Give it up to General James Mattis for what is, IMHO, the quote of the year.

[Siwsan]

".....I earned my spurs on the battlefield....and Donald Trump earned his spurs in a letter from a doctor."

[malaise]

1. I agree for one reason

Ridicule is a great tool for this fool.

[Siwsan]

2. I don't know who wrote his 'bit' for last night's Al Smith dinner, but kudos!

It was beautifully brutal. More:

"I'm not just an overrated general. I am the greatest, the world's most overrated. I'm honored to be considered that by Donald Trump because he also called Meryl Streep an overrated actress, So I guess I'm the Meryl Streep of generals, and frankly that sounds pretty good to me. And you do have to admit that between me and Meryl, at least we've had some victories."

[Rainbow Droid]

3. Good grief that's more brutal than anything Obama ever said about Trump, LOL!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. "The only person in the military Trump thinks is not overrated is Col Sanders" . . . nt

[rpannier]

5. Trump thinks Capt Crunch is pretty awesome as well

[malaise]

35. DUzy

[BeyondGeography]

11. Excellent

Hard to come up with a better response than that.

[gab13by13]

9. I have been saying the same thing malaise.

Trump still hasn't gotten over the beatdown he got from president Obama at that correspondence dinner.

Narcissists can't take any criticism, they need constant fluffing.

[yardwork]

6. Ok, but where was Mattis before. He helped create this.

[Siwsan]

7. I get what you are saying, but consider this.

As a veteran, I think military officials feel between a rock and a hard place, serving in the trump* administration.

He is their 'commander and chief' so while they are under that official 'umbrella' their military honor won't let them say anything against him. That doesn't mean they, most likely, don't try to push him in the right direction. And when they finally have to admit that's an exercise in futility, they leave. I wish he had started speaking out, sooner, but he did say he'd say what he needs to say in his own time.

But that's my take.

[yardwork]

10. I see your point. I hope that he and others continue to speak out.

My anger comes from the knee-jerk hatred of Democrats and women expressed by so many of them. So many excuses have been made for Trump. There's been an unreasonable assumption that Trump, as a white man, can't really be that bad. Better than Hillary, anyway.

It's becoming apparent that Trump is really that bad. Many of us already knew this.

[Pepsidog]

18. That was misplaced loyalty to the man. His obligation was to defend the Constitution not the man. Th

[exboyfil]

26. But he is retired now

and no longer serving in the administration. In fact he served in a civilian capacity anyway. None of the restrictions of being a military officer should apply now. He had substantive criticisms of Obama after Obama left office.

One liners may be funny, but an honest assessment of Trump's qualifications as CiC is sorely needed.

[Siwsan]

28. That 'loyalty' mentality can be hard to move past. Especially for a Marine

And I say that as the daughter of a Marine. Even when the retire or leave the service, the good ones never stop being a Marine.

And, I really do wonder if there is a strategic timing to his plans. Admittedly, I could be foolishly wrong but I cling to what hopes I can conjur.

[Skittles]

43. where is he NOW?

getting kudos for making JOKES about a fascist buffoon

[Vinca]

8. I hope Trump supporters in the military hear that. I'll never understand how they can stand

behind the orange idiot. Maybe watching their Kurd comrades slaughtered will reach them. People like Mattis who have served in this administration need to speak out often and loudly.

[edhopper]

12. Nice jab

But Mattis needs to step up and give a full public reporting of what Trump did while he was SoD.

[Siwsan]

13. Yes. I think he's waited long enough.

Maybe this was his opening shot - start off with reality steeped in humor and then bring out the big guns, sans the distraction.

[edhopper]

14. We will have to see

But will not hold my breath.

[pnwpolicy]

22. Exactly

Let's not rehabilitate Mattis. He's fine with basically all Trump has done until he speaks out on the issues.

[Pepsidog]

15. No credit here he had an obligation to the country to speak out before he was personally attacked.

To little to late.

[Siwsan]

19. I am not closing the door on anyone.

When he left, he said he'd be speaking out. His timing might be strategic. That's what he's good at. But, we will have to wait to see.

[Pepsidog]

20. Point taken.

[StarfishSaver]

16. I'd rather he testify to the Intelligence Committee than do standup.

[Siwsan]

17. This may have been his opening volley.

At least that's my hope.

[catbyte]

21. Or this one: "A year in this presidency is 9,000 hours of 'executive time' or 1,800 rounds of golf."

[IronLionZion]

23. I like it because it's a real quote

Conservatives always like to share memes of General Mattis and fake quotes bashing liberals. None of which can be verified.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/10/18/i-earned-my-spurs-battlefield-mattis-jabbed-trump-critics-say-he-hasnt-gone-far-enough/

[Siwsan]

25. I believe that ridicule wounds him far deeper than criticism.

Calling him to account is pretty much a waste of time, since he has no conscience. It's better and far more effective to target the narcissist.

[exboyfil]

27. Mathis mission if he chooses to accept it

is to convince the military and its supporters of the unfitness of Trump to be CiC.

Actually I think he would serve his party by doing that, and he has nothing to lose personally.

[Siwsan]

29. I think trump*'s choosing to attack such an esteemed Marine General will bite him, hard

My Dad was a Marine. I served with LOTS of Marines, while I was in the Navy. They are a tight and loyal bunch and attacking one is seen as an attack on all.

[Siwsan]

32. I think the 'subject' involves both.

We would not be discussing one, without the other.

[Siwsan]

38. Life is just too short...........

[JanetLovesObama]

31. Mattis trashed Biden in his book. He later

said "if I had known Biden would be running for POTUS in 2020 I never would have said those things." FUCK Mattis. I do NOT trust him as far as I could throw him.

[Siwsan]

34. The enemy of my enemy is my friend might just fit this situation

IMHO, of course.

[brush]

33. That general has impeccable comic timing.

I also likes his opening bit about being world famous now as the most overrated in the world, thanks to trump. And of course the crack of him being "the Meryl Strep of generals."

[The Polack MSgt]

37. There are factors in Gen Mattis' choice to serve that many on this thread aren't acknowledging

He was known as a non-political straight shooter under Pres. Obama as well. Trump didn't pull Mattis out of a hat he was a known quantity before he was selected and approved in the Senate.

I believe the Mattis Memes were the only thing that registered with Trump and the only reason he went along with the choice.

I wrote several OP about Mattis from my point of view as a retired SNCO and a current defense contractor.

Mattis was always pushing for solid reliable non-crazy courses of action as the Defense Secretary, for example:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10028528204

And when Cheeto was embarrassing himself at the NATO summit in year one, Mattis was limiting the damage and pushing back in his official capacity:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10028837868

Of course he also slow motion burned the balloon full of cheese whiz with his retirement letter that Trump was too stupid to realize insulted him until others explained it to him.

Look, I served under Reagan both Bushes and Bill Clinton - You serve the Nation not the man and Gen/Sec Mattis served honestly.

He diligently lead the DOD as best as he could, until he could no longer do it. That is the duty of the military - We are subordinate to the civilian leadership of America.

[Baked Potato]

39. Hear! Hear!

History will show Gen Mattis as being instrumental in keeping Trump from doing terrible shit.

[Baked Potato]

40. The General and Nancy

Know how to do t!

[Brother Buzz]

41. Um, the orange anus didn't earn his spurs, he purchased them

Just saying.

[Siwsan]

42. Well, his dad paid, anyway. trump* earned the draft dodger title.