20% of all TV talk today aobut McChrystal will be sucked up by one "question"

[underpants]

Does he have the RIGHT to say it?

That kills a lot of time that might otherwise be devoted to discussing the obvious insubordination.

McChrystal is FREE to carry his ass out of command and get a nice fat defense contractor lobbyist job. Expect to see him on Fox News too.

[babylonsister]

1. If insubordination is a 'right', I guess he does. I don't imagine

this admin will see it that way.

[DrDan]

2. Morn Joe has mentioned "insubordination" several times this morning

[underpants]

5. Yes they actually did

I was surprised

[customerserviceguy]

17. I'm not

Harry Truman's popularity took a preciptuous drop after he fired MacArthur. I think the reich-wing wants to goad President Obama into the same thing, so that the failure of the Afghanistan campaign can be blamed on that action.

[Taverner]

25. Morn Joe acts like a Democrat sometimes

Sometimes he out-Democrats Democrats

What gives?

[DrDan]

26. yep - he was very vocal about this - very outspoken about the error in judgement

[Dappleganger]

28. Sorry to disagree with you.

MJ very occasionally acts like a 1970 republican. It helps when he's had his morning Metamucil.

[Taverner]

29. Note the keyword "sometimes"

I did not say usually, or most of the time

[Dappleganger]

31. Isn't it more telling of how we perceive Democrats to be at this time?

How sad for us all. :(

[Taverner]

33. This is true

But then again, the SCOTUS made it clear who runs this country

[WeDidIt]

3. He needs a full blown dismissal

He needs to lose his pension and be disgraced.

[DrDan]

27. he needs to be fired - anything further will need to come from a court martial

he gets his day in court

[TexasObserver]

4. No, he doesn't. No commanding general does.

He works for the president and those the president places above him. If he can't take orders and respect the president and his appointees, McChystal should have resigned his post and retired from the military.

I've said he was a nut since the president picked him. He's absolutely nuts.

[BrklynLiberal]

6. Was it "insubordination" that made Truman get rid of MacArthur?

[Bandit]

16. Actually it was

:shrug:

[customerserviceguy]

19. And we ended the Korean War with a "draw"

that still affects the world we live in today. Truman's popularity took a dive after the MacArthur firing, and the Republicons would like to see President Obama repeat that.

The only "good" way out of this is to have McChrystal issue a public apology, with his tail between his legs. MacArthur never would have done that with Truman, but Stanley might.

[BrklynLiberal]

23. I canno thelp but wonder what the hell was going thru McChrystal's mind when he was speaking so

critically..to a reporter. It is just plain STUPID!!!

[Javaman]

30. Delusions of grandeur. ;) nt

[BrklynLiberal]

34. Absolultely the only answer that makes sense.

[KharmaTrain]

7. This Is More Than Subordination...

This borders on sedition. Yep, the corporate media will be all over this story and surely will be defending McChrystal...who I hope is knocked down to buck private. He's a soldier...his job is to obey the orders and not question. If he doesn't like this, he could retire and say all he wants. But when you're a major General in a "war time" situation, the only time your opinions are needed is when they're asked for by the commander-in-chief.

Of course the corporate media and hate radio will be on this like white on rice all day. Ironically, had this happened under the previous regime, be assured there'd be a big outcry of how McChrystal is a traitor. Sounds more like he's an "Oathkeeper" to me. Never liked this dude...time to get his ass out of our military.

[dgibby]

8. McChrystal is in violation of the UCMJ.

This is the second time he's done this. He shouldn't get a third try at bat.

His "wimps in the WH" meme makes it impossible for the President to give him any leeway in this matter. He has to be Courts Martialed, if for no other reason than to set an example for the Troops.

[KharmaTrain]

9. So Much For "Winning Over The Military"...

I forgot about the "wimp" remark...and he should have been busted out for that. This administration has tried to placate the boooosh/cheney leftovers that are deeply embedded in the military and this is the results.

Interesting timing as well as the GOOP is getting piled on over Barfton's sucking up to BP...here's a bright new shiny toy for the corporate media to play with and lets them pile on this President, again. Meanwhile the oil spews, the body bags in Afghanistan fill, more people face financial disaster and the band plays on...

