Politics

[John Wasmuth]

Now that Trump got Gabbard and Kennedy to Chieu Hoi over to the gop side, who is next to defect?

 

[cwpayton]

Now that Trump got Gabbard and Kennedy to Chieu Hoi over to the gop side, who is next to defect?

maybe hanoi liz chenny will come home or could be the other rebublicans who voted to impeach the president will plead T D S

 

[cwpayton]

I totally agree.
A disastrous choice and should be reversed before it's too late.
But I'm afraid he won't be the only one.
IMHO Elon is a terrible choice to lead anything as well.
I have a feeling my buyers remorse will set in early.

OK DONE DEAL I will write my senator and tell them to vote yes confirm him! Who is it you have in mind that is wiser a ,more level headed person a Nicky Halley in bed with the industrial war giants, really? Trump is against the big tent style military woke ,pregnant women gender confused, promoted by skin color, chosen by sex, disqualified by loyal patriotism.retired out by suggesting a different approach. more education ? .He graduated Harvard, and was a student at Princeton , , combat vet. , enlisted and officer. and supports trump agenda of less wars all the time, 1 standard for all in the military not a bi-level let em pass approach. I can think of a few SEC of DEFENCE in the past who checked all the boxes but were utter failures, start with dick chenny. We will pay for his mistakes for decades . How many dead to make Iraq democratic ? howed that work out for ya.

 

[spike.t]

Worth a watch......

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.facebook.com/thegrocerdaughter/videos/britains-iron-lady/3194686157233464/&ved=2ahUKEwiYzr-f8N2JAxX7SaQEHXO_L14QwqsBegQIERAF&usg=AOvVaw3uXAOrCujHFvxbZMNbOiid

 

[Altitude sickness]

Pete Hegseth if confirmed would be a great SecDef. Often times fresh eyes and asking “stupid” questions gain the better result.

doing things because that’s the way we have always done it , is no way to lead. Asking the 5 whys from a new perspective usually leads to a better product.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Entrenched leadership


Remember when many in the Pentagon pushed back on the idea of a Space Force. Especially the Air Force leadership.

The US Air Force was being left in the dust by China and the battle for Space supremacy. All the while telling Trump that they had Space warfare covered. Well, they did not have it covered.

Trump Calls for a Space Force, a Concept His Pentagon Opposes

The president’s words could reanimate a legislative proposal that the defense secretary and others thought they had killed.

www.defenseone.com

 

[Altitude sickness]

We were ceding the high ground to China, Russia and India. All three have weapons in space.

The link below does work

Technical Difficulties

 

[gearguywb]

I am truly enjoying watching the entrenched govt "officials" have a combination of stroke, aneurysm, and trying to hide under the nearest desk in the dark.

The thought that they may have to actually justify their existence and nice fat paychecks twice a month.

Oh, the horrors!

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Pete Hegseth if confirmed would be a great SecDef. Often times fresh eyes and asking “stupid” questions gain the better result.

doing things because that’s the way we have always done it , is no way to lead. Asking the 5 whys from a new perspective usually leads to a better product.

I guess if Pete doesn't work out as SecDef, his next gig could be as a heart surgeon. Are you good with that too? Would you let him operate on you or your loved ones? He'll ask the 5 whys, I'm sure.

 

[Tanks]

You navigate both state and federal regulations when running a refinery. Federal regulation interpretation and enforcement varies pretty widely between EPA regions. State regulations, as you rightly point out, vary greatly between states. I have zero sympathy for California and their ridiculous energy prices. California elects governments that promulgate regulations that increase cost with no environmental benefit. As far as I’m concerned, Californians have made their bed and now they get to lie in it.

I agree, I started driving from CA on Wednesday, at Tulsa now. My first gas was $5.49 at Barstow. Paid as little as $2,39 on the way. Should make it to Ryglen Gundogs for 5:30PM dog picking today.

 

[Red Leg]

No one can reverse it.
It’s an embedded cultural issue.

We are stunned whenever we return from Europe. We truly are a nation of fat out of shape people.

 

[Neophyte]

We are stunned whenever we return from Europe. We truly are a nation of fat out of shape people.

Because we’ve had it too easy for too long.

We’ve let the poor kids fight our wars, cared more about our stock investments than humanity, and criminalized and taxed people far beyond what burdens they should bear.

Mandatory three years military service, no exemption, smaller government, and lower to no taxes, federal, on a paycheck. Also, stop federalizing state crimes.

 

[fourfive8]

I guess if Pete doesn't work out as SecDef, his next gig could be as a heart surgeon. Are you good with that too? Would you let him operate on you or your loved ones? He'll ask the 5 whys, I'm sure.

