The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the nation’s highest-ranking military officer and the principal military advisor to the president, secretary of defense, and national security council. The current chairman, Army General Mark Milley, has served in the military for 44 years, deploying in Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt, Panama, Haiti, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Colombia, Somalia, and the Republic of Korea. He holds a degree in political science from Princeton University, a master’s degree in international relations from Columbia University, and a master’s degree from the U.S. Naval War College in national security and strategic studies.
I am still waiting for that amazing albeit controversial day when the Southern Poverty Law Center names the Republican Party as a Hate Group. The party’s silence makes it so.
It seems perhaps, contrary to popular belief, that there is a streak of idealism in those who choose a life of military service: Vindman also expressed confidence in the American system when he said, "Dad, do not worry, I will be fine for telling the truth." He is fine, having retained his integrity, but he and his brother suffered the loss of their careers. I hope Milley is right, too, that the American people will choose The Constitution over demagoguery. And that he will be recognized for the importance of his integrity.
I read the article in the Atlantic about General Milley. I am happy to know that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs acted exactly as I hoped -- and expected -- regarding keeping our military from getting mixed up in politics. It was clear what the president was trying to do. I think most of us who served in the military understand that our military serves the civilian government, while avoiding becoming part of the government. Everyone who serves in the military swears an oath to defend the Constitution. General Milley clearly understands what it means to defend the Constitution. The former president clearly does not.
When I went to Vietnam in 1969, General Milley was 11 years old. I am very proud of him!
Thank you for sharing General Milley’s commitment to the preservation of this Democracy in spite of Trump, protecting us during his episodes of egregious and dangerous behavior. I hope he is correct in believing freedom loving American patriots will continue to preserve our great nation. ❤️🇺🇸🌎
“There’s a lot of discourse around whether it’s a tough Army or a woke Army,” he said, referring to commentary on right-wing news channels. “Here’s my answer: First of all, it’s all bullshit. Second, these accusations are coming from people who don’t know what they’re talking about. They’re doing it for political purposes. Our military wasn’t woke 24 months ago, and now it’s woke?”
He continued, “You want woke? I’ll give you woke. Here’s what your military’s doing: There are 5,000 sorties a day, including combat patrols protecting the U.S.A. and our interests around the world. At least 60 to 100 Navy warships are patrolling the seven seas, keeping the world free for ocean transport. We have 250,000 troops overseas, in 140 countries, defending the rules-based international order. We’ve got kids training constantly. This military is trained, well equipped, well led, and focused on readiness. Our readiness statuses are at the highest levels they’ve been in 20 years. So this idea of a woke military is total, utter, made-up bullshit. They are taking two or three incidents, single anecdotes, a drag show that is against DOD policy. I don’t think these shows should be on bases, and neither does the secretary of defense or the chain of command.”
Thank you Heather. As always, you bring it to us straight. I would though, bring up the treasonous efforts of Gosar and others, who violate their oaths, to do the bidding of Putin, to lay waste to our Constitution and democracy itself. Liz Cheny had it right. The GOP is the party of Putin. That is the perspective that keeps all their activities in focus.
Polls be damned. To claim that T💩p is the front runner in the opinion of what must amount to a few thousand Americans, in some cases chosen from the demographic who support Republicans in general, and the Golden Turd®️in particular, is abhorrent. That so many believe these polls represent actual fact is horrifying.
It remains remarkable to me that those elected officials who continue to aid and abet Trump while inciting violence -notably, but not limited to Gosar, are not suspended from their public office, indicted, and at very least, expelled from office and then, if convicted, barred from ever holding public office again.
Just when is enough, enough?
The threat from the inside of government, whether Federal, State, or Local is a very clear and present danger to the American system.
In my view, the egregious attack on Milley combined with the deafening GOP silence are further confirmation that Democrats must not only sharpen their messaging relative to accomplishments and aspirations but also must disqualify the opposition by beating back the lies, the falsehoods, the hatred, and the divisiveness within which it traffics.
How is this not a punishable offense? How much is Judge Chutkan going to allow him to attack and intimidate Americans before she issues a complete gag order? I am shocked he has not only been allowed to continue spewing hateful, lying rhetoric, he’s got people echoing him and nothing happens??
Gen. Milley should immediately sue trump for libel and/or slander depending upon the mode of defamation! It is beyond exhausting and frustrating that the deranged trump and the equally crazed members of the sick cult that supports him continues to get coverage and spew vitriol. We have laws; let's use them and stop the hand wringing, pandering, and delays!
