James “Mad Dog” Mattis becomes the first Secretary of Defense EVER in U.S. history to resign in protest of a president’s policies. When they guy nicknamed “Mad Dog” was the voice of reason — the “adult in the room” — it signifies an administration that went off the rails a long time ago.
Always impulsive, the president increasingly believes he does not need advisers, according to people close to him. He is on his third chief of staff, third national security adviser, sixth communications director, second secretary of state, second attorney general and soon his second defense secretary. Turnover at the top has reached 65 percent, according to the Brookings Institution.
More recently, the president has told associates he feels “totally and completely abandoned,” as one put it, complaining that no one is on his side and that many around him have ulterior motives.
I see this a little differently. He ENABLED Trump by claiming that they were reining him in. So what did he actually do? Trump still managed to alienate ALL our traditional allies, get played by North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Russia (though he personally made some money off some of them — also illegal), make noises about destroying NATO (which protects us from — guess who? Putin!), and parade the military at the border at taxpayer expense. Some “adult in the room” that is.
And his ultimate solution: run away, abandon his post, sniping on his way out how bad Trump is (we knew that) and implicitly claim moral high ground. Sorry, no. He doesn’t get it. It was HIS responsibility to STOP some of this, or to work with other members of the Cabinet to get Trump declared unfit for office. He knows it – he makes it plain in his letter, though he STILL pretends that somehow Trump deserves someone who will carry out his policies. This isn’t politics, this is an existential threat to our nation.
I don’t respect this man, who supported Trump, then ran away instead of facing his duty. When he stands before Congress and demands impeachment, then perhaps I will have some minor respect for the man. Not until.
I feel it appropriate to repost a comment made some time ago. I’ve saved it because of its eloquence, and wish I could recall the writer’s name. . .
“I am a student of leadership: have been since I was 6 years old. I have a lot of models that I have studied from Alexander the Great to Gandhi , From Julius Caesar to Martin Luther King, Jr. from Jesus Christ to Adolf Hitler.
One of favorite models is Robert E. Lee. Most historians claim that Lee was a military genius. He was good, but his real military strength was in picking excellent subordinate commanders most notably Johnson and Longstreet. The only time he ignored their advice was at Gettysburg.
Lee’s strongest suit was his leadership ability, he could convince his men to do their duties to the absolute limit of their endurance.
Another person whose leadership exceeded his military prowess was Erwin Rommel. He also gave his staff the leeway to do their jobs. Unlike his boss, der fuehrer, he would not fire them if the battle did not come out favorably. His staff could do their jobs without fear.
It’s just good business sense: hire good people and “wind them up and watch them go.” Inspire them, show them the goal and get out of their way.
After the battle of Gettysburg, Lee found every man he could and personally apologized to them for losing the battle and took 100% responsibility. He even offered his resignation to Jefferson Davis who was smart enough to refuse it.
Rommel, unlike other German generals, did not live apart from his men. If they slept in the mud, he slept in the mud. If they went without food, he went without food.
Compassion and humility are not two traits that immediately come to most people’s minds when you mention the word, “leadership.” But in my book, they are essential.
DD Wiz Premium Member over 5 years ago
James “Mad Dog” Mattis becomes the first Secretary of Defense EVER in U.S. history to resign in protest of a president’s policies. When they guy nicknamed “Mad Dog” was the voice of reason — the “adult in the room” — it signifies an administration that went off the rails a long time ago.
Radish the wordsmith over 5 years ago
Always impulsive, the president increasingly believes he does not need advisers, according to people close to him. He is on his third chief of staff, third national security adviser, sixth communications director, second secretary of state, second attorney general and soon his second defense secretary. Turnover at the top has reached 65 percent, according to the Brookings Institution.
More recently, the president has told associates he feels “totally and completely abandoned,” as one put it, complaining that no one is on his side and that many around him have ulterior motives.
well-i-never over 5 years ago
And now the daily grandstander is idiot enough to call McGurk a grandstander for leaving over principle!
Masterskrain Premium Member over 5 years ago
dumb donnie’s a disaster. PERIOD!
Alberta Oil Premium Member over 5 years ago
On principal.. or like a rat knows when the ship is sinking.
Radish the wordsmith over 5 years ago
Which dangerous and ignorant right wing extremist will Trump replace Mad Dog with?
Masterskrain Premium Member over 5 years ago
HE’S off the chain, because the “administration” is off the rails, and trump’s off his rocker!
mourdac Premium Member over 5 years ago
More like the Chief throwing the sink through the window and escaping from the asylum in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”.
Motivemagus over 5 years ago
I see this a little differently. He ENABLED Trump by claiming that they were reining him in. So what did he actually do? Trump still managed to alienate ALL our traditional allies, get played by North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Russia (though he personally made some money off some of them — also illegal), make noises about destroying NATO (which protects us from — guess who? Putin!), and parade the military at the border at taxpayer expense. Some “adult in the room” that is.
And his ultimate solution: run away, abandon his post, sniping on his way out how bad Trump is (we knew that) and implicitly claim moral high ground. Sorry, no. He doesn’t get it. It was HIS responsibility to STOP some of this, or to work with other members of the Cabinet to get Trump declared unfit for office. He knows it – he makes it plain in his letter, though he STILL pretends that somehow Trump deserves someone who will carry out his policies. This isn’t politics, this is an existential threat to our nation.
I don’t respect this man, who supported Trump, then ran away instead of facing his duty. When he stands before Congress and demands impeachment, then perhaps I will have some minor respect for the man. Not until.
Scoutmaster77 over 5 years ago
Where’s all the Trump supporters?
Walter Kocker Premium Member over 5 years ago
I feel it appropriate to repost a comment made some time ago. I’ve saved it because of its eloquence, and wish I could recall the writer’s name. . .
“I am a student of leadership: have been since I was 6 years old. I have a lot of models that I have studied from Alexander the Great to Gandhi , From Julius Caesar to Martin Luther King, Jr. from Jesus Christ to Adolf Hitler.
One of favorite models is Robert E. Lee. Most historians claim that Lee was a military genius. He was good, but his real military strength was in picking excellent subordinate commanders most notably Johnson and Longstreet. The only time he ignored their advice was at Gettysburg.
Lee’s strongest suit was his leadership ability, he could convince his men to do their duties to the absolute limit of their endurance.
Another person whose leadership exceeded his military prowess was Erwin Rommel. He also gave his staff the leeway to do their jobs. Unlike his boss, der fuehrer, he would not fire them if the battle did not come out favorably. His staff could do their jobs without fear.
It’s just good business sense: hire good people and “wind them up and watch them go.” Inspire them, show them the goal and get out of their way.
After the battle of Gettysburg, Lee found every man he could and personally apologized to them for losing the battle and took 100% responsibility. He even offered his resignation to Jefferson Davis who was smart enough to refuse it.
Rommel, unlike other German generals, did not live apart from his men. If they slept in the mud, he slept in the mud. If they went without food, he went without food.
Compassion and humility are not two traits that immediately come to most people’s minds when you mention the word, “leadership.” But in my book, they are essential.
They are totally lacking in Trump"