Trump Cabinet/Appointments

[kalm]

Yep thats about as accurate of a poll as can be. They dont just call voters in Dade county or some liberal center in Jew York City

Drat! Foiled again!

[BDKJMU]

Patel absolutely WRECKS Booker.

[BDKJMU]

[BDKJMU]

Lawl Patel exposes Hirono's mind-numbing stupidity & gets her to counter her own narrative.

[UNI88]

Patel absolutely WRECKS Booker.

And that was just at the White House and mar-a-lago. Just think what they could do if they expanded their investigations to trump's hotels, golf courses, etc.

[BDKJMU]

More Patel dunking all over another donk senator.

[Caribbean Hen]

Lawl Patel exposes Hirono's mind-numbing stupidity & gets her to counter her own narrative.

These nutjobs are furious with Patel for actually doing his job

[UNI88]

Deport homan!

[kalm]

This guy….

[kalm]

Oooh…he’s a man!

[BDKJMU]

This guy….

The fat literally and figuratively need to be trimmed.

WWII: 2k generals/admirals for 12 million active duty. About 1 general/admiral for about every 6,000 troops.

Today: 800 generals/admirals for about 1.3 million active duty. 1 general/admiral for about every 1,400 troops.

[GannonFan]

This guy….

The fat literally and figuratively need to be trimmed.

WWII: 2k generals/admirals for 12 million active duty. About 1 general/admiral for about every 6,000 troops.

Today: 800 generals/admirals for about 1.3 million active duty. 1 general/admiral for about every 1,400 troops.

Trimming the ranks of flag officers, as you're alluding to in the numbers you present, is all fine and well. Maybe we do have too many flag officers. I don't think that's controversial at all. And yes, ensuring that we don't lower physical standards to the point where that lowering compromises the various missions of the armed forces is all well and good. What will matter, though, is in the execution. Navy SEALs have historically had some of the highest physical standards in the military, and given their scope of missions that makes perfect sense. Does a naval aviator need the same physical standards as a SEAL? Does an officer on a submarine need that same level of physical standard? No, of course they don't. You can have a perfectly capable and effective person fill those roles, roles that are considered combat roles, without being able to match a SEAL in terms of pull ups you can do. The mission of flying an aircraft or working in a sub don't demand the same level of physical conditioning that a SEAL does. Set the minimum somewhere, make it reasonable, and you're good. When you start purposely trying to eliminate women from combat roles with physical standards that don't reflect the real requirements for those roles, that's when it's more about sexism and potentially misogyny than it is about military readiness. We'll see where this goes and what the real goal is.

[UNI88]

[BDKJMU]

The fat literally and figuratively need to be trimmed.

WWII: 2k generals/admirals for 12 million active duty. About 1 general/admiral for about every 6,000 troops.

Today: 800 generals/admirals for about 1.3 million active duty. 1 general/admiral for about every 1,400 troops.

Trimming the ranks of flag officers, as you're alluding to in the numbers you present, is all fine and well. Maybe we do have too many flag officers. I don't think that's controversial at all. And yes, ensuring that we don't lower physical standards to the point where that lowering compromises the various missions of the armed forces is all well and good. What will matter, though, is in the execution. Navy SEALs have historically had some of the highest physical standards in the military, and given their scope of missions that makes perfect sense. Does a naval aviator need the same physical standards as a SEAL? Does an officer on a submarine need that same level of physical standard? No, of course they don't. You can have a perfectly capable and effective person fill those roles, roles that are considered combat roles, without being able to match a SEAL in terms of pull ups you can do. The mission of flying an aircraft or working in a sub don't demand the same level of physical conditioning that a SEAL does. Set the minimum somewhere, make it reasonable, and you're good. When you start purposely trying to eliminate women from combat roles with physical standards that don't reflect the real requirements for those roles, that's when it's more about sexism and potentially misogyny than it is about military readiness. We'll see where this goes and what the real goal is.

