SecDef Nominee Mattis’s Background a Plus
Arthur I. Cyr has written a thoughtful look at the nomination of GEN James Mattis for Secretary of Defense.
He examines the history of the Obama administration’s various departmental secretaries in his article, and also refers to George Marshall’s tenure as the US Army Chief of Staff during World War II, and his subsequent positions as Secretary of State and of Defense, post WWII.
I think that President Trump (get used to hearing that, kids) is making possibly the smartest choices in his cabinet since the end of World War II, and we have brighter days ahead.
The other issue he faces is putting people back to work in real jobs, which will bring real income back into this country. One analyst said that Trump is a ‘protectionist’, unlike Reagan, but at this point in time, I think we need someone exactly like that.
Category: Gathering of Eagles, Historical, Reality Check
I am hoping that Trump will end up being better than Regan!
That would be some tall cotton.
Your Southern charm is showin’, Miss.
Some seriously tall cotton.
🙂
And Gen Mattis is now officially the SecDef. HURRAY!
The adults are back in charge. Thank goodness!
I like that we have a SECDEF that is known as “Mad Dog”. About time.
And the PC O’s and NOLOAD GS’s at the puzzle palace are shitting bricks…
Was reading that a lesser known unofficial award that Mattis has received is ” Edson’s Eagles”.
When Merritt A “Red Mike” Edson, legendary Marine Officer. Medal of Honor recipient and Raider was promoted to Brigadier General he passed his Colonel insignia down to one of the Corp’s most bad ass Colonels. Throughout the years as these Marines got promoted they in turn handed these over to other superb Colonels. There is only one set and its handed down.
THANKS for the cool info JOAD! Gotta pretty high standard to meet to get that “Handmedown”….
CONGRATS to Gen. Mattis!
Sorry s/b JAOD not JOAD. Old dogs are the bestest anywho!
All Hail to the Warrior Monk!
I like Mattis. Bit of a sociopath, but he is rational, level-headed, highly intelligent, and extraordinarily experienced.
Which makes him a perfect fit for the job. He is the smartest person in the Trump administration. A genuine intellectual.
Hey Puddin’-Tame, just who in President Trump’s Administration isn’t sociopathic in your UC Berserkely-and-Kool-Aid-damaged brain and mind?
To be honest he seems to prefer billionaires and morons to outright sociopaths. Except for Mnuchin that piece of shit is almost certainly a clinical sociopath. Everyone should be pissed off at that pick.
Someone who made a career of taking money from the middle class leveraging highly corrupt market advantages put into our market system by buying political influence should not be trusted with the treasury department.
Fuck that guy.
Careful there, Piuperdink. Just because you disagree with somebody else’s view of the world or the way he does business, it does not make a sociopath of any kind. Keep it up. You just look sillier and more irrelevant every time you post something.
Oh, yeah, unless you are a qualified psychologist, you don’t have an opinion worth listening to on other people’s personalities, because frankly, yours sucks the bag.
Bullshit. The way you do business sure as shit is an indicator of being a sociopath. Hell the evaluation for sociopath heavily emphasizes question related to how you do business with people.
I really do not give a shit whether you agree with me or not Ex.
But along the constant praise I see of some of his nominees there should be space for criticism.
And “sociopath” is a negative thing but it is far less a outrageous thing to call people than I see constantly thrown around about many people this board highlights in their posts.
If I called Bill Clinton a sociopath would you be equally outraged? Because he is.
And the fact that the claim probably bothers you far less indicates the extent of you tribal attitude toward protecting people you see as republicans.
“And “sociopath” is a negative thing but it is far less a outrageous thing to call people than I see constantly thrown around about many people this board highlights in their posts.”
I guess Lars is referring to the very nasty labels he puts on folks here, such as calling some of us Nazis and fascists. So, you twisted fuck, how old are you. I figure you’re over 50 or you’re a liar. Maybe both. Help a brother out, will ya? How old are you?
