Hegseth: 'breath of fresh air' or just another Trump moron?

[Zebra3]

24 minutes ago, OverSword said:

Source?

Source?

Source?

Anonymous.

Anonymous.

Anonymous.

 

But, if the lefties in the hearings say it, it's gotta be true.

Edited January 15 by Zebra3

[Gromdor]

5 hours ago, OverSword said:

Source?

Source?

Source?

I can answer this:

1) Ten FOX News co-workers and ironically Pete himself:

 https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/pete-hegseths-drinking-worried-colleagues-fox-news-sources-tell-nbc-ne-rcna181471

https://www.newsweek.com/everything-pete-hegseth-said-wrote-book-interviews-alcohol-use-pledge-quit-drunk-1995945

2) A police report, some video, and a lawsuit from 2017: https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/21/politics/pete-hegseth-police-report-defense-secretary-trump/index.html

3) Pete himself again.  He wants to change to names of military installations back to confederate names: https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/13/politics/pete-hegseth-confederate-generals-military-bases/index.html

 

It does sound like he has a bit of a drinking problem, because his defence was always that, "He didn't drink at work." which doesn't counter the "He came in to work smelling like alcohol" comments.

The sex assault thing, eh.  That's like a prequisite for office in Trump's adminstration.  

I could care less about the name changing.  It's just the conservatives version of pronouns to me.

[Agent0range]

A Captain in the National Guard, who was never active duty, should not be setting standards for the military.  One weekend a month doesn't allow you to know what an active duty Soldier goes through on a daily basis.  He never commanded Soldiers.  Period.  He shouldn't be outranking Generals.

[DarkHunter]

22 minutes ago, Agent0range said:

A Captain in the National Guard, who was never active duty, should not be setting standards for the military.  One weekend a month doesn't allow you to know what an active duty Soldier goes through on a daily basis.  He never commanded Soldiers.  Period.  He shouldn't be outranking Generals.

That claim is just not accurate, Hegseth was active duty in Cuba, Iraq, and Afghanistan and he did command soldiers during his deployments.

[Zebra3]

Incoming White House Press Secretary @karolineleavitt says Team Trump couldn’t be more pleased with how the confirmation hearings are going on Capitol Hill. She says the only thing we’ve learned in the past 48 hours is that Democrats have not yet found a cure to Trump Derangement Syndrome.

[Agent0range]

On 1/15/2025 at 10:00 PM, DarkHunter said:

That claim is just not accurate, Hegseth was active duty in Cuba, Iraq, and Afghanistan and he did command soldiers during his deployments.

Well, we can tell you were never in the military.  Being on active duty status for pay reasons, doesn't mean you are active duty military.  He did not command Soldiers, capital S, have some respect, during deployments.  He was a platoon leader.  When he was a Captain, which would be a Company Commander, he was Civil Affairs.  Try again.  Eight years active duty, I can discredit anything you say all day.

[psyche101]

On 1/16/2025 at 3:51 AM, OverSword said:

Can you be specific about why he is a bad choice in your opinion?

The article isn't very complimentary. 

Why is he a good choice? 

[Gromdor]

1 hour ago, psyche101 said:

The article isn't very complimentary. 

Why is he a good choice? 

Loyalty.  Also he is probably the best they could put forward.

[Portre]

On 1/15/2025 at 10:32 AM, OverSword said:

Source?

Source?

Source?

Pete Hegseth's drinking worried colleagues at Fox News, sources tell NBC News

Pete Hegseth Says Alcohol Allegations Are 'False,' Also Vows Not To Drink On Job This is the language of an alcoholic.

Pete Hegseth says US military bases should restore names of Confederate generals Enemies who fought against the United States.

Police report gives details, timeline of the sexual assault claim against Pete Hegseth

Among all MAGAt loyalists, even all MAGAt TV personalities, is this person the best person to lead the Dept. of Defense? The POS elect could find nobody else?

[Zebra3]

Why do people think the left are a joke?

 

[+OverSword]

4 hours ago, psyche101 said:

The article isn't very complimentary. 

Why is he a good choice? 

I don't know and have not given an opinion.  I'm sure some people giving theirs are against anything or for everything trump says or does so I asked how they came to their conclusion.

Asking ChatGPT if Hegseth would make a good Secretary of Defense after a list of pros and cons this is what AI says

 

Quote

 

Conclusion:

Hegseth could be a good Secretary of Defense for those who prioritize a strong national defense, veterans’ issues, and a more ideologically driven military policy. However, his lack of deep expertise in defense policy, limited military leadership experience, and controversial public persona could be significant drawbacks. Whether or not he would be effective in the role ultimately depends on how well he can balance his ideological stances with the complex, nuanced responsibilities of the position.

