Trump / Musk (other than DOGE)
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(From the link above)
“
The Trump transition team is considering a draft executive order that establishes a “warrior board” of retired senior military personnel with the power to review three- and four-star officers and to recommend removals of any deemed unfit for leadership.
If Donald Trump approves the order, it could fast-track the removal of generals and admirals found to be “lacking in requisite leadership qualities,” according to a draft of the order reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. But it could also create a chilling effect on top military officers, given the president-elect’s past vow to fire “woke generals,” referring to officers seen as promoting diversity in the ranks at the expense of military readiness.
As commander in chief, Trump can fire any officer at will, but an outside board whose members he appoints would bypass the Pentagon’s regular promotion system, signaling across the military that he intends to purge a number of generals and admirals.
The draft order says it aims to establish a review that focuses “on leadership capability, strategic readiness, and commitment to military excellence.” The draft doesn’t specify what officers need to do or present to show if they meet those standards. The draft order originated with one of several outside policy groups collaborating with the transition team, and is one of numerous executive orders under review by Trump’s team, a transition official said.
The warrior board would be made up of retired generals and noncommissioned officers, who would send their recommendations to the president. Those identified for removal would be retired at their current rank within 30 days.
…
The establishment of the board would be in line with Trump’s calls for purging what he views as failed generals, including those involved in the chaotic 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, according to people familiar with the policy discussions. Trump has said he would ask all generals involved in the withdrawal to resign by “noon on Inauguration Day.”
The president-elect previewed the move during a campaign event in October, telling an audience that he would create a task force to monitor the “woke generals” and get rid of diversity training in the military. …”
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Mike Flynn job in waiting?
“
The Trump transition team is considering a draft executive order that establishes a “warrior board” of retired senior military personnel with the power to review three- and four-star officers and to recommend removals of any deemed unfit for leadership.
If Donald Trump approves the order, it could fast-track the removal of generals and admirals found to be “lacking in requisite leadership qualities,” according to a draft of the order reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. But it could also create a chilling effect on top military officers, given the president-elect’s past vow to fire “woke generals,” referring to officers seen as promoting diversity in the ranks at the expense of military readiness.
As commander in chief, Trump can fire any officer at will, but an outside board whose members he appoints would bypass the Pentagon’s regular promotion system, signaling across the military that he intends to purge a number of generals and admirals.
The draft order says it aims to establish a review that focuses “on leadership capability, strategic readiness, and commitment to military excellence.” The draft doesn’t specify what officers need to do or present to show if they meet those standards. The draft order originated with one of several outside policy groups collaborating with the transition team, and is one of numerous executive orders under review by Trump’s team, a transition official said.
The warrior board would be made up of retired generals and noncommissioned officers, who would send their recommendations to the president. Those identified for removal would be retired at their current rank within 30 days.
…
The establishment of the board would be in line with Trump’s calls for purging what he views as failed generals, including those involved in the chaotic 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, according to people familiar with the policy discussions. Trump has said he would ask all generals involved in the withdrawal to resign by “noon on Inauguration Day.”
The president-elect previewed the move during a campaign event in October, telling an audience that he would create a task force to monitor the “woke generals” and get rid of diversity training in the military. …”
——
Mike Flynn job in waiting?
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“… establishing a board separate from the current process, which uses serving officers, could undermine the idea that generals refrain from sharing their political views within the Pentagon. It could also potentially prompt officers not to speak out against orders they believe are illegal, says Eric Carpenter, professor of military law at Florida International University College of Law.
“This looks like an administration getting ready to purge anyone who will not be a yes man,” said Carpenter, a former Army lawyer. “If you are looking to fire officers who might say no because of the law or their ethics, you set up a system with completely arbitrary standards, so you can fire anyone you want.” …”
“This looks like an administration getting ready to purge anyone who will not be a yes man,” said Carpenter, a former Army lawyer. “If you are looking to fire officers who might say no because of the law or their ethics, you set up a system with completely arbitrary standards, so you can fire anyone you want.” …”
superrific
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Hmm. Calheel linked us to 10 US 1161(a), which limits the president's ability to fire officers during peacetime. I guess he can demote them? Or basically ignore the statute and hope the Supreme Court makes him even more of a king?
I don't understand this outside board idea. Executive orders do not have force of law. He cannot unliterally invest the board with any powers that he doesn't already have.
But this is exactly why we shouldn't just give up power and pretend as though we are going to get anything other than rule by the Sith Lords. Trump should not be allowed anywhere near office.
I don't understand this outside board idea. Executive orders do not have force of law. He cannot unliterally invest the board with any powers that he doesn't already have.
But this is exactly why we shouldn't just give up power and pretend as though we are going to get anything other than rule by the Sith Lords. Trump should not be allowed anywhere near office.
superrific
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Biden needs to do something about this now. If Trump is allowed to Moscow Trial the military it will be the end of democracy.
