General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGive it up to General James Mattis for what is, IMHO, the quote of the year.
".....I earned my spurs on the battlefield....and Donald Trump earned his spurs in a letter from a doctor."
malaise
(269,187 posts)Ridicule is a great tool for this fool.
Siwsan
(26,295 posts)It was beautifully brutal. More:
"I'm not just an overrated general. I am the greatest, the world's most overrated. I'm honored to be considered that by Donald Trump because he also called Meryl Streep an overrated actress, So I guess I'm the Meryl Streep of generals, and frankly that sounds pretty good to me. And you do have to admit that between me and Meryl, at least we've had some victories."
Rainbow Droid
(722 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(49,045 posts)rpannier
(24,339 posts)malaise
(269,187 posts)BeyondGeography
(39,383 posts)Hard to come up with a better response than that.
gab13by13
(21,408 posts)Trump still hasn't gotten over the beatdown he got from president Obama at that correspondence dinner.
Narcissists can't take any criticism, they need constant fluffing.
yardwork
(61,712 posts)Siwsan
(26,295 posts)As a veteran, I think military officials feel between a rock and a hard place, serving in the trump* administration.
He is their 'commander and chief' so while they are under that official 'umbrella' their military honor won't let them say anything against him. That doesn't mean they, most likely, don't try to push him in the right direction. And when they finally have to admit that's an exercise in futility, they leave. I wish he had started speaking out, sooner, but he did say he'd say what he needs to say in his own time.
But that's my take.
yardwork
(61,712 posts)My anger comes from the knee-jerk hatred of Democrats and women expressed by so many of them. So many excuses have been made for Trump. There's been an unreasonable assumption that Trump, as a white man, can't really be that bad. Better than Hillary, anyway.
It's becoming apparent that Trump is really that bad. Many of us already knew this.
Pepsidog
(6,254 posts)exboyfil
(17,865 posts)and no longer serving in the administration. In fact he served in a civilian capacity anyway. None of the restrictions of being a military officer should apply now. He had substantive criticisms of Obama after Obama left office.
One liners may be funny, but an honest assessment of Trump's qualifications as CiC is sorely needed.
Siwsan
(26,295 posts)And I say that as the daughter of a Marine. Even when the retire or leave the service, the good ones never stop being a Marine.
And, I really do wonder if there is a strategic timing to his plans. Admittedly, I could be foolishly wrong but I cling to what hopes I can conjur.
Skittles
(153,202 posts)getting kudos for making JOKES about a fascist buffoon
Vinca
(50,310 posts)behind the orange idiot. Maybe watching their Kurd comrades slaughtered will reach them. People like Mattis who have served in this administration need to speak out often and loudly.
edhopper
(33,625 posts)But Mattis needs to step up and give a full public reporting of what Trump did while he was SoD.
Siwsan
(26,295 posts)Maybe this was his opening shot - start off with reality steeped in humor and then bring out the big guns, sans the distraction.
edhopper
(33,625 posts)But will not hold my breath.
Let's not rehabilitate Mattis. He's fine with basically all Trump has done until he speaks out on the issues.
Pepsidog
(6,254 posts)To little to late.
Siwsan
(26,295 posts)When he left, he said he'd be speaking out. His timing might be strategic. That's what he's good at. But, we will have to wait to see.
Pepsidog
(6,254 posts)StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)Siwsan
(26,295 posts)At least that's my hope.
catbyte
(34,458 posts)IronLionZion
(45,541 posts)Conservatives always like to share memes of General Mattis and fake quotes bashing liberals. None of which can be verified.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/10/18/i-earned-my-spurs-battlefield-mattis-jabbed-trump-critics-say-he-hasnt-gone-far-enough/
Response to Siwsan (Original post)
elocs This message was self-deleted by its author.
Siwsan
(26,295 posts)Calling him to account is pretty much a waste of time, since he has no conscience. It's better and far more effective to target the narcissist.
exboyfil
(17,865 posts)is to convince the military and its supporters of the unfitness of Trump to be CiC.
Actually I think he would serve his party by doing that, and he has nothing to lose personally.
Siwsan
(26,295 posts)My Dad was a Marine. I served with LOTS of Marines, while I was in the Navy. They are a tight and loyal bunch and attacking one is seen as an attack on all.
Response to Siwsan (Reply #25)
elocs This message was self-deleted by its author.
Siwsan
(26,295 posts)We would not be discussing one, without the other.
Response to Siwsan (Reply #32)
elocs This message was self-deleted by its author.
Siwsan
(26,295 posts)JanetLovesObama
(548 posts)said "if I had known Biden would be running for POTUS in 2020 I never would have said those things." FUCK Mattis. I do NOT trust him as far as I could throw him.
Siwsan
(26,295 posts)IMHO, of course.
brush
(53,879 posts)I also likes his opening bit about being world famous now as the most overrated in the world, thanks to trump. And of course the crack of him being "the Meryl Strep of generals."
The Polack MSgt
(13,199 posts)He was known as a non-political straight shooter under Pres. Obama as well. Trump didn't pull Mattis out of a hat he was a known quantity before he was selected and approved in the Senate.
I believe the Mattis Memes were the only thing that registered with Trump and the only reason he went along with the choice.
I wrote several OP about Mattis from my point of view as a retired SNCO and a current defense contractor.
Mattis was always pushing for solid reliable non-crazy courses of action as the Defense Secretary, for example:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10028528204
And when Cheeto was embarrassing himself at the NATO summit in year one, Mattis was limiting the damage and pushing back in his official capacity:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10028837868
Of course he also slow motion burned the balloon full of cheese whiz with his retirement letter that Trump was too stupid to realize insulted him until others explained it to him.
Look, I served under Reagan both Bushes and Bill Clinton - You serve the Nation not the man and Gen/Sec Mattis served honestly.
He diligently lead the DOD as best as he could, until he could no longer do it. That is the duty of the military - We are subordinate to the civilian leadership of America.
Baked Potato
(7,733 posts)History will show Gen Mattis as being instrumental in keeping Trump from doing terrible shit.
Baked Potato
(7,733 posts)Know how to do t!
Brother Buzz
(36,469 posts)Just saying.