I noted in my letter of resignation (16 years ago) from a volunteer (elected) political position in a small town (where politics is a full contact sport) small groups of people could derail any board in town based on nothing more than their own self-serving interests and the spreading of lies in the local newspaper which I said was an effective tool used to silence and prevent people from volunteering their time to serve on boards. A real wake up call to the ugly side of politics and witness to a poor excuse for "journalism". I often commented that if it was this nasty on the local level where the stakes are pretty low, imagine what transpires at the national level - we have known for a long time, but now we really know!
Interestingly enough, Town Counsel advised me, based on then recent case law, that I had probable cause to sue some of the individuals and the paper for libel and, more importantly, could win. For me, the reality of the financial and emotional cost was too high and not worth the stress, time, or money.
Trump desperately needs "termination... with extreme prejudice..." Whether that's the coming massive fatal myocardial infarction (preferably in front of the MAGAts mid-rant at one of his hatealongs), the fatal hamberder, choking on a red or pink Starburst, an errant golf ball to the head, the mid-air explosion of Trump Force One with him aboard, or whatever. Sooner better than later. Make America Truly Great Again!
HCR runs from the word fascist. Racism and prejudice are fascist qualities. Fascists are racists, deeply prejudiced Black and Jew haters. Trump is a classic fascist. Trump fascism has corrupted the Republican party. It’s contagious. Silence on fascism enables fascism, prejudice and racism. Yale historian professor Timothy Snyder makes this clear. Michael Moore makes this clear.
In 2016, just after the catastrophic Brexit vote in the UK (also with proven Russian interference) I noticed a sense of comforting schadenfreude with the election of Trump in tbe US. The continental Europeans were calling it "Trump 'n Brexit" at the time.
- "Aaah - We are not the only ones do unimaginable self harm to our country with the ballot box, the US have taken it a step further", they said... (making plenty of use of that trusty old Anglo Saxon phrasal verb... to fuck up)
I replied at the time that I thought... to the contrary, this would have the effect of waking up the Americans, the good people would wake up, rise up and mobilise.
There will be a post-Trump. I said.
Brexit, on the other hand, is irreversible damage, a terminal fuck up.
The optimism expressed at the end of this letter is what I was saying seven years ago.
Thank you Heather. We trust your book tour is going swell.
“But, for all that, Trump is the current frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination.”
Unlike our former blowhard-in-chief and his echo choir, President Biden and General Milley each publicly express optimism in our system and in We the People. I’m endeavoring to be a good and patriotic citizen of the nation I love - and I’m eagerly anticipating an orange onesie, crappy cuisine and a spartan prison cell in tfg’s near future.
September 24, 2023
I am still waiting for that amazing albeit controversial day when the Southern Poverty Law Center names the Republican Party as a Hate Group. The party’s silence makes it so.
It seems perhaps, contrary to popular belief, that there is a streak of idealism in those who choose a life of military service: Vindman also expressed confidence in the American system when he said, "Dad, do not worry, I will be fine for telling the truth." He is fine, having retained his integrity, but he and his brother suffered the loss of their careers. I hope Milley is right, too, that the American people will choose The Constitution over demagoguery. And that he will be recognized for the importance of his integrity.
I read the article in the Atlantic about General Milley. I am happy to know that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs acted exactly as I hoped -- and expected -- regarding keeping our military from getting mixed up in politics. It was clear what the president was trying to do. I think most of us who served in the military understand that our military serves the civilian government, while avoiding becoming part of the government. Everyone who serves in the military swears an oath to defend the Constitution. General Milley clearly understands what it means to defend the Constitution. The former president clearly does not.
When I went to Vietnam in 1969, General Milley was 11 years old. I am very proud of him!
Thank you for sharing General Milley’s commitment to the preservation of this Democracy in spite of Trump, protecting us during his episodes of egregious and dangerous behavior. I hope he is correct in believing freedom loving American patriots will continue to preserve our great nation. ❤️🇺🇸🌎
Mark Milley per the Atlantic:
“There’s a lot of discourse around whether it’s a tough Army or a woke Army,” he said, referring to commentary on right-wing news channels. “Here’s my answer: First of all, it’s all bullshit. Second, these accusations are coming from people who don’t know what they’re talking about. They’re doing it for political purposes. Our military wasn’t woke 24 months ago, and now it’s woke?”
He continued, “You want woke? I’ll give you woke. Here’s what your military’s doing: There are 5,000 sorties a day, including combat patrols protecting the U.S.A. and our interests around the world. At least 60 to 100 Navy warships are patrolling the seven seas, keeping the world free for ocean transport. We have 250,000 troops overseas, in 140 countries, defending the rules-based international order. We’ve got kids training constantly. This military is trained, well equipped, well led, and focused on readiness. Our readiness statuses are at the highest levels they’ve been in 20 years. So this idea of a woke military is total, utter, made-up bullshit. They are taking two or three incidents, single anecdotes, a drag show that is against DOD policy. I don’t think these shows should be on bases, and neither does the secretary of defense or the chain of command.”
