Former WH official who worked with Mattis team described resignation letter as "a 21 gun f--- you."

[highplainsdem]

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/422373-mattis-resigns-says-views-not-in-line-trump

The letter did not mention Trump and did not include statements typically found in resignation letters about it having been an honor to serve the president. It was addressed "Dear Mr. President," and concluded with a line about how it had been an honor to serve the nation and "our men and women in uniform."

A former White House official who worked closely with Mattis' team described the letter as “a 21 gun f--- you.”

[cynatnite]

2. That's all you got out of that letter? n/t

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

4. No. Thats my 'general' sense of gen mattis being w trump for two years.

Disappointing. Theres no good people who worked for trump. It was all a bunch of clap trap. People who were supposed to 'help control trump'....and here we are...2 years later...completely out of control. Sour grapin it in a letter to the guy they KNEW didnt give 2 shits. The USA has a real bad problem.

[cynatnite]

7. Well for one, Mattis never had the power to arrest anyone...

That's law enforcement's job and that's only the case of charges being actually filed which has not happened.

Frankly, Mattis was the only one there I respected and hoped he'd be the adult in the room to keep tRump from going completely stupid like launching a nuclear weapon or invading something.

Mattis had two choices. Either follow tRump's orders that went against everything he believed in. His second was to refuse to follow those orders, which he did.

I'll take that over a 'yes' man who'll fall all over himself to do whatever tRump wants.

There was no winning here and we're worse off without Mattis, IMO.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

9. Anyone can make a citizens arrest.

I totally agree. No winning here. Just another American ground up under the red one. I admired Gen Mattis. Disappointed he let the red one destroy this country. Thats job one for military.

[Hekate]

54. "Anyone can make a citizen's arrest"--have you ever seen "anyone" actually do so for any reason?

It seems to be a favorite fantasy of the politically aggrieved, but really?

You just go ahead and lay hands on your neighbor for his hedge trimmer at 7am, or that teenager you think is being shifty in a department store, and I can guarantee you will be brought up on assault and kidnapping charges despite whatever magic words you say.

People on this board have hated any number of politicians, both in and out of office, and some have even crossed paths with them. Yet no one has attempted a "citizen's arrest." I wonder why that is?

POTUS is surrounded at all times by burly men with guns. How, exactly, would you or anyone else carry out the action you imagine? You think any man in power is just going to go quietly when you tell him to?

You need to read more spy novels and crime novels.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

55. Boy Hekate. You dont miss a chance to kick me in the face, or be ugly to me.

You dont know me, nor what Ive been through. Find someone else to shame and berate today please. Merry Christmas.

[True Blue American]

44. I agree with you.

Think Mattis stood it as long as he could to try and protect the Country from the simple fool Trump has turned out to be. I love his letter.

If Mitch uses the nuclear option as Trump wants him to he will destroy the Senate by following the direction of a lunatic.

[malaise]

27. You are correct n/t

[Loki Liesmith]

3. Don't be foolish

Mattis could have arrested *who* as Secretary of Defense?

[ADX]

6. Serious question...

...Are you a military veteran?

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

8. Doesnt matter what I am. I dont have to be anything to have an opinion.

Gen Mattis failed his country. Swore an oath. Oaths many of us have sworn, and diligently remembered and acted accordingly. Thats why theres an oath. I take it you disagree?

[elocs]

16. As the saying goes, opinions are like assholes...everybody has one.

Or at least let's hope so.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

18. Yes. I guess that means you called me an asshole.

Feel better? If thats what you need., it's ok. Im shell shocked myself how it ended.

[elocs]

21. You guess wrong, but I'm sure somebody could explain the saying to you.

It's generally well known.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

23. I see. I understand you being angry. I'm pretty angry too. Not enough to burn down people here

though. My anger is w the General, and the guy he worked for. SO disappointing he blew his image to some of us...for this. Just sayin. Sorry if it hurt your feelings.

[elocs]

28. No, I'm not angry. The saying simply means opinions are common.

In prissy company I would have said 'noses' instead of 'assholes'.

