View Full Version : A Gathering of Eagles
Gen Mattis as SECDEF, Gen Kelly as DHS, Gen Flynn Nat'l Security Adviser...if Gen Patraeus gets the nod for SECSTATE what will we be seeing? Good idea or bad idea? Top heavy? Too many cooks in the kitchen? Plenty of talent but maybe too many stars?
Trump poised to tap John Kelly for DHS, adding another general to team
Adding yet another general to his administration, President-elect Donald Trump is expected to tap retired Marine Gen. John Kelly as his choice to lead the Department of Homeland Security.
Kelly told Fox News Trump already has asked him to serve in the DHS position.
“I have been asked and would consider it an honor,” he said.
Kelly would be the third general Trump has picked for his administration, after announcing James Mattis – who along with Kelly is a four-star general -- as his pick for Defense secretary. Trump also announced in November that retired Gen. Michael Flynn would be his national security adviser.
(more)
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/12/07/trump-poised-to-tap-john-kelly-for-dhs-adding-another-general-to-team.html
We are at war.
These men know what and who we face and don't deny the existence and plans of the enemy. To my knowledge, none of the selections thus far illustrate expansionist ideals - they want to protect America - pure and simple. A safer, more robust America is also a big step to a safer world.
Solid picks (everyone has a least some warts) given our circumstances (the past 8 years+).
.00000002
Divemaster
12-07-2016, 09:41
Petraeus running Foggy Bottom? No thanks.
Petraeus. No thanks, for anything.
Badger52
12-07-2016, 11:04
Petraeus running Foggy Bottom? No thanks.Ditto. And that would be an ugly confirmation hearing.
Ditto. And that would be an ugly confirmation hearing.
Agreed,, Besides each candidate's personal baggage,, the wing-nut(S) at both ends will be crying Military Coup...
:munchin
Astronomy
12-07-2016, 16:18
Interesting trifecta of USMC GOs at the very top: Director DHS, SecDef, and CJCS. That ought to be a very different synergy going forward. If Trump picks Jarheads for CIA Director & SecState, they'll be adding new verses to the Marines' Hymn. ;)
Hell, Trump should appoint R. Lee Ermey as White House Press Secretary. Then PCS USMC Bulldog mascot Chesty XIV to a new duty station at the White House. Let him pee on the White House Press Corps' chairs and maybe hump Pelosi's leg when she comes to call. They could even let the dog do the same. That'd be a real tingle up someone's leg...
I'm serious about The Gunny.
Petraeus? No thanks.
http://www.duffelblog.com/2013/01/marine-mascot-chesty-the-bulldog-accidentally-euthanized/
sfshooter
12-07-2016, 17:30
Peter is is a c onvicted felon last I heard. Isn't that a no go on the security clearance
As for Ermie for press secretary I second tha motion.
If I recall right about what I seen about Hitlary: with an Espionage Act conviction (the classified info passing), you cannot run for or hold public office. I'd have to look it up again, but I think that is part of the statement of the written law.
Agreed,, Besides each candidate's personal baggage,, the wing-nut(S) at both ends will be crying Military Coup...
:munchin
The rumble has started..
Donald Trump’s Choice of Generals for Top Posts Raises Concerns
Critics see threat to civilian oversight of government; backers cite nominees’ broad experience
By Gordon Lubold,
Damian Paletta and
Ben Kesling
Updated Dec. 7, 2016 8:16 p.m. ET
260 COMMENTS
WASHINGTON—President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday turned to a third retired military officer to help him run the country when he takes office in January, a move that represents an unusual level of military influence in the executive branch.
Mr. Trump gave the nod to retired Marine Gen. John Kelly to lead the Department of Homeland Security, according to people familiar with the decision, a nomination that comes after he already has asked retired Marine Gen. James Mattis to be his defense secretary and retired Army Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn to be his national security adviser.
In addition, Mr. Trump is considering retired senior officers for at least two other top jobs: retired Army Gen. David Petraeus or retired Adm. James Stavridis to lead the State Department, and Adm. Michael Rogers to become director of national intelligence.
In so doing, Mr. Trump is plumbing the global expertise and experience that comes with a life in the U.S. military, but he has also aroused concerns that his reliance on retired officers to lead security agencies ignores an important constitutional tenet of civilian oversight of the government.
“I can’t honestly recall an administration with as many flag officers” in top roles, said Thomas Alan Schwartz, a history professor at Vanderbilt University. “I think this is probably somewhat unprecedented.”
