
It is not too early to start supporting our candidates and also issues that will help them in their campaigns. This is not to say that 2026 is the ONLY thing but for me it is priority #1.
Project 2025's plans keep getting put into action. They're not blustering. They're actively demolishing everything good about America, and making everything worse.
The sanewashing has to stop. However, I'd venture to say that the brainwashing of 50mil people by Fox pundits and the others is far worse. When media was just news Nixon was forced out by his own party.
The flag still waves, but half the nation salutes it like a brand logo instead of a covenant. And when democracy gets franchised out like fast food, it stops feeding anyone and just poisons the table.
This task of gratitude to our fathers, justice to ourselves, duty to posterity, and love for our species in general, all imperatively require us faithfully to perform.
How then shall we perform it?--At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it?-- Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never!--All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years.
When Racism and injustice and corruption become the law, its a duty for every citizen to resist publically.
The problem is not foreigners, the problem is the US citizens themselves. And the danger is already here. Only the US citizen can fix it, but it will need the actions of generations to heal that purely self-inflicted wound.
It's not just America he hates. He was schooled a long time ago by his adviser and lawyer Roy Cohn that the most effective defence is to demand absolute loyalty and to attack, hard, repeatedly and mercilessly.
Indeed, in The Art of the Deal, Trump "wrote" about "all the hundreds of 'respectable' guys who made careers out of boasting about their uncompromising integrity but have absolutely no loyalty …. What I liked most about Roy Cohn was that he would do just the opposite."
Trump had no way of knowing then, and still does not know, whether this is a morally defensible strategy - he has no moral compass at all - but he does know that it works. Push, shove, demand - all the hallmarks of a schoolyard bully in a grossly incompetent and stupid 70+ years old child-man. This is the president of the US.
I know you put quotes around "wrote" but I want everyone to be clear that Trump didn't write the book. He doesn't have the intellect or dedication to do so.
The longest thing he has ever written is his love letter to Epstein.
The Republicans and the right for years and years wanted to shrink government and deregulate, and give out tax breaks to their benefactors. They also wanted to destroy universities as bastions of liberal thought and indoctrination. Trump is doing all of this by decree. They're getting everything they want. And oh yeah, stay in office by not offending Trump and keep the gravy train going. Over the last 40 years they haven't adhered to any principles, just bend and contort the system to get what they want.
They are scared shitless and have nothing to offer but to be chattel to the rich boys who now have free rein to donate and buy seats, to primary anyone who fails to comply. $10,000,000 to get JD elected is a tax write for doing business these days! And they have created a PAC to assure continued compliance and assure there are no rules/guardrails for AI…follow the money! Which is neither! It’s just the greatest steal/fraud of all time! Not to mentions the energy suck…so much for climate change.
I think of him as a slum lord more than white trash, the scummy who trades 'favors' for rent, and has a Dad named Fred who pays his costs, gets him out of the service to his country, and makes sure the mobsters are all well paid...and this continues. It's really very NY story! Someone could write a book, the real question is put pressure on NBC to give him a job and create another mobster/monster?
...there's a great backstory here for sure! And we pay the price for their maleficence.
If that were so that would mean he has some self-awareness. I have never seen any humility or anything other than he believes who he says he is - savior and smartest guy in the room.
It doesn't necessarily have to be a conscious awareness. It manifests as a sensation of something endlessly irritating, like a perpetual thorn in his side.
I agree with all the comments ..what u need to come to accept is that 77 mil voters would re-elect him this November as opposed to any Democrat..that’s the sad truth .
I'm with Margaret Reis on this one - once the huge increases in health-care costs kick in in just a few weeks/months, and the simmering anger of farmers of soya-beans and other crops - usually for the export market, but that market has been cut off by the ridiculous tariffs - erupts into furious kick-back, the Repugs will undoubtedly fare very badly in the mid-terms. Assuming, of course, that this administration will actually ALLOW the mid-terms to proceed.
I don't think Democrats convert very few of these people. Red state Republicans will never vote for a Democrat. They just double down. It might hurt now, but they are sacrificing for a greater good as Trump promised. Or it's Biden's fault. Democrats are evil and unAmerican is what they believe and are told.
They will likely come to a compromise on extending tax credits for ACA and Medicaid till after midterms ..farmers are going to get checks from the govt like in Trumps first term to offset export pain ..just don’t count on enough economic pain to dent the MAGA cult ..it’s a white nationalist movement that supports the vast majority of Trump and Stephen Millers policy,s ..I hope you’re right and I’m wrong ..we,ll see soon enough
He doesn't hate America. But he's full of himself, and behind it all is being fearful of being a loser. An excellent way to understand Donald Trump is to understand Roy Cohn his mentor:
A Cynical Worldview: Cohn operated on the principle that everything was transactional, rules (read truth, US Constitution) were for suckers, and personal relationships were based on utility. This has deeply shaped Trump's own outlook and ethos. Ideology is only a means to an end–accumulating power/influence.
The Power of Publicity: Cohn was a master at using the press, often planting stories to help or harm someone. Trump adopts and expands this playbook, manipulating the media/internet to further his acquisition of power/influence.
The Art of the Bluff and Brinksmanship: Cohn’s aggressive legal and business tactics taught Trump to project overwhelming strength and never show weakness.
America is a collection of ideas, mostly unrelated and each owned only by a small number of people from a specific time. Loving America is by definition hating a different America, when you can't agree on what "America" is.
Because loving America takes work. It means honoring treaties, investing in knowledge, welcoming strangers, and protecting people instead of humiliating them. Trump doesn’t want to love America. He wants to own it like a casino and strip it for parts.
His empire isn’t built on greatness. It’s built on grievance. He burns down the very foundations that held the country together, then sells the ashes as souvenirs at the gift shop.
"Trump has completely destroyed U.S. credibility when it comes to treaties, contracts, agreements, or anything else where trust in any form plays a part."
I agree with you, but I am afraid that timidity and cowardice are alive and well, not just among the elite in this country -- ABC, CBS, MSNBC, large law firms, elite universities, and more -- but around the world. Too often, I get the feeling that officials in Europe are mirroring attitudes in the US during Trump's first term when people kept waiting for Trump to "become presidential."
