President-elect Trump's appointments part II

[JDCrimson]

I don't question our military may be in need of a tightening up. But this dude is an idiot and he does not have the sense to understand moves that play into the hands of our adversaries or stand up to Trump. His role of SoD will never have a material impact on improving the lethality of our military. His whole job is about resource allocation across all the military departments. Who in their right mind would think a field sergeant turned TV host has the mental capacity to do this job?

Trump values incompetence because he values ultimate loyalty even more. His cabinet will be a swamp of incompetence who will take their strategic guidance from shadowy people who prefer to stay hidden from confirmation hearings and investigations because they could not withstand the scrutiny.

I will repeat again foreign money and influence has deeply infiltrated our political system. I have no doubt death threats against political leaders and or their families have been issued solely because they accepted the money for their campaign and election. And as a result, this unification of lunacy meets corruption is what we have now.

 

[Bamaro]

Allegations aside... Politics aside... Our military has some major issues that need to be addressed. We can't make enough shells for example. We need major decisions to be made about what weapons platforms need to be developed and which ones need to be canned because they are simply political boondoggles handing out dollars for political reasons. And so on. Basically lots of hard work that requires good management skills and vision.

Does anyone think Hegseth in an way whatsoever brings even a small fraction of the necessary skills to the table to successfully run this department to ensure our national security in a dangerous world?

The only thing that Hegsseth brings to the table is being a disrupter. Thats what trump is looking for. Hegseth should be soundly rejected but he will be the next SoD. Republicans have shown over and over that they do not have the balls to stand up to trump. Party over country.

 

[crimsonaudio]

The only thing that Hegsseth brings to the table is being a disrupter. Thats what trump is looking for. Hegseth should be soundly rejected but he will be the next SoD. Republicans have shown over and over that they do not have the balls to stand up to trump. Party over country.

For some, yes. Likely most.

But there's a segment of us who are sick of dropping the same clones from the the same cocktail parties into the same positions hoping we'll see real change.

Further, the US military has fallen far from what it's supposed to be - a lethal warfighting force that literally no one wants to face. This has happened over decades as we've put decorated officers (decorations from wars we lost, mind you) and 'great businessmen' into the position.

I'm fine with disruption if it means our military becomes what it's supposed to be and stops the stupid missions we've (ab)used them with for decades.

 

[Bamaro]

For some, yes. Likely most.

But there's a segment of us who are sick of dropping the same clones from the the same cocktail parties into the same positions hoping we'll see real change.

Further, the US military has fallen far from what it's supposed to be - a lethal warfighting force that literally no one wants to face. This has happened over decades as we've put decorated officers (decorations from wars we lost, mind you) and 'great businessmen' into the position.

I'm fine with disruption if it means our military becomes what it's supposed to be and stops the stupid missions we've (ab)used them with for decades.

In this case its totally unqualified disruption. Being a disrupter can be good but it needs to be backed up by some level of qualifications.

 

[crimsonaudio]

In this case its totally unqualified disruption. Being a disrupter can be good but it needs to be backed up by some level of qualifications.

I know you've made up your mind - I guess we'll find out.

Hoping for the best is all we can do, but I'm sure many will nitpick every. single. thing the man does because they 'already know' he'll fail...

 

[Tidewater]

Allegations aside... Politics aside... Our military has some major issues that need to be addressed. We can't make enough shells for example. We need major decisions to be made about what weapons platforms need to be developed and which ones need to be canned because they are simply political boondoggles handing out dollars for political reasons. And so on. Basically lots of hard work that requires good management skills and vision.

Does anyone think Hegseth in an way whatsoever brings even a small fraction of the necessary skills to the table to successfully run this department to ensure our national security in a dangerous world?

My biggest concern is the look on his face in the Tank when he gets that 0200 call-in and is told the North Koreans have invaded South Korea. That is the moment I am picturing in my mind.

 

[Tidewater]

In this case its totally unqualified disruption. Being a disrupter can be good but it needs to be backed up by some level of qualifications.

Rumsfeld was a disrupter, but he knew the rules of the game.
My favorite Rummy story came after 911. The president made the decision that we need to create a headquarters (NORTHCOM) to coordinate military support to civilians authorities in the event of a disaster like 911 (meteor strike, huge earthquake, 1 megaton nuclear device set on at the Jefferson Memorial). Since the likeliest target of such an attack is Washington, what is the one place on the entire planet you cannot establish NORTHCOM? It absolutely cannot be in DC.
Guess where the Pentagon staff suggest NORTHCOM be established?

 

[jthomas666]

Arent there any senate Republicans left with any integrity?

Most Republicans with integrity noped out over the last 8 years. As for those left...
Murkowski. Not Collins.

 

[Bamaro]

I know you've made up your mind - I guess we'll find out.

