Gator Country

rampartgator · 02-08-2013, 08:59 PM

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-wa...b_2638003.html

According to the author of the article linked, Chuck Hagel would be the first-ever former enlisted soldier to hold the position of Secretary of Defense. This in turn has affected how he sees war--from "the bottom up, not the top down"--and is why so many Senators whose own careers have been advanced by their close association with defense contractors are adamantly opposed to his confirmation.

Your thoughts?

corpgator · 02-10-2013, 10:34 AM

It would be a nice change.

MichiGator2002 · 02-10-2013, 10:50 AM

Doesn't even lay a hand on all the valid reasons not to want him.

Row6 · 02-10-2013, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichiGator2002

Doesn't even lay a hand on all the valid reasons not to want him.

if you're a neo-con.

MichiGator2002 · 02-10-2013, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Row6

if you're a neo-con.

"Neo" is the 21st century prefix by which to make something sound scary while putting up the pretense you know something about to, I decided about a decade ago.

A generation ago, having the public endorsement of Iran to stand in the national chain of command would have made him a political albatross. Sadly, that is just a flat out plus for a contempory Democrat administration appointment.

rampartgator · 02-10-2013, 11:26 AM

And these are?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichiGator2002

Doesn't even lay a hand on all the valid reasons not to want him.

**gatorman_07732** · 02-10-2013, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Row6

if you're a neo-con.

Hagel's inability to answer questions is mind boggling. This guy is not fit to serve in any capacity.

Row6 · 02-10-2013, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichiGator2002

"Neo" is the 21st century prefix by which to make something sound scary while putting up the pretense you know something about to, I decided about a decade ago.

A generation ago, having the public endorsement of Iran to stand in the national chain of command would have made him a political albatross. Sadly, that is just a flat out plus for a contempory Democrat administration appointment.

Thanks for the etomology lesson.

A neo-con is an advocate for the failed policies of the last decade which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands lives, the wasting of at least a trillion dollars by the US, and the removal of Iran's largest rival in their region.

co_gator89 · 02-10-2013, 04:29 PM

He will be a good appointment. I just wish he wouldn't try to appease those fools who were questioning him and just give his opinion. I would much rather have Hagel than someone like John Bolton who we probably would have gotten if Romney had won.

Row6 · 02-10-2013, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by co_gator89

He will be a good appointment. I just wish he wouldn't try to appease those fools who were questioning him and just give his opinion. I would much rather have Hagel than someone like John Bolton who we probably would have gotten if Romney had won.

I was home sick that day and watched almost the entire hearing. He was obviously coached to keep his head down and not argue his case on past statements. When able to get a word in however, his answers were smart and thoughtful, unlike those of the inquisators assigned to guard their already archaic neoconservative world view.

agigator · 02-10-2013, 05:28 PM

Blacks who are appointed by Republicans aren't authentically black. So, I think it's fair to call Hagel a "house" enlisted man.

DaveFla · 02-10-2013, 05:42 PM

That's some pretty wacky rationale you got going there.

DaveFla · 02-10-2013, 05:42 PM

Making a neo-lib a new form of Marxist...

Ok, now I understand how that works.

**vertigo0923** · 02-10-2013, 06:40 PM

I think it's frickin great to have an enlists man as sec'y if defense. Someone like that would seriously give a Lot if thought before sendind in troops.

MichiGator2002 · 02-10-2013, 06:41 PM

Having an enlisted man in that role is great. Having a disarmament kook with a blame-America political resume is comically absurd.

Row6 · 02-10-2013, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichiGator2002

Having an enlisted man in that role is great. Having a disarmament kook with a blame-America political resume is comically absurd.

Yeah, we agree on that and thankfully Hagel is neither.

rampartgator · 02-10-2013, 07:27 PM

IMO it would not be a bad thing to have a Secretary of Defense who has seen war from the frontlines and not just the Boardrooms, and who has earned two purple hearts along the way. He's bound to bring a different perspective to the job than most previous Secretaries of Defense.

On the other hand, even though I identify as a social liberal I think John Bolton is a good choice for CIA. There are some very bad people out there in the world with the U.S. in their crosshairs, and I have no problem having someone as ruthless as they are confronting them.

MichiGator2002 · 02-10-2013, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Row6

Yeah, we agree on that and thankfully Hagel is neither.

Oh ay? I must have been caught in the blinding smokescreen of his words and actions. The man is as big a fruitloop as Van Jones, Anita Dunn, Jennings, et al. If he can't have an America that merely buses the table of nations, he can make sure that we are always last to get served and never taking seconds.

gatorev12 · 02-10-2013, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rampartgator

IMO it would not be a bad thing to have a Secretary of Defense who has seen war from the frontlines and not just the Boardrooms, and who has earned two purple hearts along the way. He's bound to bring a different perspective to the job than most previous Secretaries of Defense.

On the other hand, even though I identify as a social liberal I think John Bolton is a good choice for CIA. There are some very bad people out there in the world with the U.S. in their crosshairs, and I have no problem having someone as ruthless as they are confronting them.

Agree with what you said here.

Your second paragraph is also why I'm hesitant to be excited about Hagel in his position as well. It's not that I don't respect the fact he brings a much different perspective to the job--it's more of the person he's become after his time in the service that's given me pause.

AmericaFirst · 02-10-2013, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichiGator2002

Oh ay? I must have been caught in the blinding smokescreen of his words and actions. The man is as big a fruitloop as Van Jones, Anita Dunn, Jennings, et al. If he can't have an America that merely buses the table of nations, he can make sure that we are always last to get served and never taking seconds.

Meh, you don't like Hagel simply because he wants to tell Israel to shove it.