Week of October 16

[dc2london]

General Kelly advised POTUS *not* to call the families of the soldiers who were killed in Niger.
When Trump asked him about past presidents, General Kelly said that Obama had not called him after his son was killed--but stresses that that was not meant as a criticism. He doesn't feel that a phone call is necessary or is even always appropriate.

[dc2london]

"He expressed his condolences in the best way that he could." Well, I won't disagree with him there.

[jkjacq]

Oct 19, 2017 13:06:07 GMT -6 dc2london said:

General Kelly is explaining the process for bringing fallen service members home. This is heartwrenching.

I'm crying at my desk listening to this.

[mb3]

I fully respect Kelly's opinion on phone calls. He's been in shoes I never have and if that's his take on it, fine.

I don't like him being brought in to defend what Trump said to Myeshia Jones. If you're going to call a grieving widow don't act like an asshole when you talk to her. Why does that even need to be said?

[dc2london]

Oh iiiiiiiiinteresting.
General Dunford was the casualty officer who informed Kelly that his son had been KIA. He said to him that his son was doing exactly what he wanted to be doing. He knew what he was getting himself into.
So I think Trump tried to work that same angle, but he royally botched it.

[jkjacq]

Talking about the calls from his sons unit is just wow. You can tell it still hurts him.

[dc2london]

Oct 19, 2017 13:11:53 GMT -6 mb3 said:

I fully respect Kelly's opinion on phone calls. He's been in shoes I never have and if that's his take on it, fine.

I don't like him being brought in to defend what Trump said to Myeshia Jones. If you're going to call a grieving widow don't act like an asshole when you talk to her. Why does that even need to be said?

Also, I think there is a HUGE, MONUMENTAL difference between the way a General addresses another General about the loss of his son, and the way a civilian addresses a war widow. General Kelly's family is a military family. He is a career service professional. The president should know the difference. 

[dc2london]

I hate that they're using Kelly like this but I am really glad he cleared that up. It was still a colossally insensitive thing to say but I appreciate having more information.

[dc2london]

He is really pulling no punches talking about Rep Wilson

[dc2london]

Brian Karem asked about the details surrounding the green berets' presence in Niger

[pesto]

Oct 19, 2017 13:10:48 GMT -6 dc2london said:

General Kelly advised POTUS *not* to call the families of the soldiers who were killed in Niger.
When Trump asked him about past presidents, General Kelly said that Obama had not called him after his son was killed--but stresses that that was not meant as a criticism. He doesn't feel that a phone call is necessary or is even always appropriate.

I felt really uncomfortable with the "Obama didn't call Kelly's son" story and this actually eases some of my bad feelings. Of course Trump misinterpreted the point Kelly was trying to make about it completely. Asshole.

[elle]

Oct 19, 2017 13:14:20 GMT -6 dc2london said:

Oct 19, 2017 13:11:53 GMT -6 mb3 said:

I fully respect Kelly's opinion on phone calls. He's been in shoes I never have and if that's his take on it, fine.

I don't like him being brought in to defend what Trump said to Myeshia Jones. If you're going to call a grieving widow don't act like an asshole when you talk to her. Why does that even need to be said?

Also, I think there is a HUGE, MONUMENTAL difference between the way a General addresses another General about the loss of his son, and the way a civilian addresses a war widow. General Kelly's family is a military family. He is a career service professional. The president should know the difference. 

Knowing things is not his forte. 

[jkjacq]

I am still a little eh at some of the things hes saying. Like the whole women were sacred, religion was sacred. he went a little off the rail there imo

But hes doing an excellent job explaining.

[dc2london]

he confirms that there is an investigation into what happened in Niger.

[dc2london]

I actually know a few special forces people who do the kind of work these gentlemen were doing. It's a little-known and valiant thing that they do.

[dc2london]

The way General Kelly talks about our men and women in uniform is really something. If we had to have a right wing whacko for president I'm kind of wishing it had been him bc at least he can speak intelligently.

[hawkward]

I'm fine with him not calling when there's some other recognition. Like Gen Kelly said, it's not like it helps. BUT if the asshole could at least pretend remember their names. It's not like "Johnson" is complicated, ya know? "The woman, the wife, your guy," etc., are all almost as bad as "he knew what he signed up for."