Hoping for the best is all we can do, but I'm sure many will nitpick every. single. thing the man does because they 'already know' he'll fail...

What qualifications do you see. Either to be able to manage an organization this size (he failed with 2 small veterans organizations) or moral character (blackmail?)
Surely there are Republicans vastly more qualified that can also be disrupters

 

[JDCrimson]

I agree we need some new thinking. But we need more character than we need new thinking.

But let me say this, you dont put a mule to lead a team of Clydesdales...

For some, yes. Likely most.

But there's a segment of us who are sick of dropping the same clones from the the same cocktail parties into the same positions hoping we'll see real change.

Further, the US military has fallen far from what it's supposed to be - a lethal warfighting force that literally no one wants to face. This has happened over decades as we've put decorated officers (decorations from wars we lost, mind you) and 'great businessmen' into the position.

I'm fine with disruption if it means our military becomes what it's supposed to be and stops the stupid missions we've (ab)used them with for decades.

 

[Tidewater]

Hegseth is a former Major, not a "field sergeant."
He has two Bronze Star medals for meritorious conduct in a combat zone.
He has an BA from Princeton and a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard. He might be really stupid, but he does have two degrees from Ivy League institutions (which may say a lot about Ivy League institutions).
He is divorced multiple times apparently for marital infidelity.
He has been known to appear drunk in public.
Neither of the last two data points are resume enhancements.

On the other hand, he prioritizes a warrior ethos and the lethality of the US armed forces (as opposed to recommending soldiers read Kendi's How to Be an Antiracist), so he is at least looking in the right direction.

 

[Tidewater]

Allegations aside... Politics aside... Our military has some major issues that need to be addressed. We can't make enough shells for example.

We can, we have just chosen not to.
Look, the defense-industrial base is privately owned, government managed.
If the US government tells artillery shell manufacturers, "Since we are at peace, we will need you to product 1,000 rounds of artillery ammunition per year."
The factor owner says, "Okay, if you will commit to that rate for the next ten years, I can makes those at a cost of $500/round."
Then DoD says, "Okay, but we also want you to be able to ramp up production to 500,000 rounds per year."
"But you are not actually going to purchase 500,000 rounds a year?"
"Nope."
"We can certainly do that, but retaining the stand-by production capability to ramp up to 500k/year, the 1,000 rounds you are actually buying will now cost $10,000/round so I can afford to retain the plant, the trained personnel, the contracts with my suppliers, etc. to be able to ramp up production." (Those numbers are all made up, they just illustrate the inherent inefficiency of defense spending.)

We need major decisions to be made about what weapons platforms need to be developed and which ones need to be canned because they are simply political boondoggles handing out dollars for political reasons. And so on. Basically lots of hard work that requires good management skills and vision.

All true.
Focusing on lethality is probably better than thinking about Kendi's How to Be an Anti-Racist or pondering the meaning of "white rage."

 

[Tidewater]

The nomination nobody seems to be talking about, Scott Bessent says they will not touch Social Security and Medicare will not be touched.

Well, focusing on discretionary spending ($1.7 trillion) is not going to solve the deficit ($1.8 trillion). The federal government could eliminate discretionary spending in toto and that would not balance the federal budget.

 

[Bamaro]

Hegseth is a former Major, not a "field sergeant."
He has two Bronze Star medals for meritorious conduct in a combat zone.
He has an BA from Princeton and a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard. He might be really stupid, but he does have two degrees from Ivy League institutions (which may say a lot about Ivy League institutions).
He is divorced multiple times apparently for marital infidelity.
He has been known to appear drunk in public.
Neither of the last two data points are resume enhancements.

On the other hand, he prioritizes a warrior ethos and the lethality of the US armed forces (as opposed to recommending soldiers read Kendi's How to Be an Antiracist), so he is at least looking in the right direction.

Thanks for the list. I'll add this:

CNN —
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Defense, was pushed out as the head of two veterans’ advocacy organizations amid internal allegations of mismanagement and personal misconduct, The New Yorker reported Sunday.
A whistleblower report obtained by the magazine alleged that, during his time leading one of those nonprofit advocacy groups, Hegseth was repeatedly intoxicated at work events and gatherings with staff. It also alleges that he sexually pursued female staffers, and that the organization ignored another staffer’s alleged sexual misconduct.

The report, according to The New Yorker, alleges that Hegseth had to be restrained from joining the dancers on stage at a Louisiana strip club where he had brought his team — and that the organization ignored a female employee’s allegation that another member of Hegseth’s staff attempted to sexually assault her at that strip club.

It claims that his management team “sexually pursued” employees and divided the organization’s female staffers into two groups — “party girls” and “not party girls,” The New Yorker reported.

