Politics

[Tundra Tiger]

I was repulsed when I heard Gaetz was nominated. That hasn't changed. I remember reading a couple of articles about what supposedly happened back closer to when it did. I wish I had the links to those articles. My takeaway at that time was that I lost all respect for Gaetz then, and that hasn't changed as he has acted like an ass in Congress since. He is not someone I would want as a rent-a-cop, let alone the top cop in the country. There have to be better choices. Hopefully the process goes that way and reveals one.

 

[Red Leg]

I was repulsed when I heard Gaetz was nominated. That hasn't changed. I remember reading a couple of articles about what supposedly happened back closer to when it did. I wish I had the links to those articles. My takeaway at that time was that I lost all respect for Gaetz then, and that hasn't changed as he has acted like an ass in Congress since. He is not someone I would want as a rent-a-cop, let alone the top cop in the country. There have to be better choices. Hopefully the process goes that way and reveals one.

Couldn't agree more. A new administration can pick the hills upon which it wants to die. Matt Gaetz not only isn't worth the political effort (he is genuinely despised on both sides of the silse and in both houses), but it undermines the larger Trump effort.

 

[Brent in Az]

I recently watched a video about America's response to a rogue nuclear bomb detonation.
The biggest internal security threat to the USA is not a nuclear attack from other superpowers, but from the terrorist states such as Iran.
Weapons grade nuclear material smuggled in and a gun fired type bomb in the 10 kiloton range assembled, and then detonated in Washington D.C.

Very interesting video.

 

[Hunt anything]

I had forgotten that Truman send advisors to help the French and Vietnamese.

 

[mdwest]

https://floridapolitics.com/archive...nd-if-senate-wont-confirm-ag-pick-matt-gaetz/

Looks like Trump is preparing to use Mjölnir if the Senate refuses to confirm Gaetz.

Assuming he uses the Federal Vacancies Reform Act.. that buys Gaetz 210 days in office before the Senate can do anything about it... and a potential additional 210 day extension (more than a year Gaetz could hold the office whether confirmed or not)..

Talk about going in hard before the fight even gets started...

If nothing else.. we're about to be in for quite a show I believe in January...

The MSM and the far left are truly shitting themselves I would believe right now.. and Im guessing those closer to right center are already not liking how this is shaping up..

The R party better figure out a game plan.. and pretty quickly.. McConnells most recent BS saying there would be no recess appointments (when he wont be in a position to make that decision, and knows it).. combined with others continuing to try to find ways to resist what is pretty clear to me to be an ultimatum given to our political bodies in terms of what the will of the people is right now.. has the potential to tear the R party apart from the inside out, and waste the very good opportunity that it has been provided for the next 2-4 years depending on how they play the hand that has been dealt to them..

One side needs to figure out how to work with the other (not D and R... but R and R)... or they may just blow this thing after all (something R's have proven they are very good at, time and time again...)..

 

[mdwest]

I had forgotten that Truman send advisors to help the French and Vietnamese.

FWIW, we have "advisors" all over the world right now.. there is an entire regiment within the US Army that has a primary mission that involves mentoring and advising foreign troops (Army Special Forces).. as well as six "Security Forces Assistance Brigades" that got stood up in 2017 that hold a similar mission (albeit more on the conventional side of the house)..

And that doesnt count the thousands of "contractors" that perform similar missions on behalf of the US State Department (mostly made up of former US military SOF personnel, but also a number of former law enforcement and conventional forces personnel and some foreign military and law enforcement personnel) that all over Africa, Central and South America, the Middle East, Asia, etc as I type this..

 

[HookMeUpII]

https://floridapolitics.com/archive...nd-if-senate-wont-confirm-ag-pick-matt-gaetz/

Looks like Trump is preparing to use Mjölnir if the Senate refuses to confirm Gaetz.

Assuming he uses the Federal Vacancies Reform Act.. that buys Gaetz 210 days in office before the Senate can do anything about it... and a potential additional 210 day extension (more than a year Gaetz could hold the office whether confirmed or not)..

Talk about going in hard before the fight even gets started...

If nothing else.. we're about to be in for quite a show I believe in January...

The MSM and the far left are truly shitting themselves I would believe right now.. and Im guessing those closer to right center are already not liking how this is shaping up..

The R party better figure out a game plan.. and pretty quickly.. McConnells most recent BS saying there would be no recess appointments (when he wont be in a position to make that decision, and knows it).. combined with others continuing to try to find ways to resist what is pretty clear to me to be an ultimatum given to our political bodies in terms of what the will of the people is right now.. has the potential to tear the R party apart from the inside out, and waste the very good opportunity that it has been provided for the next 2-4 years depending on how they play the hand that has been dealt to them..

One side needs to figure out how to work with the other (not D and R... but R and R)... or they may just blow this thing after all (something R's have proven they are very good at, time and time again...)..

I still say Gaetz was a mistake. They think RFK is going to drug across the coals as well.

I almost believe it was a "straw-appointment" to avoid having the House Ethics Committee report released. Maybe it's a stretch? Maybe it's true? I don't know. As you saw on here, one someone said Gaetz for AG, I thought it was a joke. It almost seems like he picked him knowing there was almost no chance of confirmation.

It's hard to say. You're right. They better get their acts together. I hope Gaetz gets confirmed just because I want us to stay unified.

What I will say is we are way more unified as a party now than 2016. In 2016, it took a lot of the GOP almost a year to fully get behind Trump.

