• chiliedogg@lemmy.world
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    12 hours ago

    Hegseth and Trump were treating it like a political event where people worship them.

    But these weren’t their superfans attending a rally. They were professionals ordered to be there and to listen. And even if they were fans, you don’t fucking clap and cheer at a military briefing.

  • Dr. Moose@lemmy.world
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    11 hours ago

    I’m not an american or even fan of american military but how could career military people ever like a draft dodger and tv personality? Military is notoriously a rank based community and they absolutely don’t fit that.

  • WhatGodIsMadeOf@feddit.org
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    20 hours ago

    We market and psychologically manipulate people until they become terrorists and then our institutions build off it to become more powerful? Like a business?

    Understand crime and heartlessness to understand how the real world works?

    It was always like but not as blatant?

    What …is …grammar really?

  • kadaverin0@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    7 hours ago

    His speech reminded me of the ranting self-absorbed monologues my father would go on when he was in the middle of a coke binge. The manic energy and barely concealed narcissistic rage while trying so hard to convince us of his righteousness and varity. It usually ended with him flipping the coffee table or punching a hole in the wall.

  • 6stringringer@lemmy.zip
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    16 hours ago

    There was like one guy in the crowd that actually had a hard on for this. The problematic issue with this individual is that he only lasted something like 20 secs> into the speech.

    • Uruanna@lemmy.world
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      13 hours ago

      Unfortunately, reporters also couldn’t find a single general who cares that it’s allowed to disobey an unlawful order and that they can overthrow a domestic terrorist.

    • Ecco the dolphin@lemmy.ml
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      2 days ago

      He’s talking about getting rid of military members who can’t shave due to medical reasons.

      context

      People with curly hair can have ingrown hairs from shaving. Most people with no shave chits are black.

      Don’t let him trick you into thinking this speech is just stupid. Its stupid, but he’s also trying to give generals plausible deniability to remove minority military members and women.

      • shawn1122@sh.itjust.works
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        Somewhere between 1 in 2 to 2 in 3 African American men experience a condition called pseudofolliculitis barbae where, due curliness and firmness of hair, a clean shave results in significant local inflammation, irritation and discomfort.

        The treatment is to not to shave too close to the skin…

      • yesman@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        Don’t forget they’re also mad about Sakhs who were allowed to wear turbans and beards.

  • xenomor@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    My favorite part was when Hegseth talked about removing politics from the military, and then trump spent 20 minutes whining about politics.

    • Tryenjer@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Hegseth disrupted the lives of 800 highly educated military leaders to call them fat. 🤣

      • HubertManne@piefed.social
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        1 day ago

        did you see how long they had to sit with his talk and trumps and the stupid music playing. well over two hours but hard to say.

      • TemplaerDude@sh.itjust.works
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        2 days ago

        Exactly.

        These scumbags talk one thing and do the opposite.

        They deserve the gallows before they take the rest of that shit country down with them.

        • SanctimoniousApe@lemmings.world
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          I’m afraid it’s far too late for that. You think things are bad now? You just wait. Shit’s gonna start getting extremely ugly when the massive house of cards that is the current US economy starts falling down - which I personally would normally peg to start happening in earnest by early next year, but with Trump deliberately destroying the very source that would let us all know the numbers behind what’s actually going on in the economy all bets on timing are off. The longer it gets put off, the worse it’s gonna be, however.

          • TemplaerDude@sh.itjust.works
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            2 days ago

            I’m just pulling for some Americans to do the right thing and start putting holes in these fascists. Doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen though, they’re happy just memeing their way to hell.

            • SanctimoniousApe@lemmings.world
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              Unlike in the past, there are a million and one ways to avoid reality nowadays (heck, I’m doing so by spending time here). That, and the fact the bulk of the angry gun-owning types are on the MAGAt side of the isle. This crash is going to be like none before, so it’s impossible to make predictions (beyond any obvious ones) on what will happen.

              • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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                2 days ago

                While I agree we should be cautious and fight back, that’s just not true. The Business Plot, for example, just sort of didn’t happen and fizzled out. This isn’t to imply nothing should be done, because we definitely need to work to ensure they don’t achieve their goals, but Fascists have lost to less than bullets. This also isn’t saying dead Fascists aren’t desired. It’s only stating that your comment isn’t exactly accurate.

                Saying the only way to fight back is by killing people leaves a whole lot of people doing nothing. There’s a lot more you can do besides picking up a gun. Your message plays into their hands, not ours.

      • cmbabul@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        Just like Christian’s don’t consider Christianity anything besides “the truth” American conservatives/maga/gop also don’t think their political beliefs are political, just “common sense”

  • CircaV@lemmy.ca
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    Whatever - they will follow orders from whoever their exhalted president is. Cause even though it’s a certified clown in office they still obey his bullshit cause they hold the office in high regard.