[Hekate]

56. If you *were* a military veteran, you would have recognized the saying immediately...

It seems to have been a favorite of the sergeant in charge of my husband's unit way back when. It's pithy, and gets the point across in few words.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

57. You dont know anything about me. And it shows. Merry Christmas.

PS...from watching msnbc last night, my sentiment and shock was just what most every guest said. And I said it before the shows came on. I'm not going to revisit this. Have a good weekend.

[Hekate]

58. And a thoughtful Solstice to you. The year turns, and perhaps the returning light presages good.nt

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

59. Thanks for saying that. Means a lot to me.

Were all on pins and needles. Shortest day of the year. Good things.

[ADX]

22. I asked you a simple question...

...but since you want to get all defensive about shit, nevermind.

Go ahead, continue ranting...

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

25. Im certainly not ranting. I deleted the post. I said I understand.

Its frustrating on so many levels you just dont know. Mattis is in one piece. Many arent. He let trump squander some stuff and its just not ok w me. Thats all. If you want to make a final(?) comment I promise i wont respond. I respect you have lived a life too. Be well.

[zentrum]

33. Yup. He should have...

.....spoken up sooner and more forcefully. Sounded the alarm. Said we're in bigger trouble than is even being reported.

He saw a lot and yet remained silent for a long time. Everything until his letter, was him enabling and lending faux gravitas to a real danger to our country.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

34. Im sick to my stomach, I had faith he was the ace in the hole. Just caught me off guard a little.

People have fallen so far in these two years. Lives just ruined. I have no idea what the gen was hoping to do, but, in the end the top dog of the marine Corp got chewed up by a guy who deferred when asked to serve. He had two years to make a difference or sound the alarm. He looks weak at the end of all of it. Flynn readily sold out. Makes every serviceperson a little less. Some, a lot less. NOT OK. People come home from over there without body parts, and/or are destroyed mentally. I was so hoping he would render a better end to it. Im mad at him. Sorry too. We all lose like the poster said above or below. Ugh.

[True Blue American]

45. If Mattis had spoken out sooner

He would not have been there to protect us. I admire him for sticking it out and his resignation letter means he goes with his character intact.

Trump was surprised he resigned and can not brag he fired him. Smart man.

[zentrum]

49. Ok, I see what you're saying but

.....I feel he should have taken the risk to say more about the danger Trump has put the country (and the world) in. This is not the time for measured speech. He should have given a louder alarm and not made it so much just a question of differing sensibilities.

[True Blue American]

51. I see your point,too.

But understand that lunatic in the WhiteHouse. When McConnell is distressed you know we are in bad trouble.

[akraven]

15. Yep. Mattis has my respect.

But not my loyalty.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

17. Me too. Really disappointed.

MAjorly. OAths are important.

[akraven]

19. I took one in 1974. I still respect it.

sTrumpet took one he's broken daily.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

20. Yes Sr. Ive sworn them too.

It's a really important thing to swear before God and pledge something based on the same. Its so disappointing that folks have fallen for the russian in the high office.

[akraven]

24. I volunteered.

And meant it.

sTrumpet was bought by an enemy and we're paying for it.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

26. So disappointing.

Ive got compounded oaths. And it's been hard keeping them. And paid a price for doing so. Im glad the general never paid a similar price. I sure can be disappointed in him though.

[akraven]

29. He is a traitor. Period. n/t

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

30. Not sure about Gen being a traitor, but, he sure let me down.

Thats just me though. We dont know what other people go through. We do have reports and what we see w our own eyes though. Be well.

[akraven]

31. I meant sTrumpet. Sorry I wasn't clear!

No doubt Mattis is a patriot. None. I may not like his political views but his service to this country is clean.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

32. Be well.

ugh....Mattis...dammit.

[Hekate]

10. Wow, Crutchez, that bit about Mattis "arresting" people is sheer lunacy. As for the military...

...Mattis spent his entire career there, by all accounts honorably. He stuck it out as long as he could, with Trump, and now is leaving.

Have you actually read the letter? A "21-gun fck you" hardly sounds like whining -- more like truth to power.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

12. Its ok. Im really disappointed. I understand folks not agreeing.

We all have our own lives to pivot from in what we expect from others. Sorry if I bummed you out. Sad for me too.