You obviously fixated on SEALS for some reason. Spec Ops Command (Seals, Army SF, Rangers, Marine Recon, AF PJs, etc) are like 1% of the military. Those are almost exclusively male, and is just a red herring to what is being discussed here.

The combat arms MOSes (10%-20% of the military) ie your standard infantry and Marine grunts is what is being referre to here. And they are the one who have had different PT standards for like forever. Complete BS. A lot of men aren’t going to be able to hump 15 miles in a set amount of time carrying 80 lbs of combat load kit. Only a tiny fraction of women are going to be able to do that. A lot of men aren’t going to be able to pick up and haul or drag a 250 lb infantryman with kit/170 lb without, off the battlefield, which is, or should be, a requirement. How many women do you think are going to be able to do that?

So apparently you don‘t think men and women should have the SAME PT and physical standards for Combat Arms MOSes. All Hegseth is talking about is making the women in Combat Arms MOSes have the SAME physical standards as men. THAT‘S IT. And if that means a Combat Arms MOS goes from 90% to 99+% men, then so be it.

[GannonFan]

Trimming the ranks of flag officers, as you're alluding to in the numbers you present, is all fine and well. Maybe we do have too many flag officers. I don't think that's controversial at all. And yes, ensuring that we don't lower physical standards to the point where that lowering compromises the various missions of the armed forces is all well and good. What will matter, though, is in the execution. Navy SEALs have historically had some of the highest physical standards in the military, and given their scope of missions that makes perfect sense. Does a naval aviator need the same physical standards as a SEAL? Does an officer on a submarine need that same level of physical standard? No, of course they don't. You can have a perfectly capable and effective person fill those roles, roles that are considered combat roles, without being able to match a SEAL in terms of pull ups you can do. The mission of flying an aircraft or working in a sub don't demand the same level of physical conditioning that a SEAL does. Set the minimum somewhere, make it reasonable, and you're good. When you start purposely trying to eliminate women from combat roles with physical standards that don't reflect the real requirements for those roles, that's when it's more about sexism and potentially misogyny than it is about military readiness. We'll see where this goes and what the real goal is.

You obviously fixated on SEALS for some reason. Spec Ops Command (Seals, Army SF, Rangers, Marine Recon, AF PJs, etc) are like 1% of the military. Those are almost exclusively male, and is just a red herring to what is being discussed here.

The combat arms MOSes (10%-20% of the military) ie your standard infantry and Marine grunts is what is being referre to here. And they are the one who have had different PT standards for like forever. Complete BS. A lot of men aren’t going to be able to hump 15 miles in a set amount of time carrying 80 lbs of combat load kit. Only a tiny fraction of women are going to be able to do that. A lot of men aren’t going to be able to pick up and haul or drag a 250 lb infantryman with kit/170 lb without, off the battlefield, which is, or should be, a requirement. How many women do you think are going to be able to do that?

So apparently you don‘t think men and women should have the SAME PT and physical standards for Combat Arms MOSes. All Hegseth is talking about is making the women in Combat Arms MOSes have the SAME physical standards as men. THAT‘S IT. And if that means a Combat Arms MOS goes from 90% to 99+% men, then so be it.

I'm just keeping my eye on what they classify as combat arm MOS. I think the Army still includes aviation in that grouping, while the Marines do not include aviation. I have no problem with using the same PT standards for both men and women for true combat arms branches of any service. I just continue to question what is included in the combat designation and if they tweak that going forward. There is a decided physical fitness issue in the US military, I think that's obvious. But taking that one kernel of truth and then using that to change things that don't pertain to that is where the danger lies. We all should be watching.

[UNI88]

Trump secretary hit with first-ever warning: ‘Cannot be ignored’

In an op-ed for The Washington Post, released Tuesday, the ex-health officials, appointed by Republican and Democratic presidents since George H.W. Bush, said they are “compelled to speak with one voice” against the actions of Kennedy, which they claim are “endangering the health of the nation.”