The effects of the multiple military appointments are hard to predict........
http://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trumps-choice-of-generals-for-top-posts-raises-concerns-1481157356
Just an observation: Given where we are after 8 yrs of a progressive foreign policy (trying to be gentle), and the economic shenanigans of the past umpteen years, a cabinet of flag officers might be what we need. Trump is a development promoter and manager, and the flag officers being nominated have a lot of managerial experience (no comment re: whether it was good or not). If they were successful in their careers much of that experience was in managing logistics and systems acquisition. Trump only has a two year window before the regrouping Dems will launch the mother of all campaigns to recover congressional majorities. Trump's strategic plan appears to be for him to take care of the economic mess while the flags handle the foreign policy and national security. The pressure will be on the flags to deliver. If Trump's strategic plan fails expect to see the flags getting fired wholesale, a blizzard of tweets, and the Dems to win the 2020 elections in a flood. It's looking like an all or nothing gamble for the next two years. I wonder if there are any flags with a judiciary background that could end up on the SCOTUS. JMHO.
This is simply a President appointing people with US gov't executive experience that are results oriented... as should be his privilege.
As jacked up as the DoD is, it has to be the most ethical and results oriented part of the USG by a long shot. This is a pretty scary thought but I have to believe that it's true.
It is also an indicator, I think that Trump will act in accordance with what he's said about a strong military (If he hates the military why appoint former GO/FOs to cabinet positions.??) And I think that this indicator will not be lost on other countries around the world.
Anything Trump does will be criticized...
Oh, and I think Petraeus would be a mistake, for any position.
Here is a little something for the left half of the political spectrum to shove straight up their ass...
James Mattis, John Kelly, Michael Flynn, and David Petraeus have an interesting bond that is also shared by just about every person on this board.
They share that same bond with most all of the tenured professors at places like UC Berkeley, Sarah Lawrence, Bard, and Oberlin...
They are American citizens.
Let that sink in for one-mother-fucking-second...............
Mattis, Kelly, and Flynn are all American citizens. For anyone that thinks a prior service American citizen has no right to participate in the administration of governance and justice in this fine nation, well...
...fuck you
...fuck you very much
Even David Petraeus who clearly has no fan-club members of this board would serve this nation better than some of the empty suits from academia that we are supposed to believe should somehow have primacy when being considered for a place in government.
Think about this...
...who was the president that WARNED Americans about letting the military-industrial complex take root?
It was a retired general.
And when you retire from the military you become a civilian.
...I know the word "civilian" stings when it is applied to a former military man - but you are no longer an active duty soldier. You are a civilian.
So when Mr Trump, Mr Mattis, Mr Flynn, Mr Kelly, and all the rest take the helm on inauguration day, the military will STILL be under the control of civilian leadership.
Only this time, it will be controlled by people that actually have experience providing security. It wont be by appointees that are applying theoretical leadership the same way that Sheldon Cooper applies theoretical physics.
That's the beauty of the system...
the dope smoking hippy tofu eater gets a vote
the retired general gets a vote
the auto worker gets a vote
dead democrats get a vote
The system works fine when the liars known as democrats get to tell their lying lies about the things the like to lie about...
...they wail and screech when they don't get their way.
Once more for the cheap seats....
Mattis, Kelly, and Flynn are all civilians today.
...the will be civilians tomorrow
They are just civilians with an honorary title earned through decades of service to the nation.
Just my two cents... I could be wrong
Badger52
12-08-2016, 04:55
"If you want to see what kind of President I'll be, just watch the people I surround myself with." - sitting POTUS at this writing.
Trump's Appointments.
One of these things is not like the other.
And, yeah, in the Top-3 smile list is a State Attorney General that has actually SUED the EPA to head that same agency. Crowbar & cutoff wheel please; keep the manifold pressure up...
doctom54
12-08-2016, 05:26
And, yeah, in the Top-3 smile list is a State Attorney General that has actually SUED the EPA to head that same agency. Crowbar & cutoff wheel please; keep the manifold pressure up...
I saw that today and just started laughing. I bet those career bureaucrats are apoplectic:munchin
bblhead672
12-08-2016, 05:38
No absolutely no to General Betrayus.
Convicted of mishandling classified material just like HRC should be; in bed with anti-gun group; likely to sign off on UN Small Arms Treaty.
No thanks to pick of Betrayus for anything other than poop scooper for whatever dogs President Trump brings to the White House. (And no I'm not talking about Pelosi).
brain teaser....