[zentrum]

43. His words "you have the right"...

Last edited Fri Dec 21, 2018, 11:45 AM - Edit history (1)

...pretty much let the dangerous buffoon off the hook.

"You have the right" to have someone aligned with you? As if it's reasonable what Trump is doing on the international stage?

That was the exact place in the sentence where he should have said "you demand someone who will keep sowing chaos and danger and I can no longer remain complicit. SOS!"

I don't see this as a 21 gun FU, but rather a carefully crafted oh-so-noble-face slippin' and slidin'.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

50. I watched TRMS and others last night to flush out the letter I couldnt open.

It reinforced what I already knew about how much others respect the Gen too. I just really, really hope he and Mr (Sgt.) Mueller are working together to hang trump. I always had a modicum of faith that should the red don do something so off the rails that the Gen. would stop him. He was always sort of my last line of defense. He will be there for a few more months. End of the day, we need someone who will stop him when the rubber meets the road, and, I felt Gen. Mattis could/would do it.
Shocked me last night. Gen. Mattis is a decent man. We are going to be ok(I sure hope). We'll see. Happy Holidays Zentrum.

[zentrum]

52. Happy Holidays to you too!

[True Blue American]

46. Amen on that!

Mattis left on a high note. Served his Country well! I applaud him for sticking it out, then sticking it to lamebrain Trump!

[highplainsdem]

11. I can't agree with anything you said there.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

13. Its ok. Im not trying to swim against the current on purpose. We all have our own lives to reckon

with. the kurds are important. No question. So are we. Its been a shitshow from the jump. Gen couldve quit and not taken a hit.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

5. He couldve done more. You know it too.

I guess sworn oaths to protect so help them God....really is just for the REST of us.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

14. Swearing an oath means something.

to me anyway. ive seen lots of oaths rendered useless in the last two years. Oaths are important for a reason ESPECIALLY when you are under fire and under the gun and given a responsibility for others. Im uber disappointed its come to this. We just saw gen Flynn plead guilty. Im sorry but it doesnt portend good things. Im just saying my opinion. I dont expect others to always agree. If it ticks you off...i can handle your being angry w me if its honest all the way around.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

35. I got same sense as that former WH official: Mattis was pissed off & wanted it known. . . . nt

[WestMichRad]

36. The letter was released by the Pentagon

...not by the WH, per reporting by Rachael Maddow. Further evidence that it was a "f--- you" to the Turdstain in Chief.

[highplainsdem]

53. Agree completely.

[keithbvadu2]

37. Replacement available - Gen Flynn

[True Blue American]

47. Great cartoon,so true.

[AllyCat]

38. Donald, you ignorant putz.

[djacq]

39. Standby for more resignations

Watched MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow;

A Pentagon correspondent just informed Rachel that she would not be surprised if more resignations are handed in by additional high ranking officials.

This could have a cascade affect.

This is History in the making!

[DeminPennswoods]

40. Technically Mattis did mention Trump

when he wrote: "you (Trump) have the right to have (someone who agrees with your views)...".

The real stunner was no salutation at the end. Normally, you'd see something like "respectfully" or perhaps "very respectfully", above the signature. This is the way letters, memos, notes, etc that are sent up the chain-of-command are always signed.

[Scurrilous]

41. K&R

[pazzyanne]

42. I approve Mattis' message!

[True Blue American]

48. Thank you, Pazzy Anne!:)

[Achilleaze]

60. No honorable member of the military can respect a five-time republican draft dodger

just not possible. Particularly when that republican draft dodger is in constant flagrant violation of long-established military values.

&f=1

[Hekate]

61. It's about respecting the office and the institution, not the man. Trump threatens all of it...

...by behavior today, not 50 years ago. And he finally went too far in the realm SecDef General Mattis was tasked with.

One thing Donny Two Scoops has never understood is that the oath people take in government and in the military is not about HIM. They are not taking an oath of loyalty to him personally. The would-be mob boss will never understand what is meant by a higher loyalty.