I guess if Biden-Harris doesn’t work out ….. uh… oh yah… been there done that. We got stuck with it for 4 years and no way out until Jan ‘25. There was an election on Nov 5 and the message was pretty clear.

Amazing to see all the never-Trumpers with TDS for the past 8 years suddenly wanting back into “the tent”, giving advice and demanding all kinds of input. Kind of like Tonto and the Lone Ranger after being surrounded by hostiles… and the Lone Ranger says, “What are WE going to do Tonto?” Tonto replys, “What do you mean WE, Kemo Sabe?” I like the idea of some serious “gate keeping” being enforced at the tent.

 

[mdwest]

Because we’ve had it too easy for too long.

We’ve let the poor kids fight our wars, cared more about our stock investments than humanity, and criminalized and taxed people far beyond what burdens they should bear.

Mandatory three years military service, no exemption, smaller government, and lower to no taxes, federal, on a paycheck. Also, stop federalizing state crimes.

Let the poor kids?

Ummmm… we have an all volunteer force… and have had one for 50 years… no one has fought in any way in recent history other than Vietnam that didn’t expressly ask to be there…

I’m pretty sure those poor kids wanted to fight…

I sure as hell did…

Not a single person I know that has served wants to see mandatory service… that would dilute the military’s capability by a huge margin..

 

[Hunt anything]

Let the poor kids?

Ummmm… we have an all volunteer force… and have had one for 50 years… no one has fought in any way in recent history other than Vietnam that didn’t expressly ask to be there…

I’m pretty sure those poor kids wanted to fight…

I sure as hell did…

Not a single person I know that has served wants to see mandatory service… that would dilute the military’s capability by a huge margin..

Interesting, I used to duck hunt with a Marine that fought and was wounded on Iwo Jima, on slow mornings he would tell stories that were more interesting than even the best duck hunt. One story involved the disdain for “drafted Marines” towards the end of the war, at the time I had always thought WW2 Marines were all volunteers he made it extremely clear he was a volunteer and had no respect for most of the draftees.

 

[mdwest]

My maternal grandfather island hopped with the USMC during WW2 and was at Iwo Jima as well.. he too was always very clear and very vocal about being a volunteer… he joined when he was still 17…

My paternal grandfather enlisted during ww2 in the army and fought in Europe…

My father enlisted at 18…

And I enlisted at 18 as well…

The solution to the military’s current recruiting problem isn’t a draft or mandatory service…

The solution is to rid itself of all the DEI nonsense and return to being a fighting force concerned with only 2 things… battlefield survival and killing/destroying our enemies…

There are still plenty of young people out there that would be more than willing to join the ranks.. if the ranks were actually worth joining…

Mandatory service just swells the payroll with people that don’t want be there.. fattens the government further.. costs a fortune.. and renders the military less capable..

Claiming you want smaller government while at the same time advocating for millions of additional government employees (who don’t want to be there) is a bit of a contradiction… and clearly not well thought out..

 

[cash_tx]

We are stunned whenever we return from Europe. We truly are a nation of fat out of shape people.

My wife has suffered from constant digestive issues here in the States for decades; but we can spend two weeks gorging ourselves in Italy, France, Ireland, or Scotland without so much as a hint of trouble. It's the only time I can do that and still come back five pounds lighter.

 

[Red Leg]

I watched this interview of Thune with Bret Baier last night and it is worth reading over on the Fox site. It is particularly worth parsing what he is actually saying among the assurances of support for the president, his agenda, etc.

A couple of comments are provided below:

"All these people have a process that they have to go through. All these nominees are – it's a – you know, advice and consent. That's the Senate's constitutional role when it comes to confirmation of nominations to the executive branch of the government. And we take that role seriously,"

He was also asked about recess appointments which many on the web have offered as way to appoint Gaetz without a vote.

"Well, it's an option, but obviously, it takes, you know, you have to have all Republicans vote to recess as well. So the same Republicans that you mentioned that might have a problem voting for somebody under regular order probably also have a problem voting to put the Senate into recess,"

He then affirmed that "........ these nominees deserve their day in court. They deserve a hearing, a confirmation hearing, an opportunity to be vetted. And the Senate will perform its constitutional role under advice and consent. But we are not going to allow the Democrats to thwart the will of the American people in giving President Trump the people that he wants in those positions to implement his agenda,"

However, he then concluded. "But obviously, there is a process whereby we get down and scrub all these nominees and figure out whether or not, one, they're qualified and are they people who are fit to hold these offices."