 

[mdwest]

We are in agreement.. I think Gaetz was a mistake... stirs the proverbial shit pot when there really isnt a reason to stir it.. Paxton or Abbott or a host of others could accomplish the exact same mission that Trump wants to give the AG... and do it exceptionally well..

I get that Trump is trying to reward a loyalist.. and I get that he likely believes Gaetz will not hesitate to bring down the walls of a corrupt DOJ and run every unnecessary bureaucrat out of every federal LEO agency within a very short period of time..

But.. again.. there are others that can do the same thing, just as effectively, without openly and overtly rubbing the noses of the collective losers in a big steaming pile of dung...

Gaetz is starting to look like a Russia-Ukraine type situation to me... no easy way to back out of that deal without someone looking like an obvious loser... which neither side appears willing to concede to...

So everyone loses in the process...

 

[Hunt anything]

@mdwest , 1950’s we’re definitely a different world than what we’re living in today! I would think Americans from the 50’s would be amazed at our global reach, even after what we accomplished in WW2.

 

[Dirtdart]

I recently watched a video about America's response to a rogue nuclear bomb detonation.
The biggest internal security threat to the USA is not a nuclear attack from other superpowers, but from the terrorist states such as Iran.
Weapons grade nuclear material smuggled in and a gun fired type bomb in the 10 kiloton range assembled, and then detonated in Washington D.C.

Very interesting video.

I plan to check this video out in entirety soon.
If you are not familiar with the Army MOS 12E and the SADM it is worth a search.

 

[Red Leg]

@mdwest , 1950’s we’re definitely a different world than what we’re living in today! I would think Americans from the 50’s would be amazed at our global reach, even after what we accomplished in WW2.

Rather than reach - I would use the word responsibility. We are a world power based upon a worldwide economic foundation that can’t be wished away by a nostalgia for isolationism that didn’t work in 1917 or 1941 any more than it will work now.

 

[Hunt anything]

Rather than reach - I would use the word responsibility. We are a world power based upon a worldwide economic foundation that can’t be wished away by a nostalgia for isolationism that didn’t work in 1917 or 1941 any more than it will work now.

Responsibility is definitely a better word than reach. Many including people on this forum think it’s our responsibility to stick our noses into everyone’s business and those that we shouldn’t stick our noses in anyone else’s business. I fall somewhere in the middle.

 

[cwpayton]

I was repulsed when I heard Gaetz was nominated. That hasn't changed. I remember reading a couple of articles about what supposedly happened back closer to when it did. I wish I had the links to those articles. My takeaway at that time was that I lost all respect for Gaetz then, and that hasn't changed as he has acted like an ass in Congress since. He is not someone I would want as a rent-a-cop, let alone the top cop in the country. There have to be better choices. Hopefully the process goes that way and reveals one.

Im repulsed by Merrit Garland, Lets get unified

 

[Brent in Az]

Moscow Mitch opposes Trump making recess picks.

Color me shocked!

 

[Hunt anything]

Sean Duffy transportation secretary?

 

[WAB]

Couldn't agree more. A new administration can pick the hills upon which it wants to die. Matt Gaetz not only isn't worth the political effort (he is genuinely despised on both sides of the silse and in both houses), but it undermines the larger Trump effort.

Let’s hope he’s a sacrificial offering before they present the intended candidate. His
chances of confirmation appear to be as near zero as one can get. You’ve lost every Democrat, Murkowski and Collins before you even start the process. Two more, which is almost a given, and you’re done. I hope they don’t burn too much political capital on him before they throw in the towel.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Im repulsed by Merrit Garland, Lets get unified

I am looking ahead, not behind. Garland is on the way out; Gaetz should never have the opportunity.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Chris Wright nominated for Secretary of Energy. Wright is CEO of Liberty Energy, basically an oilfield service company that fracs wells. A smaller version of Halliburton or Schlumberger. Wright is an MIT grad, so smart guy. One thing to be aware of, the Department of Energy is perhaps the most misunderstood department in the Federal Government. The oilfield is regulated more by the Department of Interior, not Energy. Energy is more about oversight on nuclear and the electric grid.

 

[Wheels]

Good article by Mollie Hemingway regarding the House Ethics investigation of Gates that the DOJ refused to prosecute. Sounds like another Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh type allegation.

House Gaetz Probe Relies On Witnesses DOJ Found Not Credible

A convicted felon said he was paying the legal fees of attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz's accuser and controlling her.

thefederalist.com

 

[Creigh]

You lot are quite pessimistic, I'm surprised. IMO you need to trust Trump, not because he's playing 4D chess but because his instincts seems intact. As someone who is a gut feel calculated risk sort of guy I recognize that in him. It's also wild to live with someone like that, ask my wives, it takes patients to see how things pan out, and a level of faith too.
In all my dealings with Americans i see this. You're a forceful people, serial entrepreneurs. And flexible, you prize the maverick spirit. You're also obsessed with safety, worse than that, the obsession with safety is a subconscious trait now. Let's be honest, you almost lost your country to teenage girls. You (not you reading this, the militaristic bent of your leadership) also think the world belongs to America which upsets me no end. Collateral damage is an inconvenience. But, that you have mere citizens quoting the constitution and have an understanding of law and your founding is plain beautiful to me. That is extremely rare in the world.

Let's say Gates gets through and throws a bunch of papers in the air. Now we all know something we didn't before. Okay, so what? You're robust enough to absorb a contrarian. If you think Trump came all this way to make THIS mistake, to burn it down to an unrecoverable state then you've misread him imo.

But what do I know, I just hunt for meat.

[wink]