Does any rational person really believe that there is any hope of Trump becoming a responsible player on the world scene? We know he won't within the US. But the man is an idiot, with severely waning cognitive abilities and absolutely no moral compass. He thinks he's right about everything, the world's foremost expert on everything, and basically infallible.
At the UN the other day, he once again told his audience -- and by extension, the world -- just how smart and good he is and what failures they are. He magically imagined that a series of glitches, where two of the three it seems turned out to be the fault of his own team, were an organized leftist conspiracy against him.
His paranoia is always on high alert. He sees himself as the greatest victim in human history. He has said that he is a greater victim than either Abraham Lincoln -- assassinated -- or Jesus -- crucified. I don't doubt he believes that, and while there has been much discussion recently that no one should be killed for their beliefs, Trump doesn't seem to understand that presidents have, throughout our history, faced the threat of assassination. Usually, American assassins are confused people with muddled ideologies (if any at all) and the availability of firearms makes it inevitable that lethal weapons will get into the hands of very dangerous, often mentally unstable people. In my opinion, rational people would see that as one reason, among many others, to support significant gun legislation. But, of course, that isn't Trump's position.
Derelict: "Why does Donald Trump hate America?"
Because he is the greatest victim in human history (see above). Despite his undeniable and incomparable perfection, Trump can't understand why everyone doesn't appreciate his greatness. He is convinced or pretends to be convinced that no other human being could ever measure up to his standards. He tells everyone as often as possible just how truly amazing he is and he can't understand why everyone is always trying to destroy him. It must be jealousy. And, if people who are jealous of him and are also constantly out to get him and prevent him from ruling the world why would he not hate, not only America, but everyone, everywhere, all the time who isn't actively lavishing praise on him and yielding to his superiority.
In short, the man is a nutjob. This is, as they say, one sick puppy. He is delusional, paranoid, deranged, and his brain seems to be gradually checking out. His "speeches," which he refers to as the "weave" are rambling collections of randomness, repetitive nonsense, and dangerous threats and promises. Somewhere, there is a padded cell with bars where he should spend the remaining years of his life. Instead, 77 million people with little or no claim to be sentient beings made him president of the United States.
We need new language to describe how deeply embarrassing that display was and the level of stoicism among the military. The unforgivable waste of spending (reported) $6 million to fly in senior officers in and subject them to threats (If the ridiculousness of our rhetoric offends you, then you should resign) while simultaneously cutting healthcare for millions of Americans, is breathtaking.
Do not overlook a major reason why beards became allowed in the military: to provide relief to mainly Black soldiers who suffer from a skin condition that makes shaving painful. Hegseth's decision seems directed at achieving a whiter military or at least penalizing those (including whites too) who have a condition totally unrelated to military readiness. It's totally bizarre considering how fashionable beards have become among men lately. At a recent social event there were only two of us barefaced out of ten. And we were both over 70, the others were in their 30s give or take.
As a submarine vet from the 90's, allow me to chime in. I certainly served with people who needed the "no shave chit", and while I didn't suffer from it, you would not be envious of the people who had it; it looked very painful! And I wouldn't necessarily call what they had a beard, but certainly well trimmed just shy of being shaved. They were certainly not of the overgrown variety that you see the stars of Duck Dynasty wearing.
However, being clean shaven would be preferred in case of emergency. The reason being, especially in the case of a submarine, is that if for example there was ever a fire on board, oxygen would be consumed quite rapidly. To mitigate this, throughout the sub there were stores of oxygen masks that you would wear and need to plug into a manifold to tap into the ship's air tanks so that you wouldn't suffocate. The best way to ensure a good seal would be if you were cleanly shaven. I can't speak to experience how good of a seal the "no shave chit" guys were, but it would not be hard to believe it wasn't the best.
And similar reasoning as above could apply to troops on the front lines where they could be exposed to chemical warfare.
All this said, I think this is stupid and idiotic posturing by Hegseth. Paul puts it well when saying that he has this idea of today's soldiers being extra's from the 300 film. My body type certainly wasn't like that; I was some scrawny dude who was an electrician that could fit into the bilge to fix things as needed. The Navy certainly paid me more for my mind vs my body.
We drilled every week while underway, simulating fire drills. Damage control is a way of life on the submarine. Every recruit in the Navy while in boot camp has to handle a fully operating fire hose at least once. And while I was stationed on the sub we went to flooding simulators and fire simulators as well. So yes, it does require some amount of fitness to do this, but even with the limited opportunities of staying fit on the boat, we could manage.
We did have an PO first class in my division who had to do mandatory PT which was due to being overweight, and there were others from the boat as well. I think the general cause for most people being on mandatory PT were because of the run requirements. On the boat, you only need to run 200 ft tops, so I think I agree that some tailoring would be nice. I know the run for me was always the hardest since I never did it outside of the PT tests.
Just curious, were you on a fast attack or boomer? I was fast attack. Definitely not getting a treadmill anywhere on there, although I think on one deployment we had a stair machine.
Exactly. Also, those who practiced Sikhism and Norse paganism have been granted religious exceptions to have beards as of heart of their religious practice. As an army chaplain for 30 years, I have been involved in dozens of requests from soldiers for religious accommodation. The military normally approves request for accommodation unless doing so would have adverse effect on unit morale, cohesion, and performance. Reversing the accommodation for beards is an active religious suppression.
And maybe he ought to look at pictures of Union generals during the Civil War, many of whom had beards. Yet won the war. Of course, the Confederate side also had generals with beards.
“ The stony silence with which the assembled generals and admirals greeted Hegseth’s and Trump’s rants was eloquent.”
This is actually due to long tradition, a good tradition, but nonetheless can’t be taken as saying anything about what anyone in the audience actually thought of the speeches…it just reflect the long tradition that the military doesn’t do shows of support for politicians.
The "stoney silence" was still eloquent, though, in that it shows that the military leaders in attendance were still observant of proper military conduct, which at least thus far has not been corrupted into overt displays of fealty, and cult worship and adoration of "the Dear Leader" and his cabinet of ignorance, racism, and criminality.