In a separate complaint, which The New Yorker reported was emailed by a different employee to Hegseth’s successor as head of Concerned Veterans for America in late 2015, the employee alleged that while on a work trip to Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Hegseth and someone traveling with the group’s Defend Freedom Tour closed down a hotel bar and yelled multiple times, “Kill all Muslims!”

Again, there must be a Republican better suited than this that trump didn't simply pick from a TV show.

 

[bamamc1]

Thanks for the list. I'll add this:

Again, there must be a Republican better suited than this that trump didn't simply pick from a TV show.

Hopefully, whomever is chosen and confirmed, will at least let the POTUS know that they are entering treatment at Walter Reed Hospital while the Deputy SoD was on vacation in Puerto Rico and didn't know anything was happening. Of course when you have a span of 11 months without convening a cabinet meeting, I guess the cabinet members were pretty much winging it at the time.

 

[arthurdawg]

Lots of good commentary.

I like the notion of needing a disruptor, and that is indeed what we need, but again... While Hegseth might be a disruptor, I like the phrase "qualified disruptor" from above, and he is not.

Mind you, I do appreciate his service to our country, it is more than mine. But that alone is dwarfed by the other red flags.

Agree 100% on the shells and bullets production. We are going to need to pay up and have the capacity ready to roll even if we aren't using it. We can't get into a shooting war and expect to have a couple of years to build new factories, which is where we are at, and some of our supplies are already critical!

 

[Huckleberry]

I know you've made up your mind - I guess we'll find out.

Hoping for the best is all we can do, but I'm sure many will nitpick every. single. thing the man does because they 'already know' he'll fail...

I hope he's the most successful Secretary of Defense we've every had. God knows we need that to happen, but I'm also going to hold his feet to the fire here (that's as far as my influence goes). No free passes or learning on the job excuses for this or any other confirmed nominee. Their responsibilities are too important.

 

[crimsonaudio]

I hope he's the most successful Secretary of Defense we've every had. God knows we need that to happen, but I'm also going to hold his feet to the fire here (that's as far as my influence goes). No free passes or learning on the job excuses for this or any other confirmed nominee. Their responsibilities are too important.

This is really all anyone can ask.

 

[Tidewater]

I hope he's the most successful Secretary of Defense we've every had. God knows we need that to happen, but I'm also going to hold his feet to the fire here (that's as far as my influence goes). No free passes or learning on the job excuses for this or any other confirmed nominee. Their responsibilities are too important.

Exactly.
Honestly, if he drinks on duty every weekday at 1700 and has women on the side in every military town in the US, I am not too worried. (Those are not good things, but not central)
Can he manage the enterprise and when China invades Taiwan, will he be able to be the architect of victory? That is what is important to me.

Personally, I think the creatures inhabiting the system are going to run circles around him, because he is not familiar with the system. Rumsfeld was a jerk, but one experienced with the system and even he got the run-around from the creatures. So-called "civil servants" will wait him out, throw unanticipated stumbling blocks in the way of any changes he wants to make. He is going to have to be ready to stand on people's desk and scream at them (at times), reassign the intransigent ("Okay, bud, you are not fired, but effective immediately, your duty is to sweep the Pentagon parking lots. Here's your broom."), and surround himself with smart people open to good ideas and judgment as to what is a bad idea.

 

[Tidewater]

Here are two small examples of what I mean by smart guys who recognize a good idea and have the judgment to see what is a bad one.

During the early days og US involvement in the Second World War, George Marshall (one of the finest officers this country every produced) had an entourage of young officers to investigate things. Guys like Major Lucien Truscott.
Truscott was at a range at Aberdeen Proving Grounds investigating a shaped charge antitank hand grenade. It was impressive but you had to get close to use it. A scary idea.
On the same range was a group from the Army Signal Corps testing a new shoulder-fired rocket. They saw it as a way to signal troops in a firefight (probably not the most effective use of a rocket). They put the two new technologies together (taping the grenade to the rocket and using the rocket to get the grenade to the enemy tank without having to walk right up to the tank. The results were impressive. Truscott went back to the War Department and told Marshall. Marshall was so impressed he phone GE and told them to make 30,000 of these by end of next month. And they did. The bazooka was born.

One of Marshall's young stars heard about a newfangled thing called a "frequency modulating" radio, with which you could speak over the air to partners up to a few miles away. (The Connecticut State Police were using FM radios to vector cops to intercepts with bad guys). Marshall called the Chief of the Signal Corps into his office and asked if he knew about FM radios. "We know about them," said the Chief of the Signal Corps, "but the Army did not invent it so we have not developed them for Army use." The next day the Army had a new chief of the Signal Corps.

Those are the kinds of things Hegseth is going to need to do: judge what is a good idea and make a bold decision, and eliminate impediments to progress.
And then, make serious decisions like fielding 100 divisions form the Second World War and how that will impact on American industry.
Finding a successful SECDEF is tough. Most just muddle through.