Pleasant skies.
Category: politics
Klaatu barada nikto!
I left the Army about… uh… **mumblemumble** years ago. I’ve had several roles, positions, and a career or two since then. It was, in a way, a lifetime ago. But I still took an oath. Not just any oath. But The oath.
A legally-binding statement that you make when you enlist. It’s purposefully codified into the United States Code:
(a) Enlistment Oath.-Each person enlisting in an armed force shall take the following oath:
“I, ________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”
10 U.S.C. §502 (a) (2021)
You must say the words. You must say them exactly as they’re written. It may not be readily apparent, but grammar and meaning is paramount.
Ever wonder why it doesn’t say “only do what Trump says” nor “be Biden’s bitch”?
No?
That’s because it doesn’t.
Grammatically, there are three stanzas that are presented in order of priority:
- I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; — that’s priority one. It’s not negotiable. Defending the Constitution takes top priority. Against whom? Enemies. It doesn’t differentiate between “only foreign enemies” nor does it say “only internal enemies” nor “only Russia”. You’re defending it against all enemies, both foreign and domestic. Let that resonate.
- that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; I will ally with those who have the same single priority — to support and defend the Constitution of the United States — unless the faith and allegiance is misguided and is an enemy of the Constitution. Then Rule #1 is the priority.
- and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me… — unless they aren’t actually orders or the President or officers are demonstrably enemies of the Constitution. Rule #1 is still the priority.
Say the words. Say them exactly as they’re specified.
Not sure about anyone else, but I never un-took that oath.
Apropos of, well, everything…
“The major problem—one of the major problems, for there are several—one of the many major problems with governing people is that of whom you get to do it; or rather of who manages to get people to let them do it to them.
— Douglas Adams, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
To summarize: it is a well-known fact that those people who must want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it.
To summarize the summary: anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.
To summarize the summary of the summary: people are a problem.”
How to Throw an Election
Also: How do you really feel.
It sounded more like Ole’man Trump was throwing the next election.
Oh, I’m sorry, let me put it another way: How one handles an unexpected crisis speaks volumes of one’s own character. And clearly, he’s not up to the challenges before him.
This was an absolutely critical, legacy-defining moment.
Alexander’s simple, softball question “How would you respond to…”
Could have been a surprising and motivational response showing a bit of humility and compassion: “This is an extraordinarily difficult time that we’ve all found ourselves in — more difficult and complex than any crisis that any civilization throughout all of recorded history has ever seen before. I urge everyone — not only Americans, but everyone across all nations and cultures around the world — to remain calm, to not overreact, and to continue working as best you can, where you are, with what you have. With perseverance, determination, and cautious optimism, we’ll absolutely see this through…”
or
Instead level a belligerent, condescending, ad hominem attack truly underscores that he’s not in the long game.
Full disclosure: I voted for Trump. I’m not apt to make the same mistake again.
the rest of me 