You can burn the flag all you want.

[byco42]

sounds like the only decent nomination so far.

he only had a couple minor questionable things in his history. joining the board of Theranos was one, but I guess they kept their BOD in the dark on everything.

he supposedly was able to convince Trump to back off on the psychotic torture shit.

Mattis is not a proponent of those methods. According to Mattis: "'I've always found, give me a pack of cigarettes and a couple of beers and I do better with that than I do with torture.'"

 

[Michchamp]

Right, because General Washington was such an autocrat and established the long-standing tradition of Military Presidents Turning The Executive Branch Into Boot Camp. All 31 of them were want to adapt to civilian existence.

what makes you think America is different? Rome didn't start out as a military dictatorship either.

right now we have troops in hundreds of bases all over the planet, including actively engaged in shooting conflicts in a half dozen countries (that we know of) completely operating without any civilian oversight. and ask anyone on the appropriations committee in congress how accountable the pentagon is. they do whatever the fuck they want, and it's only gotten worse over time.

 

[Michchamp]

Mattis is not a proponent of those methods. According to Mattis: "'I've always found, give me a pack of cigarettes and a couple of beers and I do better with that than I do with torture.'"

not only are those methods ineffective, they are illegal.

I kinda wish pointing the latter out would be enough to end the argument, but "the rule of law" is an obsolete concept in America now.

 

[Gulo Blue]

not only are those methods ineffective, they are illegal.

I kinda wish pointing the latter out would be enough to end the argument, but "the rule of law" is an obsolete concept in America now.

Sure, the last half of that statement should end the discussion, but so should the first half.

 

[Michchamp]

Sure, the last half of that statement should end the discussion, but so should the first half.

Mind blown.

 

[tinselwolverine]

Sure, the last half of that statement should end the discussion, but so should the first half.

If the first half of the statement ends the discussion, then does the last half of the statement cease to exist?

Like, when time travelers go back in time and fuck up the time/space continuum vortex and then they go back to the future and some shit that used to be no longer exists?

 

[Gulo Blue]

If the first half of the statement ends the discussion, then does the last half of the statement cease to exist?

Like, when time travelers go back in time and fuck up the time/space continuum vortex and then they go back to the future and some shit that used to be no longer exists?

Even unstated, its truth lives on like a parking brake. You use your regular brake, you stop the car. You don't need the emergency brake, but it's still there.

 

[byco42]

what makes you think America is different? Rome didn't start out as a military dictatorship either.

right now we have troops in hundreds of bases all over the planet, including actively engaged in shooting conflicts in a half dozen countries (that we know of) completely operating without any civilian oversight. and ask anyone on the appropriations committee in congress how accountable the pentagon is. they do whatever the fuck they want, and it's only gotten worse over time.

A Marine as the Secretary of Defense will not be the tipping point to a Castro-like regime. But I wonder if the Fidelophiles in the U.S. would mind.

 

[Michchamp]

A Marine as the Secretary of Defense will not be the tipping point to a Castro-like regime. But I wonder if the Fidelophiles in the U.S. would mind.

I'm not saying he will, just defending the rationale for the rule!

 

[tinselwolverine]

Even unstated, its truth lives on like a parking brake. You use your regular brake, you stop the car. You don't need the emergency brake, but it's still there.

Is that like when a tree falls in a forest and even though there's no one there to hear it, it still makes a sound?

 

[Michchamp]

byco, here's some fun reading about govt bureaucrats living it up on the public's dime.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Is that like when a tree falls in a forest and even though there's no one there to hear it, it still makes a sound?

Study Finds Falling Trees Make Sound Even if No One is Around to Hear It

http://www.treehugger.com/natural-s...ound-even-if-no-one-is-around-to-hear-it.html

 

[byco42]

I'm not saying he will, just defending the rationale for the rule!

Interesting that the president apparently has no similar restrictions. (that I know of)

 

[sggatecl]

General Mattis as SECDEF is a stellar choice.

After seeing some of his choices I was genuinely concerned about who he'd choose for this post (and a couple others). Was pleasantly surprised by this one. Every veteran I'm friends with was really excited about this one too.

 

[biggunsbob]

It's a laughable for you.

Oh yeah the congress, all their fault. Do I have to explain it again. I wonder some times about you Bob. Sarah Palin? Do you mean when people were saying Romney and Giuliani were going to be secretary of state. It's just talk..

Talk is cheap and yes I know it's talk but it's still pretty laughable. You guys are something supporting some of his choices . Sadly the ones who wont make it are just the harmless ones. The ones he really likes are pretty damn scary.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Talk is cheap and yes I know it's talk but it's still pretty laughable. You guys are something supporting some of his choices . Sadly the ones who wont make it are just the harmless ones. The ones he really likes are pretty damn scary.

Did you really think Romney was going to be a secretary of state? They hated each other for months..

As far as Palin, I don't want her. I can't stand her. The only one I talked about is Mad Dog.. and very little about him. I have no idea how these people do - I just keep an open mind.

 

[biggunsbob]

Mattis has his own problems. Former Green Berets are not very happy with this pick. Stay tuned ...

 

[Mitchrapp]

Mattis has his own problems. Former Green Berets are not very happy with this pick. Stay tuned ...

Probably too hard on them.. Other Generals love 'em. That beats the Green Berets.

 

[byco42]

Mattis has his own problems. Former Green Berets are not very happy with this pick. Stay tuned ...

That's because he's not in the Army.

 

[Gulo Blue]

Is that like when a tree falls in a forest and even though there's no one there to hear it, it still makes a sound?

Yup. Still makes a sound.