I wonder how their esprit de corps is holding out now that they've been told they may have to order their troops to seek out and destroy Americans living in a 'leftie' inner city.
While I agree with the general thrust of the piece, it is important to remember that the work Turing and others did was based on the fact that astonishingly braves Poles stole an Enigma machine from the Germans and provided it to the 'boffins' at Bletchley Park.
I'm pretty sure that Navajo speakers were used to transmit messages in Navajo, which was better than any code. They weren't codebreakers. Correct me if this is wrong.
They were a great asset for the US regardless of whether they broke code. Hegseth’s “non woke” vision of the US military wouldn’t use such a valuable asset because they don’t fit his preferred profile. That’s the big takeaway from yesterday’s Gong Show reenactment of “Patton”.
This is correct. They were called the "code talkers." Their messages were encoded in a crude code (there is no Navajo word for "battleship", for example), and then the native Americans would talk to each other in their own language. Not all of them were Navajo.
Actually, the Polish mathematicians broke the Enigma before WW II just from analyzing the encoded messages. And they build the "bombas" - the machines that were used to break the codes - which Turing used at Blechley.
All this work was handed over to the British in August of 1939.
The Bletchley Park museum (if you've never visited and you have the opportunity, do take it, it's fantastic), has a substantial memorial to the Polish codebreakers who cracked the Enigma code and gave the Brits a headstart.
I understand that the movie only reinforced this common misconception, but Alan Turings' team did not crack the Enigma code alone. Maybe being a Pole makes me over sensitive to these but pls consider correcting that part:) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptanalysis_of_the_Enigma
If only the blue states could join with Canada and leave red states to rot. Of course the first thing Trump’s America would do would be to attack Canada. They would become the definition of a “failed state.”
All the top brass meeting in the same publically known place, at the same publically known time, for a pointless speech, with Donny dropping by. What could have possibly gone wrong?
An interesting thing I noticed in a photo of Hegseth in a meeting at the White House : He's had his initials embroidered on the cuffs of his shirt! Seriously, who does that?
An unserious, vain & insecure person, that's who.
Hegseth is about as close to his idea of a warrior soldier as a child playing with his toy gun.
Before Hegseth was confirmed, actual military experts advised the Senate that a politicized military would be a far less effective military. Would be like the Russian military.
The character element is key to the success of any military, and both our Commander in Chief and Secretary of "War" have character of the lowest order. The rot of their example is the only example of Republican "trickle down" that we can see working in real time with senior members of Trump's team going so far as to accept bags of cash as bribes without punishment or comment.
How do we expect those who are charged with defending the nation to act honorably when both the Commander in Chief and the Secretary of "War" are serial woman abusers who have paid hush money to avoid culpability for their actions? How does a Commander in Chief who has done nothing but divide, misinform, demonize, and vilify large segments of our population inspire a nation to sacrifice in the event that we are all, military and civilian alike, called to sacrifice in national unity?
Character and unity carried our nation successfully through centuries and wars past. Those foundational qualities have been the primary targets of Trump's malignant and corrosive nature during his time on the national stage.
Hegseth is an embarrassment to the US. It is unforgivable that the senate confirmed him. He's incapable of grasping the concept that US defence capabilities extend beyond a platoon sized group kicking in doors in a third world country. He's not even thinking like a major, more like a lieutenant. He needs to be replaced immediately. Trump's speech was worse, the senility is on full display, and undeniable now. He also needs to be replaced, immediately.
There were many disturbing elements to both speeches, so it was easy to overlook the generals touted by Hegseth (MacArthur, Patton) ran afoul of five star general and eventual president Dwight Eisenhower. Eisenhower’s era had higher standards than Hegseth promoted yesterday when he advocated for “hands on” discipline. Eisenhower Patton temporarily relieved Patton of duty for slapping “shell shocked” soldiers during WW2, so the 1950s isn’t the best reference point for how reactionary Hegseth is.
You make some good points. Hegeseth is quite reactionary. Was it worse in prior decades? Undoubtedly.
However, the services were being integrated from late 40s into mid-50s, and not always smoothly. As late as 1968, Gen Curtis LeMay ran as segregationist George Wallace's running mate. There was hazing. Golfer Lee Trevino, a Marine, was sucker punched by a DI bcuz he was brown. Women's roles were diminished compared to today.
But anything approaching unbiased integration, prevention of hazing & bullying, and more equality for women was just entering the radar or not on it.
I take your point. I’m was just suggesting even mid 20th century standards are likely too advanced for Hegseth and crew. Based on various SCOTUS opinions (including the egregious Dobbs decision referencing 17th century witch judge Matthew Hale), anything after 1750 seems to be too modern. And after personally encountering believers in the “constitutional sheriff” movement, anything after 1215 is too modern. They base their beliefs on garbled references to the Magna Carta and the Sheriff of Nottingham, all of which was learned on the internet with no challenges from classmates or teachers.
I took that to be your point that Hegseth and like-minded are real throwbacks. I totally agree. Paul Krugman wrote a column on Substack today skewering Hegseth for just that reason.
Just in case some "Morning Shots" readers missed the 50s in person or thru history I added some incidents from the 50s & 60s concerning race/DEI matters.
Both Hegseth and Trump told our top brass that they should resign if allegiance to a war against “the enemy within” isn’t congruent with the military code they believe in.
My guess is that Trump/Hegseth want to winnow our military down to the lethal few who will be compliant executioners. I never thought I’d think such a scenario to be entirely plausible.
Let's see here . . .
Trump has completely destroyed U.S. credibility when it comes to treaties, contracts, agreements, or anything else where trust in any form plays a part. These things were the bedrock foundation of American greatness for the last century.
Trump has completely destroyed U.S. scientific capability by defunding research in all areas--including fields with specific military application. These things were the basis of American leadership for the last century.
Trump has completely destroyed America's immigration system, driving out immigrants both legal and otherwise while blocking and deterring others from coming here. Immigration was the wellspring of American greatness that provided the country with some of the most brilliant minds on the planet, along with some of our most vital labor.
