
I was not pleased with the way that Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher’s trial was handled by the Navy. He was treated very badly but, despite this, was completely exonerated on all major charges. I then restored Eddie’s rank. Likewise, large cost overruns from past administration’s…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 24, 2019
….honors that he has earned, including his Trident Pin. Admiral and now Ambassador to Norway Ken Braithwaite will be nominated by me to be the new Secretary of the Navy. A man of great achievement and success, I know Ken will do an outstanding job!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 24, 2019
Courtesy of WaPo:
President Trump’s attempt to manipulate military justice had a sorry outcome Sunday with the firing of Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer. For the past nine months, Spencer had tried to dissuade Trump from dictating special treatment for Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher — but in the end Spencer was sacked for his efforts to protect his service.
With Spencer’s firing, Trump has recklessly crossed a line he had generally observed before, which had exempted the military from his belligerent, government-by-tweet interference. But the Gallagher case illustrates how an irascible, vengeful commander in chief is ready to override traditional limits to aid political allies in foreign policy, law enforcement and now military matters.
Spencer was fired by Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper late Sunday, supposedly because Esper was “deeply troubled” that Spencer had tried to work out a private deal with the White House that would avoid a direct presidential order scuttling a scheduled SEAL peer-review process. That panel was set to determine whether Gallagher would keep his coveted Trident pin, marking him as a SEAL, after he was convicted in July for posing in a trophy photo with the corpse of a Islamic State captive.
Spencer had tried to find a compromise, sources tell me, after Trump tweeted Thursday, “The Navy will NOT be taking away Warfighter and Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher’s Trident Pin.” Spencer feared that a direct order from Trump to protect Gallagher, who is represented by two former partners of Trump’s personal attorney Rudolph W. Giuliani, would be seen as subverting military justice.
Business Insider suggests that there are three reasons being given for why Spencer is out:
There are three different explanations for what happened from Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, Spencer himself, and President Donald Trump.
The Pentagon says that Esper demanded Spencer’s resignation after it was discovered that the Navy secretary had been privately negotiating with the White House and discussing plans to circumvent the military administrative process to ensure that Gallagher retired with his rank and Trident pin.
Spencer argues that he resigned on principle over a disagreement with the president, explaining in his letter that he and the president do not share the same views of the rule of the law.
Trump says that he was not pleased with the Navy’s handling of the Gallagher case, nor was he satisfied with the way the service’s leadership handled cost overruns on projects, like the Ford-class carrier.
I actually think that all three of those reasons smell of bullshit.
I think it is beyond clear that Trump did not like news reports suggesting that Spencer was pushing back against his interference with military justice and decided that he needed to go.
And that seems to be supported by Spencer’s resignation letter.
Courtesy of The Independent:
On Sunday night Mr. Spencer wrote in a letter to Mr. Trump: “The rule of law is what sets us apart from our adversaries. Good order and discipline is what has enabled our victory against foreign tyranny time and again.
“The constitution and the uniform code of military justice are the shields that set us apart, and the beacons that protect us all. I have strived to ensure our proceedings are fair, transparent and consistent, from the newest recruit to the flag and general officer level.
“Unfortunately it has become apparent that in this respect I no longer share the same understanding with the commander in chief who appointed me. In regards to the key principle of good order and discipline, I cannot in conscience obey an order that I believe violates the sacred oath I took in the presence of my family, my flag and my faith to support and defend the constitution.”
In short, now former Navy Secretary Richard Spencer is accusing Trump of having no respect for order and discipline nor in fact the Constitution.
Which of course we all know to be absolutely correct.
SecDef: I Was ‘Flabbergasted’ to Learn about Spencer’s Secret Deal with Trump
According to Esper, Spencer had approached Trump with a deal regarding Gallagher: the SEAL would be guaranteed to keep his trident if the president allowed the Navy to proceed with a review board on the matter in a nod to proper procedures and protocol.
“This proposal was completely contrary to what we agreed to, and contrary to Secretary Spencer’s public position,” Esper said.