 

 

[Unusual Tournament]

Trump’s last two Secretaries of Defence (one sacked and the other brutally honest about Trump after leaving office) Mattis and Esper, were better suited to the office than Hegseth IMO.  

[+OverSword]

5 minutes ago, Unusual Tournament said:

Trump’s last two Secretaries of Defence (one sacked and the other brutally honest about Trump after leaving office) Mattis and Esper, were better suited to the office than Hegseth IMO.  

Why?

[Unusual Tournament]

1 minute ago, OverSword said:

Why?

I guess they seemed like serious and qualified people, more so than Hegseth. Maybe Hegseth will do wonders? 🤔

[Doc Socks Junior]

9 minutes ago, OverSword said:

Why?

Between one word questions and AI drivel, you're really making an important contribution to this discussion. Thanks for your service.

[+OverSword]

2 minutes ago, Doc Socks Junior said:

Between one word questions and AI drivel, you're really making an important contribution to this discussion. Thanks for your service.

Asking people to explain their position is not acceptable to you eh?  If you put out a statement of opinion without a reason I'm likely ask why.  As well as quoting AI, I also stated at the beginning of the post that I don't know, thus I don't really have an opinion but am working one up based in part in questions I ask in this thread. The post I quoted above is of much less value to the conversation than my simple one word post.  You are not as smart as you think you are, if you were you would have realized the lack of value in your post and not bothered.  

[Doc Socks Junior]

4 minutes ago, OverSword said:

Asking people to explain their position is not acceptable to you eh?

No. 

Following the script of a 4-year-old is the less acceptable part.

4 minutes ago, OverSword said:

If you put out a statement of opinion without a reason I'm likely ask why.

Why?

4 minutes ago, OverSword said:

  As well as quoting AI, I also stated at the beginning of the post that I don't know, thus I don't really have an opinion but am working one up based in part in questions I ask in this thread.

Why?

I eagerly await that, as opposed to chatbot drivel, then.

4 minutes ago, OverSword said:

The post I quoted above is of much less value to the conversation than my simple one word post. 

Debatable. I find it of much use.

4 minutes ago, OverSword said:

You are not as smart as you think you are, if you were you would have realized the lack of value in your post and not bothered.  

The day I feel the need to internalize the opinion on my intelligence of a chatbot parrot will be a sad day.

[+OverSword]

27 minutes ago, Doc Socks Junior said:

Why?

I eagerly await that, as opposed to chatbot drivel, then.

The only part of your post worth responding to the rest is childishness like so much of your content.

Thanks in part to this thread combined with AI summaries I think Hegseth a poor choice.  Mainly because I think his personal philosophy about the military leans too easily towards interventionism.  I'm more of the mindset of sanctions or trade for mutual benefit as the preferred method of dealing with belligerent nations.

Edited January 17 by OverSword

[psyche101]

9 hours ago, OverSword said:

I don't know and have not given an opinion.  I'm sure some people giving theirs are against anything or for everything trump says or does so I asked how they came to their conclusion.

Fair enough. 

The article brings up some important issues, like not questioning him on critical issues. It's like he has breezed through with his controversies taking the front seat when important issues were side stepped. As such I think it's hard to say he would be good for the job. 

9 hours ago, OverSword said:

Asking ChatGPT if Hegseth would make a good Secretary of Defense after a list of pros and cons this is what AI says

The pros are surely a standard for any candidate for the position. The cons were his interview basically. From what I gather at the link. I feel that pointing at Trump as the decision maker, as you noted above, is a valid criticism. His choices to date are questionable. There's good reason to expect more and more controversy and strange decisions over the next four years. His picks to date aren't exactly confidence boosting. I'd be more concerned about the Christian right getting established. It's starting to look like a beginner's version of Shariah law. 

Edited January 18 by psyche101

[Golden Duck]

15 minutes ago, psyche101 said:

Fair enough. 

The article brings up some important issues, like not questioning him on critical issues. It's like he has breezed through with his controversies taking the front seat when important issues were side stepped. As such I think it's hard to say he would be good for the job. 

The pros are surely a standard for any candidate for the position. The cons were his interview basically. From what I gather at the link. I feel that pointing at Trump as the decision maker, as you noted above, is a valid criticism. His choices to date are questionable. There's good reason to expect more and more controversy and strange decisions over the next four years. His picks to date aren't exactly confidence boosting. I'd be more concerned about the Christian right getting established. It's starting to look like a beginner's version of Shariah law. 

It's the equivalent for the Minister of Defence.

You be jatd pressed to find an Aussie MOD with the kind of qualifications/experience expected of Hegseth.  Furthermore, you will rarely find a military leader as Secretary of Defence.