And now Trump is destroying our military by demoralizing the troops with pointless deployments to tourist ones, and driving the military leadership to distraction with pointless "manliness."
Why does Donald Trump hate America?
Because he is the Russian asset since god knows when, and his goal is actually to destroy USA from within, earning money for himself along the way
As has frequently been observed, if Trump actually was a Russian asset - as in 100% proven to be one via evidence that would stand up in court - what would he be doing differently from what he's already doing?
yep, quack quack.
Moreover doe anyone believe that if he were an actual Russian asset, he would't brag about it publicly within a week? No I think that Putin discovered the same thing that many many people have discovered: he's cartoonishly easy to flatter into doing what you want.
He'd be more subtle, so as not to draw suspicion.
As the saying goes, never attribute to malice that which can be explained by incompetence.
You're right, except that subtlety is beyond his ken
Part of the ploy is to make it so un-subtle that it makes you doubt the veracity. His clownishness is the ploy.
I don't think he's a Russian agent, at least in the sense I think you mean. But he wouldn't be acting differently if he was. What Trump is is incredible bigoted and stupid. He's a mentally ill man who is mainlining his myriad psychological pathologies into our nation's veins. I'm sure that Putin does have the goods on him, but those goods are probably ancillary to Trump's real motivation. Trump really does believe that what he's doing is good for the U.S., because Trump is a big, dumb, crazy nut job.
I don't think Rump believes that he's doing good things for the country. I think he doesn't give a flying fig about the country. It's all about power, adulation, and grifting. The U.S. could collapse and burn as long as he'd get out with all the toys and a ticket to a non-extradition country.
So true! And it’s not just Russia. Trump is being manipulated by all the world’s leaders. They know that he is a sick, silly, shallow man, so they’ve adjusted their diplomatic strategies to align and exploit that. It’s all part of the general madness of our current political moment.
agreed - big question is he a cunningly obedient asset or a useful idiot?
He's an idiot.
Rena, Yes, he’s an IDIOT.
After Melania had to remind him how stairs worked, I think we have the answer, as she clicked her heals, and her fingers…and walked right on up!
I vote for "useful idiot"! I believe he is clueless regarding the real damage he is doing to the United States. In his delusional mind, he is making the country stronger. In fact, he is perfectly carrying out Putin's plan and has never realized he is being used!
Charles, I think he can care less about the damage and destruction he’s causing and will continue to cause to the US of America. He enjoys and is eager to destroy our country in order to do the dirty work for Russia and satisfy his owner. And is having a good old time making billions for him and his buddies in the process. If being used means he could get the attention, god like praise, and take over the United States he’ll do what ever dark , obscure things he has to in order to please those who are using him like a puppet abroad and here in the mainland.
He thinks he’s the smart guy in the room and playing those around him. So far useful. How it ends for him remains the big question on both sides…not sure we have ever seen this level of infiltration at such a high level.
Don't forget, Putin has kompromat on trump, and trump knows it.
You would think that by now, Trump wouldn't care.
Of course he's an idiot. Too stupid to know how stupid he is.
Both, clearly.
Idiot
A useful idiot that thinks he’s the only smart guy in the room.
given the quality of his incompetent sycophant friends and advisors he may be the smartest guy in many of the rooms he is in - can the bar be at moron level? Now there is the Confederacy of Dunces Joseph O'Toole mocked.
But then, don't they all think -- sorry, believe -- sorry, feel -- that way?
🤣😂🤣 I think we all know the answer to that.
King Krasnov.
Not really. Putin's Russia, as well as North Korea, & Hitler's Nazis are Trump's ROLE MODELS.
It is really hard to go against one's role model, it is like contesting the role he so much wants to emulate.
A powerful dictator who grifts almost everyone else, showing that he is "important".
So Trump, with the help of his controlers, is attempting to create another Russia, but more "important", as it is already bigger & richer than Russia.
Forgetting, of course, that part of the reason that Russia is much less strong than the former USSR, is the modus operandi of Putin, a recipe for economic decline.
Not to mention mob lawyer Roy Cohn. Between the Bratva and the Cosa Nostra, Trump has internalized "godfather" mentality instead of actual leadership. He has, however, jettisoned all codes of behavior associated with both.
Wrong. Read Greg Olear's Dirty Rubles. Trump was being groomed by Putin quite awhile ago.
indeed, Russia's GDP is about the size of Italy without any of the benefits
He is more of a Mossad asset via Epstein/Melania than anything else
not mutually exclusive - he is an equal opportunity monster
No external enemy has ever done so much damage (!) to the US state and US society - and the entire world order - than the (utterly stupid!) US voters have done to their own country by voting for greedy criminal racist wannabe dictator conman Trump and his unscrupulous jerks.
The "land of the free and the brave" is missing or already doesn't exist anymore. It has become a cynical, unscrupulous Trump Enterprise. The USA has openly become a racist/fascist banana republic, what a shameful display!
I hear ya. I feel the same way but it's not really helpful to our situation. Best I can offer is to view much of the public as uninformed dumb animals who need our help. We have to win the House in 2026. Period.
People can only solve a problem when they recognize it, thats why I speak clear text. And yes, you have to win the next Mid-terms urgently (IF the election system is not already broken by than by Trump). But I believe it when I see it.
What I very much miss in the US society is organized peaceful societal and political public mass protests and clear public resistance. As long as this does not happen, the USA is on a clear path to fascism. The same happened in Germany in the 1930: People wanted to sit it out - out of fear - and stayed for too long silent. It took Hitler 3 month after election to totally destroy democracy.
There have been mass protests. And boycotts (ask Target-- though it's not the target I would choose). And they continue.
But you're right there needs to be much more. There is a change in the culture. Mass public protests don't seem to be the thing--esp among the younger.
Meanwhile Fred Wellman declared his candidacy in my MO 2CD this morning running against (R) Ann Wagner . https://fpwellman.substack.com/ He needs our support.
Dems should threaten accountability for those people/companies who are submitting to trump's corruption. And should be suing constantly. etc.