God I fucking hate MAGAs. All of them. If the shit goes the way I fear, and we're ever able to get out from under it, radical action will be necessary. For one thing, we need to finish reconstruction.
God I fucking hate MAGAs. All of them. If the shit goes the way I fear, and we're ever able to get out from under it, radical action will be necessary. For one thing, we need to finish reconstruction.
I read this and imagine things like Military Coups which happen in others countries.
BlooVooDoo
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Agreed. IMO, Wiles and Rubio provide a glimmer of reassurance.Yeah, seriously,no wholly unqualified tv villain types in foreign policy positions, please.
Like I said before, I view Rubio as the least bad possibility for this appointment in the Trump administration. Setting aside that Rubio has definitely done the Kneel before Zod genuflection to work for Trump, he would be a reasonable appointment in most any Republican Administration IMO. Like I could see that being his job in a Nikki Haley administration as well and it would make sense.
WaynetheDrain
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He's quite literally running the Project 2025 playbook right in front of our eyes. But hey, I get it...eggs are too expensive.
superrific
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This is what Trump is planning. Look at these appointments and tell me that Trump is planning on leaving office. He is not. He's not been hiding who he is. He wants to rule with an iron fist, like Xi.
I have no time at all for the economic anxiety bullshit. People voted for Trump because he hates the people they hate and they want to feel powerful by being part of a fascist regime. The cruelty is the point. That's what MAGA has always been about.
Again, he told us exactly what he was going to do.
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Alina Habba Considered for Trump Press Secretary
"Alina Habba, a lawyer who represented Donald Trump in a series of high-profile cases, has emerged as a front-runner to serve as press secretary in the incoming White House," Mediaite reports.
politicalwire.com
No, I skipped over that.
I think the American qualifier makes it factually accurate, although there is not a lot of reporting about the insults leveled by James Madison against Thomas Jefferson. They were best buds in Hamilton but I suspect they didn't get a long that well in real life.
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Trump eyes a battle to get Kennedy through the Senate | Semafor
There’s keen interest among the president-elect’s allies in getting the former independent candidate into a confirmable position — and an expectation that lawmakers will fall in line.
www.semafor.com
Trump eyes a battle to get Kennedy through the Senate
"Donald Trump may be spoiling for a big fight over what to do with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as appetite grows among his advisers for the vaccine critic to get tapped for a Senate-confirmed position.
Republicans are abuzz over Kennedy’s potential role in a Trump White House, especially after the former independent presidential candidate said last month that he’d been promised “control of the public health agencies.” Trump’s transition co-chair, Howard Lutnick, told CNN soon afterward that Kennedy is “not getting” nominated to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
But despite those comments, there’s “broad support across every faction” of Trump’s orbit for empowering Kennedy, one person close to the situation told Semafor. A second person close to the situation agreed, adding that Kennedy’s allies occupy “important places” in Trump’s network — not to mention that Trump himself has repeatedly praised him.
...He can either pick a potential fight with the Senate that might test his grip on his party or take the more pragmatic route by installing Kennedy in another role that doesn’t require 50 votes for confirmation.
Confirmation hearings for Kennedy next year in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, if he is nominated to lead HHS or another major agency, risk turning into a political nightmare for Trump’s team. Kennedy would have to submit in-depth personal information, including on his finances, and would almost certainly face tough questions about his stance on vaccines as well as his skepticism about seed oils and support for removing fluoride from the water supply.
“People are very worried about a guy who’s a vaccine skeptic. And I’m talking about all vaccines, just for starters. I think Republicans would be concerned about their family members, too,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., told Semafor.
Asked if Kennedy could be confirmed just with GOP votes, he replied: “I’m not sure, given his current record.” ..."
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I THOUGHT THIS WAS A JOKE AT FIRST, BUT NO.
Trump picks Fox News host Pete Hegseth to serve as secretary of defense
President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday he has chosen Fox News host Pete Hegseth to serve as his secretary of defense.
The selection elevates the television personality to a Cabinet-level position in Trump’s second term.
“Pete has spent his entire life as a Warrior for the Troops, and for the Country. Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First. With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice - Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down,” Trump said in a statement.
Trump nominates Fox News host, veteran Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense
President-elect Donald Trump stunned political observers Tuesday night by nominating Fox News personality Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense.
