Gen.Kelly is a career Marine office who knows NOTHING of Politics, much less Trumpian Politics

[Saboburns]

Last edited Fri Jul 28, 2017, 08:16 PM - Edit history (2)

Marine Generals are the best in the world at what they do. Marine Generals don't get to become Marine Generals without being capable, couageous, and honorable.

But to be an effective Chief of Staff in the White House calls for a whole other set of skills. Its a job for the shrewdest of Political Operatives. Some one who is scheming, conniving, backstabbing, power hungry, egomaniac with a lifetime of experience. A person schooled in dirty tricks. A person who gladly uses dirty tricks, and then sleeps sound as a baby. You don't hire a rookie to be White House Chief of Staff. ESPECIALLY THIS WHITE HOUSE THAT HAS AT LEAST 6 POWER BASES, all of whom report directly to Donald, WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH ANY CHIEF OF STAFF.

Are you gonna tell me a political newbie is going to straighten out and boss Scaramucci, or boss Jared, or boss Don Jr, or boss Ivanka, or give advice to the Don himself? Set policy? Give me a frigging break.

Donald just hired himself a yes man. Nothing more. One who looks good in his uniform. Thats all. He isn't going to set policy, or lead the team. We will hear much less from Gen. Kelly than we did from Reince Priebus, which wasn't very daggone much now was it? This Dumpster fire will continue. BIGLY.

Now I got that off my chest I feel better. So I will continue on another track. The Worm has Turned for the Donald this week. His days are numbered, he will not finish his term. And I will tell you why. Congressional Republicans backed AG Jeff Sessions over Donald when he publicly stabbed in the back last friday, and again Monday on Twitter. It was a bridge to far for GOP Senators and GOP Power players. They told Donald to knock it off concerning Sessions. And were genuinely appalled at how UNLOYAL Donald was to the very first Mainstream Republican who publically backed Donald a year and a half ago.

This was the first time, the very first time, that the GOP heavyweights pushed back against Donald Trump. The cracks have now started, the fissures will grow daily between the White House and the GOP establishment. The worm has turned, Donald's days are numbered. This time next year there will be some (not all, but surely some) Republicans who will say out loud, "You know that Donald Trump is a Democrat, he's always been a Democrat". Of this I am sure.

Also, GOP Senators drew a line around Robert Mueller this week and told Donald in no uncertain terms, "You will not fire Robert Mueller." Team trump has been testing the water the past two weeks seeing how firing Mueller would play with the GOP establishment. Well, they found out, from their own party members that that dog won't hunt. Another example of GOP push back. At looooong last.

Rejoice Resistors. There is now hope, light at the end of the tunnel. The battle of Obamacare was the turning point, just like Stalingrad, just like Midway. Its been a dark and nasty 6 months, and it will be longer still than 6 more months. But its going to happen. This country is in a correction, this country has made similiar corrections before.

On to Victory!

[msongs]

1. is he in there to put everybody in prison if they dont swear allegiance to trump instead of the

US constitution?

[Alice11111]

3. I guess he took the loyalty oath.

[Alice11111]

2. Well, then he should fit in w the rest of DT'S staff.

Ivanka, Jared, Mucci...
and the FakePrez himself

[Ilsa]

4. The best he can do is get everyone in line, stop the

Bickering, and get the WH organized. I think he'll be the first rational person to advise trump on military matters.

But you are right -- he knows nothing of the political game, how to get legislation passed, how to work Congress. Those were things Obama and Clinton already knew, and trump can't do it.

[tableturner]

5. At least he is sane, and having one or two in the administration is the best we can hope for.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

6. I'm sure the establishment Repugs aren't happy about Reince being gone either.

[DeminPennswoods]

7. You don't get 4 stars without knowing how to be political

nt

[Major Nikon]

9. You don't even get one star without knowing how to be political

[DeminPennswoods]

25. True enough

Years ago I was told O-6(Col/Capt) was the last promotion any officer got based on actual merit.

[Cosmocat]

26. That's very true, but it's a VASTLY different fish tank

Salt vs fresh water if you will.

And, that isn't even taking into account his boss.

