1) I know that this is completely idle speculation but I have a few theories about why Mattis, Kelly, et al., have not publicly endorsed Harris (in descending order of likelihood):
a) Those guys have served in the military their whole lives. They are identified as military people. And one of the basic precepts of military…
1) I know that this is completely idle speculation but I have a few theories about why Mattis, Kelly, et al., have not publicly endorsed Harris (in descending order of likelihood):
a) Those guys have served in the military their whole lives. They are identified as military people. And one of the basic precepts of military life is that you don’t get involved in politics. I understand that they are retired and would not be violating that precept should they speak out, but they may feel that because they are so closely identified with the military that many people would think that they are speaking for the military. And that includes those currently serving. I can believe that they would feel that it would be terribly disruptive to the morale of the military because if they did speak out, it would tend to force those currently serving to take sides. Not only in a “Trump vs. Harris” sense, but also in a “should he have said anything” sense.
b) I strongly suspect that these folks have rarely, if ever, voted for a Democrat and have generally very negative feelings about Democratic policies. And they’ve been in that belief structure for a long time. I know that this argument is weakened by the examples of Liz Cheney and (especially) Dick Cheney. But neither of those folks are military people.
c) It’s not a lack of physical courage (although they may be concerned about the safety of their families). But they would have to recognize the disruption in their personal lives that speaking out would cause.
But, in the end, only they can explain why.
2) But, as usual, I reserve my greatest rebuke to Bush (43). He doesn’t have the potential baggage that ex-military officers do in getting involved in politics. He has a clear lane to speak his mind. And he won’t do it. Even his father admitted to voting for Clinton in 2016.
Sorry but that’s just a cop out. It’s time to save the country. Both Mattis and Kelly went into politics. Was that speaking for the whole military? If they truly cared about the military they would not want Trump in charge of it. The just want to protect their access. Fools and cowards.
I watched the debate between former General Scott Perry in Pennsylvania who's going for his 4th term in Congress and Janelle Stelson who makes no bones about being an absolute beginner. He was SO negative about "today's military". He didn't seem to worry about current morale when he was lambasting them for not focusing more on "training for combat duty". Although I myself lean toward being a pacifist, I wondered about this combat emphasis. I think that a lot of military IS now about remote combat and intelligence ops. He still seems stuck in that belief that my parents had in the 1960s (although he's my generation, which makes it ironic) that "we had to go through tough things and so should you." And that informs his attitude about voting for military vets' relief, student loan issues, etc.
Anyway, as I looked at your points, Dick, I thought about that debate and how down on the military the ex General was. But, then again, Perry is the ultimate MAGA Republican so of course there's no question of where he stands.
Perry is a military dinosaur. He has the same mindset as the generals in Vietnam. They were fighting a conventional war when they should've been fighting a counterinsurgency war. Unfortunately our military has a long history of training for the "last war" we fought instead of for modern war and the modern battlefield which as you stated is comprised of remote combat and intelligence ops.
Trump is a an existential threat to the United States Constitution they swore to uphold and defend against all enemies, foreign and domestic. It is their duty as American patriots to speak out against him. No excuses!
Soldiers (or even ex soldiers) do or should not get involved in politics? One of my childhood memories of my childhood is Powell fighting Clinton on gays in the military.
A few comments...
1) I know that this is completely idle speculation but I have a few theories about why Mattis, Kelly, et al., have not publicly endorsed Harris (in descending order of likelihood):
a) Those guys have served in the military their whole lives. They are identified as military people. And one of the basic precepts of military life is that you don’t get involved in politics. I understand that they are retired and would not be violating that precept should they speak out, but they may feel that because they are so closely identified with the military that many people would think that they are speaking for the military. And that includes those currently serving. I can believe that they would feel that it would be terribly disruptive to the morale of the military because if they did speak out, it would tend to force those currently serving to take sides. Not only in a “Trump vs. Harris” sense, but also in a “should he have said anything” sense.
b) I strongly suspect that these folks have rarely, if ever, voted for a Democrat and have generally very negative feelings about Democratic policies. And they’ve been in that belief structure for a long time. I know that this argument is weakened by the examples of Liz Cheney and (especially) Dick Cheney. But neither of those folks are military people.
c) It’s not a lack of physical courage (although they may be concerned about the safety of their families). But they would have to recognize the disruption in their personal lives that speaking out would cause.
But, in the end, only they can explain why.
2) But, as usual, I reserve my greatest rebuke to Bush (43). He doesn’t have the potential baggage that ex-military officers do in getting involved in politics. He has a clear lane to speak his mind. And he won’t do it. Even his father admitted to voting for Clinton in 2016.
George W. Bush – the gift that keeps on giving.
Sorry but that’s just a cop out. It’s time to save the country. Both Mattis and Kelly went into politics. Was that speaking for the whole military? If they truly cared about the military they would not want Trump in charge of it. The just want to protect their access. Fools and cowards.
I watched the debate between former General Scott Perry in Pennsylvania who's going for his 4th term in Congress and Janelle Stelson who makes no bones about being an absolute beginner. He was SO negative about "today's military". He didn't seem to worry about current morale when he was lambasting them for not focusing more on "training for combat duty". Although I myself lean toward being a pacifist, I wondered about this combat emphasis. I think that a lot of military IS now about remote combat and intelligence ops. He still seems stuck in that belief that my parents had in the 1960s (although he's my generation, which makes it ironic) that "we had to go through tough things and so should you." And that informs his attitude about voting for military vets' relief, student loan issues, etc.
Anyway, as I looked at your points, Dick, I thought about that debate and how down on the military the ex General was. But, then again, Perry is the ultimate MAGA Republican so of course there's no question of where he stands.
Perry is a military dinosaur. He has the same mindset as the generals in Vietnam. They were fighting a conventional war when they should've been fighting a counterinsurgency war. Unfortunately our military has a long history of training for the "last war" we fought instead of for modern war and the modern battlefield which as you stated is comprised of remote combat and intelligence ops.
Trump is a an existential threat to the United States Constitution they swore to uphold and defend against all enemies, foreign and domestic. It is their duty as American patriots to speak out against him. No excuses!
Absolutely God damned right!!!!! (Please excuse my "French")
Soldiers (or even ex soldiers) do or should not get involved in politics? One of my childhood memories of my childhood is Powell fighting Clinton on gays in the military.
Eisenhower anyone?