This is my favorite line from the article, "If, however, you want to transform it into a personal army of uniformed thugs more than happy to execute the president’s political orders on US ground, it’s hard to imagine anyone better." Because isn't this what we're witnessing in real time: modeling the US government into a corrupt authoritarian power. We're seeing the open pay-to-play access by companies and foreign adversaries, the politicization and de-professionalization of the civil service, and following the model of dictatorships in Latin America in the 1970s...
Of all the insanity being witnessed lately, the subject you’ve highlighted here is the most troubling. I’m not a leftist, and I see more commonality in both “left” and “right” than most people, but I think the naked lust for power revealed here is a huge threat, and appreciate your writing! Thank you.
I said one time that Trump was picking scheming types in positions where he wants malicious action (like border czar Homan) and imbeciles where he wants malign neglect (Secretary of Education Linda McMahon). Hegseth does not seem like a schemer to me, but he is definitely onboard with malicious action, so he's proving my formula too simple. He's a TV guy, he's professionally belligerent, he has the desired bigotries, and he's fanatically loyal, so you're right that he's a hot commodity in the administration. He is a sacrificial shield, though, as all cabinet posts always are. The real test will come if the military suffers some very visible humiliation, like an F-35 getting shot down by a Houthi surface-to-air missile.
This is my favorite line from the article, "If, however, you want to transform it into a personal army of uniformed thugs more than happy to execute the president’s political orders on US ground, it’s hard to imagine anyone better." Because isn't this what we're witnessing in real time: modeling the US government into a corrupt authoritarian power. We're seeing the open pay-to-play access by companies and foreign adversaries, the politicization and de-professionalization of the civil service, and following the model of dictatorships in Latin America in the 1970s...
"ho does not have a security clearance..." 🤣
OMG possibly my favorite typo of all time; thank you, I'll fix it
Of all the insanity being witnessed lately, the subject you’ve highlighted here is the most troubling. I’m not a leftist, and I see more commonality in both “left” and “right” than most people, but I think the naked lust for power revealed here is a huge threat, and appreciate your writing! Thank you.
Proof autocracy is here when no one resigned amid scandals, right?
When the purge is completed and they haven't gotten their beuracratic legs is when they will be weakest.
Good article.
I said one time that Trump was picking scheming types in positions where he wants malicious action (like border czar Homan) and imbeciles where he wants malign neglect (Secretary of Education Linda McMahon). Hegseth does not seem like a schemer to me, but he is definitely onboard with malicious action, so he's proving my formula too simple. He's a TV guy, he's professionally belligerent, he has the desired bigotries, and he's fanatically loyal, so you're right that he's a hot commodity in the administration. He is a sacrificial shield, though, as all cabinet posts always are. The real test will come if the military suffers some very visible humiliation, like an F-35 getting shot down by a Houthi surface-to-air missile.
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/f-35-houthi-missile-close-call/