To me, there's an entire world of difference between "he knew what he signed up for" from a draft-dodging civilian to a widow and what Gen Dunford said servicemember to servicemember. There are many many things H and his coworkers say to each other about similar things that I would never dare.

[dc2london]

Special Forces, AfriCom, DefSec are conducting investigations. The Pentagon is in control of the release of information.

[jkjacq]

One of the guys I work with did this for the Navy. So yes, he had a lot of stuff to say.

[dc2london]

"What the hell is my son doing back in this." Well, we're sorry about that sir.

[dc2london]

Kelly says that those who have served in the military don't look down on civilians but they are sad for them never getting to experience what it's like to serve the country.

[charlotte]

Oct 19, 2017 13:19:51 GMT -6 @blanche said:

A public elementary school in Mississippi is changing its name from [Jefferson] Davis Magnet to Barack Obama Magnet.

www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/obama-s-name-replace-jefferson-davis-mississippi-school-n811956

I saw this this AM. Having lived in MS and knowing how many racist assholes will be pissed off by this, I was gleeful that this is happening and they can’t stop it.

[dc2london]

So he didn't really answer any of the questions, like at all, but what else is new. That was a very informative briefing.

[hawkward]

Off topic, but H and I attended a ceremony not long ago where the keynote speaker was a chief master sergeant of the Air Force. He spoke about kindness in a world where kindness is not popular right now, and he mentioned President Obama several times but did not reference Trump once. It was fascinating.

ETA I also befriended a man who worked for GWB and Obama on Air Force One. He talked about watching the Secret Service making opportunities for Obama to smoke and they would all pretend like they didn't know he was sneaking off for a cigarette. 

[dc2london]

Oct 19, 2017 12:59:58 GMT -6 jkjacq said:

Turnip is personally interviewing US Dist Attorneys?
Yeah thats TOTALLY NORMAL

One of the democratic senators was really having a go about that yesterday in the committee 

[dc2london]

Oct 19, 2017 13:24:31 GMT -6 hawkward said:

Off topic, but H and I attended a ceremony not long ago where the keynote speaker was a chief master sergeant of the Air Force. He spoke about kindness in a world where kindness is not popular right now, and he mentioned President Obama several times but did not reference Trump once. It was fascinating.

ETA I also befriended a man who worked for GWB and Obama on Air Force One. He talked about watching the Secret Service making opportunities for Obama to smoke and they would all pretend like they didn't know he was sneaking off for a cigarette. 

Did he bum a cigarette off of a reporter on Air Force One? Please tell me he did. I need to live in a world where the West Wing is real. 

[CurlieWhirlie]

dc2london, do you listen to Preet's podcast? Today's episode with Ben Wittes is SO good, not least because of the trash talk about how Wittes would kick Putin's ass.

[dc2london]

Oct 19, 2017 13:42:05 GMT -6 CurlieWhirlie said:

dc2london , do you listen to Preet's podcast? Today's episode with Ben Wittes is SO good, not least because of the trash talk about how Wittes would kick Putin's ass.

I am waiting to listen to it after my kids go to bed because I SHALL NOT BE INTERRUPTED BY YOUR DEMANDS FOR GOLDFISH CRACKERS.
I'm v. excited.

[jkjacq]

Oct 19, 2017 13:42:05 GMT -6 CurlieWhirlie said:

dc2london , do you listen to Preet's podcast? Today's episode with Ben Wittes is SO good, not least because of the trash talk about how Wittes would kick Putin's ass.

I just started listening to him yesterday.   I've only listened to the first episode where he talks about his firing.  Should I listen to all of the back eps or should I just go with current?

[hawkward]

Oct 19, 2017 13:41:24 GMT -6 dc2london said:

Oct 19, 2017 13:24:31 GMT -6 hawkward said:

Off topic, but H and I attended a ceremony not long ago where the keynote speaker was a chief master sergeant of the Air Force. He spoke about kindness in a world where kindness is not popular right now, and he mentioned President Obama several times but did not reference Trump once. It was fascinating.

ETA I also befriended a man who worked for GWB and Obama on Air Force One. He talked about watching the Secret Service making opportunities for Obama to smoke and they would all pretend like they didn't know he was sneaking off for a cigarette. 

Did he bum a cigarette off of a reporter on Air Force One? Please tell me he did. I need to live in a world where the West Wing is real. 

I don’t know but I’m going to go ahead and say yes.