Considering that the accepted definition of the term sociopath is a person with a personality disorder manifesting itself in extreme antisocial attitudes and behavior and a lack of conscience, there is NO evidence whatsoever in GEN Mattis’s behavior, nor does he have a lack of conscience.
Therefore, including in that consideration, the simple fact that GEN Mattis’s behavior pattern is SO FAR REMOVED FROM the definition of the term ‘sociopath’, the term does not apply to him. Period.
If there is anyone it does apply to, I have a long list. Yes, Bill Clinton does fit that definition, because he is a sexual predator, among other things. But we aren’t discussing him here, so DO NOT CHANGE THE SUBJECT. DO YOU GET IT?
Since you have never done business with anybody, nor have you ever run a business, your view of GEN Mattis is 180 out. The opinions of those who have served under him, e.g., ‘would walk through fire to Hell and back’, indicate quite clearly that he is a born leader, whether you like it or not.
“And the fact that the claim probably bothers you far less indicates the extent of you tribal attitude toward protecting people you see as republicans.”
I thought you were talking about conservatives, now you include republicans?
Bigot.
One of the Great Questions of our time is this: Why is Commissar here? One answer is that he can be here. Beyond that, I suppose it would take a psychiatrist to formulate an answer. Who else could explain why a grown male would regularly visit those he claims to despise and from whom he garners such disrespect and disapproval? Is his coming here a form of physical self flagellation, punishment for some real or imagined bad deed that haunts him? Who the hell knows. Certainly, he doesn’t. Maybe it stems from his gnawing inadequacies, the ones which he attempted to counter by going Berkeley and aligning himself with the other misfits, albeit much younger misfits. That didn’t work out. He was an outsider there, too. Really, if he wasn’t such an asshole, I might be given to pity him.
Word.
President Trump was wise to pick Mattis.
I served with him, excellent leader that took no BS from anyone. Expected the best from his subordinates and let them act when they needed to… good pic.
And something that we can agree on, LARS.
PS – LARS, please drop your amateur psychology/psychiatry gig… you’re not credentialed nor educated enough to pass judgement of that nature on people you don’t know…
Point taken. When I use said “but of one” I was not saying he was clinically a sociopath. Just that he probably scores higher on the spectrum than most people. Which is very common among military officers. I certainly am not credentialed and cannot diagnose any mental health or personality disorder. I have, however, been formally trained to “spot” people that are likely to score high on sociopathy scales by paying attention to behavior. It is an immensely valuable skill and vital in making assessments of people and their motivations, trustworthiness, and what would or would not work as leverage. It is so vital I think ALL people who work in HUMINT, CI, or CA should be trained in it. For instance is does little good to be trying to convince someone who scores high on the scale that doing a particular act would be good for his people or community unless you can connect it to some specific advantage for him or the connection is obvious. I also think law enforcement probably should be trained in it as well but there is a risk of confirmation bias in assuming someone they believe would score high is guilty of something and is lying. Sociopaths are not uncommon in our society. Sociopathic behavior is a spectrum that everyone falls along to some degree. Approximately 2-3% could be regarded as clinical sociopaths/psychopaths, and another 6-10% function in a way that is essentially sociopathic but not clinical. Most sociopaths function just fine in our society and even hold respectable positions. Other careers that have a much higher percentage of sociopaths than the general population include; surgeons, CEOs, chefs, prosecutors, politicians, police officers, sales, stock brokers, civil servants, journalists… Among US military officers the percentage of people that score high on a sociopath scale (though not clinically diagnosable) is higher the higher the rank. This is particularly true among the old “there can only be one” (I like to call “Highlander”) OER system. It actually rewarded sociopathic behavior as long as the officer was a high functioning sociopath. Much of our modern political economy… Read more »
“Just that he probably scores higher on the spectrum than most people. Which is very common among military officers.”
There are many facets of personality that could be attributable to or often seen in this disorder or that disorder.
