Using think and Hegseth in the same sentence is an oxymoron. The man is indeed a tattooed, hyped up ball of testosterone who thinks that being a "lethal warrior" somehow makes him more manly. Hence the giant black tattoo on his chest and "god wills it." What have we come ti?
I was born in 1944, and as a kid I played war with my fellow six and seven year olds, some went off and died for real in Viet Nam. Heheh is still playing war like a kid who never grew up. He will be the cause of many future military deaths.
A "lethal warrior" follows Theodore Roosevelt's example of "speak softly and carry a big stick." Pete Hegseth bellows like a wounded steer and acts like a bull in a china shop. The man has no finesse, less conscience and doesn't think. It portents poorly for our country's national security.
"Unfortunately, this unhealthy pattern seems to be the new standard for decision-making throughout the administration,"
Mr. Kalb has hit the nail on the head with this statement. It appears that faced with all possible choices, every cabinet secretary, the Attorney General, and Trump himself either pick the worst possible choice presented, or go the complete opposite direction of any of them. With a complicit Congress and Supine Court, the administration is out to sack the country, its people, and democracy.
Given the limited depth of his experience, he would have to show up drunk, because he is a lesser man, and not fit for this job. He would only get mean and yell, and embarrass his wife, if that is possible. Great articles Mr. Marvin Kalb, I go back to Douglas Edwards, so I admired your work over the years, as did my father, an Iwo Jima veteran.
"How foolish! How counterproductive, from the standpoint of what’s best for America!"
You must remember, Professor Kalb, that The Manchurian Cantaloupe doesn't want what's best for America. In fact, he wants just the opposite: what's worst for America. Leavened with a heaping helping of what's best for Trump.
BTW: What's with the ridiculous suit, Hogsbreath? Did you borrow your little brother's jacket and your Daddy's pants?
Yes. How foolish of the American people to elect a Complete Fool like Donald Trump to be their President! Not only do we say this…..but so does every other country on this Earth.
I remember you well - I, too, am an aging observer. Thank you for your years of levelheaded journalism. As for Hegseth et al, I agree with your take IF we contemplate the actions within the normal R vs. D paradigm. But I think this situation is far beyond partisan "stuff." This is about us, the people, and them...three extremist groups. Trump has proved himself to be the king of dealmaking as he claims. He managed to make deals that ensconced Russell Vought (Christian Nationalist), Stephen Miller (acting like a wannabe-fascist in deporting immigrants), and technocrats (Musk and Thiel) right inside the government. These groups do not normally "partner," but they share one thing in common - none wants government to follow the Constitution. The Christian Nationalists believe the Bible is supreme and democracy is OK if it follows religion. Fascists prefer one dominant leader. Technocrats want experts to operate government - not elected officials. Republicans in Congress were convinced to support the appointments that enabled this, and now we have people inside that intend to dismantle everything. People must stop thinking of this as a typical campaign, Republicans vs. Democrats - and that we can wait for the 2026 election. Remember, before the last election, Trump said, "you might only have to vote one more time." THAT is the plan. So everyone needs to step back and focus on spreading the word- it's us against a band of extremists that is organized. We have never faced anything like this. We are frozen in dismay, but we must think about what we want for our children and grandchildren. We need to get on the same page. And organize.
Hegseth has never been qualified to hold a lofty position as Secretary of Defense. He has never run an organization or a business as large as this successfully. His indiscretions with alcohol and abuse of women was more than enough to not even consider giving him a nod for this job. The most sleaziest person alive to be given a job of great responsibility. Tsk Tsk Tsk.
Thank you, Contrarians, for starting to "take off the gloves". But, as many "American" institutions that we have respected, walk away (yes, turn their back) on democracy, . . . . . . . . . ..
I have reached a point where I feel I must truly and deeply reconsider what it means to be a "patriot". "The Hegseth argument makes no sense", you say in your article. Since America's answer to Agent Orange and his Fascist cronies have been given the power over our world that they have, to me little today makes any sense at all.
No, actually, nothing makes any sense to me. I seem to constantly retreat to my moral and ethical upbringing.
I have been paying attention to administration announcements and they definitely have a template. Talk about the "ineffective,woke Biden/Democrat" policies, there in one or more references to Dear Leader's "Great" ideas and you have a press release.
Ah… from the viewpoint of incompetence, I know of only one unenviable, feckless group that compares, and that happens to have been the imperial Russian staff prior to the battle of Tannenburg in 1914.
You all do Hegseth a grave wrong. He's not against the "tank" part -- warrior ethos and all. He is just againt the "think" part. Think tanks might actual inspire some new ideas or careful planning. Now if you want to talk "tank," let's invite Hegseth to the "dunk tank" or the "Drunk Tank." He'll be all in for that.
This is tragic but shouldn't be surpriseing. The WH Thing & the people he has appointed are gangsters. When speaking & writing of them they should be compared to the Mafia, not any other normal elected official. What would an organized crime boss do (or has done)? That's the measure that should be applied to the WH reign of terror.
What can one expect from a drunk womanizer who kisses his mob boss's ass?
That sums it up perfectly.
Using think and Hegseth in the same sentence is an oxymoron. The man is indeed a tattooed, hyped up ball of testosterone who thinks that being a "lethal warrior" somehow makes him more manly. Hence the giant black tattoo on his chest and "god wills it." What have we come ti?