[psyche101]

5 minutes ago, Golden Duck said:

It's the equivalent for the Minister of Defence.

You be jatd pressed to find an Aussie MOD with the kind of qualifications/experience expected of Hegseth.  Furthermore, you will rarely find a military leader as Secretary of Defence.

I was of the opinion, from the article, that quite standard questions for the position were simply not asked? 

[Golden Duck]

40 minutes ago, psyche101 said:

I was of the opinion, from the article, that quite standard questions for the position were simply not asked? 

The quote from Mara Karlin?  She's was career public servant in office responsible for giving the "bread and butter" advice to the Secretary.

Thr question about the generals and post miltary careers could have been better worded. Compare that to former MOD Brendan Nelson who is now President of Boeing Australia.

[psyche101]

29 minutes ago, Golden Duck said:

The quote from Mara Karlin?  She's was career public servant in office responsible for giving the "bread and butter" advice to the Secretary.

Thr question about the generals and post miltary careers could have been better worded. Compare that to former MOD Brendan Nelson who is now President of Boeing Australia.

Yes, and the Illinois senator, they do however raise some controversial points...

Aside from brief mentions of China and the war in Ukraine and Russia, senators did not ask Hegseth specifically about current conflicts, and other potential military adversaries and strategic rivals.

Those fundamental issues were mostly "crowded out" by the questions about Hegseth's character and competence, said Mara Karlin, former assistant defence secretary for strategy, plans, and capabilities.

"What's astonishing about the hearing is just how little focus there has been on the bread and butter of what the secretary of defence has to do, which is protect the nation, and ensure you have a military capable of winning conflicts," Karlin said.

Senate Armed Services Committee member Tammy Duckworth was also unimpressed with what Hegseth had to say about military strategy.

"He couldn't answer some of the most basic questions I asked of him," the Democratic Senator from Illinois told the BBC.

Duckworth said that Hegseth could not name a single country that is in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations - "basic questions that any international affairs college student would be able to answer".

[Golden Duck]

2 hours ago, psyche101 said:

Yes, and the Illinois senator, they do however raise some controversial points...

Aside from brief mentions of China and the war in Ukraine and Russia, senators did not ask Hegseth specifically about current conflicts, and other potential military adversaries and strategic rivals.

Those fundamental issues were mostly "crowded out" by the questions about Hegseth's character and competence, said Mara Karlin, former assistant defence secretary for strategy, plans, and capabilities.

"What's astonishing about the hearing is just how little focus there has been on the bread and butter of what the secretary of defence has to do, which is protect the nation, and ensure you have a military capable of winning conflicts," Karlin said.

Senate Armed Services Committee member Tammy Duckworth was also unimpressed with what Hegseth had to say about military strategy.

"He couldn't answer some of the most basic questions I asked of him," the Democratic Senator from Illinois told the BBC.

Duckworth said that Hegseth could not name a single country that is in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations - "basic questions that any international affairs college student would be able to answer".

My gut feeling is that media personalities might not make the best Ministers - see Maxine McKew and Peter Garrett.  But, the questions put to Hegseth are the responsibility of Congress, not him.

Other than that Hegseth is meant to be there as a non-miltary person to affirm civillian control over the military.  Can he develop military policy that serves all Americans rather than a targeted demographic.

[psyche101]

2 hours ago, Golden Duck said:

My gut feeling is that media personalities might not make the best Ministers - see Maxine McKew and Peter Garrett.  But, the questions put to Hegseth are the responsibility of Congress, not him.

Other than that Hegseth is meant to be there as a non-miltary person to affirm civillian control over the military.  Can he develop military policy that serves all Americans rather than a targeted demographic.

I had assumed they were civilian aspects of the job. There's a strong public sentiment about America's support of Ukraine and Israel, and how that leaves the nation if an emergency should arise, and how his influence may involve America with the conflicts, and the funds expended (valid or not). That was how I took the bread and butter comment. How to act on that and feed it to the population in a positive way. Some of the more conservative posters often complain about American shortfall due to Ukraine support. And in that capacity, he really should be able to name one country in ASEAN. I mean the acronym is a bit of a giveaway, I reckon most people could guess the big one, and that's the sort of public appearance the media will crucify him with. 

Could just be my interpretation but they seemed fair criticisms. Although I'm anything but an expert on the subject. 

A conservative Christian is likely to appease Americans but America's enemies may well see that as incitement. 

He's already openly stated he intends to reshape the military in a very conservative way. It's already red vs blue, like everything else over there. don't know if that's going to work for morale or not. Immediately it's the Maga fear of what's in people's pants, not offering anything of actual substance, just regurgitating the hot topics on social media. Well. Truth social at least.