Who would you pick as a cabinet secretary:
Joe Biden
Al Gore
Valerie Jarrett
Denis McDonough
John Kerry
Janet Napolitano
Ash Carter
Hillary Clinton
Eric Holder
Loretta Lynch
David Petraeus
...you MUST pick one or you forfeit your presidency
Keep in mind:
-One of these folks admitted that he improperly removed and retained highly sensitive information in eight personal notebooks that he gave to a US Army Intelligence Officer that held a top secret security clearance.
-The others have served honorably at the highest levels of US government.
Make your selection now............................................... ........
PedOncoDoc
12-08-2016, 08:03
...The others have served honorably at the highest levels of US government...
Your definition of "served honorably" clearly differs from mine...
Your definition of "served honorably" clearly differs from mine...
I understand the confusion completely and apologize for the oversight...
...for the purposes of this exercise you can define the word however you please
So, who did you pick?
PedOncoDoc
12-08-2016, 08:23
I understand the confusion completely and apologize for the oversight...
...for the purposes of this exercise you can define the word however you please
So, who did you pick?
It's a good thing I'm not president. :p
brain teaser....
...you MUST pick one or you forfeit your presidency
Well, there goes another job I won't be doing. Kind of like shore duty in Denmark, or Operational Test Director for the Push Up Bra...never got those jobs either.
ddoering
12-08-2016, 10:27
Joe Biden is a harmless buffoon and would lead the buffoonery that is the State Dept.
bblhead672
12-08-2016, 10:45
Joe Biden for Secretary of Education.
Then abolish the Department of Education.
Joe Biden the tipsey "Foster Brooks" of the Obama WH.
...ValJar, Van Jones, HRC, Marie Harf, Susan Rice...advisors all to the anointed one..compare and contrast with Trump administration/advisors. For example, so far, Trump has selected three retired generals for Cabinet positions. Oooh, how dare he...
Maybe the adults really will be in charge again.
The "civilian leadership" idea may have been a good idea at our founding, and through most of our history, when men were participants in, at least, local militias. In the last half-century the number of citizens with any knowledge of military needs and purpose have been relegated to those educated by anti-war movies or Xbox video games.
Perhaps this needs to be re-thought. Maybe certain positions should require some military participation or education. Soldiers are expected to be knowledgeable of civilian matter, perhaps the reverse is also needed.
Pat
ALL OF THESE MEN ARE CIVILIANS NOW
...it is alll part of my mantra that democrats and those that lean democrat are misguided malevolent people that intentionally mislead and misrepresent the truth in order to forward their agenda
Chuck Hagel was in the military and the democrats had no problem with him being the SECDEF
John Kerry was in the military and he is a poster child of democratic frivolity
Shinseki and Gates were military veterans in the Obama cabinet
Colon Powell, James Baker, Alexander Haig, Cyrus Vance, Henry Kissinger, John Dulles, George Marshall....
for FUCK SAKE - all of them were military men that served as cabinet secretaries
but democrats lie
democrats lie about the past
democrats lie about facts
democrats lie about the future
democrats are lying about control of the military
again....
THESE MEN ARE ALL CIVILIANS
democrats owe their very existence to the woefully uninformed rank and file American citizen
democrats are all a bunch of malevolent liars
democrats are liars that go well beyond the "pants on fire stage"
People misunderstand the term civilian leadership. t means no one currently in the military. Look at history the first few presidents were former commanders. The principal still applies don't let the liberal ullshit nfuse you.
I meant, "including the President." I'm being much more general in my suggestion. (Pun not intended.) Trump went to military school, at least.
Pat
Oldrotorhead
12-08-2016, 13:51
Biden as Secretary of Comic Relief. If I want a new Cabinet position I can damn well have one!:p
Volunteer
12-08-2016, 14:09
+1 :munchin
Interesting trifecta of USMC GOs at the very top: Director DHS, SecDef, and CJCS. That ought to be a very different synergy going forward. If Trump picks Jarheads for CIA Director & SecState, they'll be adding new verses to the Marines' Hymn. ;)
Hell, Trump should appoint R. Lee Ermey as White House Press Secretary. Then PCS USMC Bulldog mascot Chesty XIV to a new duty station at the White House. Let him pee on the White House Press Corps' chairs and maybe hump Pelosi's leg when she comes to call. They could even let the dog do the same. That'd be a real tingle up someone's leg...
I'm serious about The Gunny.
Petraeus? No thanks.
http://www.duffelblog.com/2013/01/marine-mascot-chesty-the-bulldog-accidentally-euthanized/