Vindictive Sumbitch
Donald Trump makes me seethe. The two Navy officers charged with prosecuting Chief Edward Gallagher have hit Trump’s I’M FREAKING THE HELL OUT list and he has decided that they have to surrender their Achievement medals.
Wait, wait, why doesn’t he just go put them in a cage on the border instead of taking their medals. They prosecuted his friend and now, now, yeah now, they are gonna pay for it. And let this be a warning to any other government prosecutor who dares attempt to prosecute somebody that Trump likes.
Yeah, I am pissed off.
Trump, earlier on Wednesday, had tweeted that he directed the secretary of the U.S. Navy and the naval operations chief to “immediately withdraw and rescind” the Navy Achievement Medal from those prosecutors. Cdr. Jereal Dorsey, a U.S. Navy spokesman, said that Navy Secretary Richard Spencer had rescinded the awards and that he had the authority to do so.
Trump has insisted that Gallagher never should have been prosecuted, but that view is hardly universal. Gallagher’s critics alleged that he killed the prisoner and member of the terrorist group ISIS (Islamic State, Iraq and Syria) as an act of vigilante justice. Gallagher, they alleged, did not act in self-defense, but rather, became a vigilante and appointed himself judge, jury and executioner.
Isn’t that kinda what Trump does every damn day? Assigns himself as judge, jury, and executioner?
Gallagher not the kind of American soldier we should be honoring. He’s a bully – just like Trump. And he’ll have a show on Fox News within the month.
Man, I gotta go do some deep breathing.
Thanks to SGray for the heads up.
One has to wonder if some of these “show prosecutions” were pursued in such a manner to loss thus conferring ‘legitimacy upon the criminal and their actions.
1Just as the prosecutors in the Sen Steven’s corruption case ensured an innocent verdict for Steven’s by egregosius errors that any viewer of Law and Order would know were improper.
The prosecutor actively appearing to spy upon the defense is so conspicuously illegal that one must wonder if it was purposeful.
Just as in the steven’s case where the prosecution withheld documents from thee defense caused a dismissal of all charges so would this prosecutorial interference with the defense.
After all these weren’t people of color, furinners or gitmo detainees where we all know no rules apply.
A legal strategy to protect the guilty much like purposeful “overcharging” a police officer so when found innocent of premeditaited murder they then aicheve pratical immunity for man slaughter or any other charges of which their guilt is clear.
If they were the defendants any violation will be given retroactive immunity by this complaint partisan supreme court for what ever fictitious reason they chose.
Perhaps IQ4.5 would like to personally pull the trigger, when Jarvanka and the rest of his maladministration are heading for a courtroom, since he seems inclined to suspend due process.
Donnie is racking up a long list of impeachable offenses. This latest would go under what the framers early adopted, on June 2, a provision that the Executive should be removable by impeachment and conviction “of mal-practice or neglect of duty.” IQ4.5 neglects to understand one provision of the US Constitution and commits malpractice each time he interferes with the judiciary both military and civilian. Donnie isn’t making life easy for Moscow Mitch and Senate Republicons. Look to the House, Mitch. The rats are filling up the lifeboats, so think about that when your turn to sink or swim arrives.
2I’m what was known as a Vietnam Era Vet. I spent 6 months in Okinawa @ Kadena Air Base. During the day, we went to the mess hall and had people who came down from the ground war for RnR.. They always ate in silence.and usually by themselves.
We non combat types used to get ribbons to wear signifying the theater we did our tour in but they didn’t hold any great import for me. Many threw their decorations away on returning home.
This time we occupy inflicts many cuts and insults on our senses. Some are of great import, others… lesser. I can only assess each item that assails my own senses and sometimes share my thoughts in print for each hour’s travesty.
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Edit:
This billboard is being criticized for inciting violence against “theSquad”
The congresswomen’s faces are printed on a billboard that calls them “the 4 Horsemen.” (See photo and twitter comments)
The billboard, located in the town of Murphy, over 200 miles from Charlotte, didn’t directly call on customers to attack the four progressive congresswomen, Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI).
But it called them “the 4 Horsemen,” a biblical reference that represents conquest, war, famine and death, insulted them as “idiots” — and then listed the shop’s name, Cherokee Guns, under their photos in large, red print. And conveniently, the shop was located only a mile away from the sign.
https://www.vox.com/2019/8/1/20750151/the-squad-billboard-gun-ad-cherokee-guns-north-carolina
3Gallagher is a swaggering bully. I watched the video of him leaving the hearing with his wife. Bet he beats her. Just the kind of screwed up angry asshole you’d expect t be charged with this.
4Wow, I’m gonna hit the thread topic below, but OT first:
TX Repub US Rep. Will Hurd [TX-23] is quitting!