And to keep demanding the release of the Epstein files.
October 18: https://www.nokings.org
Yes! My husband and I, one of us 80 and the other 78, will be attending our local No Kings, our 2nd time of doing this. I can't walk far enough to join the march, so we'll park near the Veterans' Park, get out our chairs, and wait for the rest to arrive. I'm hoping no 2nd Amendment idiot will decide to mow us down but heck, we've lived long and productive lives.
I will be forever grateful to have lived when I did. This doesn't feel like home anymore, and I seem to have misplaced my Ruby Slippers....
2026 is a long way away. Democracy is a fragile thing and the founders seemed to assume no one would do what Trump is doing. Considerable destruction to our democracy, potentially irreversible, will be done by then. What can be done in the meantime? I'm not hearing much about this. A small measure of hope is that most of what comes out or their mouths is bluster and will not become manifest. But much has been put into play.
One should assume it is not bluster. They have already in 9 months gone far beyond most of the more dire predictions. It is wise IMO to be somewhat pessimistic in what they will do to fully motivate work against it. Better safe than sorry.
We have seen far more than enough and the days of debating "how far will they go" ARE OVER!
Our hope springs from what we the opposition is doing/will do. It should not depend much on what trump will do.
It is not too early to start supporting our candidates and also issues that will help them in their campaigns. This is not to say that 2026 is the ONLY thing but for me it is priority #1.
Project 2025's plans keep getting put into action. They're not blustering. They're actively demolishing everything good about America, and making everything worse.
No no SLSRPH. Trump is re-making the federal government. I heard it on leftwing TV stations today from anchors and pundit guests.
Not dismembering, demolishing, destroying, or gutting.
Simply "re-making".
The sanewashing has to stop. However, I'd venture to say that the brainwashing of 50mil people by Fox pundits and the others is far worse. When media was just news Nixon was forced out by his own party.
Very very sad, but true
Andy, I agree with all points stated.
It's the land of the fee and the home of the rave.
The flag still waves, but half the nation salutes it like a brand logo instead of a covenant. And when democracy gets franchised out like fast food, it stops feeding anyone and just poisons the table.
This task of gratitude to our fathers, justice to ourselves, duty to posterity, and love for our species in general, all imperatively require us faithfully to perform.
How then shall we perform it?--At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it?-- Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never!--All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years.
When Racism and injustice and corruption become the law, its a duty for every citizen to resist publically.
The problem is not foreigners, the problem is the US citizens themselves. And the danger is already here. Only the US citizen can fix it, but it will need the actions of generations to heal that purely self-inflicted wound.
Andy. See our thoughts on the matter here:https://meettheliesfacetheliars.substack.com/p/learn-to-start-worrying-who-has-the?r=5d1j6f
Because he has been laughed at a lot!
Maybe he should try to be less pathetic
He can't help it. It's his nature.
And still is. More than ever in fact.
Exactly!
except that Trump never laughs, except to mock.
He had a head start. Look at what he was like in 2016.
It's not just America he hates. He was schooled a long time ago by his adviser and lawyer Roy Cohn that the most effective defence is to demand absolute loyalty and to attack, hard, repeatedly and mercilessly.
Indeed, in The Art of the Deal, Trump "wrote" about "all the hundreds of 'respectable' guys who made careers out of boasting about their uncompromising integrity but have absolutely no loyalty …. What I liked most about Roy Cohn was that he would do just the opposite."
Trump had no way of knowing then, and still does not know, whether this is a morally defensible strategy - he has no moral compass at all - but he does know that it works. Push, shove, demand - all the hallmarks of a schoolyard bully in a grossly incompetent and stupid 70+ years old child-man. This is the president of the US.
I know you put quotes around "wrote" but I want everyone to be clear that Trump didn't write the book. He doesn't have the intellect or dedication to do so.
The longest thing he has ever written is his love letter to Epstein.
And the ghostwriter for The Art of the Deal came out very early on in Trump's first term and said he was sorry for what he did - making him look much better and smarter than he was. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/07/25/donald-trumps-ghostwriter-tells-all
That's exactly WHY I placed that word in those quotes.
I don't think he even wrote that himself. He just dictated it to someone else.
No moral compass is right. No empathy, amoral, like a psychopath.
trump also believes never, ever apologize or admit you were wrong about anything.
Why do Republicans hate America? Every single one of them are complicit in this and could stop this but they won’t. Traitors one and all.
The Republicans and the right for years and years wanted to shrink government and deregulate, and give out tax breaks to their benefactors. They also wanted to destroy universities as bastions of liberal thought and indoctrination. Trump is doing all of this by decree. They're getting everything they want. And oh yeah, stay in office by not offending Trump and keep the gravy train going. Over the last 40 years they haven't adhered to any principles, just bend and contort the system to get what they want.
Ah, but they have gotten rich doing it!!!!
If their stocks tank they are suddenly not so rich…Stock Tanks! So seems funny…not sure why.
They are scared shitless and have nothing to offer but to be chattel to the rich boys who now have free rein to donate and buy seats, to primary anyone who fails to comply. $10,000,000 to get JD elected is a tax write for doing business these days! And they have created a PAC to assure continued compliance and assure there are no rules/guardrails for AI…follow the money! Which is neither! It’s just the greatest steal/fraud of all time! Not to mentions the energy suck…so much for climate change.
Because America's true greatness reminds him of his own mediocrity.
Look at the spray paint in the once grand Oval Office! God awful/offal.
Remember, at the end of day he’s still just a sad little boy…
At the end of the day, he's psychopathic white trash.
RICH and POWERFUL psychopathic white trash.
I think of him as a slum lord more than white trash, the scummy who trades 'favors' for rent, and has a Dad named Fred who pays his costs, gets him out of the service to his country, and makes sure the mobsters are all well paid...and this continues. It's really very NY story! Someone could write a book, the real question is put pressure on NBC to give him a job and create another mobster/monster?
...there's a great backstory here for sure! And we pay the price for their maleficence.
He's has infamously tacky taste.
is the word chintzy?
That's one accurate way to describe it.