nypost.com
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Wikipedia alert:
"...Hegseth is an Army National Guard officer and former executive director of political advocacy groups Vets For Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America. The latter, a conservative advocacy group funded by the Koch brothers, advocates greater privatization of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
... Hegseth has been active in conservative and Republican politics since his days as an undergraduate at Princeton University. In 2016, he emerged as a strong supporter and ally of Donald Trump's presidential candidacy, and served as an occasional advisor to Trump throughout the latter's presidency. He reportedly persuaded Trump to pardon three American soldiers accused or convicted of war crimes related to the shooting of non-combatants in Iraq. Hegseth, who was a platoon leader at Guantanamo Bay during his military service, defended the treatment of inmates detained there
...Following graduation from Princeton in 2003, Hegseth joined Bear Stearns as an equity capital markets analyst and was also commissioned as a reserve infantry officer into the U.S. Army National Guard.<a href="Pete Hegseth - Wikipedia"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a> In 2004 his unit was called to Guantánamo Bay, where he served as an infantry platoon leader with the Minnesota National Guard. His unit was under the operational control of the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment 101st Airborne Division. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal. Shortly after returning from Cuba, Hegseth volunteered to serve in Baghdad and Samarra, where he held the position of infantry platoon leader and, later in Samarra, as civil–military operations officer. During his time in Iraq, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, and a second Army Commendation Medal.<a href="Pete Hegseth - Wikipedia"><span>[</span>12<span>]</span></a>
He returned to active duty in 2012 as a captain. He was deployed to Afghanistan with the Minnesota Army National Guard and acted as a senior counterinsurgency instructor at the Counterinsurgency Training Center in Kabul. Hegseth, a major, currently serves in the Individual Ready Reserve. He has been awarded two Bronze Stars for his service overseas. ..."
en.wikipedia.org
"...Hegseth is an Army National Guard officer and former executive director of political advocacy groups Vets For Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America. The latter, a conservative advocacy group funded by the Koch brothers, advocates greater privatization of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
... Hegseth has been active in conservative and Republican politics since his days as an undergraduate at Princeton University. In 2016, he emerged as a strong supporter and ally of Donald Trump's presidential candidacy, and served as an occasional advisor to Trump throughout the latter's presidency. He reportedly persuaded Trump to pardon three American soldiers accused or convicted of war crimes related to the shooting of non-combatants in Iraq. Hegseth, who was a platoon leader at Guantanamo Bay during his military service, defended the treatment of inmates detained there
...Following graduation from Princeton in 2003, Hegseth joined Bear Stearns as an equity capital markets analyst and was also commissioned as a reserve infantry officer into the U.S. Army National Guard.<a href="Pete Hegseth - Wikipedia"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a> In 2004 his unit was called to Guantánamo Bay, where he served as an infantry platoon leader with the Minnesota National Guard. His unit was under the operational control of the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment 101st Airborne Division. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal. Shortly after returning from Cuba, Hegseth volunteered to serve in Baghdad and Samarra, where he held the position of infantry platoon leader and, later in Samarra, as civil–military operations officer. During his time in Iraq, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, and a second Army Commendation Medal.<a href="Pete Hegseth - Wikipedia"><span>[</span>12<span>]</span></a>
He returned to active duty in 2012 as a captain. He was deployed to Afghanistan with the Minnesota Army National Guard and acted as a senior counterinsurgency instructor at the Counterinsurgency Training Center in Kabul. Hegseth, a major, currently serves in the Individual Ready Reserve. He has been awarded two Bronze Stars for his service overseas. ..."
Pete Hegseth - Wikipedia
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Good times, eh?
BlooVooDoo
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JFC. No way he gets confirmed, right?I THOUGHT THIS WAS A JOKE AT FIRST, BUT NO.
Trump picks Fox News host Pete Hegseth to serve as secretary of defense
President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday he has chosen Fox News host Pete Hegseth to serve as his secretary of defense.
The selection elevates the television personality to a Cabinet-level position in Trump’s second term.
“Pete has spent his entire life as a Warrior for the Troops, and for the Country. Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First. With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice - Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down,” Trump said in a statement.
Trump nominates Fox News host, veteran Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense
President-elect Donald Trump stunned political observers Tuesday night by nominating Fox News personality Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense.
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"As President-elect Trump’s team is taking shape, we’re learning more about who will take the lead on energy, climate and the environment. The first announcement on that front is Lee Zeldin, a former GOP congressman who will head the Environmental Protection Agency. Trump has called climate change a “scam” and says addressing it hurts business. William Brangham discussed more with Coral Davenport."
www.pbs.org
What Trump's pick of Zeldin to lead EPA signals for his environmental plans
As President-elect Trump’s team is taking shape, we’re learning more about who will take the lead on energy, climate and the environment. The first announcement on that front is Lee Zeldin, a former GOP congressman who will head the Environmental Protection Agency. Trump has called climate...
www.pbs.org
Mulberry Heel
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Why the surprise? The GOP has been waging a war on expertise and experience for years now. If you have an impressive resume and seem qualified for a job and people of good character say you'd be a great candidate for the job, in Trumpworld you're immediately suspect. However, if you have no real qualifications but you're a celebrity blowhard who likes the boss, then you're golden. I expect this guy won't be the last inexperienced and unqualified candidate to get a cabinet post or other high-ranking position in Trump's second term. It seriously wouldn't surprise me if he offered Dr. Phil a high government position. People thought his first term was a clown show, wait until Trump 2.0 gets started. And god help us all if we have a true national or international crisis of any kind happen.