48 Comments
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Kristine Abshire's avatar

Hegseth + Trump is a dangerous combination.

At what point does the military complex decide they’ve had enough, time to live up to the oath they swore, toss Hegseth in a cell, and go after Captain Queeg?

Jay Jay Eh's avatar

Good idea, but in practice how is that done?

I’m wondering how the generals etc. figure out who they can trust among themselves, to have such honest discussions.

Arkansas Blue's avatar

Sounds kind of like a Jul. 20, 1944, and before moment.

Jay Jay Eh's avatar

That, to the tune of ‘Only the good die young’?

— Trump will die of natural causes - but he continues to live a most unnatural life.

— I sure feel sorry for those who must endure him & the results of his presidency in the meantime! Those generals must be SEETHING! Wonder how much self-medicating with alcohol will occur as a result tonight?

If I didn’t have the faith/ resurrection hope I wd be even more pessimistic & angry, short-term, anyway.

Kristine Abshire's avatar

Fair point, but if their response to the latest clown show they were forced to sit through is any indicator, I am cautiously encouraged.

Joel Wizansky's avatar

That is, of course, a military coup. And as tempting as it sounds, it also takes us another huge step further into banana republic territory.

Derek's avatar

However, the military turning on dictators is how many are removed from power and Democratic reforms implemented

Joel Wizansky's avatar

Precisely, this is a common occurrence... in dictatorships and banana republics.

Just imagine thinking of the U.S. as a country where democratic reforms need to be "implemented..."

Derek's avatar

I'd like to think that there have been discussions among the military brass about red lines, orders they won't carry out, but will not resign

Meggles's avatar

It's not to a military coup point yet. Trump's speech, and to some extent, Hegseth's was more about coming attractions for unconstitutional orders. Things are quite grim, but we're not at coup level just yet.

Michael G Baer's avatar

What Hegseth said today was criminal. Lock him up.

Trump too, but SCOTUS gave him a hall pass.

Kristine Abshire's avatar

True enough, but all other options to saving ourselves are closing before our very eyes.

If the judicial system

continues to be precluded from saving our democracy and

fails, what’s left?

Arkansas Blue's avatar

It certainly reaffirms my belief in the top brass of the US military that they sat on their hands after these speeches by two crazies.

However, as Jan. 6 has shown us, there are all to many enlisted and low to medium officer personnel who would love nothing better than to go to war on American cities for the OCF and his dept. of war (LOL) ass kisser.

Greg O's avatar

If this was a waste of time, then what was its REAL purpose? What was gained getting all the top brass out of their offices? What didn’t we hear? What is taking place back in those offices far away from Quantico? Who or what is being subverted while the cat’s away? I can’t accept that this is just a pointless rant session. That makes no sense. People need to think about all of the dangling situations that occurred because of this meeting. There has to be something. Probably something big and substantial. Better to figure that out sooner rather than later. I’d love to say that I see the big picture; but I don’t. Who does?

Jay Jay Eh's avatar

Prepping the top brass to succumb to their authoritarian & wrong-headed orders to wage war on their fellow citizens is no small matter.

Plus Hegseth wanted/needed to prove himself, puff his ego up.

He’s so obviously inadequate — both he & Trump are PRETENDERS and they know it : severe & well-deserved impostor syndrome.

Bill terKuile's avatar

"Borderline illegal"?

Murdering civilians is not "borderline".

It's illegal.

Period.

Michelle Jordan's avatar

I saw a clip of Kegsbreath and his rant before the top brass and immediately my mind went WTF 🤬 Amy could not have been more accurate in her summation of the bullshit that they and we heard today.

Irena's avatar

At the very least, all the top shelf military got to see and hear, unfiltered, just how awful their commander in chief and his defense minister are. They will not need to filter the truth via media, nor via any political party. What they saw and heard is what there is. I hope they stand firm and not leave their posts for the unqualified personnel who would replace them if they left.

realob1's avatar

The transcript of the Hegseth rant further cemented this Administration's expert ability in double-speak and word-salad. Encouraging apolitical action while stating the attendees serve "at the pleasure of the president" (lower case intended) makes as much sense as "America is the strongest, but we need to get stronger and quickly". Truly, WTF? Anyways, the unfortunate part is that there are of course half truths buried in the testosterone fueled drivel. Yes, we do need to push better physical standards for readiness, maybe we do need to spend a little more than 13 percent on defense spending. But those points are lost when the wanna be call of duty or halo master chief spouts his warmongering vomit.

Kathy Sowers's avatar

Hegseth looked like a little boy playing wannabe big guy in front of the most important military leaders perhaps in the world. He looked small and petulant, prancing around and throwing out slogans that were idiotic. I'm glad he got zero applause because he deserves absolutely nothing for the abomination he is in this position.

Judy Robinson's avatar

Jen and Amy McGrath, your visit is valuable and so appreciated. Thank you for reflecting and sharing your wisdom. I am continuing to listen.,

The Contrarian's avatar

Thank you, we are only able to continue this work thanks to our subscribers.

Michelle's avatar

Great interview, really appreciate the insights from Amy McGrath. She gives me hope that our military will remember their loyalty is to the constitution, full stop. We could sure benefit from her voice and leadership in congress too….never a better time to give democracy loving Americans someone good to vote for soon as possible!

Badgerblue's avatar

The more alienated the military leaders are from the facists at the top, the better. I think we may be closer to a coup than people want to believe, and it may be the only way to save the country.

Pat Jones Garcia's avatar

Lt-Col McGrath, Ret. gave such straight forward answers to Jen that she showed as an excellent model for her rank and former career.

Amy Greenblatt's avatar

Thank you for the perspective, very grateful for the insights

Punkette's avatar

Thank you, Amy and Jen, for this important conversation. Great to see you again, Amy! I hope you run for office again in the near future.

Michael David Flynn's avatar

The spectacle at Quantico surely alarmed Trump, Hegseth, and the coup plotters around them. Hoping to raise an army to forcibly impose dictatorship on the nation, they were met with cold silence. Troops gathering in Portland with their guns drawn caused many commentators to speculate that they were not “regular” troops, but more likely from the ranks of anonymous thugs Tom Homan has recruited for Steven Miller’s mass deportations. Anyone watching the despicable raid on the apartment building in Chicago where dazed and frightened people, many of them American citizens, were hauled out to the street (some were still naked!), will feel revulsion for the cruelty and criminality of the regime.

For now, what at first seemed like the week Trump, Miller, and Hegseth tried to whip up a violent coup, petered out like coherence at a Trump rally.

Kent Myers's avatar

Service members have a duty to disobey illegal orders. They could be prosecuted if they don't. Or today, they may be prosecuted for refusing an illegal order and rot in jail. Nevertheless, I think they all need to hear the law again and obey it. I wish JAGs were still around to help.

kathleen mary's avatar

Thank you Jen & Ms. McGrath who I hope will be on the short list for our next Secretary of Defense. 🇺🇸

What a pair of fools: one overweight amoral ignorant incompetent rapist & an utterly unqualified drunk.