I do not see how Gaetz survives an actual hearing - particularly when democrats start reading to the American people the republican chaired findings of the republican led House Ethics Committee. It was due to be voted on with regard to its release this week (today actually) until Gaetz suddenly resigned. One would have to assume the votes were there to release it. They will paint him as the worst pedophile, sex trafficker, and drug addict since Osiel Cardenas Guillen.

The democrats will attempt to portray Gabbard as, at best, a Russian stooge. She has strongly, if perhaps unintentionally, publicly supported the Russian propaganda narrative with regard to the Ukraine war echoing a lot of the false statistics promulgated by Scott Ritter (now primarily living in Russia) and COL(R) Douglas Macgregor. Still. assuming there is no actual there there, she probably gets confirmed.

RFK jr will be a lightning rod for the "anti-science" narrative of the democrat party. That said, I suspect he will be effective as a witness, and barring something crazy in the hearing, can likely get fifty votes (all that is needed because Vance breaks any tie).

Assuming the Gaetz's hearing, if it ever takes place, will be a dumpster fire, Hegseth's hearing will be the most critical to a nominee. There is very little public record on him. Of the 150 mil people who voted this year and 75 million or so who supported Trump, perhaps a 1.5 million watch Fox. The democrats and press will portray him as unprepared/qualified for this appointment - not a difficult assignment. He has the opportunity to surprise those who do not know of him with his intellect and preparation for the hearing. We'll see. As of now, I would give him a fifty-fifty shot. That could swing significantly either way based upon his individual meetings with senators and the hearing.

20 republican senators will be up for election in 2026 and only 13 democrats. Depending on which state, several of those republicans will be working the calculus of whether it is better to be perceived as loyally supporting Trump or protecting the country, and even the president, from his worst instincts.

It should be a must watch TV spring.

 

[Red Leg]

Because we’ve had it too easy for too long.

We’ve let the poor kids fight our wars, cared more about our stock investments than humanity, and criminalized and taxed people far beyond what burdens they should bear.

Mandatory three years military service, no exemption, smaller government, and lower to no taxes, federal, on a paycheck. Also, stop federalizing state crimes.

My maternal grandfather island hopped with the USMC during WW2 and was at Iwo Jima as well.. he too was always very clear and very vocal about being a volunteer… he joined when he was still 17…

My paternal grandfather enlisted during ww2 in the army and fought in Europe…

My father enlisted at 18…

And I enlisted at 18 as well…

The solution to the military’s current recruiting problem isn’t a draft or mandatory service…

The solution is to rid itself of all the DEI nonsense and return to being a fighting force concerned with only 2 things… battlefield survival and killing/destroying our enemies…

There are still plenty of young people out there that would be more than willing to join the ranks.. if the ranks were actually worth joining…

Mandatory service just swells the payroll with people that don’t want be there.. fattens the government further.. costs a fortune.. and renders the military less capable..

Claiming you want smaller government while at the same time advocating for millions of additional government employees (who don’t want to be there) is a bit of a contradiction… and clearly not well thought out..

I entered active duty as a second lieutenant in 1974. So I was able to experience the last of the draft army. When I took over my Fire Direction Center in an 8" battery in Germany in late '74. I had a young private draftee who spoke no english, a specialist who was there in lieu of prison, a black kid, also a draftee, who spent all his time reading black revolutionary literature (USAREUR was a racially rough place in the seventies), and an E5 on his second enlistment after being drafted (do the math). It was a terrible field force in those days.

I had the privilege of being part of the all volunteer revolution that followed it. We have a superb force, however short at the moment, compared to the one that preceded it. No one from my era would ever advocate a return to the army of the seventies.

 

[Red Leg]

I guess if Biden-Harris doesn’t work out ….. uh… oh yah… been there done that. We got stuck with it for 4 years and no way out until Jan ‘25. There was an election on Nov 5 and the message was pretty clear.

Amazing to see all the never-Trumpers with TDS for the past 8 years suddenly wanting back into “the tent”, giving advice and demanding all kinds of input. Kind of like Tonto and the Lone Ranger after being surrounded by hostiles… and the Lone Ranger says, “What are WE going to do Tonto?” Tonto replys, “What do you mean WE, Kemo Sabe?” I like the idea of some serious “gate keeping” being enforced at the tent.

That is an interesting perspective. However, that Trump fellow needs at least fifty votes in the senate, where he has sceptics, to pass a bill. Remember the majority there supported Thune and not Scott. Also, the republicans will hold the house by only two or three votes. He essentially needs all of those if he is going enact any legislation. For a large spending bill, he will need 60 votes - ergo also some dems and all 52 or 53 republicans. If he can only rally his MAGA loyalists, he will get nothing meaningfully done legislatively his first two-years in office. I hope and suspect he is smarter than many of his most loyal supporters.