US Army no longer has Senate-confirmed leader, joining Marines

[OKIsItJustMe]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, Aug 4 (Reuters) - The U.S. Army on Friday became the second branch of the U.S. military to no longer have a Senate-confirmed leader, as a Republican senator continues to block military nominations, a move military leaders said threatens readiness and undermines retention of officers.

Retiring Chief of Staff of the Army General James McConville relinquished command on Friday. It will be the first time in history the U.S. military will have two branches, the Army and the Marine Corps, without a confirmed leader, the Pentagon said.

Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville, who represents Alabama, has blocked hundreds of military nominations from moving forward, saying the Pentagon is improperly using government funding to cover travel costs for abortions for service members and their dependents.

"In our dangerous world of security, the United States demands orderly and prompt transitions of our confirmed military leaders," U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during the ceremony on Friday. "Great teams need great leaders."

…

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-army-becomes-second-military-branch-lose-confirmed-leader-over-senate-block-2023-08-04/

[NoMoreRepugs]

1. Tuberville needs a trip to the woodshed.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Here's the thing:

You give Tuberville this one demand -- and he'll come up with another demand to replace the one you gave him.

[Irish_Dem]

3. Who benefits and how, when the US military is weakened?

[speak easy]

5. That's a devilishly difficult question to answer Irish_Dem.

Maybe someone overseas who covets Ukraine, Taiwan or South Korea?

[Irish_Dem]

10. Right, seems obvious.

It has gone way beyond women's health care issues.

Maybe the plan is to vacate top military positions so if Trump gets back in
the GOP can put in MAGAs.

But yes it benefits the global autocracies.

[speak easy]

23. "if Trump gets back in the GOP can put in MAGAs"

That has crossed my mind more than once. John Lauro said on FNC -

At the end, he asked Mr Pence to pause the voting for 10 days, allow the state legislatures to weigh in and then they could make a determination to audit or reaudit or recertify. But what he didn't do is, you know, send in the tanks.

[Irish_Dem]

24. Obviously there are more schemes being hatched.

And Trump would use tanks if he cannot do it in another way.

[NowsTheTime]

31. Yup he wouldn't even have to fire anyone. Process to me is similar to electoral college: a formality

......which maga & Trump could use were Trump to win..

[Irish_Dem]

49. Yes, place MAGAs in all government positions. Slow rolling coup.

Same thing Putin does in Russia. Xi does in China.

[onetexan]

46. Precisely. The same way the RW packed the courts under the Con, they plan to pack the brass with

RW empathizers & extremists. I have no doubt that's the underlying reason. The abortion issue is only a means to an end.

[Irish_Dem]

61. Yep the abortion issue is just a means to gain power.

The GOP leadership couldn't care less about the issue.
It is a cover for the real agenda, a total power grab.

[peppertree]

6. The way he sees it, Trump - who intends to fill the vacancies with coup-happy toadies once in office

The whole Booberville stunt is, in that way, a slow-moving self-coup - with the groundwork prepared before the fact.

[TheRealNorth]

9. This!

[peppertree]

14. Why, thank you.

May all those scheme backfire on them.

But the fact we have a sitting U.S. Senator colluding in what essentially amounts ti a third-world style coup plot, before the fact, is in itself astounding.

I'd keep a close eye on that one, if I were the FBI.

And Trump.

[Irish_Dem]

11. Yes exactly. I just posted that above.

But it also benefits other global autocrats and Trump will be aligned with them.

[peppertree]

17. I hear you. They'd be only too pleased

Bibi, especially - who's trying to pull something similar in Isreal. But Putin and a few other as well.

Small potatoes, though, compared to the threat that well-heeled fascist interests present right here at home.

Hitler and Mussolini, after all, didn't just rise to power ranting and raving. They had Big Business behind them, domestic and foreign.

[Irish_Dem]

19. Yes fascist leaders court the oligarchs in the beginning.

And use their wealth and influence to climb to power.