[HAB911]

29. That's the truth, however

He is not going to be able to change the ways of *****. I can't imagine why he would accept this position unless he's just as crazed

[DeminPennswoods]

31. He's certainly been enthusiastically carrying out Trump's wishes

over at DHS.

At the flag level, these guys/gals do have to deal with Congress, hearings, budgets, legislation. His experience might be limited to DoD, but DoD today sprawls onto a lot of non-DoD programs from food stamps to housing to environmental issues to student loans and so forth.

[Honeycombe8]

8. He's been working with/for Trump as head of Homeland Security, so he knows what Trump is like.

He also has experience dealing with Congress from some prior post he held in the Defense Dept. He was a liasion or something.

But yes, he's a yes man. But he's not totally without experience.

He did a play a part in that first Muslim ban EO that was so bad, though, and was held to be illegal.

[atreides1]

11. An experienced yes man

Is still a yes man! Kelly, will do what Trump tells him to do!!!

[Honeycombe8]

18. That's what Rinse did. I'm not sure the Chief of Staff's job is to do anything different.

He works for the White House, for the President. It's not like a cabinet position or the AG position, who don't work directly for the President.

Sort of like if each of us hired an assistant. That assistant works for us.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think that's the deal on that.

[Saboburns]

10. Whatever he may have been in the past, he will now be Donald's Lackay.

I am sure he is capable. And could possibly be an asset in any other White House. Donald however, hired him to be a lackay.

Dear Lord good people, have we not been paying attention these past 6 months (71 years). His role will be to look good in his uniform, and do what he's told. Like a show dog. With papers. As the fella says.

[cynatnite]

12. Well, I would pay to see mooch try to get in Kelly's face...

He is a marine and that's a breed of military in of itself.

[janx]

17. Yes, but does Scaramouche now serve under Kelly?

He did not report to Priebus, he did so directly to Trump, or that was the plan. Wait--on second thought, maybe he reported directly to Trump as a way to get rid of Priebus...the RNC guy? That is what Trump wanted in bringing Scaramouche in?

Sorry if I'm not clear. So much to process here!

[janx]

13. You have confirmed what I suspect. This situation is going to crack soon.

Another factor is what the Republicans and Democrats in the Senate learned via the healthcare debacle this week. They're going to have to work together, which means to some extent ignoring the profane ignorance online that has led to this catastrophe. People are no longer paying attention to what government is actually doing; instead, they're delighting in the infotainment, the "winning," going after conspiracy theories that support their "teams."

This started happening decades ago with talk radio and cable.

So now here we and they are. Which heavyweights in the GOP (besides McCain) are aware of this?

[Saboburns]

16. If he fires Sessions now he is going to distance, and lose even more Republicans

If he would have fired Sessions pre back stabbage last week, then he could have gotten away without payment. Now it will cost him blood. And boy does Donald want to fire Sessions now.

[geek tragedy]

14. Every general is a politician nt

[davsand]

15. It's a mistake to think he knows nothing about politics.

There is a great DEAL of politics involved in a military career--especially at the level he's attained. I'll grant you, it is not exactly like electoral politics, but given how high a rank he attained, I'm willing to bet he does just fine with some level of politics. I do think, however, that coming from military he's not going to have much patience or acceptance for shit coming from the Press Secretary or any other underling in that organization.

Plus, as long as he's been inside the beltway, I'd also bet he's got a fair idea of how shit gets done in Washington.

I think, however, that the orange anus just shot his nest with Paul Ryan and that will end up being the biggest issue with this staff change. Rinse Penis is great good buddies with Ryan...



Laura

[Saboburns]

19. I don't think I said it quite right up thread

I spent time in the Military, I know 06s, 07s, 08s, and 09s are highly political animals. Highly political. And very capable people.

What I really meant to convey is that White House Chief of Staff ideally, is a job for a Washington insider. Someone who has a Shitload of personal contacts on Capitol Hill both sides of the aisle, friends in the Supreme Court, plus numerous friends and contacts across the Washington media spectrum.

White House Chief of Staff is the ultimate Washington Insider's job.

I will say it again, I have heard Gen. Kelly speak. He is a very capable leader. Hells Bells, I like the man. But that's not my argument here.

