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Pentagon in longest-ever stretch of leadership limbo

35 Comments
By ROBERT BURNS

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35 Comments
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Nothing will be normal until the screaming orange anomaly has been excreted from power.

Who in their right mind would want to work for such a repugnant individual? Only repugnant people .

13 ( +14 / -1 )

It has been 3 long years since America last had a true President. The fake substitute currently in the oval office is a charlatan fraud.

13 ( +14 / -1 )

Reporter: President Trump, why did you fire Gen Mattis?

Trump: He was too honest, too experienced, and had too much integrity, and worst of all, he wouldn't kiss my ring...

Reporter: But Mr President, he has been a Marine for over 40 years, he has been in combat in five major wars or contingencies? Don't you think he's qualified?

Trump: As with everyone in my administration, if they don't kiss my ring, they're not qualified...

Reporter: But Mr President, you are increasing tensions with Iran which could lead to war, don't you think you need a Defense Secretary in case war breaks out?

Trump: Nah, as I've mentioned before, I'm smarter than all the Generals...I'm as smart as General Washington; you know he ordered the Continental Air Force to attack the Redcoat airfields in 1776...or General Grant who used Minuteman missiles to defeat Gen Lee in 1864...or WW I when we used the atomic bomb....

Reporter: Alzheimer's, definitely Alzheimer's...

16 ( +17 / -1 )

No one in their right minds would choose to willingly serve this sorry excuse of a President.

Many of them who serve, will probably end up in prison after 2020.

14 ( +14 / -0 )

No worries, thanks to the commander in chief and all those who serve, the military is carrying out their duties admirably, they'll get their permanent Defense Secretary in good time.

No one in their right minds would choose to willingly serve this sorry excuse of a President.

Many of them who serve, will probably end up in prison after 2020.

Dream on, ulysses.

-16 ( +0 / -16 )

Who in their right mind would want to work for such a repugnant individual? Only repugnant people.

There could be an argument that true public servants would serve in an attempt to educate Trump and bring some order, but given that Trump is a bawling man-child with a wafer-thin skin, it would seem to be a waste of time.

It’s understandable.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

It’s okay to have an opinion about all American Presidents, and all other American politicians. Most individuals during time I served had a negative opinion about previous holder of the office social experiments. I wish individuals would educate themselves about how U.S military functions and cabinet individuals are appointed before they give a uneducated opinion of how it works. Current President isn’t any worse then previous office holder, some may prefer current holder more then previous, United States did conduct a election on November 2016 and current office holder did win the election. Instead of this continued non sense complaining, (You still have that right) they need to come up with a believable message to the American people for election in November 2020.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Many of them who serve, will probably end up in prison after 2020.

Dream on, ulysses.

Dream? Why don't you ask Manafort, Papadapolous, Gates, Cohen, Flynn, and Stone how they're dreaming behind bars (or soon to be)...

And after 2020, you can ask "Individual -1"....

10 ( +10 / -0 )

Notice how military, business people, and government employees with integrity are avoiding Dump like the plaque, but Dump works mostly with well known liars, con artists, cheats, criminals, rapist, pedophiles, dictators and scumbags.

Birds of a feather!

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Notice how military, business people, and government employees with integrity are avoiding Dump like the plaque,

Im very sure the feeling is mutual.

but Dump works mostly with well known liars, con artists, cheats, criminals, rapist, pedophiles, dictators and scumbags.

Someone has has to work with the Democrats, no way around it.

-12 ( +0 / -12 )

This is an administration where family members , with no qualification and intelligence, have more powers than experienced bureaucrats.

Its essentially run from a toilet bowl with stubby hands laying out policy based on whatever fancies Donny at that moment.

No wonder experienced, qualified people don't even want to touch it with a barge pole.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

This is an administration where family members , with no qualification and intelligence, have more powers than experienced bureaucrats.

Sure, but what's wrong with that?

I mean, just because Ivanka was know for selling handbags at Macy's two years ago doesn't mean she isn't qualified to sit in and advise on nuclear negotiations with nKorea...right?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

When he said "make America great again," he didn't mean it. What is happening with the DOD is just one of many examples of incompetence, at best, and malfeasance, at worst.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Kind of funny when America's enemies are begging to give them someone to hate. I'm not saying it's smart, but insanity sometimes carries some cache.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

What is the set of measured standards the public can use to determine if any individual is qualified to serve as President of the United States. Individuals in the forum continue to express their feelings without facts about whom is qualified or fix to serve in this position. Just because you’re a life long public servant doesn’t mean you’re any more qualified then someone who is new to public service. Look at all past life long politicians, if they were so great why didn’t they go into private practice with these high in demand skills. Every politician have continued to lie to you, but you continue to support them without every getting what they have been promising you.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Trump fans will cheer this failure, too. They cheer all of his failures.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Cheers to former the former general Mr. Mattis!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Just because you’re a life long public servant doesn’t mean you’re any more qualified then someone who is new to public service.

Sure, I guess just because you went to medical school and have performed hundreds of surgeries, doesn’t make you a better doctor than someone who studied, say, political science.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Nice pic of Mattis' wargasm face.