Such tendencies don’t really mean all that much since everybody has to have some sort of personality traits that contribute to the sum total of an individual.
Certain traits expressed, but not to the point of pathological significance can be valuable, neutral or a liability.
Antisocial Personality disorder isn’t mandatory in the Marine Corps, but it’s certainly encouraged.
Yes.
Which is part of the reason I said…
“which makes him a perfect fit for the job”
Yeah, Piuperdink, you have a little disorder called narcissistic personality disorder, aggravated by an addictive desperation for attention. You think the world revolves around you.
Well, it doesn’t. It revolves around the Sun.
If you find this ‘board’ so disturbing that you can hardly get through any comment without picking a ridiculous fight over nothing, then stop tormenting yourself that way and go start your own blog. You’re repetitive, predictable, and boring.
Zika-Commie also suffers from Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD) also know as Attention Whore Disorder.
I am not currently a medical professional but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
I took a full MMPI and interview evaluations three times in my career. Once very very recently.
I have no personality disorders.
I am definitely not narcissistic and if you actually knew me you would know that.
I did have significant depression at one point but it is pretty mild now.
Seriously though…dontcha think you’re driving the subject to fit the profile rather than making an unbiased assessment of personality?
I could just as easily take select tendencies and pigeon hole him elsewhere..OCD, Narcissistic, Histrionic etc…all of these disorders contain valuable traits which are overdeveloped and amalgamated with other traits into disorders.
It’s possible, Doc, but it depends on which ‘him’ you’re referring to.
lolz
Just saying…in my job for example as an IDC SARC (SOIDC), ya better have some OCD traits or you’re probably not suited to it.
Yes, well, that’s why I said ‘it depends’. I see one of the ‘hims’ as self-assured, confident, somewhat demanding, and very direct, whereas the other ‘him’ has the emotional maturity of a 4YO.
And when I said that one of the ‘hims’ should start his own blog, I meant that in the most positive way. Self-expression is a wonderful outlet for creative energy as well as unreleased frustrations.
Works for me, anyway.
It really has to do with the things he says and how he believes the US military should function.
I do not think it is controversial to claim that someone that made the following statements publicly is likely to score higher than average on the sociopath spectrum (I am actually surprised at so much pushback).
‘It’s quite fun to shoot them, you know. It’s a hell of a hoot. It’s fun to shoot some people.’
‘Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet.’
‘There are some people who think you have to hate them in order to shoot them. I don’t think you do.’
By the way, yesterday you posted a response concerning Obama’s record to which I wanted to respond but there was so much static on the thread that it would have been impossible to have a discussion on the subject without it getting derailed or buried in noise.
There has been several conversations I have wanted to have with a few of the regulars that are willing to try to engage with substance instead of just static. Too often though when I check the posts there is so much noise there is no way to have a conversation. One, in particular, a while back about the economy I was actually kinda bummed got buried in static because I was really interested in the subject.
So I set up an email. commissarpoodle@gmail.com
If you actually want to discuss the subject that would be a way to do so. No biggie if you don’t. I doubt we will persuade each other because our value system is very different but we may better understand why each holds the opinion we do.
“So I set up an email. commissarpoodle@gmail.com” Sure. Why don’t people who use that just go ahed and give you their full names, DOBs, and addresses? Tard. And I am a contributor to that “noise” you whine about. Gee, why are you being singled out, I wonder. Tard. You are irrelevant, Commissar and no matter what you write in whatever tone you choose to play your pretend games, that will not change.
They can set up an anonymous email as well.
I did not make this email anonymous so my name would show up in replies, but I could easily have done so. There is no verification process or requirement to use your real name.
I find it quite telling how much emphasis this board puts on anonymity while publicly shaming people and attacking people USING THEIR REAL NAMES AND IDENTITIES.
Cowardly to say the least.
