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Mrs. Overall

(6,839 posts)
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 06:22 PM Jun 2020

James Mattis Denounces President Trump, Describes Him as a Threat to the Constitution

Source: The Atlantic

James Mattis, the esteemed Marine general who resigned as secretary of defense in December 2018 to protest Donald Trump’s Syria policy, has, ever since, kept studiously silent about Trump’s performance as president. But he has now broken his silence, writing an extraordinary broadside in which he denounces the president for dividing the nation, and accuses him of ordering the U.S. military to violate the constitutional rights of American citizens.

“I have watched this week’s unfolding events, angry and appalled,” Mattis writes. “The words ‘Equal Justice Under Law’ are carved in the pediment of the United States Supreme Court. This is precisely what protesters are rightly demanding. It is a wholesome and unifying demand—one that all of us should be able to get behind. We must not be distracted by a small number of lawbreakers. The protests are defined by tens of thousands of people of conscience who are insisting that we live up to our values—our values as people and our values as a nation.” He goes on, “We must reject and hold accountable those in office who would make a mockery of our Constitution.”

“Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people—does not even pretend to try. Instead, he tries to divide us,” Mattis writes. “We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership. We can unite without him, drawing on the strengths inherent in our civil society. This will not be easy, as the past few days have shown, but we owe it to our fellow citizens; to past generations that bled to defend our promise; and to our children.”

He goes on to contrast the American ethos of unity with Nazi ideology. “Instructions given by the military departments to our troops before the Normandy invasion reminded soldiers that ‘The Nazi slogan for destroying us … was “Divide and Conquer.” Our American answer is “In Union there is Strength.”’ We must summon that unity to surmount this crisis—confident that we are better than our politics.”



Read more: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/06/james-mattis-denounces-trump-protests-militarization/612640/

37 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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James Mattis Denounces President Trump, Describes Him as a Threat to the Constitution (Original Post) Mrs. Overall Jun 2020 OP
About effing time, Mattis. (nt) scarletwoman Jun 2020 #1
I don't give a shit what he has to say. blueinredohio Jun 2020 #3
Don't let perfect be the enemy of good crimsonblue Jun 2020 #11
+1 orangecrush Jun 2020 #19
Agreed. He knew how zentrum Jun 2020 #20
Flurry of petulant tweets about 'Loser Mattis' in 3, 2, 1 ... mr_lebowski Jun 2020 #2
Why did it take him three goddamn years to state what's obvious? BlueStater Jun 2020 #4
divisiveness began before the impeached traitor Marthe48 Jun 2020 #5
Too little, too late Miguelito Loveless Jun 2020 #6
I'll cut him slack for silence as duty and timeliness as impact bucolic_frolic Jun 2020 #7
wow crimsonblue Jun 2020 #8
Heck yes! usregimechange Jun 2020 #9
More of this! mysteryowl Jun 2020 #10
I wouldn't hold my breath.. Maxheader Jun 2020 #17
Better late than never... dixiechiken1 Jun 2020 #12
I was wondering when he was finally going to speak up. liberalla Jun 2020 #13
Has "Anonymous" Pantagruel Jun 2020 #14
Idiot trump's reactions this spring looks to become a catalyst in isolating him from LanternWaste Jun 2020 #15
Dump should just put the phone down on this one. roamer65 Jun 2020 #16
First Mullen, now Mattis. Military types believe in chain of command Hassler Jun 2020 #18
First it was Brennan Pantagruel Jun 2020 #29
Jeezus, you waited until now???? Where are the rest of these silent, in disbelief/ denial, Repugs?? Evolve Dammit Jun 2020 #21
Read the whole article - and MDs full quote RainCaster Jun 2020 #22
It's all bullshit. warmfeet Jun 2020 #23
I waiting for someone with a voice to openly call the orange one a fascist. nt Hotler Jun 2020 #24
Republican politicians, like their Dear Leader, are cowards. LaMouffette Jun 2020 #25
. BGBD Jun 2020 #26
Mattis resigned when Trump abandoned our Allies but... djacq Jun 2020 #27
Lot of people in here.. BigOleDummy Jun 2020 #28
Sorry , Mattis deserves the criticism Pantagruel Jun 2020 #30
Nobody likes Trump Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Jun 2020 #31
Fox News giving this any play? Brainfodder Jun 2020 #32
Trump hits back at Mattis: "I gave him a new life" Judi Lynn Jun 2020 #33
He should change his nickname to Lap Dog! Crowman2009 Jun 2020 #34
Yes he is Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Jun 2020 #35
Wow. Not much respect for Mattis. GulfCoast66 Jun 2020 #36
Excellent and timely piece from Mattis DeminPennswoods Jun 2020 #37

crimsonblue

(5,337 posts)
11. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 07:04 PM
Jun 2020

The fact is - Jim Mattis is REVERED by our service members and by (gasp) natsec conservatives, he is basically calling on Trump to resign.

Marthe48

(16,691 posts)
5. divisiveness began before the impeached traitor
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 06:33 PM
Jun 2020

and every time the local, state and U.S. government law enforcement gave the gun humping terrorists a pass, things got worse.
Every time bullies imposing right-to-life, refusing service to gays, beating and killing people of color; every time ICE is allowed to detain an immigrant, refugee or migrant, every child separated from its family, it is an affront to equal justice under the law.

Every single g.d. day that the impeached traitor has been in office is an affront to the United States of America and its Constitution.