Then once the fascist leader has the power he turns on them, demands control
over them and total obedience. If they don't comply I would not advise they stand next
to windows in a tall building.

[peppertree]

21. That second part - that's what they don't see

Elites typically look down on such characters - seeing them as little more than odd puppets that could be useful; but are to be disposed of once they become problematic.

But once they become problematic, it's usually too late.

[Irish_Dem]

22. I hope US oligarchs see what DeSantis is doing to corporate power and wealth in Florida.

Getting into power struggles over issues DeSantis really doesn't care about.
DeSantis just wants everyone to know he is the boss.
And will slit throats to get what he wants.

But abusers always convince everyone else that they are immune from the brutality.
They are special. But their turn will come.

[peppertree]

26. +1

His attacks on Disney (Disney!) are but a tidbit of what big business can expect if that oily thug gets into office.

And Trump - not much better.

[Irish_Dem]

27. The interesting question is if the corporate oligarchs will bend to fascist rule or not.

Will they fight back or comply if/when a fascist US president takes power.

Someone like Trump is easily bribed to let the corporations have some breathing room.
People like DeSantis are just in power struggles and have to win.

[peppertree]

29. Sadly, 4 out of 5 of them just what their tax cuts and deregulation

The whole "democracy," "ethics" and "governance" thing? Not our problem.

There are exceptions - but they're badly outnumbered.

[Irish_Dem]

30. I agree, they will cave.

But Disney is fighting back. At least they were.

[lostnfound]

45. Eventually jackbooted dictators make life unpleasant for oligarchs too, don't they?

Well-paid CEOs don’t like governors who try to boss them around, either. They are used to owning the government, more often than not, and being allowed to make the decisions with only a half-asleep board to answer to.

Authoritarian leaders who accumulate too much power eventually become a nuisance even for them.

[Irish_Dem]

48. The US GOP senate is still working on the the coup to overthrow the US government.

[Evolve Dammit]

60. setting the table for the Orange Chosen One's return? Death Eaters

[The Unmitigated Gall]

4. Shithole republicans weakening the nation. Again.

[Haggis 4 Breakfast]

7. THIS NEEDS TO END IMMEDIATELY.

No one person, let alone a brain damaged first-term senator has the right to put our National security at risk like this.

Call Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Shumer's office ASAP. His number is 202-224-6542.

I am sick of the tyranical minority dictating our national policies, with their juvenile ego tantrums.

[The Grand Illuminist]

53. Not gonna work.

Would just fall on deaf ears.

[COL Mustard]

8. Tuberville is anti-military family.

I know "Coach" never served, so he doesn't understand (or more likely doesn't care) what impact his little temper tantrum is having, but it's affecting real people with real families and real lives. I know one 3-star who had a retirement ceremony a couple of months ago but was asked to stay on the job until his successor can be confirmed, and both are now in holding patterns. I know several other 1 and 2 star officers who need confirmation in order to move to new jobs, as well as some Colonels who can't become General Officers until this idiocy ends. Ironically, several of them are in Alabama.

Tuberville sucks.

[Irish_Dem]

40. Yes the military is very organized, well planned, with rank determining jobs, training courses, etc.

Tours of duty last a certain amount of time, overseas assignments happen on schedule, it goes like clockwork
to a large extent. Of course there are changes and sudden deployments. But even that happens in an
orderly planned out way.

But the system comes to a grinding halt when the promotions don't happen and people cannot take jobs
that require a higher rank. The families are in limbo too. Are they moving or not.
Kids going to a new school or not, etc.

This is just crazy.

[Lonestarblue]

12. The Senate gets to approve far too many positions in the government.

They used to approve a few hundred. Now the number is well over a thousand, estimated at 1200 to 1400. That’s far too many when all a Republican has to do to gum up the works is exactly what Tuberville is doing. The Senate has a lot of arcane rules that just need to be jettisoned.