But I guess I should expect nothing less. Most of you self-identify as conservatives and two traits conservatives hold is a higher level of fear and suspicion of others and a stronger drive for reciprocity. So you fear others and expect people to retaliate personally because most of you WOULD DO SO.
And at least two of you have already TRIED to use my identity against me off this forum. Pathetic weasels.
Yeah, all that to have a discussion with you? Buy a goldfish. At least when it dies you can eat it.
You are as transparent as glass, Piuperdink. If you were even a little bit clever, you’d start your own blog and link to it.
I don’t think you’ve had an original idea since the egg was generated in your mother’s Fallopian tubes.
Lars, I saw this post earlier today, before I left to spend time with my girlfriend and her children. I’d like to answer this question you put to me, but I need some time to do it – and do it in a way that is respectful and honorable. I also feel that since you asked me and others to talk with you away from the blog in this post, that I should reply here, for all to see.
Lars – I’ll pass on holding any off-post communication with you at this time. You’ve been abusive and condescending almost from the first time you posted here – I can probably count on one hand the number of times you have posted anything here that has been vaguely polite and respectful to anyone – me included. Why should I expect anything different in private e-mails between us? You have stated may times here variations of this statement, “I doubt we will persuade each other because our value system is very different but we may better understand why each holds the opinion we do”. The thing that you seem to not understand is that there are some of us that listed to others that we disagree with and RESPECT then for it. It’s almost like every time you post something here, you intent is to not get a discussion going, but to go to the throat with the name calling and insults. In the past, I and others have tried to tell you to back down and get your feelings in check before posting here and you just don’t want to listen. The way I look at this blog, it’s like a local bar or privately owned coffee shop – we come in, sit down, have a cup/glass/bottle of our favorite beverage and talk. We agree on some things and AGREE TO DISAGREE on others. When you come in, you’re the guy that has a drink or seven and starts to look for a fight you feel that they/we disrespect you. I keep my mind open to what others have to say and listen and think, contrary to your opinion of me and the others at TAH seems to be. One last thing – in one of the other threads you posted about your life (upbringing, service, etc.) and made it sound like you’re the one that has had it tough in life. Every one of us has had our fair share of heartache and disappointment – everything from legal issues, health-related, problems at work and even the loss of someone… Read more »
Lars, WHAT-DA-MUDDA-FUCK makes you think that anyone here would want to talk to you one on one? You’re a complete bore and an unwelcome pain in the ass as well, I bet you couldn’t even play hide and seek as a kid because NOBODY ever wanted to find you!
That does not fit the definition of a sociopath, does it?
No. But I did not say he WAS. I was referring to the fact that he scores higher than normal range on the scale. Which many do. And HMCS(FMF) acknowledged is probably true for most marines.
Ooops. My apologies. It was IDC SARC not HMCS(FMF).
He’s only a sociopath if its a society of pussies.
He a warrior. If no one fucks with his tribe they have nothing to worry about.
JOD, you said it… don’t fuck with Mattis or his people, and he won’t FUCK with you!
I believe that term is incorrectly applied to GEN Mattis.
A sociopath is defined as follows: a person with a personality disorder manifesting itself in extreme antisocial attitudes and behavior and a lack of conscience.
I have yet to see or read anything about GEN Mattis that indicates any kind of sociopathic behavior coming from him.
If there is anyone who fits the description of that word, it is every single one of those protesters in the videos on the WOT, supplied by another poster.
I do not think he is a clinical sociopath.
It is a composite score based on several characteristics.
Everyone single person in the world falls somewhere on the sociopath spectrum.
EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON
It is essentially a bell curve. Most people are in a normal range. Some are more sociopathic than average. Others less.
Most military officers are higher than average.
SECEF Mattis is clearly higher than average.
Judge not, lest ye be likewise judged, Piuperdink.
You make false assumptions about someone who is, from all reports about him by people who have served with him, a good leader and an inspiration to those Marines.