If that were so that would mean he has some self-awareness. I have never seen any humility or anything other than he believes who he says he is - savior and smartest guy in the room.
It doesn't necessarily have to be a conscious awareness. It manifests as a sensation of something endlessly irritating, like a perpetual thorn in his side.
I agree with all the comments ..what u need to come to accept is that 77 mil voters would re-elect him this November as opposed to any Democrat..that’s the sad truth .
That represents approximately 1/3 of the electorate. That's why we all need to get out there and be counted.
I'm with Margaret Reis on this one - once the huge increases in health-care costs kick in in just a few weeks/months, and the simmering anger of farmers of soya-beans and other crops - usually for the export market, but that market has been cut off by the ridiculous tariffs - erupts into furious kick-back, the Repugs will undoubtedly fare very badly in the mid-terms. Assuming, of course, that this administration will actually ALLOW the mid-terms to proceed.
I don't think Democrats convert very few of these people. Red state Republicans will never vote for a Democrat. They just double down. It might hurt now, but they are sacrificing for a greater good as Trump promised. Or it's Biden's fault. Democrats are evil and unAmerican is what they believe and are told.
They will likely come to a compromise on extending tax credits for ACA and Medicaid till after midterms ..farmers are going to get checks from the govt like in Trumps first term to offset export pain ..just don’t count on enough economic pain to dent the MAGA cult ..it’s a white nationalist movement that supports the vast majority of Trump and Stephen Millers policy,s ..I hope you’re right and I’m wrong ..we,ll see soon enough
I doubt that is still true. You can get away with lies without results for just so long!
Because Russia turned him into a useful asset years ago in exchange for....?
It's said that Russia convinced the Deutsche Bank to lend him a lot of money after all the other financial institutions refused to do so.
That’s 4th grade Donny John.
Apparently we hated on him first. At least I did.
He hates everything including himself. Incredibly low self-esteem.
He doesn't hate America. But he's full of himself, and behind it all is being fearful of being a loser. An excellent way to understand Donald Trump is to understand Roy Cohn his mentor:
A Cynical Worldview: Cohn operated on the principle that everything was transactional, rules (read truth, US Constitution) were for suckers, and personal relationships were based on utility. This has deeply shaped Trump's own outlook and ethos. Ideology is only a means to an end–accumulating power/influence.
The Power of Publicity: Cohn was a master at using the press, often planting stories to help or harm someone. Trump adopts and expands this playbook, manipulating the media/internet to further his acquisition of power/influence.
The Art of the Bluff and Brinksmanship: Cohn’s aggressive legal and business tactics taught Trump to project overwhelming strength and never show weakness.
America is a collection of ideas, mostly unrelated and each owned only by a small number of people from a specific time. Loving America is by definition hating a different America, when you can't agree on what "America" is.
Because loving America takes work. It means honoring treaties, investing in knowledge, welcoming strangers, and protecting people instead of humiliating them. Trump doesn’t want to love America. He wants to own it like a casino and strip it for parts.
His empire isn’t built on greatness. It’s built on grievance. He burns down the very foundations that held the country together, then sells the ashes as souvenirs at the gift shop.
Because he serves a different power
"Trump has completely destroyed U.S. credibility when it comes to treaties, contracts, agreements, or anything else where trust in any form plays a part."
I agree with you, but I am afraid that timidity and cowardice are alive and well, not just among the elite in this country -- ABC, CBS, MSNBC, large law firms, elite universities, and more -- but around the world. Too often, I get the feeling that officials in Europe are mirroring attitudes in the US during Trump's first term when people kept waiting for Trump to "become presidential."
Does any rational person really believe that there is any hope of Trump becoming a responsible player on the world scene? We know he won't within the US. But the man is an idiot, with severely waning cognitive abilities and absolutely no moral compass. He thinks he's right about everything, the world's foremost expert on everything, and basically infallible.
At the UN the other day, he once again told his audience -- and by extension, the world -- just how smart and good he is and what failures they are. He magically imagined that a series of glitches, where two of the three it seems turned out to be the fault of his own team, were an organized leftist conspiracy against him.
His paranoia is always on high alert. He sees himself as the greatest victim in human history. He has said that he is a greater victim than either Abraham Lincoln -- assassinated -- or Jesus -- crucified. I don't doubt he believes that, and while there has been much discussion recently that no one should be killed for their beliefs, Trump doesn't seem to understand that presidents have, throughout our history, faced the threat of assassination. Usually, American assassins are confused people with muddled ideologies (if any at all) and the availability of firearms makes it inevitable that lethal weapons will get into the hands of very dangerous, often mentally unstable people. In my opinion, rational people would see that as one reason, among many others, to support significant gun legislation. But, of course, that isn't Trump's position.
Derelict: "Why does Donald Trump hate America?"
Because he is the greatest victim in human history (see above). Despite his undeniable and incomparable perfection, Trump can't understand why everyone doesn't appreciate his greatness. He is convinced or pretends to be convinced that no other human being could ever measure up to his standards. He tells everyone as often as possible just how truly amazing he is and he can't understand why everyone is always trying to destroy him. It must be jealousy. And, if people who are jealous of him and are also constantly out to get him and prevent him from ruling the world why would he not hate, not only America, but everyone, everywhere, all the time who isn't actively lavishing praise on him and yielding to his superiority.
In short, the man is a nutjob. This is, as they say, one sick puppy. He is delusional, paranoid, deranged, and his brain seems to be gradually checking out. His "speeches," which he refers to as the "weave" are rambling collections of randomness, repetitive nonsense, and dangerous threats and promises. Somewhere, there is a padded cell with bars where he should spend the remaining years of his life. Instead, 77 million people with little or no claim to be sentient beings made him president of the United States.
He hates anything he can't control.
We need new language to describe how deeply embarrassing that display was and the level of stoicism among the military. The unforgivable waste of spending (reported) $6 million to fly in senior officers in and subject them to threats (If the ridiculousness of our rhetoric offends you, then you should resign) while simultaneously cutting healthcare for millions of Americans, is breathtaking.
That’s a pretty good trick! How do you go through government with a chain saw and still end up spending more?!