The excuse for not doing so seems to be that Democrats can block totally unqualified appointment when they’re in the minority. How’d that work out with Trump? He just appointed the person as an acting role. All he cared about was their personal loyal to them. Competence to do the job didn’t factor into his choices, and he easily got around Senate confirmation.

[NowsTheTime]

32. Yes and the Senate as far as one-person-one-vote is inherently not very democratic

[grumpyduck]

13. Couldn't Biden take a page from

the orange turd's playbook and appoint all these officers as "acting" commanders or whatever?

[COL Mustard]

16. They are.

But there are some limitations on what an "acting" officer can do, especially at the higher levels.

[Evolve Dammit]

15. It seems to be a hold until January 2025 when the Orange Toddler can name loyalists. May

the evil SOB's fail and may they be held accountable. If possible. It's getting really anti-American and the perversion of government is off the charts. I wish them all nothing but ill will and hope they face actual accountability. So many, so little time? And they are using that, because they know DOJ can't handle each transgression/ violation. Another 20,000 agents?

[Skittles]

18. try to imagine if it was a Democrat doing this

Dems should be much more vocal about this crap.

[DENVERPOPS]

20. The Republicans are just lining things up

not unlike what they did with the Supreme Court and a ton of Appellate court judges.......They think that when they overthrow the 2024 election, they will quickly install THEIR people in charge of the military............Then, all they need do is repeal the Posse Comatatus Act and they will be able to use the entire U.S. Military to control the citizens of the USA...........

They must feel pretty confident, because they are not even TRYING to hide it from view, anymore..........

[Sneederbunk]

25. The Senate is to blame for tolerating this bozo and stupid rule.

[agingdem]

28. can Biden appoint "acting" Army and Marine Chiefs of Staff?

[Angleae]

36. Nope. The acting chief is whoever is next in line (Assistant Commandant or Vice Chief of Staff)

Times such as this are the reason a second in command exists.

[agingdem]

37. Thank you...

[Hieronymus Phact]

33. Hello Calling Joe Biden

This is what the Bully Pulpit is for!
Please use it and start hammering the airwaves about this nightly!
Bonus points for being visibly angry!

[ffr]

34. The party of betrayal.

Where's Mitch McConnell on this? He's the minority leader. This is on his hands too!

[flamingdem]

35. Are we a banana republic?

[thesquanderer]

38. From the headline, I thought the Army leader was joining the Marines. :-) n/t

[Irish_Dem]

41. Sounds like the entire US ARMY is joining the MARINES because they don't have a leader.

I guess that would be one solution. All the military branches unite under one command.

[TomSlick]

39. This must end.

Tuberville is able to block nominations only if the Senate handles these cases by unanimous consent.

Start voting on the nominations - one at a time - by roll call votes. Vote non-stop - have staffers bring in coffee. Have someone watching to see when Tuberville tires of the process and leaves the floor and immediately make motions to confirm as many as possible by unanimous consent until Tuberville returns to the floor. Then, wash, rinse, repeat.

It may be that some GOP senator would protect Tuberville's block by denying unanimous consent when he's off the floor but it would be good to out any Tuberville supporters.

[Irish_Dem]

42. Good ideas.

I don't understand how this can keep dragging on.

[TomSlick]

43. The problem is that no other business could be conducted for the days

it took to vote on all the nominations. There is important work to be done - judicial nominations in particular.

Nevertheless, giving in to blackmail encourages blackmailers.

The law needs changing concerning military nominations. As it stands, every promotion from O-6 and higher requires Senate confirmation. (I waited for months for my promotion to Colonel because one Senator was unhappy that a supporter/donor was not promoted.) No one in the Senate should care about promotions to O-6 or O-7 or appointment to other than the most high-profile flag officer positions.

[Irish_Dem]

44. I agree, what business is it of the senate to approve O6 and O7.

When I was growing up in the military overseas, full bulls as we called them (full Colonels) were the base commanders.
On a small base they were the only full Colonel.