When approached, Esper said Spencer had been “forthright” and acknowledged his proposal.
Spencer, who has yet to speak publicly about the matter, maintained in a letter about his termination that his departure was based on a principled stand.
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/11/25/secdef-i-was-flabbergasted-learn-about-spencers-secret-deal-trump.html
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/pentagon-chief-fires-navy-secretary-over-seal-controversy
https://www.politicususa.com/2019/11/25/trump-dishonors-military-eddie-gallagher.html
The former Navy Secretary under Obama later added, “I think there are two things that have been missing here. Number one, Gallagher’s Seal teammates were the ones that reported him. This was not somebody back at the Pentagon, this was not somebody not with him in combat. These were his teammates. These were fellow Seals that reported him. And the second thing is, how can you go on television like he did yesterday, on Fox and Friends, when you’re on active duty and trash your chain of command?”
Trump has dishonored or corrupted every institution that he has come in contact with since being sworn in as president.
Admiral and now Ambassador to Norway Ken Braithwaite must be a real POS.
‘Deadly Serious’: Read fired Navy Secretary Richard Spencer’s scathing letter in wake of Trump’s attacks on ‘The Rule of Law’
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/11/deadly-serious-read-fired-navy-secretary-richard-spencers-scathing-letter-in-wake-of-trumps-attacks-on-the-rule-of-law/
Former Navy Secretary Says Trump Has Dishonored The Military
Former Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said on Monday that Donald Trump had dishonored the military with his intervention on behalf of accused war criminal Eddie Gallagher.
Mabus said on MSNBC, “Well, this just dishonors the military so much and it causes chaos and confusion. It undermines accountability, it undermines the rule of law. It undermines good order and discipline in the military. For a president to interject himself in the decision of who is qualified to wear a Navy trident and who is qualified to serve in a military unit that the commander can’t make that decision, or in this case that a group of Seals, five Seals, would be sitting in judgment on, can’t do that. Just undermines the whole chain of command, it undermines everything that the military has to have to be effective.”
Video:
https://www.politicususa.com/2019/11/25/trump-dishonors-military-eddie-gallagher.html
Trump tried to distract the country from impeachment with a dog, but MSNBC didn’t play his comments and said they would cut back to him if he took questions.
https://www.politicususa.com/2019/11/25/trump-conan-the-dog.html
Trump threatens to sic Army dog on reporters during bizarre presentation: ‘If you open your mouths you will be attacked!’
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/11/trump-threatens-to-sic-army-dog-on-reporters-during-bizarre-presentation-if-you-open-your-mouths-you-will-be-attacked/
FB>”The dog probably enjoyed its visit with Trump.
If there’s one thing I know about dogs: they love the smell of an asshole.”<Jim Wright
24hrs ago"I went out to take some pictures and came back into find the Secretary of the Navy had been fired.
I have no sympathy for Dick Spencer. He was going to get fired anyway, he should have stood the fuck up and told Trump where to stick it. And yes, I read his resignation letter. So what? Big deal. Real brave going out the door, courage is what you do when it MATTERS. This guy is just another Trump sucking politician who only managed to find his balls AFTER he had been fired. Woopdee fucking doo, give the boy a medal.
The hell with him, Trump, and Gallagher. None of them are qualified to hold a real Chief's hat while the Chief takes a piss."<Jim Wright
Ugh 🤦♀️
‘Trump’s base is a cult’: Rick Perry slammed after saying Donald Trump is ‘the Chosen One’ in Fox News interview
Rick Perry shocked some Fox News viewers when he announced during the weekend that Donald Trump was ‘sent by God’ to lead the country. The outgoing US Energy Secretary also told Fox & Friends’ hosts that President Trump was ‘the Chosen One.’
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/11/trumps-base-is-a-cult-rick-perry-slammed-after-saying-donald-trump-is-the-chosen-one-in-fox-news-interview/
https://mobile.twitter.com/search?q=%22Rick+Perry%22
Rick Perry: Donald Trump is ‘The Chosen One’ Sent By God to Lead Us
“God’s used imperfect people all through history,” Perry said, naming several Biblical figures. “King David wasn’t perfect, Saul wasn’t perfect, Solomon wasn’t perfect.”