Lawsuits, re-hiring people cut or laid off, adding huge amounts of money to Homeland Security
Simple: engage in endless - brace yourself - waste, fraud and abuse.
Corruption
Do not overlook a major reason why beards became allowed in the military: to provide relief to mainly Black soldiers who suffer from a skin condition that makes shaving painful. Hegseth's decision seems directed at achieving a whiter military or at least penalizing those (including whites too) who have a condition totally unrelated to military readiness. It's totally bizarre considering how fashionable beards have become among men lately. At a recent social event there were only two of us barefaced out of ten. And we were both over 70, the others were in their 30s give or take.
As a submarine vet from the 90's, allow me to chime in. I certainly served with people who needed the "no shave chit", and while I didn't suffer from it, you would not be envious of the people who had it; it looked very painful! And I wouldn't necessarily call what they had a beard, but certainly well trimmed just shy of being shaved. They were certainly not of the overgrown variety that you see the stars of Duck Dynasty wearing.
However, being clean shaven would be preferred in case of emergency. The reason being, especially in the case of a submarine, is that if for example there was ever a fire on board, oxygen would be consumed quite rapidly. To mitigate this, throughout the sub there were stores of oxygen masks that you would wear and need to plug into a manifold to tap into the ship's air tanks so that you wouldn't suffocate. The best way to ensure a good seal would be if you were cleanly shaven. I can't speak to experience how good of a seal the "no shave chit" guys were, but it would not be hard to believe it wasn't the best.
And similar reasoning as above could apply to troops on the front lines where they could be exposed to chemical warfare.
All this said, I think this is stupid and idiotic posturing by Hegseth. Paul puts it well when saying that he has this idea of today's soldiers being extra's from the 300 film. My body type certainly wasn't like that; I was some scrawny dude who was an electrician that could fit into the bilge to fix things as needed. The Navy certainly paid me more for my mind vs my body.
The need for oxygen masks was also the reason for a "no beards" requirement for aircrew in WWII.
We drilled every week while underway, simulating fire drills. Damage control is a way of life on the submarine. Every recruit in the Navy while in boot camp has to handle a fully operating fire hose at least once. And while I was stationed on the sub we went to flooding simulators and fire simulators as well. So yes, it does require some amount of fitness to do this, but even with the limited opportunities of staying fit on the boat, we could manage.
We did have an PO first class in my division who had to do mandatory PT which was due to being overweight, and there were others from the boat as well. I think the general cause for most people being on mandatory PT were because of the run requirements. On the boat, you only need to run 200 ft tops, so I think I agree that some tailoring would be nice. I know the run for me was always the hardest since I never did it outside of the PT tests.
Just curious, were you on a fast attack or boomer? I was fast attack. Definitely not getting a treadmill anywhere on there, although I think on one deployment we had a stair machine.
Exactly. Also, those who practiced Sikhism and Norse paganism have been granted religious exceptions to have beards as of heart of their religious practice. As an army chaplain for 30 years, I have been involved in dozens of requests from soldiers for religious accommodation. The military normally approves request for accommodation unless doing so would have adverse effect on unit morale, cohesion, and performance. Reversing the accommodation for beards is an active religious suppression.
Well, there's a big push in some Republican circles for something called "Christian Nationalism." Maybe this is part of it.
And maybe he ought to look at pictures of Union generals during the Civil War, many of whom had beards. Yet won the war. Of course, the Confederate side also had generals with beards.
https://www.wearethemighty.com/history/civil-war-beards-lethality/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/who-had-best-civil-war-facial-hair-180951965/
Add to that Vice President what's-his-name.
J. D. Vance and Ted Cruz should set an example and shave their beards!
“ The stony silence with which the assembled generals and admirals greeted Hegseth’s and Trump’s rants was eloquent.”
This is actually due to long tradition, a good tradition, but nonetheless can’t be taken as saying anything about what anyone in the audience actually thought of the speeches…it just reflect the long tradition that the military doesn’t do shows of support for politicians.
I attended numerous Commanders Calls when I was on active duty for 24 years. Not once did we applause. Not for the commander or any special speakers.
The "stoney silence" was still eloquent, though, in that it shows that the military leaders in attendance were still observant of proper military conduct, which at least thus far has not been corrupted into overt displays of fealty, and cult worship and adoration of "the Dear Leader" and his cabinet of ignorance, racism, and criminality.
I wonder how their esprit de corps is holding out now that they've been told they may have to order their troops to seek out and destroy Americans living in a 'leftie' inner city.
That's my fear, that by the time the military gets into the inner city, those folks...some of them maybe waiting for them.
While I agree with the general thrust of the piece, it is important to remember that the work Turing and others did was based on the fact that astonishingly braves Poles stole an Enigma machine from the Germans and provided it to the 'boffins' at Bletchley Park.
The US had its codebreakers, too, among them women as well members of the Navajo Nation.
I'm pretty sure that Navajo speakers were used to transmit messages in Navajo, which was better than any code. They weren't codebreakers. Correct me if this is wrong.
They were a great asset for the US regardless of whether they broke code. Hegseth’s “non woke” vision of the US military wouldn’t use such a valuable asset because they don’t fit his preferred profile. That’s the big takeaway from yesterday’s Gong Show reenactment of “Patton”.
Another words "diversity was our strength" :)
100%
You’re correct. My mistake. Not enough caffeine in my system yet.
This is correct. They were called the "code talkers." Their messages were encoded in a crude code (there is no Navajo word for "battleship", for example), and then the native Americans would talk to each other in their own language. Not all of them were Navajo.
For example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizebeth_Smith_Friedman
And don't forget this excellent documentary on PBS
https://www.pbs.org/video/the-codebreaker-dcbakk/
Actually, the Polish mathematicians broke the Enigma before WW II just from analyzing the encoded messages. And they build the "bombas" - the machines that were used to break the codes - which Turing used at Blechley.
All this work was handed over to the British in August of 1939.
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marian_Rejewski
and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bomba_(cryptography)
These countries are frequently overlooked because of the "US won the war by themselves" mythology in this country.