  • jjjalljs@ttrpg.network
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    2 days ago

    Hegseth is a cartoon villain that shouldn’t be anywhere near a position of power

    Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reposted and praised a video interview of a self-described Christian nationalist pastor whose church doesn’t believe women should be allowed to vote.

    Just an utter scumbag.

  • blattrules@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    I hope every single one of them realizes that they were used as seat fillers for more culture war bullshit. I’m sure they can see right through these two man-babies for the weak human beings they are and will think twice when they’re asked to do something illegal/immoral for them.

    • F_State@midwest.social
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      1 day ago

      I mean, insofar as Hegseth has internalized the culture war and can’t stop being a fox news host long enough to do his job. I think priming the Military to eventually use it against the American population was the main purpose of this gathering.

      • BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today
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        18 hours ago

        You don’t have to say that you “think” that, Trump was very clear that he expects them to wage “War” against specific cities he hates. Deploying the military against American citizens is one of our most basic prohibitions, and he just told the world that he intends to violate it.

        The significance of using the word “War” to describe his intentions towards these cities can’t be overstated. He clearly intends to use the military to commit serious violence against these cities. Just that threat alone should be an impeachable offense.

    • unphazed@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Mussolini promised the world to his troops, and was seen as a competent soldier himself (I admit I know little on his military prowess). Our regime is led by a diaper wearing, flat footed nepo baby who hired a pretty boy guardsman who spent more time in front of a camera wielding propaganda than he did a rifle to lead our entire military. These generals meanwhile get chastised and left to fix every fuckup generated by the administration with no reward for themselves or the men and women under their command. Then they see any hope of rewards in retirement after decades of service go up in smoke. Yeah, I’m not too worried about them doing illegal actions on US citizens. I’m becoming more afraid of a military coup however. If our balance of power and law becomes obsolete, then they may see it as reason to change the executive power as it stands.

      • Formfiller@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        I was kinda hoping that they would have done that coup today and put those two on trial for being enemies of the constitution. The military swears an oath to the constitution and those two knuckleheads were directing the generals to do unconstitutional shit. I’m pretty sure this coup scenario would be better than what is going on currently

        • mcv@lemmy.zip
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          1 day ago

          It’s much to early to talk about a coup. But when Trump really wants the US military to act against US citizens, I don’t think that’s an order the military can possibly obey. I think that will be coup time.

          I can’t believe we’re seriously talking about this.

          • BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today
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            18 hours ago

            I agree with your assessment. They all had a chance to speak with each other at this meeting, and I’ll bet at least some of them started to talk about worst-case scenarios.

            They won’t act spontaneously, it will be in response to a seriously illegal demand.

        • prettybunnys@sh.itjust.works
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          1 day ago

          The military is not going to do a violence to protect the country unless ordered to do so (by the executive branch) OR a violence is done to them first.

          If they’re to be believed they’re honorable / noble enough to want to protect the nation from the president then they’re honorable / noble enough to not act first. So, double edged sword and all that

        • TronBronson@lemmy.world
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          1 day ago

          There are 300 million of us lmao you just gotta convince people to remove their representation and replace it with someone competent. Im sure the generals probably believe its not their duty or place and also fear to consequences of turning the USA into a military rule for even a second. It’s time to stop praying to a higher power for a miracle and start removing your congress people from office. They can’t hide from their voters for ever.

            • TronBronson@lemmy.world
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              12 hours ago

              I mean voting is good: we just need to remove the rot and start voting again with a clean slate. We don’t have fair access to voting anymore.

          • Bronzebeard@lemmy.zip
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            1 day ago

            The problem is, people rarely view their own representative as the problem (as long as it’s who they voted for). So if a republican view sees the country going to shut during a republican administration, at best, they’ll think it’s a bunch of other Republican reps that are messing things up for the person they chose.

            • TronBronson@lemmy.world
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              12 hours ago

              Right and this is a bipartisan issue because the Democrats will die behind whatever geriatric they’re about to prop up next year. No one cares about qualified candidates. They just want someone that makes them feel warm and fuzzy.

            • bitjunkie@lemmy.world
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              1 day ago

              This country is gerrymandered as shit. A lot of people do view “their” representative as part of the problem, but what recourse do they have when decades of political gamesmanship has made their votes no longer count?

        • PrettyFlyForAFatGuy@feddit.uk
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          That would mean immediate civil war which would be horrific for everyone. It’s a lever that should only be pulled as a last resort

          • Formfiller@lemmy.world
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            They declared war on America yesterday and encouraged the military to commit war crimes against American citizens……how is that not a declaration of civil war? Genuinely curious

    • finitebanjo@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Imagine if it continues to degrade to the point that Kristi Noem gets put in charge of more branches of armed forces.

  • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    “All I’ve had from them so far, from the people I’ve talked to, is a combination of disbelief that some of them were made to fly from, some of them, Asia, from all over the world … all the way to Quanico to listen to the same familiar type of culture war complaints that we’ve been having since Trump was reelected,” she added, calling Trump’s remarks a “campaign-style stump speech.”

    They love making people do shit like this, and absolutely despise being reminded that someone can make them do it.

    As long as they don’t bitch out and resign, this is going to backfire on trump.

    Even if he tries to kick them out, they can drag their feet thru the official process, and if trump starts circumventing that widescale, the rest will close ranks and do a coup out of pure self interest.

    You don’t get that high up without putting your career over everything, and trump just threatened their careers.

    • partial_accumen@lemmy.world
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      Even if he tries to kick them out, they can drag their feet thru the official process, and if trump starts circumventing that widescale, the rest will close ranks and do a coup out of pure self interest.

      Things might get spicy when we finally have folks that decide to uphold their oaths to uphold the Constitution. We certainly haven’t seen any in the Executive Branch yet, and most of the Judicial and Legislative seems to be abdicating their oaths too.

      • halcyoncmdr@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        Note the oath the enlisted take specifically says they will follow the orders of the President.

        That’s not the one that matters.

        The officer’s oath does not include that, specifically for this reason:

        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; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God. (Title 5 U.S. Code 3331, an individual, except the President, elected or appointed to an office of honor or profit in the civil service or uniformed services)

        https://www.army.mil/values/officers.html

        I’m 99% sure that these oaths apply across the board regardless of branch, because they apply to more than just commissioned officers.

          • Hasherm0n@lemmy.world
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            I’ve already seen the taking point showing up on the right that the “… and domestic” part applies to the “antifa terrorists turning our cities into war zones and besieging federal (especially ICE) buildings.”

        • benignintervention@lemmy.world
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          I really hope that GOs don’t take the oath lightly. When I taught that lesson to my cadets it was a serious conversation and usually involved stories about commanders I knew who got fired or court-martialed for everything including extra-marital affairs, to belittling subordinates, to fabricating illegal orders (and then breaking international law). I hope it doesn’t come to it, but I imagine that a military court would be less partisan than our current courts have been.

      • MisterOwl@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        We certainly haven’t seen any in the Executive Branch yet, and most of the Judicial and Legislative seems to be abdicating their oaths too.

        And these generals will follow suit. People keep saying how serious and career-driven they are. What makes you think they won’t put their career over the constitution like everyone else?

        • Horsecook@sh.itjust.works
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          ”If you don’t like what I’m saying, you can leave the room, of course, there goes your rank, there goes your future” -Trump, to the entire military leadership

          If enough of them decide simultaneously that Trump is the main impediment to their careers, then you have a good, old-fashioned military coup.

        • Makeitstop@lemmy.world
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          2 days ago

          The federal courts are filled with people appointed through the political process, and a lot of the bullshit that’s made it through the courts is a result of venue shopping to find sympathetic judges. But more importantly, the Trump administration has been losing a lot in court… until the Supreme Court steps in and reverses those rulings on the shadow docket. It’s not the whole judicial branch that’s the problem, just the ones that matter the most.

          The legislature isn’t doing its job because it’s controlled by Republicans, and as a party they’ve gone through multiple purges to root out anyone who would put the country or the constitution ahead of Trump’s slightest whim.

          The executive branch has been under siege all year, a lot of people were fired without cause, and a lot of other people are resigning or getting fired rather than doing shit that’s illegal and unconstitutional. While in some instances there are lawsuits making their way through the courts, there’s only so much they can do after they get escorted out of the building.

          To the best of my knowledge, the leadership of the military has had much more continuity and isn’t so easily stacked with loyalists. You can’t just grab some 20 something techbro douchebag from Elon’s little band of hitler youth, or the last lawyer that was dumb enough to represent Trump and make them a general.

          And there is also a big difference between what might be demanded of some congressman or civil servant compared to the military. While I doubt we’ll see anyone directly disobeying an order from the white house that has troops standing around outside federal buildings, I do think it’s pretty likely that an order to nuke an American city would be disobeyed. The question for each of them is where they draw the line. Openly defying orders is not something to be done lightly in the military.

      • AbidanYre@lemmy.world
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        Everyone there would have been the one for commissioned officers right below what you posted.

    • Deceptichum@quokk.au
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      the rest will close ranks and do a coup out of pure self interest.

      No they won’t, Americans won’t do shit. That much is painfully obvious to everyone in the world by now.