This might actually be what finally takes him down. Hegseth is ‘outta’ control. He thinks the Pentagon is just his, like Trump thinks the control of the country is just his. It doesn’t work that way. And he just might have forgotten that in his bantam screaming and his peacock strutting and his arrogant demands. Hi might have forgotten he is not the all-powerful Oz. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy, oh no. With gratitude to Raw Story:
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s crusade to punish Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) for reminding military members they can refuse illegal orders is falling apart, and fast, legal experts say. Controversy exploded in November when Kelly and five other military-veteran lawmakers released a 90-second video telling service members, “our laws are clear — you can refuse illegal orders. … You must refuse illegal orders.” Though the video didn’t name Trump, the timing, which came amid threats toward Venezuela, sent a clear message.
There’s no good reason why Petey Boy has it in for Senator Mark Kelly. We can theorize about a gazillion possibilities for it. But it seems it’s really all about the military and some additional dick-waving. Senator Mark retired as a Navy Captain. Hegseth only did one tour, and then he went to (*twitch*) Fox News. Could be that he couldn’t hack it and got out before embarrassing himself. And the drinking. Oh, lawdy, the drinking. I’ve always wondered if the reason his wife is with him All The Time is to make sure he doesn’t start up again. But anyhow, on with the show!
Trump erupted over the rebuke, ranting on Truth Social, “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS … punishable by DEATH!” He later added, “HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!” Hegseth dutifully followed with a formal letter of censure that could dock Kelly’s retirement pay and even trigger a court-martial. Kelly fired back Monday with a federal lawsuit against Hegseth, Navy Secretary John Phelan, and both the Navy and the Department of the Navy, claiming constitutional violations. Author Fred Kaplan wrote for Slate that Hegseth faces a major problem: he likely can’t legally do any of it.
Oh, h0, h0! So it could actually be the *cough* member-waving with the added spicy heat of Trump’s yelling. Y’know, Hegseth really doesn’t seem suited to the military. He seems suited to Fox News. He seems suited to do conspiracy theories. He is not suited to the Pentagon, no way, no how. He should have started with the leaders and learned from them instead of declaring the Pentagon and the military are broken, but he’s here now, and he is, by god, going to fix it. What a bunch of elephant-sized shizzle.
“Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s campaign to punish Sen. Mark Kelly—a retired Navy captain—for urging members of the armed forces to disobey unlawful orders, is even more outlandish, and legally baseless, than it seems at first glance,” he said. He called Trump’s sedition and treason accusations “preposterous,” as Kelly was merely reminding troops not to follow illegal orders. Even if they were, Eugene Fidell, a senior scholar specializing in military law at Yale Law School, noted that retired officers can’t be demoted for post-retirement speech.
Additionally, Hegseth lacks the authority to demote Kelly, as that power extends only to flag officers such as admirals and generals. Kelly’s Navy captain rank sits just below that threshold. Kelly’s lawsuit appears destined for victory. Not so for Hegseth. “Meanwhile, the crusade against Captain Kelly seems doomed to a proper flameout,” wrote Kaplan.
Oh, lovely! Where did I put my marshmallow roasters? This could be some seriously good flames, if not an actual bonfire. Hopefully, someone will bring the chocolate and graham crackers. Wouldn’t S’Mores be a proper send-off? We could even add some wood to the fire and have s’more(s). This could be lovely – if it ever happens. Regretfully, I’m not holding my breath. But I did find my marshmallow roasters.
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Petey did serve in a combat zone. As a Public Affairs Officer. Handling press releases/PR and giving tours to reporters and bigwigs to secured (mostly) areas. He was never shot at in anger. He also served in a unit training Afghans. Again, in a fairly secure location. NOT out in the field, or as we put it in my day “ass in the grass” although Afghanistan is mostly rocks. The point is that while there was a time when he tried to get away with implications he’d been in combat the fact is he never did. He was never a Platoon leader, much less a Company Commander out there leading troops in the field and engaging with the gomers. He seems to have given up any pretense and just talks about having served.
Oh, and don’t be fooled by his Bronze Star. There was a time when it was mostly for combat arms troops but wound up being something that to OFFICERS gets handed out as a matter of course. I don’t know if they still do it but back in my day every single enlisted puke in the Army was automatically given a ribbon to wear. Even ‘Buck Privates’. E-1s. The lowest rank. I learned this because we had a guy in my platoon (his last name was Goatly which the DIs had all kind of fun with) and I remember when we had to put on our uniforms in the squadbay after the tailors were done with alterations. We’d be inspected in them and of course the DIs wanted to ensure they fit perfectly. (A few went back to the tailor) I can still recall Sgt. McClemore standing in front of Goatly handing him a “Rainbow Ribbon” and explaining to the rest of us what it was – the Army wants EVERYONE to have their uniforms plastered with decorations! In the Corps we kept (and still do) as simple as possible.
Anyway for Officers in any branch a Bronze Star is kind of a standard medal given out. Now, if it has a small bronze it means it was awarded for service in combat. Hegseth’s Bronze Star doesn’t have that. Here endeth the lesson
I didn’t know he had a Bronze Star. So yes, whoop-de-doo and thank you for explaining. I was fairly sure he hadn’t seen combat so served in Afghanistan so also whoop-de-doo. Senator Kelly could probably still outmatch him with one hand behind his back.
I always appreciate your comments, Denis. I’ve learned something every. single. time. Remembering it is a different story!
Denis, I think you mean small “V” for valor?
Hegseth picked on the wrong guy.
Oh, yes, he most *certainly* did. Isn’t it glorious? 😉
In a sane world, Captain Kelly would entice Hegseth out back for a “wee chat” and give him a proper shitkicking. As it is, and being a civilised man, he’ll have to do it via the courts.
This gives me an image of Hegseth as Wile E Coyote (lawdy I hope I spelled that right) after a failed attempt to catch Road Runner *beepbeep* Senator Kelly would Wear. Him. Out. I’ll bring popcorn for that. 😉