Don't get me started on the Polish pilots in the Battle of Britain :)
and other countries. If you can find it, check this movie out. https://english.radio.cz/czech-pilots-raf-8046217
Josef Frantisek (sp?) was the highest scoring Battle of Britain pilot flying with the Polish 303 Squadron, even though he was a Czech.
👍
The Bletchley Park museum (if you've never visited and you have the opportunity, do take it, it's fantastic), has a substantial memorial to the Polish codebreakers who cracked the Enigma code and gave the Brits a headstart.
I understand that the movie only reinforced this common misconception, but Alan Turings' team did not crack the Enigma code alone. Maybe being a Pole makes me over sensitive to these but pls consider correcting that part:) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptanalysis_of_the_Enigma
Poland is, historically, the only true friend of the United States. A better friend than we deserve.
I love Canada. I'm extremely grateful to Canada for its current stand against our fascist regime. For me, Canada is hope.
If only the blue states could join with Canada and leave red states to rot. Of course the first thing Trump’s America would do would be to attack Canada. They would become the definition of a “failed state.”
Yep, you nailed it.
And Czechoslovakia ? The first betrayal.....
All the top brass meeting in the same publically known place, at the same publically known time, for a pointless speech, with Donny dropping by. What could have possibly gone wrong?
A soldier spends hours cleaning and greasing his gun before a mission.
Hegseth spends hours in his Pentagon make-up room before going on TV.
An interesting thing I noticed in a photo of Hegseth in a meeting at the White House : He's had his initials embroidered on the cuffs of his shirt! Seriously, who does that?
An unserious, vain & insecure person, that's who.
Hegseth is about as close to his idea of a warrior soldier as a child playing with his toy gun.
Maybe his mother marks his clothes so that he recognizes his clothes when he falls out of a jacuzzi drunk?
And has the tattoos to prove it.
...not to mention the hours Hegseth so obviously spends admiring himself in the mirror.
Before Hegseth was confirmed, actual military experts advised the Senate that a politicized military would be a far less effective military. Would be like the Russian military.
It was not only stupid but profoundly disrespectful of our military. Using them as props was a waste of resources, insulting, and counterproductive…
Only to say that while I agree with your remark about Joseph Rochefort you shouldn't forget his colleague in breaking Japanese codes....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnes_Meyer_Driscoll
someone even less likely to meet the Hegseth physical standard!
And don't forget Elizabeth Smith Friedman who broke enemy codes in WW I and WW II. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizebeth_Smith_Friedman
The character element is key to the success of any military, and both our Commander in Chief and Secretary of "War" have character of the lowest order. The rot of their example is the only example of Republican "trickle down" that we can see working in real time with senior members of Trump's team going so far as to accept bags of cash as bribes without punishment or comment.
How do we expect those who are charged with defending the nation to act honorably when both the Commander in Chief and the Secretary of "War" are serial woman abusers who have paid hush money to avoid culpability for their actions? How does a Commander in Chief who has done nothing but divide, misinform, demonize, and vilify large segments of our population inspire a nation to sacrifice in the event that we are all, military and civilian alike, called to sacrifice in national unity?
Character and unity carried our nation successfully through centuries and wars past. Those foundational qualities have been the primary targets of Trump's malignant and corrosive nature during his time on the national stage.
Hegseth is an embarrassment to the US. It is unforgivable that the senate confirmed him. He's incapable of grasping the concept that US defence capabilities extend beyond a platoon sized group kicking in doors in a third world country. He's not even thinking like a major, more like a lieutenant. He needs to be replaced immediately. Trump's speech was worse, the senility is on full display, and undeniable now. He also needs to be replaced, immediately.
Any indication that Hegseth has a fetish for gladiator movies? All those hypermasculine oily bodies....
If that's a reaction, yes. If you think it's a joke, not so sure.
Reaction. Same as mine.
Hegseth said that the US needs to take the military back to 1990. He wasn't being honest. He meant the 1950s, or maybe before. Reactionary Pete.
If you doubt, he called for a review of restrictions on hazing, harassment, & bullying plus ending "stupid rules of engagement."
There were many disturbing elements to both speeches, so it was easy to overlook the generals touted by Hegseth (MacArthur, Patton) ran afoul of five star general and eventual president Dwight Eisenhower. Eisenhower’s era had higher standards than Hegseth promoted yesterday when he advocated for “hands on” discipline. Eisenhower Patton temporarily relieved Patton of duty for slapping “shell shocked” soldiers during WW2, so the 1950s isn’t the best reference point for how reactionary Hegseth is.
You make some good points. Hegeseth is quite reactionary. Was it worse in prior decades? Undoubtedly.
However, the services were being integrated from late 40s into mid-50s, and not always smoothly. As late as 1968, Gen Curtis LeMay ran as segregationist George Wallace's running mate. There was hazing. Golfer Lee Trevino, a Marine, was sucker punched by a DI bcuz he was brown. Women's roles were diminished compared to today.
But anything approaching unbiased integration, prevention of hazing & bullying, and more equality for women was just entering the radar or not on it.
I take your point. I’m was just suggesting even mid 20th century standards are likely too advanced for Hegseth and crew. Based on various SCOTUS opinions (including the egregious Dobbs decision referencing 17th century witch judge Matthew Hale), anything after 1750 seems to be too modern. And after personally encountering believers in the “constitutional sheriff” movement, anything after 1215 is too modern. They base their beliefs on garbled references to the Magna Carta and the Sheriff of Nottingham, all of which was learned on the internet with no challenges from classmates or teachers.
I took that to be your point that Hegseth and like-minded are real throwbacks. I totally agree. Paul Krugman wrote a column on Substack today skewering Hegseth for just that reason.
Just in case some "Morning Shots" readers missed the 50s in person or thru history I added some incidents from the 50s & 60s concerning race/DEI matters.
Both Hegseth and Trump told our top brass that they should resign if allegiance to a war against “the enemy within” isn’t congruent with the military code they believe in.
My guess is that Trump/Hegseth want to winnow our military down to the lethal few who will be compliant executioners. I never thought I’d think such a scenario to be entirely plausible.