All well and good for mattis to speak out, but too little, too late.

bucolic_frolic

(42,672 posts)
7. I'll cut him slack for silence as duty and timeliness as impact
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 06:37 PM
Jun 2020

He would have been just a disgruntled castoff if he spoke on this in 2018

Maxheader

(4,366 posts)
17. I wouldn't hold my breath..
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 07:12 PM
Jun 2020


Wingers are mentally retarded where accepting right from wrong is concerned..

dixiechiken1

(2,113 posts)
12. Better late than never...
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 07:05 PM
Jun 2020

I will always welcome anyone who uses their platform to speak truth to power, whether it's on my timetable or not. Glad he finally spoke out.

liberalla

(9,165 posts)
13. I was wondering when he was finally going to speak up.
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 07:06 PM
Jun 2020

May others have the courage and integrity to stand up and join him.
Keep 'em coming!


 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
15. Idiot trump's reactions this spring looks to become a catalyst in isolating him from
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 07:10 PM
Jun 2020

not only the Wise Old Men of the Establishment, but from his own allies as well. At this rate, he'll have no one but Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz in his corner as November approaches. His reactions and revisionist history in regards to the virus and the social unrest are pushing even the most quiescent of conservatives into criticizing him.

Any other person in Idiot trump's position would be doing their best in consolidating confederates and friends, in addition to doing a ton of damage control and PR re-branding. But The Idiot honestly believes all he needs is his mayonnaise-base and the little cabal of frondeurs he keep at hand to throttle a win against Biden.

He's so damnably dull-witted, he actually thinks he can punch his way out of this one; and I think he's unwittingly writing his own farewell speech for January.

Hassler

(3,321 posts)
18. First Mullen, now Mattis. Military types believe in chain of command
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 07:14 PM
Jun 2020

When they speak up, it's both about time and also speaks to how perilous they think the times are. The military being offered as a threat to the public. Another Authoritarian planning his own Reichstag fire.

LaMouffette

(2,013 posts)
25. Republican politicians, like their Dear Leader, are cowards.
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 08:03 PM
Jun 2020

I think they pretty much all detest Trump, almost as much as the rest of us do, maybe more than we do because of the position he's put them in of having to support the worst, most corrupt, most vile, most amoral, most ignorant, most unhinged, most cruel POS president this country has ever known. But party loyalty is so ingrained in them that they don't have the courage to step out of line and criticize Traitor Trump until enough other Republicans have (finally) broken from the pack, found a spine, and spoken up. Complete herd mentality. They don't want to be the first to publicly criticize Donny Dufus.

I think James Mattis finally speaking up and with this kind of fierce criticism (he all but calls Trump a Nazi!) could signal to other Republicans that it's time to dump Trump and try to salvage the Republican Party and their own political careers.

djacq

(1,633 posts)
27. Mattis resigned when Trump abandoned our Allies but...
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 08:16 PM
Jun 2020

Opens his mouth when Trump inflicts the Federal and Military might upon American Citizens who are exercising their constitutional rights to protest?

Where was Mattis when Trump was locking undocumented immigrant children in cages?

Where was Mattis when Trump was extorting Ukraine?

Where was Mattis when Trump was royaly screwing up during this pandemic?

Gets a pass for opening his mouth now but not a medal for being a silent loyal soldier.

BigOleDummy

(2,260 posts)
28. Lot of people in here..
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 08:47 PM
Jun 2020

.... are bitching about Gen. Mattis. As a veteran I of course wish it had be said sooner but by god he DID say it! This man has my respect and always has. To lump him in with the rest of the rwnj's ruining our country is a dis-service to both him and the many veterans who still look at him with respect. For him to get the kind of blowback he seems to be getting in HERE sure makes it easier for others to come forward

 

Pantagruel

(2,580 posts)
30. Sorry , Mattis deserves the criticism
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 09:15 PM
Jun 2020

In fact, now that he has come out of the cone of silence he should do penance and campaign actively v. Trump.

Judi Lynn

(160,217 posts)
33. Trump hits back at Mattis: "I gave him a new life"
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 09:34 PM
Jun 2020

11 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Orion Rummler

President Trump unloaded on his former defense secretary via Twitter on Wednesday, hours after James Mattis condemned him for making a "mockery of our Constitution" in his response to mass protests in the wake of George Floyd's killing.

What he's saying: "Probably the only thing Barack Obama & I have in common is that we both had the honor of firing Jim Mattis, the world’s most overrated General. I asked for his letter of resignation, & felt great about it. His nickname was 'Chaos', which I didn’t like, & changed it to 'Mad Dog'"

  • "His primary strength was not military, but rather personal public relations. I gave him a new life, things to do, and battles to win, but he seldom 'brought home the bacon'. I didn’t like his 'leadership' style or much else about him, and many others agree. Glad he is gone!"

  • Background: Mattis resigned after clashing with Trump on the administration's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria.

    https://www.axios.com/trump-james-mattis-twitter-b48287b9-e5db-47f0-aeb0-ebdfd5a5f831.html

    (Short article, no more at link.)



    Crowman2009

    (2,478 posts)
    34. He should change his nickname to Lap Dog!
    Wed Jun 3, 2020, 10:25 PM
    Jun 2020

    Since that's what he was acting like the whole time he was in the Drumpf administration.

    GulfCoast66

    (11,949 posts)
    36. Wow. Not much respect for Mattis.
    Thu Jun 4, 2020, 01:02 AM
    Jun 2020

    But I do understand how seriously the officer generally takes the non partisan thing.

    Want to drive trump crazy? Tell him about the order of Cincinnati. Which is really a myth. But the idea that their are members of the military who have been there thru their families for 200 year to protect democracy will drive him crazy with fear.

    DeminPennswoods

    (15,246 posts)
    37. Excellent and timely piece from Mattis
    Thu Jun 4, 2020, 06:14 AM
    Jun 2020

    Imho, if Mattis had spoken out earlier, this editorial would not have nearly the impact it does. Mattis is revered by many in the military, so these words carry a lot of weight.

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