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/11/general-mark-milley-trump-coup/675375/
Thank you Heather. As always, you bring it to us straight. I would though, bring up the treasonous efforts of Gosar and others, who violate their oaths, to do the bidding of Putin, to lay waste to our Constitution and democracy itself. Liz Cheny had it right. The GOP is the party of Putin. That is the perspective that keeps all their activities in focus.
Polls be damned. To claim that T💩p is the front runner in the opinion of what must amount to a few thousand Americans, in some cases chosen from the demographic who support Republicans in general, and the Golden Turd®️in particular, is abhorrent. That so many believe these polls represent actual fact is horrifying.
Thank you Heather.
It remains remarkable to me that those elected officials who continue to aid and abet Trump while inciting violence -notably, but not limited to Gosar, are not suspended from their public office, indicted, and at very least, expelled from office and then, if convicted, barred from ever holding public office again.
Just when is enough, enough?
The threat from the inside of government, whether Federal, State, or Local is a very clear and present danger to the American system.
In my view, the egregious attack on Milley combined with the deafening GOP silence are further confirmation that Democrats must not only sharpen their messaging relative to accomplishments and aspirations but also must disqualify the opposition by beating back the lies, the falsehoods, the hatred, and the divisiveness within which it traffics.
How is this not a punishable offense? How much is Judge Chutkan going to allow him to attack and intimidate Americans before she issues a complete gag order? I am shocked he has not only been allowed to continue spewing hateful, lying rhetoric, he’s got people echoing him and nothing happens??
Gen. Milley should immediately sue trump for libel and/or slander depending upon the mode of defamation! It is beyond exhausting and frustrating that the deranged trump and the equally crazed members of the sick cult that supports him continues to get coverage and spew vitriol. We have laws; let's use them and stop the hand wringing, pandering, and delays!
I noted in my letter of resignation (16 years ago) from a volunteer (elected) political position in a small town (where politics is a full contact sport) small groups of people could derail any board in town based on nothing more than their own self-serving interests and the spreading of lies in the local newspaper which I said was an effective tool used to silence and prevent people from volunteering their time to serve on boards. A real wake up call to the ugly side of politics and witness to a poor excuse for "journalism". I often commented that if it was this nasty on the local level where the stakes are pretty low, imagine what transpires at the national level - we have known for a long time, but now we really know!
Interestingly enough, Town Counsel advised me, based on then recent case law, that I had probable cause to sue some of the individuals and the paper for libel and, more importantly, could win. For me, the reality of the financial and emotional cost was too high and not worth the stress, time, or money.
Trump desperately needs "termination... with extreme prejudice..." Whether that's the coming massive fatal myocardial infarction (preferably in front of the MAGAts mid-rant at one of his hatealongs), the fatal hamberder, choking on a red or pink Starburst, an errant golf ball to the head, the mid-air explosion of Trump Force One with him aboard, or whatever. Sooner better than later. Make America Truly Great Again!
"Republican leaders remain silent."
HCR runs from the word fascist. Racism and prejudice are fascist qualities. Fascists are racists, deeply prejudiced Black and Jew haters. Trump is a classic fascist. Trump fascism has corrupted the Republican party. It’s contagious. Silence on fascism enables fascism, prejudice and racism. Yale historian professor Timothy Snyder makes this clear. Michael Moore makes this clear.
In 2016, just after the catastrophic Brexit vote in the UK (also with proven Russian interference) I noticed a sense of comforting schadenfreude with the election of Trump in tbe US. The continental Europeans were calling it "Trump 'n Brexit" at the time.
- "Aaah - We are not the only ones do unimaginable self harm to our country with the ballot box, the US have taken it a step further", they said... (making plenty of use of that trusty old Anglo Saxon phrasal verb... to fuck up)
I replied at the time that I thought... to the contrary, this would have the effect of waking up the Americans, the good people would wake up, rise up and mobilise.
There will be a post-Trump. I said.
Brexit, on the other hand, is irreversible damage, a terminal fuck up.
The optimism expressed at the end of this letter is what I was saying seven years ago.
Prove me right America........ please
Thank you Heather. We trust your book tour is going swell.
“But, for all that, Trump is the current frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination.”
Unlike our former blowhard-in-chief and his echo choir, President Biden and General Milley each publicly express optimism in our system and in We the People. I’m endeavoring to be a good and patriotic citizen of the nation I love - and I’m eagerly anticipating an orange onesie, crappy cuisine and a spartan prison cell in tfg’s near future.