I was actually starting to like this guy. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan stood up to Donald Trump recently, when the idiocy of the White House directing the 7th Fleet to conceal the USS John McCain under tarps so as not to upset Trump’s delicate fee fees, was revealed. Shanahan said that the military was not to be used for political purposes. Good for him, said I. A man with a sense of propriety. Then today it was announced that Shanahan is withdrawing his Senate confirmation bid to be Secretary of Defense, in light of the fact that he and his ex-wife used to brawl — and of course they have different versions of who was the aggressor and who the victim. USA Today:
The incident, in which Shanahan and his then-wife Kimberley both claimed to the police that they had been punched by the other, did not surface when Trump nominated Shanahan to be the Pentagon’s second-in-command two years ago, or when he was selected to be the interim defense chief this year. [When Jim Mattis resigned.]
Shanahan said he “never laid a hand on” his former wife. His former wife, who now goes by the name Kimberley Jordinson, said she stands by her account.
The episode could have been a potential roadblock for Shanahan if Trump formally nominated him for the secretary’s post, which requires Senate confirmation, because a key lawmaker and Senate aides said it could have raised questions about his ability to combat longstanding problems of violence against women in the military. Among the concerns of Sen. Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Armed Services committee, and Senate aides: They were not fully aware of the incident when Shanahan was confirmed for the No. 2 position; and the Senate should have the opportunity to assess whether he was the aggressor or victim and how that could affect his ability to lead the armed forces.
The question is going to be whether or not he’s credible on the issue. If he’s credible, he’ll be OK,” said Leon Panetta, who was defense secretary and CIA director during President Barack Obama’s administration. “These days nothing is out of bounds.”
I’m with Leon Panetta. The only thing we haven’t seen out of Trump world is an ax murderer nominated for some high position of trust, but don’t rule it out. The day is young.
Trump would nominate Ted Bundy for a post if he were around.
You know, you have to look at patterns in life, because patterns say something. There’s an old saying, “first time it happens, second time it’s a habit, third time it’s a fetish.” Here, we have Rob Porter, Brett Kavanaugh, and now Shanahan, all with scandals involving violence against women — two of them in a domestic violence context. This is not normal in any other administration. I guess it’s normal for Trump world.
I have to be honest, though: this blows my mind. This is on an extreme of the bell shaped curve. I know about violence in families, I’m no stranger to it. I grew up in a household with emotional and physical violence. I was battered by my ten years older paranoid schizophrenic brother. Believe me when I tell you, that kind of experience is scarring. Fist fights and screaming are one thing, picking up a baseball bat is another.
Trump is comfortable with these kinds of men, he is one. They gravitate towards his administration for the money and feeling of vindication, and acceptance for their actions. I am surprised he is withdrawing from this, to be honest.
While his industry experience (knowledge of contracting) had uses in the upper levels of DOD I always felt he was a poor, inadequately qualified choice for the top spot. I was pleasantly surprised when he semi-stood up to Trump over the matter with the USS McCain, and wondered how Trump would react.
Now we have the answer. Normally Trump would have been yelling “fake news” about Shanahan’s past but it’s clear he was pissed at the guy for going public about future DOD practices and so he jumped at the first excuse to dump him. The fact is was a good reason doesn’t excuse Trump, but it explains why he offered no support for his nominee.
You could be right, considering the simple minded way Trump thinks. But the fact is, that this situation of Shanahan’s is indefensible. Thank God Shanahan just stood down and didn’t put Congress and the public through this particular wringer. My God, the characters and the stories that the Trump administration has brought forth. I thought I was inured to pretty much any outrage, but I was wrong. This actually shocked me.
Yes. As far as Dimwit Donny is concerned, it’s not attitudes to violence or absolutely anything else that is important, it is loyalty to the chief, pure and simple. And, by now, everyone knows the loyalty goes only one way.