Perry added that he gave Trump “a little one-pager on those Old Testament kings” about a month ago. “I shared it with him and said, ‘Mr. President, I know there are people that say you said you were the chosen one and I said, ‘You were,’” Perry noted. “I said, ‘If you’re a believing Christian, you understand God’s plan for the people who rule and judge over us on this planet in our government.’”
https://www.mediaite.com/tv/rick-perry-donald-trump-is-the-chosen-one-sent-by-god-to-lead-us/
Oh how the worm has turned!
In 2016…
‘Let no one be mistaken – Donald Trump’s candidacy is a cancer on conservatism, and it must be clearly diagnosed, excised and discarded,’ Perry warned in a speech at the National Press Club in July of 2015.
‘My fellow Republicans, beware of false prophets. Do not let itching ears be tickled by messengers who appeal to anger, division and resentment. Resentment is the poison we swallow that we hope harms another. My fellow Republicans, don’t take the poison.’
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7723447/Outgoing-Energy-Secretary-Rick-Perry-claims-Donald-Trump-chosen-God.html
Don’t underestimate how many Americans actually think Trump is chosen by God.
https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/25/rick-perry-donald-trump-chosen-one
Now he’s gulping the coolaid!
…Showing no desire to step back from his clash with fellow Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, former Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday unleashed a torrent of insults about the billionaire, calling Trump a “barking carnival act” and a “toxic mix of demagoguery, mean-spiritedness and nonsense.”
During his speech at a downtown hotel here, Perry also described Trump as “a sower of discord,” a scapegoater, a candidate who offers “empty platitudes and promises,” and “a cancer on conservatism.” He added that Trump “is wrongly demonizing Mexican-Americans for political sport” and is “the modern-day incarnation of the know-nothing movement.”
The event was hosted by operatives from the Opportunity and Freedom PAC, which is supporting Perry.
https://www.texastribune.org/2015/07/22/rick-perry-donald-trump-dc/
‘Transform your minds and bodies into his mind image. Become one with his flesh and be consumed by his id. Behold our God. Trump Trump Trump’
One look at his rallies, and the kind he attracts. UGH. “I love the poorly educated,” and the crowd goes WILD.
I still remember the Palin book tour, reporter asking a woman standing in line.
“Why do you like $arah Palin?”
“She’s just like me!”
“What policies of hers do you support?”
*deer in headlights*
We all have personal issues, but he has somehow made the most despicable part of ourselves celebratory.
Monkey see, monkey do. They found their king.
Trump has ‘reshaped’ the evangelical movement into an ‘image of himself’: Columnist
“For many followers, Trump has defined an alternative, insular universe of facts and values that only marginally resembles our own,” wrote Gerson. “According to the PRRI poll, nearly two-thirds of WEPs deny that Trump has damaged the dignity of his office. Ponder that a moment. Well over half of this group is willing to deny a blindingly obvious, entirely irrefutable, manifestly clear reality because it is perceived as being critical of their leader. Forty-seven percent of WEPs say that Trump’s behavior makes no difference to their support. Thirty-one percent say there is almost nothing that Trump could do to forfeit their approval. This is preemptive permission for any violation of the moral law or the constitutional order. It is not support; it is obeisance.”
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/10/trump-has-reshaped-the-evangelical-movement-into-an-image-of-himself-columnist/
https://www.alaskapublic.org/2019/11/25/new-legal-filings-seven-were-denied-pfds-based-on-alaskas-defunct-same-sex-marriage-law/
“The documents are part of a suit filed in federal court Wednesday by Denali Nicole Smith, the spouse of a member of the military, who claims the state denied her this year’s $1,606 PFD because of an Alaska law against same-sex marriages. A federal judge struck down that law in 2014.