Cheers...

[babylonsister]

10. Actually, he's not being defended on morning schmo; they think

he should be fired. I guess we'll see how this goes as the day wears on.

[KharmaTrain]

13. The Talking Point Comes Out About 11:00...

Isn't that when Rushbo starts his swillfest? The word will be given, the talking points will march on. Watch the rushpublicans try to spin this into how inept President Obama is and McCrystal's "right to free speech" (despite being under the UMCJ). I smell Oathkeepers all over this.

:hi:

[babylonsister]

15. You know that's going to happen. schmo already

predicted the rethugs will use this to club the Dems through November. The admin needs to get a handle on this asap. Will be interesting to see how they handle this.

:hi:

[Gaedel]

21. You do question orders

A good soldier questions orders when they don't make sense or when he feels the person giving the orders might lack information on which his decision was based. Yes, the answer might be "do it anyway" and then you shut up and do it.

All the President has to do is to whisper in the Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff's ear and McChrystal will be told to submit retirement papers immediately and McChrystal will do exactly that and be gone.

The problem for the president is a political one. He appointed McChrystal and supported McChrystal and if he fires him, he might be perceived as looking weak. It is the same as firing a cabinet member for saying the wrong thing.

The president and his advisers have to think through which is politically worse, having a general kvetching about the administration or firing the general.

[KharmaTrain]

22. Very Good Points...

This is definitely a political move done in a highly charged political year. You can question orders, but not in Rolling Stone. This is a definite diversion to draw attention to the friction between this administration and the military. The problem is in this toxic political climate, any move President Obama does here will be damned if he does, damned if he doesn't...again. These remarks cut to the heart of a deeply flawed "war" that this President now owns. You are spot on with the dilemma faced here as President Obama did appoint McChrystal and can easily turn him into a right wing martyr. He definitely should be relieved of command but doing some public firing only gives this political football more field.

[TheDebbieDee]

11. The President can't NOT fire McChrystal!

To return McChrystal to his post or allow him to remain in the military would just beg for other high-ranking miltary personnel to similarly disrespect the President.

If you ask me, McChrystal has been making apologies/phonecalls since yesterday in an effort to avoid being courtmartialed!

[zipplewrath]

12. We will all miss the larger point

We'll spend the next 14 days discussing what the General should and shouldn't be allowed to say. We'll have long discussions about Truman and MacArthur. There will be lawyerly discussions of the UCMJ and the definitions of insubordination and treason. And in the end we'll miss the larger point.

Obama didn't campaign on "A government in a box" and supporting corrupt Afghan governments. And yet for some reason he chose to "give McCrystal a chance". Why? Why a compromise between the war mongers and Biden instead of between Biden and Code Pink? Why would this guy get one more day, when he is in obvious conflict with the president, his leadership staff, and to a great degree congress and the American people. Why does McCrystal get any sort of consideration or "a chance". Why is he even a voice in the room? Did he vote for Obama? Did we vote for him? Does he even represent the point of view of the soldier on the ground, or the commander in the field? Why does this guy get a "chance" to spend billions, kill thousands of innocent civilians, and extend our commitment in Afghanistan into the longest war in US history?

[BrklynLiberal]

24. Several EXCELLENT questions!!!!!

[malaise]

14. Adios McChrystal

Truthfully Obama should never have appointed him in the first place.
End the fucking wars.

[treestar]

18. Of course he does, but that does not mean there may not be

a consequence. Idiots on TV remain stupid, I see.

[Mika]

20. Palin/McChrystal 2012.

Drill baby drill!

---

[Gin]

32. I believe there are no mistakes...so...maybe he wants out of a

situation that is a losing battle....this way...he leaves before he gets the blame for that screw up.

[Arkana]

35. No.

If he has a gripe with strategy, he goes to Washington, gets the Joint Chiefs and the President in the same room, and airs his grievances in a civil tone.

He doesn't bitch to Rolling Stone Magazine and call the President of the United States--his BOSS--a wimp.