MG Ryan Gonsalves’ promotion delayed
Bobo sends us a link to the news that Major General Ryan Gonsalves’ promotion to Lieutenant General was held up because he mistreated a Congressional staffer, according to Stars & Stripes;
Gonsalves, who was considered to be in contention to serve as the next head of U.S. Army Europe, is now serving as a “special assistant to the commanding general, III Corps.”
“General Gonsalves was substantiated for a failure to treat a Congressional staffer with dignity and respect,” the Army said in a statement. “That finding is currently under review to determine what, if any, further action will be taken.”
The Army did not provide additional details about the nature of the incident or the congressional staff member who was involved. Gonsalves could not be reached for immediate comment.
Unless the facts of the case include some sort of physical abuse, I’d have to respond with “So f’n what?” Only Congress would complain about an aide’s abuse and attempting to destroy a general’s career. Last time I checked, a Congressional aide doesn’t outrank a general.
Category: Army News
Mistreated a Congressional staffer? Sounds like your typical liberal snowflake.
That implies it is wrong to do so.
Wait…
He probably told her no?
Or he told *him* “no thanks…”
Do we know who this staffer is?
Does it really matter?
Like it or not, at their level one thing GOs/FOs need to learn how to do is interface with political leadrship. If the man was intentionally rude or abusive towards to a Congressional staffer, well, that was simply a monumentally shortsighted and foolish act on his part. Congressional staffers tend to have the ear – and the trust -of their Congressman/Congresswoman.
It’s kinda like p!ssing off the General’s Aide – sometimes you gotta do it, but you’d best have a damn good reason.
Problematic? Perhaps. But that’s reality.
Congress controls DoD’s funding. They’re not a group anyone in uniform wants to go out of their way to antagonize. That goes for Congressional staffers as well.
And what is the likelihood that some perennially outraged snowflake of an anti-military staffer got their panties in a wad when one of their outlandish prima donna demands was answered with a ‘no’? Given the average Congressional staffer… I’ll take “Snowflake” for $500, Alex.
Doesn’t matter, David. Said snowflake has their boss’ ear – and trust. And when their boss controls your organization’s funding . . . sometimes you play nice. Even if you have to grit your teeth while doing so.
Oh, I understand… but have also seen well-intentioned people falsely crucified by the perennially outraged over imagined slights.
Seems like snowflakes haven’t cornered the market on perennial outrage.
Could be some well connected snowflake caught the PTSD when his/her feelings were hurt.
Could be some ax grinding as well.
http://www.9news.com/news/politics/senate-candidate-falsely-claims-generals-endorsement/97300988
I think you nailed it, Senior Chief. Looks like something probably attributable to some overeager subordinate overplaying his hand to please a political campaign.
I agree with Poe, CB Senior. I think you may have found the boil on the staffers ass.
While I’m all for mistreating Congressional staff folks, I wonder if this only started with a staffer and then snowballed into an investigation where the Army discovered……Oh, he was just an abusive asshole in general.
Wouldn’t be the first time something along those lines had happened (GO steps out of line and is discovered to be an abusive jerk). Or it could indeed be a case of a butthurt special snowflake complaining to their boss. Dunno.
But either way, IMO the General should have been smart enough “not to play”. Some games aren’t winnable.
True.
(Where is the, “Is Bergdahl getting paid story today”?)
“Only Congress would complain about an aide’s abuse and attempting to destroy a general’s career. Last time I checked, a Congressional aide doesn’t outrank a general.”
I doubt many members of Congress would agree with that.
“You will call me Senator, not Ma’am. I earned that right to be called… REEEEEEEEE”
He probably didn’t use the correct pronoun with the non-binary gender-queer trans-snowflake unicorn-kin.
apparently he is accused of calling her “sweetheart”
Gonsalves’ pending nomination for a third star prompted an angry reaction from a staffer of Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I.
h/t: http://taskandpurpose.com/army-generals-promotion-pulled-calling-congressional-staffer-sweetheart/
I have dealt with Congressional staffers of both political parties for many years in as the MOAAA state newsletter editor and political and election commission roles. The majority were/are great people; unfortunately, a few were not. Some thought they wore the Congressman or Senator’s rank; others were political hacks or family members of donors who confused easily and lied to cover their butt. I suspect the mistake the general made was telling one of the later to “Go F yourself” rather than what they taught us at the warrant officer charm school which was substitute, “Well Ain’t That Nice”.
WHO was said staffer, some college snowflake on an internship who was “offended” by the General’s presence?
Unless this was a case of either physical violence or the general failing to keep it in his pants, I’m having a hard time seeing what the problem could possibly be. Hurt feelings are not covered by the law.
What?
Sure, I understand the ramifications of treating people poorly under any circumstances. But, where, beyond the personnel rules of some employers, does it say that any of us is required to treat others with dignity and respect?
Stupid.
There are two basic flavors of Congressional staff- Personal Staff, who are appointed by and work for individual members, and Professional Staff Members that work for Congress itself. There are three or four types of Profesional Staff Members (PSMs)- some work for the leadership, some work admin stuff, some work for CRS, etc. then thee are the PSMs that work for Committees like the House and Senate Armed Services Committee (HASC and SASC).
If I were to guess (and I’m about to), MG G pissed of a HASC or SASC PSM. Those dudes work directly for those committees, who approve (or not)promotion lists, to include by name reviews of GO promotions (all officers are confirmed by the senate, but it is pro forma usually).
Usually ASC PSMs are former military with specific SME areas, like Army, SOF, etc. not all, though. Some of them had a few years in a few years ago but are expert political operatives.
Many have an agenda they push.
I have seen this in action- imagine you are the Infantry School Commandant, former Ranger Battalion Commander, and a 30 year old with a PhD that was A private for 4 years 10 years ago is telling you how to train Soldiers
Probably hard fo take,
Red, imagine being a GO and having to be deferential, even respectful to this asshole:
https://www.google.com/search?q=Richard+Blumenthal&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&channel=fs&bcutc=sp-118-756
Truly would be a hard pill to swallow. Hell, it would be hard for most NCO’s if they knew of his Stolen Valor claims.
I can be respectful to the office that dick Blumenthal holds.
But there are a million ways to, with all due respect to the office, slow walk things without getting slammed.
Frigging Bureaucrats
Personally, I’d like to have a bit more intel on what it was that is alleged to have occurred, and to whom.
I can very easily see this being either a case of MG Gonsalves having a bad day & taking it out on a Congressional staffer, or a Congressional staffer who loathes the military as epitomized by MG Gonsalves and making a false or distorted accusation.
Not knowing MG Gonsalves, but knowing about Congressional staffcritters, I would not be shocked to learn that it is a setup or grudge compliant.
He probably told a staffer, “hey honey, grab the door for me”, while he was balancing a 16 oz coffee and his brief case.
Later to find out the “honey” was a guy that looked like a girl.
I don’t know.
My opinion, but isn’t a number of the political establishment who are dems and Republicans anti POTUS/Military. Remember the obama/mccain/republican shadow govt in exile slow moving coup out to oust the Pres.
What’s the opposite of “snowflake”?… Cow patty? Ok. Most of you Cow Patties should wake the heck up and except the century/reality you are living in. The fact that his promotion was held up means what is did IS a big deal. You ain’t gotta like it but duck that lemon. Sweet Christmas, 1935 is long gone and will never return.