After the lawsuit was filed, the state agreed to pay Smith’s PFD, but would not promise she wouldn’t be denied payments in the future, according to the documents, filed Monday. ” – “Shortell and Smith, in two separate declarations filed with the court, argue that Clarkson’s statement is false, that as many as six other applications were denied — not just placed on hold — and that the denials were only fixed after the lawsuit was filed.” – “After hearing about Smith’s denial in September, Shortell published a Facebook post asking for information or evidence about others denied their dividends on a similar basis, Shortell wrote in her declaration.
The same day, Shortell said she heard from a worker in the PFD division who confirmed that the state still denied the payments to same-sex spouses and children of same-sex spouses accompanying military members and students outside the state.”
Mills also pointed to a quote in the press release from Gov. Mike Dunleavy:
“We are examining our regulations and processes to ensure those who are qualified get their PFD.”
https://www.dermotcole.com/reportingfromalaska/2019/11/24/gxuzlf4jzq8s3v3rb3c3dym69ju85u?fbclid=IwAR1RZiZnck3c1iUMXuthgc8amgLP_PeBX52TldePaCcpgowG8VhwY5jMizo
“State hires six-month-old Seattle company for HR consulting projects”
“It’s not clear how much the state is paying Tandem Motion, why it was chosen, apparently on a sole-source contract, or what the full scope of work is.
I have made two requests to the Department of Administration for a copy of the contract and have received no reply.”
https://www.npr.org/2019/11/25/782657225/defense-secretary-says-trump-ordered-him-to-let-eddie-gallagher-retire-as-navy-s?utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR2gDJ9R_bh14iEayNRF78Ar-_wdPDuZOF-opz2lHqgQmSG6iE7a22ANubs
“I spoke with the president on Sunday. He gave me the order that Eddie Gallagher will retain his Trident pin,” Esper told reporters on Monday at the Defense Department, referring to the insignia designating Gallagher as a member of the elite commando force.
The order from the commander in chief effectively put an end to proceedings by a Trident review board that were called by the commander of Navy special warfare, Rear Adm. Collin Green. The panel was charged with deciding whether Gallagher and three of his supervising officers were fit for duty. In Gallagher’s case, the board was set to convene next week.
https://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2019/11/25/amanpour-maria-ressa-philippines.cnn
Ressa: ‘Democracy crumbled quickly’ in Philippines
Amanpour
Christiane Amanpour speaks with Maria Ressa, CEO of investigative news site Rappler, about the dangers of reporting on President Détente.
Journalist Maria Ressa is CEO of Rappler, a news site in the Philippines, where she fearlessly reports on the brutal realities of President Duterte’s infamous “war on drugs,” which has left a trail of bodies in its wake. Now Ressa herself is in the firing line, facing criminal charges from the government. She joins Christiane to talk about her reporting and the importance of a free press.
https://www.politicususa.com/2019/11/25/fired-navy-secretary-tells-trump-no-clue-about-military.html
CBS NEWS EXCLUSIVE: Ousted Navy Secretary Richard Spencer tells @CBSDavidMartin Pres. Trump does not understand the “full definition of a war fighter” after the president stopped the Pentagon review of SEAL Eddie Gallagher & called him a “great fighter.”
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/the-fallout-from-trumps-intervention-in-navy-seal-discipline-case
Edward Gallagher:
This is all about ego and retaliation. This has nothing to do with good order and discipline. They could have taken my trident at any — any time they wanted. Now they’re trying to take it after the president restored my rank.
trump just put all military personnel in more danger, next trump will tear up the Geneva Convention.
https://www.politicususa.com/2019/11/26/clinton-and-bush-navy-secretaries-warn-trump-is-damaging-our-military.html
“His values are not those of our military. It will do grievous damage to our armed services if they become so.”
Troops will be misled by the president’s “sense, or lack of sense, of honor.”
https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-tells-allies-he-wants-absolved-war-criminals-to-campaign-for-him
“It is a dark day when the president stands with those accused of committing war crimes over a man like Secretary Spencer,” Brown said in a statement.