I was born in 1944, and as a kid I played war with my fellow six and seven year olds, some went off and died for real in Viet Nam. Heheh is still playing war like a kid who never grew up. He will be the cause of many future military deaths.
A "lethal warrior" follows Theodore Roosevelt's example of "speak softly and carry a big stick." Pete Hegseth bellows like a wounded steer and acts like a bull in a china shop. The man has no finesse, less conscience and doesn't think. It portents poorly for our country's national security.
Sorry, I meant Hegseth.
I like your misspelling. Heheh made me laugh. I appreciate laughter whenever I can get it, which isn’t often these days.
Add some self-hatred of deeply buried homoerotic yearnings
"Unfortunately, this unhealthy pattern seems to be the new standard for decision-making throughout the administration,"
Mr. Kalb has hit the nail on the head with this statement. It appears that faced with all possible choices, every cabinet secretary, the Attorney General, and Trump himself either pick the worst possible choice presented, or go the complete opposite direction of any of them. With a complicit Congress and Supine Court, the administration is out to sack the country, its people, and democracy.
Given the limited depth of his experience, he would have to show up drunk, because he is a lesser man, and not fit for this job. He would only get mean and yell, and embarrass his wife, if that is possible. Great articles Mr. Marvin Kalb, I go back to Douglas Edwards, so I admired your work over the years, as did my father, an Iwo Jima veteran.
"How foolish! How counterproductive, from the standpoint of what’s best for America!"
You must remember, Professor Kalb, that The Manchurian Cantaloupe doesn't want what's best for America. In fact, he wants just the opposite: what's worst for America. Leavened with a heaping helping of what's best for Trump.
BTW: What's with the ridiculous suit, Hogsbreath? Did you borrow your little brother's jacket and your Daddy's pants?
“How foolish! “
Yes. How foolish of the American people to elect a Complete Fool like Donald Trump to be their President! Not only do we say this…..but so does every other country on this Earth.
I remember you well - I, too, am an aging observer. Thank you for your years of levelheaded journalism. As for Hegseth et al, I agree with your take IF we contemplate the actions within the normal R vs. D paradigm. But I think this situation is far beyond partisan "stuff." This is about us, the people, and them...three extremist groups. Trump has proved himself to be the king of dealmaking as he claims. He managed to make deals that ensconced Russell Vought (Christian Nationalist), Stephen Miller (acting like a wannabe-fascist in deporting immigrants), and technocrats (Musk and Thiel) right inside the government. These groups do not normally "partner," but they share one thing in common - none wants government to follow the Constitution. The Christian Nationalists believe the Bible is supreme and democracy is OK if it follows religion. Fascists prefer one dominant leader. Technocrats want experts to operate government - not elected officials. Republicans in Congress were convinced to support the appointments that enabled this, and now we have people inside that intend to dismantle everything. People must stop thinking of this as a typical campaign, Republicans vs. Democrats - and that we can wait for the 2026 election. Remember, before the last election, Trump said, "you might only have to vote one more time." THAT is the plan. So everyone needs to step back and focus on spreading the word- it's us against a band of extremists that is organized. We have never faced anything like this. We are frozen in dismay, but we must think about what we want for our children and grandchildren. We need to get on the same page. And organize.
Ignorance is bliss. Of course Hegseth wouldn’t want to attend a meeting of knowledgeable people and expose how blissfully ignorant he is.
Dear Mr. Kalb, you mentioned the AEI, the American Enterprise Institute.
Sorry to have to correct you but this is not a "think tank", it is a vehicle for rightwing nonsense. More stink tank then think tank.
Hegseth has never been qualified to hold a lofty position as Secretary of Defense. He has never run an organization or a business as large as this successfully. His indiscretions with alcohol and abuse of women was more than enough to not even consider giving him a nod for this job. The most sleaziest person alive to be given a job of great responsibility. Tsk Tsk Tsk.
Very much appreciate your historical, political and humane perspective Mr. Kalb.
Thank you, Contrarians, for starting to "take off the gloves". But, as many "American" institutions that we have respected, walk away (yes, turn their back) on democracy, . . . . . . . . . ..
I have reached a point where I feel I must truly and deeply reconsider what it means to be a "patriot". "The Hegseth argument makes no sense", you say in your article. Since America's answer to Agent Orange and his Fascist cronies have been given the power over our world that they have, to me little today makes any sense at all.
No, actually, nothing makes any sense to me. I seem to constantly retreat to my moral and ethical upbringing.
I have been paying attention to administration announcements and they definitely have a template. Talk about the "ineffective,woke Biden/Democrat" policies, there in one or more references to Dear Leader's "Great" ideas and you have a press release.
Ah… from the viewpoint of incompetence, I know of only one unenviable, feckless group that compares, and that happens to have been the imperial Russian staff prior to the battle of Tannenburg in 1914.
You all do Hegseth a grave wrong. He's not against the "tank" part -- warrior ethos and all. He is just againt the "think" part. Think tanks might actual inspire some new ideas or careful planning. Now if you want to talk "tank," let's invite Hegseth to the "dunk tank" or the "Drunk Tank." He'll be all in for that.
This is tragic but shouldn't be surpriseing. The WH Thing & the people he has appointed are gangsters. When speaking & writing of them they should be compared to the Mafia, not any other normal elected official. What would an organized crime boss do (or has done)? That's the measure that should be applied to the WH reign of terror.