“Never before have we issued a joint public warning like this,” they wrote in the op-ed. “But the profound, immediate and unprecedented threat that Kennedy’s policies and positions pose to the nation’s health cannot be ignored.”

The health experts — including Jerome Adams, who was nominated by President Donald Trump during his first term — argue that the nation’s public health system has been undermined, with misinformation winning over science and expertise.

“Morale has plummeted in our health agencies, and talent is fleeing at a time when we face rising threats — from resurgent infectious diseases to worsening chronic illnesses," they wrote, adding: “Repairing this damage requires a leader who respects scientific integrity and transparency, listens to experts and can restore trust to the federal health apparatus. Instead, Kennedy has become a driving force behind this crisis.”

The former surgeons general pointed to Kennedy’s advancement of “dangerous and discredited claims” about vaccines, such as what they describe as his misrepresentation and promotion of the risks of mRNA technology and COVID shots. They also noted the United States has recorded its worst measles outbreak in more than 30 years — while Kennedy has been pictured alongside anti-vaccine doctors — and his firing and replacement of every member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which offers recommendations on vaccines for children and adults.

“Discrediting vaccines undermines one of the most important public health tools in American history,” the group wrote.

[GannonFan]

Trump secretary hit with first-ever warning: ‘Cannot be ignored’

In an op-ed for The Washington Post, released Tuesday, the ex-health officials, appointed by Republican and Democratic presidents since George H.W. Bush, said they are “compelled to speak with one voice” against the actions of Kennedy, which they claim are “endangering the health of the nation.”

“Never before have we issued a joint public warning like this,” they wrote in the op-ed. “But the profound, immediate and unprecedented threat that Kennedy’s policies and positions pose to the nation’s health cannot be ignored.”

The health experts — including Jerome Adams, who was nominated by President Donald Trump during his first term — argue that the nation’s public health system has been undermined, with misinformation winning over science and expertise.

“Morale has plummeted in our health agencies, and talent is fleeing at a time when we face rising threats — from resurgent infectious diseases to worsening chronic illnesses," they wrote, adding: “Repairing this damage requires a leader who respects scientific integrity and transparency, listens to experts and can restore trust to the federal health apparatus. Instead, Kennedy has become a driving force behind this crisis.”

The former surgeons general pointed to Kennedy’s advancement of “dangerous and discredited claims” about vaccines, such as what they describe as his misrepresentation and promotion of the risks of mRNA technology and COVID shots. They also noted the United States has recorded its worst measles outbreak in more than 30 years — while Kennedy has been pictured alongside anti-vaccine doctors — and his firing and replacement of every member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which offers recommendations on vaccines for children and adults.

“Discrediting vaccines undermines one of the most important public health tools in American history,” the group wrote.

This has been a growing issue for a long time, long before RFK Jr. The anti-vaccine movement has been around in force since at least the '90's and is one of the things that actually crosses the political divide. It really ramped up during COVID when, unfortunately, public health agencies largely failed their big moment, especially when it's measure by the confidence people have in those agencies. Just like Trump has really been the beneficiary of the populist movement he now leads, RFK Jr is that for this distrust of public health agencies - he didn't start people believing that but he's riding in on the momentum of that movement. It's certainly one of the lasting impacts of COVID and we'll have to deal with it for years to come. If it does result in more transparent and more respected scientific processes, that could be a silver lining in this. No guarantee that it doesn't just devolve into a reflexive distrust of all things science, though. And like Trump, RFK Jr is a really poor figurehead to lead these movements.

[BDKJMU]

The fact that that lardbucket Pritzker would criticize someone‘s exercise.

[GannonFan]

The fact that that lardbucket Pritzker would criticize someone‘s exercise.

