dagblog - Comments for "Kelly Swabs Deck"

I just don't feel the need to

artappraiser — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:10:23 +0000

In reply to Good to hear but I do not see

I just don't feel the need to proselytize on that like you do. People can make their own decisions on that.

Yes in perfect world it's dangerous, and you wouldn't want it, but maybe in this weird case, generals are the only solution. It's also a dangerous precedent for the CIA and other intel people to be leaking things to the media that are critical of the president of the U.S., and not following presidential orders and going "rogue" when they don't have adequate supervision, or even pondering ignoring presidential orders, but in this one weird case, it may be what we need. (See a recent David Ignatius for one argument along those lines: The CIA is entering a danger zone. Here’s the map.)

I'm not ashamed of being a relativist, I believe being a relativist is the only rational realistic thing to be.

I probably dislike all things military more than you do, I even hate how that mindset is lauded in like, professional football. In a perfect world we wouldn't have any of it. But we don't live in a perfect world.

Another thing I think would be ideal: if people didn't proselytize simplistic answers and instead tried to promote understanding nuance and complexity, which reporters like Tom Ricks try to supply on all things Pentagon and related. I keep hoping.

Good to hear but I do not see

A Guy Called LULU — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:12:12 +0000

In reply to I have always found Tom Ricks

Good to hear but I do not see how that has anything to do with what either of us have said about the 'brass' coming to hold so much sway in decision making at the highest level.

I have always found Tom Ricks

artappraiser — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 15:50:50 +0000

In reply to That is indeed an interesting

I have always found Tom Ricks to have a very strong understanding of the culture(s) of military brass.

That is indeed an interesting

A Guy Called LULU — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 15:36:02 +0000

In reply to this was an interesting point

That is indeed an interesting point. I can only speculate about Marine training but I doubt very much that noncoms are taught such as that at any point in their training. Officers may very well have a different story. If it is correct that they are "taught" as the piece indicates then it could be phrased differently that the Marine officers are taught to play politics and that the best politicians within the Corps, maybe rather than the best generals, have now come to dominate the upper ends of our current administration. Rather than a reason for hope, I see that as a dangerous development.

this was an interesting point

artappraiser — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 15:07:08 +0000

In reply to Marines on top: Defense

this was an interesting point by Ricks::

A footnote: One characteristic of Marines is an appreciation of Congress. This is in part because Marines are taught that the Corps only exists because the American people want it to exist. Indeed, Kelly has served an assignment on Capitol Hill as the chief legislative liaison for the Marine Corps. This makes me think that he might prioritize getting Trump to treat members of Congress better — that is, not as underlings to be ordered about, but as independent power centers to be supplicated.

Marines on top: Defense

A Guy Called LULU — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 12:58:03 +0000

In reply to Good thing we got lots of

Marines on top: Defense Secretary James Mattis must be feeling good about this lineup

It is funny but also cringe

moat — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 12:44:39 +0000

In reply to Hi Moat!

It is funny but also cringe worthy watching yet another boat sink in the Trump Triangle.
To switch metaphors, Kelly is probably belaying a spool of thread as we speak.

Good thing we got lots of

A Guy Called LULU — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 02:38:07 +0000

In reply to Also good on the gossip:

Good thing we got lots of generals.

Also good on the gossip:

artappraiser — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 02:20:18 +0000

In reply to Jonathan Swan @ Axios.com:

Also good on the gossip:

Trump whisperer: before he convinced Trump to fire Scaramucci, Kelly was trying to convince him not to build a wall. https://t.co/DgVVhpcaWp
— Ryan Lizza (@RyanLizza) July 31, 2017

Lucia Graves @ The Guardian

artappraiser — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 01:59:09 +0000

In reply to Kelly Swabs Deck

Lucia Graves @ The Guardian asks:

Who'd want Scaramucci's job now? In Trump's White House, no one comes out alive

Whoever fills Scaramucci’s shoes will continue the circus anew before being sacrificed, in an oft-repeated ritual, on Trump’s altar

To which I answer: Kellyanne, Lucia! You are forgetting about Kellyanne! Kellyanne's first loyalty is to lying/spin, so she can never be a sacrifice, always successful, no matter what happens.