So America does not have a Secretary of War right now? That might be a good thing.

Trump: He was too honest, too experienced, and had too much integrity, and worst of all, he wouldn't kiss my ring...

Men of integrity don't lead wars of profit and plunder...or at the very least they denounce themselves for it.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Maybe Jared can head up the Pentagon

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Maybe Jared can head up the Pentagon

He probably needs a new profit center after making a mere $100 mill from his association with Trump last year.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Why not just have the senior civil servants run their respective departments instead of training new political appointees every 1-4 years?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

I'd might even be for the most senior civil servant as the president...as long as he has only the powers of a national administrator (powers akin to a city manager) and Congress having its powers back (war, etc)

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Madverts: Nothing will be normal until the screaming orange anomaly has been excreted from power.

Imagine how fast a post would have been censored had someone written,

“Nothing will be normal until the belching mocha anomaly (Obama) has been crapped out of power?”.

Who in their right mind would want to work for such a repugnant individual? Only repugnant people .

Yeah - who in their right mind would want to work for a president who actually cares about protecting his own country before others? At least Trump knows his constituents are firstly the American people and not Guatemalans, Hondurans, and Mexicans who are constantly breaking American laws.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

It's because Trump is "dysfunctional and inept."

And Republicans don't care. They've convinced themselves the Pentagon doesn't need leadership. By whatever convenient excuse at hand: the "deep state," its angers libs, what-about- Clinton.

Deplorable. These people are utterly deplorable.

And have no game when it comes to national security.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Yeah - who in their right mind would want to work for a president who actually cares about protecting his own country before others?

Its scary to know that so many of my countrymen are so paranoid they think America needs protecting so bad.

Seven months without a secretary of war! How did America survive with all these knives at our throat?

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Funny to see all the posters who are first to denounce the US military suddenly infuriated that there's no defence 

Infuriated? More like concerned. One consistent theme from former Trump officials is the amount of time they have to spend talking him out of bad decisions. Trump is an emotional man-child who needs constant supervision. He needs advisors.

What infuriates me is hearing Trump demean POWs and Gold Star families as well as promising 10% raises that were never real, then watching these “pro-Trump pro-military” types bend over and take it in silence.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Its scary to know that so many of my countrymen are so paranoid they think America needs protecting so bad.

9/11. It’s scary so many Americans forget history so quickly.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

9/11. It’s scary so many Americans forget history so quickly.

Why would these new wave of so called Democrats care? First liberals for years hated and excoriated the military and the top leadership and now they in the age of Trump they care? It’s kind of 50 years too late. We all know their caring and concern is a bunch of garbage.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Just because you’re a life long public servant doesn’t mean you’re any more qualified then someone who is new to public service.

Sure, I guess just because you went to medical school and have performed hundreds of surgeries, doesn’t make you a better doctor than someone who studied, say, political science.

I’m happy we both agree there’s no differences between former President Barack Obama and current President Donald Trump on how both were elected in office with no previous public service experience. Some may agree with Obama’s term as President or disagree, and same with current President Trump, but both were elected to office. Being well spoken doesn’t not make you anymore or less a liar than someone who isn’t tactful with their words. If I had a choice between a more productive career, I would study medicine and be doctor. It’s a more respectful career than study political science and hope I can get a job, hoping I can lie and deceive people into voting for me knowing I will never fulfill any of my promises. Maybe reading the constitution and studying the different branches of our government will aid you in understanding how it functions.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

9/11. It’s scary so many Americans forget history so quickly.

So the reason for your paranoia is an incident that happened nearly 20 years ago? A one off incident that has not been repeated anywhere since? An incident where all the direct perpetrators died? An incident where all the masterminds were later killed?

Every since 9/11 Americans have been more likely to be killed by lighting than a foreign terror attack. In fact, they have been more likely to be killed by a fellow American's shooting spree or even a cop. Or a car accident. Yes, you just proved your paranoia rather nicely thank you. There is medication for that.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

First liberals for years hated and excoriated the military

President Obama never blasted war heroes like Trump (like John McCain).

they'll get their permanent Defense Secretary in good time.

Yes, LOL, like the Trump brick wall which ladders can be used to go over.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@bas4First liberals for years hated and excoriated the military

Flat out wrong. Many liberals (liberals are a singular bloc only in the minds of bifurcators and their ilk) have opposed US military interventions in places like Vietnam, Iraq, etc. and have also opposed the ridiculous amounts of taxpayers' dollars spent feeding the big war industries who sell their weapons to keep wars going throughout the land.

That does NOT mean they hate the military.

We all know 

Who's 'we'? Or are you once again saying the only Americans are those who think like you. If so, remember you're a member of a minority group.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Some may agree with Obama’s term as President or disagree, and same with current President Trump, but both were elected to office.

Nobody is talking about how they were elected, rather we are talking about Trump not having qualified people working under him. Or do you subscribe to the view that Trump by himself can take all decisions without needing anyone else.

We know well how he ran his companies, to the ground, until Daddy's money bailed him out.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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