Funny story, when Hegseth was doing those pushups, I was literally just to the left of the photo by about 3-4 feet. I, along with another 100 volunteers, was on the field as an official "observer" to validate the pushups as they were doing a Guiness Book of World Records for the number of people simultaneously doing pushups (Navy did get the record, knocking off Air Force that had the record from a few years ago). Hegseth was in the middle, the superintendent of the Naval Academy was on the right in that photo, and the commandant of the Naval Academy was to the left. I accidentally stepped on the commandant's hand and almost stepped on his cover that he had placed nearby. I think I said "sorry dude" when I saw he was a captain, but didn't realize he was the commandant until later.

[UNI88]

The fact that that lardbucket Pritzker would criticize someone‘s exercise.

Why?
- Lardbucket trump constantly talking about how fit he is.
- hegseth talks about grooming standards when he's tatted up like a white supremacist.

[GannonFan]

The fact that that lardbucket Pritzker would criticize someone‘s exercise.

Why?
- Lardbucket trump constantly talking about how fit he is.
- hegseth talks about grooming standards when he's tatted up like a white supremacist.

I don't like Hegseth even a little bit, and I'm not personally a fan of tattoos, but tattoos have been acceptable in the armed forces for decades now, and are certainly more acceptable culturally than probably ever in our history. When we complain about tattoos we sound like old people yelling that the music is too loud (not that I can hear it that well anyway!!!).

[UNI88]

Why?
- Lardbucket trump constantly talking about how fit he is.
- hegseth talks about grooming standards when he's tatted up like a white supremacist.

I don't like Hegseth even a little bit, and I'm not personally a fan of tattoos, but tattoos have been acceptable in the armed forces for decades now, and are certainly more acceptable culturally than probably ever in our history. When we complain about tattoos we sound like old people yelling that the music is too loud (not that I can hear it that well anyway!!!).

I have no problems with tattoos, my sons have them and I've thought about getting one. Tattoos represent individual expression just as much as facial hair does which makes hegseth a hypocrite.

[GannonFan]

I don't like Hegseth even a little bit, and I'm not personally a fan of tattoos, but tattoos have been acceptable in the armed forces for decades now, and are certainly more acceptable culturally than probably ever in our history. When we complain about tattoos we sound like old people yelling that the music is too loud (not that I can hear it that well anyway!!!).

I have no problems with tattoos, my sons have them and I've thought about getting one. Tattoos represent individual expression just as much as facial hair does which makes hegseth a hypocrite.

Depends on the job requirements - there are plenty of jobs in the military where facial hair being banned is necessary - any job where wearing a mask on the face that requires a good seal for instance. That's a lot more jobs in the military than one would think. We ban facial hair here at my job because of the industry we're in and, again, the need for facial masks that form a good seal.

[UNI88]

I have no problems with tattoos, my sons have them and I've thought about getting one. Tattoos represent individual expression just as much as facial hair does which makes hegseth a hypocrite.

Depends on the job requirements - there are plenty of jobs in the military where facial hair being banned is necessary - any job where wearing a mask on the face that requires a good seal for instance. That's a lot more jobs in the military than one would think. We ban facial hair here at my job because of the industry we're in and, again, the need for facial masks that form a good seal.

Why do Canada and other west nations allow a neatly trimmed beard for those positions?

You know that there is a bigoted undercurrent to a lot of hegseth's decisions and African Americans are more likely to have skin conditions that they like to cover with facial hair so the suspicion about hegseth's motives isn't unwarranted.

[GannonFan]

Depends on the job requirements - there are plenty of jobs in the military where facial hair being banned is necessary - any job where wearing a mask on the face that requires a good seal for instance. That's a lot more jobs in the military than one would think. We ban facial hair here at my job because of the industry we're in and, again, the need for facial masks that form a good seal.

Why do Canada and other west nations allow a neatly trimmed beard for those positions?

You know that there is a bigoted undercurrent to a lot of hegseth's decisions and African Americans are more likely to have skin conditions that they like to cover with facial hair so the suspicion about hegseth's motives isn't unwarranted.

I think Hegseth is a bigoted, racist, misogynistic idiot who should be removed as soon as possible, and I believe there's a need to restrict facial hair in plenty of military jobs (not all).