At least, that’s what she tweeted.
What she was shouting “Hoohah!” about was the suggestion of General James “Mad Dog” Mattis as Trump’s new Secretary of Defense. General Mattis is, of course, a Marine. And Marines shout “ooooRAH!”, not “hoohah!”. ‘Cause Marines like pussy just fine, but they don’t shout about it, heh.
So what do I think about the appointment of General Mattis to be Secretary of Defense? Well… ordinarily, I’d say “what a disaster.” Generals generally aren’t good politicians. Eisenhower was probably the exception to that, but Eisenhower was pretty much a political general to begin with, while Mattis was a Marine. Marines generally aren’t political generals, and Mattis wasn’t — he spent most of his career in field assignments, his last one being Afghanistan. He was basically forced out by the Obama Administration when he got a bit too blunt and in their face for their comfort, which probably is what recommended him to Trump. But not everybody forced out by the Obama Administration was a right wing zealot. Mattis was quite aware of the duty of a Marine — to go places, meet people, and, if necessary, kill them — but his lack of political skill, rather than his ideology, was the main reason the Obama Administration put him out to pasture. And that’s exactly what you don’t want to see in a Secretary of Defense, who has to be adept at politics as well as at military leadership.
Still: Compared to anybody else that Trump would likely have nominated? A well-read military historian with a reputation for bluntness might be just what the doctor ordered. If Trump suggests doing something insane, Mattis will be able to cite him chapter and verse and page number of exactly why that’s a dim-bulb idea in no uncertain terms, and Trump is pussy enough that Mattis can probably get away with it. And if Cheetoh Mussolini decides to go all God Emperor Trump and orders the military to do something blatantly illegal and in violation of the Constitution like, say, arrest and execute Congress… well. Mattis has read that history too. Including the history of the German generals who enabled Hitler.
I don’t think that one would end well. Probably not for Mattis either, who would likely immediately turn himself over to be charged with treason if it reached that extreme because he’s read his history and he knows what happens when the military regularly starts overthrowing civilian governments. But I somehow doubt that he would be a subservient servant like the German generals who did Hitler’s will if he sees signs that Herr Drumpf is in fact channeling Hitler’s ghost…
Of course, Mattis is going to do a really sucky job as Secretary of Defense. He doesn’t have the political chops for the job. But if it’s a choice between being fucked, and being completely, totally destroyed… I’ll take fucked. That’s just how sad our choices are right now.
– Badtux the “We’re fucked” Penguin
Hitler had many good history-readin’ generals too, like Field Marshall Rommel. And so were they too, all honourable men. Who carried out some unconscionable orders anyway. Didn’t end so well for Erwin. Or Hitrumpler.
I look forward to abrasive, personality-clashing incompetence at all levels. Toss a mob of anti-social personality disorders into a conference room and see who comes out with the fewest scars. Bring back duelling! It’ll be like the Cheneybush Misadministration on illegally imported Chinese synthetic steroids. “Heck of a job Brownie” times eleventy!
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Thing is, Mattis has history to read that Rommel didn’t have. Like the history of how the generals around Hitler enabled him. U.S. military culture is also far different from German military culture of the WW2 era. German soldiers prided themselves on their obedience. American soldiers pride themselves on their ingenuity in figuring out ways to kill the enemy. It’s the difference between blind obedience, and thinking obedience. The “thinking” part makes a difference, and Mattis has a reputation for it.
In other words, if Trump really does select Mattis, there will be fireworks… but maybe less than if someone else got the job. Mattis is *not* incompetent — he simply isn’t diplomatic.
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[…] Badtux the Snarky Penguin : Mattis as Secretary of Defense? There could be an upside. […]
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Is Mattis a general Trump knows more than?
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Also, the history Rommel had to read didn’t include much about generals being hung (or shot) for war crimes.
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Rommel made the best choice he had at the time. Wasn’t his fault that it didn’t work. We’d have had some trouble if he had succeeded, I think.
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