They were very important in the day to day base operation. All the kids knew the base commander, didn't want to
get on his bad side, but loved to see him from time to time dressed in normal AF attire including scrambled eggs on his hat visor, not the flight suits and caps of our fathers.

If the active duty are all deployed or on TDY, the base commander holds the entire place together. The families know the base commander has their backs and keeps the lights on. When families are far from home this is important.

It really burns me up that the senate can hold up someone taking this important job.

Sorry to hear about your promotion and glad you finally got it.

[TomSlick]

64. Yeah, but most full bulls are just staff pukes.

The last three commands in which I served, the Chief of Staff, the principal staff (G1, G2, G3, G4), Inspector General, Chaplain, and Staff Judge Advocate (me) were all O-6s.

In the Army, if the commander wears stars, the staff section heads wear eagles. At least in the Army, most O-6s are staffers.

Maybe the Senate is concerned about the promotion of O-6 level commanders but I doubt it. Surely the Senate has better things to do than to consider the promotion of a gaggle of staff pukes.

[Irish_Dem]

66. Right but we never saw the military bureaucrats.

We had heard about them and knew they existed, but did not know any of them.

We were living on working Air Force bases during wartime.
Living on small Air Force bases near Viet Nam.
The only colonels we knew were the base commanders.

If we had ever seen a general we would probably keel over in excitement.
But of course the stories we had heard about generals would give us pause
after the initial excitement.

We were in Tokyo for awhile, we were living off base in Japanese
neighborhoods. But we knew that the base commander was our
commander, we were not alone.

My father retired out of a large AF base with a lot of brass and it blew our minds.

Well that is my story about O6s and why Tommy Tuberville needs to leave them the
hell alone.

[BlueIn_W_Pa]

62. Because both sides want this to happen

(R) wants it for their religious BS purity test, and (D) wants it to show how bad the (R)s are for the next election.

Like was said above, this could get resolved, but it's all politics

[SouthernDem4ever]

47. So Schumer can't do anything to circumvent this?

Is this the same rule that was broken before to confirm SCOTUS judges? Can't they do the same here or will that be more detrimental than good?

[The Grand Illuminist]

54. Too much red tape

And not enough votes to change it.

[dlk]

50. Follow the money

Tuberville appears to be doing Putin’s bidding.

[moonshinegnomie]

51. start shutting alabama military bases

there are 5 i believe
announce that the military will be shutting the bases and transferring the troops to other ones

If the states try and sue to delay it then just reduce the number of personal at the bases to a bare minimum

[OKIsItJustMe]

52. I like this idea

I don't think it would ever fly, but I like it just the same.

[moonshinegnomie]

58. may not be able to shut them

but as commander in chief biden could easily order a massive troop relocation from alabama to other states.

[former9thward]

70. That would cause chaos in the military.

Do you really think the troops are just objects to be moved around without consequence to their specific missions? Putin and Xi would applaud.

[Paladin]

55. If a DEMOCRAT was doing this shit, there would be nation-wide rioting in the streets. (nt)

[orangecrush]

56. Russia''s republicans

Doing their job.

And the "support our troops" crowd still votes for them, while paying lip service.

[kimbutgar]

57. I just saw the meme tubby was the one who voted against Certifying President Biden

In 2021. He is a traitor and some good investigative reporter needs to do some digging in his connections.

[LudwigPastorius]

59. Tumorville and the other Republicans are...

a cancer on this country.

They’d all happily put a criminal traitor back in power to further damage our national security and shred the constitution.

[pfitz59]

63. Close the bases in Alabama

and cancel all contracts. Time to play hardball.

[NEOBuckeye]

68. My thoughts exactly

[Chrisdutch]

65. Tommy Tub Head

I thought physical and emotional damage only occurred when you played football, not when you coached it.

[Mysterian]

67. Our governmental system is broken

when one senator can cause havoc and impair national security.

[Beartracks]

69. Thanks, Republicans! n/t