Trump's military parade draws bipartisan rebuke

By Bryan Bender @ Politico.com, Feb7

Members of Congress from both parties joined retired military leaders and veterans in heaping scorn Wednesday on President Donald Trump’s push to parade soldiers and weaponry down the streets of the nation's capital — calling it a waste of money that would break with democratic traditions [....]

"I think confidence is silent and insecurity is loud,” Sen. John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, told reporters in expressing opposition to the idea. “America is the most powerful country in all of human history; you don’t need to show it off.”

"This is definitely not a popular idea," added Paul Rieckhoff, the CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, describing the feedback he is getting from members of the largest group of post-Sept. 11 veterans. "It's overwhelmingly unpopular. Folks from all political backgrounds don't think it is a good use of resources. “We are very aware of anything that politicizes the military,” he told POLITICO.

Former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.), now a conservative radio talk show host, also attacked the idea on Twitter: “Obama wasn't a King. Trump isn't a King either. My side needs to quit treating him like one. We don't elect Kings in this country, remember? No military parade.” [....]