Either you are substantially jealous of someone whose life is a success while yours is not, or you have absolutely nothing to say of any value, and revert to picking fights over nothing.
Unfortunately, you are also predictable and boring as hell.
I think it’s significant that Defense and Homeland Security were the first two positions vetted and approved by the Senate and the first two Secretarial positions filled so shortly after the inauguration. Almost like Trump is signaling certain folks in other parts of the world who may not be our biggest fans that they better think twice about any tricks they may want to pull. There is no vaccuum in Defense or Homeland. Rough men stand ready from the start of this administration.
Oh yeah, and President Trump…President Trump. Has a decidedly non-obamaesque, non-hillaryesque sound to it, don’t you think?
Whose going to draw the short straw and inform GEN Mattis that he can’t lead from the battlefield but has to use his office in DC??
He’ll make sure that he has “real” leaders in place to carry out the mission, not the PC animals running around in the DoD.
Just remember that old Bosun’s Mate’s aphorism: The shit always rolls downhill.
Stand to!
Here’s an article from Reuters News regarding the first three cabinet appointments, SecDef, Homeland Security, and CIA.
SecDef/Mattis, Homeland Security/Kelly, and CIa/Pompeo.
All ex-military, two of them Marines. (gigglesnort) That’s some spicy meataballsa!
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-mattis-idUSKBN1542VA
so is it Saint General Mattis or General Saint Mattis?
I believe that, if properly addressed, it would be General St. James Mattis.
You can get incense at the door.
It better smell like napalm.
Commissar says that Mattis is a sociopath. Nice. Very nice. Commissar has been specially trained to, as he say, spot sociopaths. Friggin guy. I thought he was 40-45 but he’s not if his acct of what he’s done with his time is to be believed. Lars is at least 50. Can you believe that? At least 50. Just to read some of his stuff, one would think he’s maybe 19. Damn commie.
He Who Shall Not Be Named will be 46 on his upcoming birthday.
Oh. Okay. I figured with his being nearly 30 years in service (so he says, as I recall) and a cop (so he says, as I recall) and a professional student for at least a few years, no way he is younger than 50.
“nearly 30 years in service” – No. He mumbled something about service occurring during three different decades.
As far as him being a cop – no knowledge. He doesn’t list that anywhere in his background info. Could be too easily verified.
Maybe having been a cop is a “LarsFact.”
Zika-Commie posted this yesterday:
http://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=69890#comment-2946736
“I joined the military at 17 years old. Served mostly in special operations units. Over almost 3 decades.[…] I was a cop in a high crime US/Mexico border county.[…] The roots of my “socialist” views probably started in Texas.”
Okay. He enlisted at 17, he says. Spent nearly 30 years in service, he says. Let’s call it 28. That would put him at 45/46. Then he was a cop, he says, but he doesn’t say how long. He did, however, mention it in support of his contention that he possesses real-world experience. That tells me it must have been a few years. Then, as we all know from him only too well, he has spent some years in California studying to be a communist. That’s how I came up with at least 50. On the other hand, he could have been lying. It’s one of the standard tools of both the sociopath and the commie.
Lars. Get out of your apartment, go around the corner, buy a bottle of cheap booze and offer it to a wino in exchange for his listening to you. It’s really the only way you are going to get someone to enter into a conversation with you. If you can’t afford the booze, get a full-length mirror and sit in front of it. Talk to that guy. You won’t be able to get a word in edgewise and he’ll make little sense but, hey, it’s free.
As much as I would love to zip his mouth shut, he just leaves himself wide open to the backlash.
Having an opinion about something is one thing. We all have our own opinions, don’t we?
However, saying that everyone else is wrong and stupid just because they don’t agree with you or worship the ground you walk on is simply bad manners.
Maybe I’m too indulgent. I view the Piuperdink as the 4-year-old who stomps his feet when he can’t get his way, just like the protesters in the videos that John Mallernee was kind enough to provide for us to see.