This almost assures that Gina Ortiz Jones will win what was going to be a rematch. She lost to Hurd in 2018 by about 900 votes [0.5%, after leading and things sorted out].
Hurd is about the most ‘moderate’ Rethug left in existence. He has apparently been very uncomfortable with his ‘Dear Leader’. He’s a vet, CIA spook, always struck me as decent and honest [he lives in the same ‘small’ town as some of my kids], he’s run quite clean campaigns.
Have to wonder if he is jumping or getting pushed…
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Now on topic: What SOBOTUS is doing by reaching way down the chain of command and fucking around is nearly unprecedented in the US, and potentially very dangerous.
Is there anybody still out there who doesn’t think we are rapidly sliding into autocratic totalitarianism? Outright Fascism [given the ‘flavor’ of today’s Repukes].
5These moves by RAT45 are textbook Hitlerian, Stalinian, Czarist, Ceasarian exercises of raw power. They may be ‘baby steps’ today, but with no effective checks, it will avalanche in a very short time.
Like the seizure of absolute power before the 2020 elections.
And no, per a recent discussion here, imo, our military will chose tRump over our Constitution. I hate to write that, but I get more cynical by the hour.
Oops, always forget chit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas%27s_23rd_congressional_district
https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/texas-rep-hurd-lone-black-republican-in-house-wont-seek-reelection/2019/08/01/0927745c-b487-11e9-8949-5f36ff92706e_story.html?utm_term=.59ee2b15563a
6More:
https://therivardreport.com/rep-will-hurd-to-retire-from-congress-after-holding-on-to-a-competitive-district/
https://www.texastribune.org/2019/08/01/us-rep-will-hurd-texas-retiring-congress/
7dictator: noun, politics & government: someone who rules a country with complete power, has complete control over the armed forces, and destroys any political opposition
8Something occurred to me. In an earlier post I thanked Jane & PKM for their service. While neglecting to do the same for any others who’ve served our society in roles of all types. First responders, teachers, and so many more. So to all who’ve served in all capacities, and their families who’ve served in their absence, thank you. And apologies for the oversight.
9Sandridge @ 5,
You wrote: “Is there anybody still out there who doesn’t think we are rapidly sliding into autocratic totalitarianism? Outright Fascism [given the ‘flavor’ of today’s Repukes].”
We’re already there. But most of the public is either too ignorant, too complacent or apathetic to notice.
10Gallagher not only murdered a prisoner in captivity, but he also planned to do so in advance. He also murdered two Iraqi civilians, a teen girl and an old man, with his rifle. He and his buddies intimidated Navy witnesses and suborned perjury. He’s a bad individual who isn’t fit to wear a uniform much less walk free.
11I don’t have the military background or life experience that many of you have. But I found this absolutely chilling. Trump is interfering directly with the military, and the military leaders are complying. I don’t think anyone really knows how deeply infiltrated the ranks are with white nationalists, anti-government Christianists, and just plain blind followers, who would never think of questioning any direct order, no matter how unlawful. But if the majority of the military decides to follow Trump, we are truly doomed. Who is there to oppose him, that they would listen to?
And I feel that at this point, it’s a question of when, not if.
12From my experience (my late husband having served in the Army) most civilians like me see such outfits as “unpenetrable” from the outside. Another way of saying they are in a world of their own. They really are their own culture and society. Ordinary people do care. We also know that getting through “the bubble” with our opinions etc. ain’t gonna make a difference. Now remember I said “ordinary”. The Prez -whoever it might be – is not ordinary. But the Prez should also have way better sense. He has no use for our national security people, so why shouldn’t that prejudice of his carry over into the military and “permit” him to meddle? No, its not good. You bet its not good!!!
13maggie @ 13,
I think what surprises me most is that no one, no one chief in any of the security, intel agencies or the military has stood up to the Rump and said “Enough”, given his blatant disrespect.
Agree with you totally that this is NOT good. It was the blind followers that carried out the agenda of Hitler.
14Well, for what it’s worth, the trial wasn’t particularly successful. Whole lot of things went sideways during the trial, and deserve to be investigated further.
https://www.npr.org/2019/08/01/747144221/navy-rescinds-awards-to-prosecutors-in-case-of-seal-acquitted-of-murdering-capti
15@Papa #13
16Isn’t it a law that the military will onlu stand on “principles” ( yeah right) when it is a Democratic President.
Thuglicans get a free ride since they endorse the nuremberg defense, throw more money into black pit of waste /corruption, that is the military budget, protect the baby merc’s from any legal liabilities and rewards crimes with either slaps on the wrist (betrayous) or promotions ( re john hyden).
Why the military is not listed as part of the rnc is beyond me.
just a guess, but the authority to revoke the achievement awards probably comes with the requirement of a predicate act. that is, something that bears directly on the reason they were awarded them in the first place. you can’t just “undo” history, unless that history was false.
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