He is not a Washington Insider. And he has zero business being White House Chief of Staff because of it.

Am I getting my point across now? I hope so, cause as I read up thread it occurred to me I hadn't quite made the argument I wanted to make.

[Cosmocat]

27. True, but VASTLY different fish tank

Military is all about structure and rules, it's extremely well defined. VASTLY different fish tank, salt vs fresh water where government politics has basic norms with everyone painting in or outside the lines.

A LOT more grey areas, a LOT more undefined.

That isn't even getting into the completely undefined power structure in the 45 white house. Someone who has spent his life in a setting with an absolute chain of command now us taking a spot where IN THEORY he us second in command, but Kushner, Gannon, now Mooch, wtf else will get 45s ear whenever he feels like it.

[book_worm]

20. Is this like when Gen. Al Haig took over as Nixon's Chief of Staff?

[Saboburns]

21. Here, Paul Begala just said it best

Paul Begala just said it best:

"It ain't the monkeys, its the organ grinder. The only 3 people who can set Donald's admin straight are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He needs a miracle. I admire General Kelly but he can not fix what is wrong with our (ahem) president. He is impulsive, deceitful, he's autocratic, he's narcissistic. General Kelly can't fix all that with a better organizational chart."

[LSFL]

22. I really doubt that a marine corps general will be a yes man for a man (alleged) like trump.

I hope I am right. Military politics are one thing, civilian politics are another. I predict anothet comi-tragic disaster, much like the first time melania slept with trump and learned that there was a great deal of truth to the small hands small gear theory.

The size of a man's genitals are inversely proportional to his boasts.

Melania knows it, now you do!
You're welcome.

[Saboburns]

23. Say there, did you ever see footage of his Cabinet meeting about 6 weeks ago

The one where video and sound were allowed inside the room and every single Cabinet head, about 12 in all, had to go around the room and personally fellate old Donald. Tell him how awesome he was. Each person more prostrate than the one before. Each more effusive with the praise than those before. All the while Trump sat there in his throne purring like a cat.

I, for one, howled with laughter and much glee when I saw that. I had never seen such powerful people act that toadyish before, nor since. I laughed loudly.


https://m.

Now tell me again how somebody, anybody, is going to tell Trump he is failing, is wrong,and is going to get Donald to change. To be honest, I think Donald really believes that shit he says. That he is tied with Abe Lincoln for most presidential president. Our president is that fouled up, y'all.

[LSFL]

24. Aye. I remember.

He does not take the job seriously. "Best people" my ass. Words fail me.

[avebury]

28. Like Colin Powell, General Kelly will end up damaging his own reputation.

Colin Powell had a pretty stirling reputation - until he gave his infamous speech at the UN about WMDs in Iraq. That did tarnish his reputation. General Kelly has taken what will be a thoroughly thankless task in the Animal House version of the White House. He will not be able to control the inmates because Trump loves chaos. Trump will never give him the authority that he would need to clean up the mess. Throwing Kushner, Ivanka, Scaramucci and so on out in order to replace them with competent people would only hi-light just how thoroughly incompetent Trump is and he will never stand for that. The fact that Kelly agreed to take on this job is an indication that he has questionable judgement.

I remember hearing someone say on one of the MSNBC shows last night that if Kelly can't get Scaramucci thrown out that it will be a complete failure for Kelly. I doubt that Scaramucci would go willingly. He is far too ambitious.

[lapfog_1]

30. That he is a 4 star general is, in my opinion, his biggest problem

his entire life has based around command structure and following orders.

The Chief of Staff's job is to be the one person who tells the President "No".

His training is all about telling the Commander-in-Chief "Yes, sir".

[DeminPennswoods]

32. Politico reports Kelly's gotten pretty tight w/Trump

Link: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/28/who-is-white-house-chief-of-staff-john-kelly-241106

It's a short read, but the gist is that Kelly and Trump are on the same wavelength. Don't expect some "moderating" influence. Of course Kelly hasn't run up against the family yet.

[wishstar]

33. According to article, he is a profanity-laden, powerful personality

so if both he and Scaramucci are running the WH now,we can expect even more flame throwing attacks and distractions from Trump and WH