Comments on: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Speak Out on Obama’s Shinseki Pick http://themoderatevoice.com/24859/iraq-and-afghanistan-veterans-speak-out-on-obamas-shinseki-pick/ An Internet hub with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, indies, centrists, moderates, and right Mon, 28 May 2012 19:14:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: 43nyvi http://themoderatevoice.com/24859/iraq-and-afghanistan-veterans-speak-out-on-obamas-shinseki-pick/comment-page-1/#comment-166517 43nyvi Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:28:06 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/24859/iraq-and-afghanistan-veterans-speak-out-on-obamas-shinseki-pick/#comment-166517 Actually, general officers had for some pretty spectaculalry awful commanders-in-chief.<br><br>US Grant? Great general, lousy president. Same with the Harrison and some would argue about Andrew Jackson. Ike was okay as was Washington.<br><br>I believe the next SECDEF will be Danzig, Clinton's old SECNAV and probable ASST SEC DEF. Actually, general officers had for some pretty spectaculalry awful commanders-in-chief.

US Grant? Great general, lousy president. Same with the Harrison and some would argue about Andrew Jackson. Ike was okay as was Washington.

I believe the next SECDEF will be Danzig, Clinton's old SECNAV and probable ASST SEC DEF.

]]> By: D. E.Rodriguez http://themoderatevoice.com/24859/iraq-and-afghanistan-veterans-speak-out-on-obamas-shinseki-pick/comment-page-1/#comment-166513 D. E.Rodriguez Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:19:45 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/24859/iraq-and-afghanistan-veterans-speak-out-on-obamas-shinseki-pick/#comment-166513 Andy:<br><br>Former general officers have made relatively good commanders-in-chief. Why not SecDefs?<br><br>Dorian Andy:

Former general officers have made relatively good commanders-in-chief. Why not SecDefs?

Dorian

]]> By: Andy http://themoderatevoice.com/24859/iraq-and-afghanistan-veterans-speak-out-on-obamas-shinseki-pick/comment-page-1/#comment-166499 Andy Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:01:37 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/24859/iraq-and-afghanistan-veterans-speak-out-on-obamas-shinseki-pick/#comment-166499 Shinseki is an important pick for the message it sends to the military - namely that this administration isn't going to fire your ass if you provide advice they don't want to hear.<br><br>That said, Shinseki will not be put in charge of DoD. It's not a good idea to put a former General Officer in that position. Shinseki is an important pick for the message it sends to the military – namely that this administration isn't going to fire your ass if you provide advice they don't want to hear.

That said, Shinseki will not be put in charge of DoD. It's not a good idea to put a former General Officer in that position.

]]> By: Mike_P http://themoderatevoice.com/24859/iraq-and-afghanistan-veterans-speak-out-on-obamas-shinseki-pick/comment-page-1/#comment-166484 Mike_P Mon, 08 Dec 2008 07:26:46 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/24859/iraq-and-afghanistan-veterans-speak-out-on-obamas-shinseki-pick/#comment-166484 Thus far, Shinseki is the one cabinet pick I stopped and thought 'Wow. Original, unexpected, bold, perfect.' Don't get me wrong, I have few qualms with the other announced picks, but they were at least to me, all within expectations (including Gates, who I had long expected to continue - the issue with him was always the left-over Rummy staffers. And it seems part of the deal was they would go away). But Shinseki took me by pleasant surprise.<br><br>And DLS, Code Pink is no more influential on Democratic politics than, say, the Michigan Militia is on Republicans. Don't equate noise with influence. Anyone who thought Obama was anything but a moderate center-left pol was either not paying attention, or paying attention only to right wing talking points. Thus far, Shinseki is the one cabinet pick I stopped and thought 'Wow. Original, unexpected, bold, perfect.' Don't get me wrong, I have few qualms with the other announced picks, but they were at least to me, all within expectations (including Gates, who I had long expected to continue – the issue with him was always the left-over Rummy staffers. And it seems part of the deal was they would go away). But Shinseki took me by pleasant surprise.

And DLS, Code Pink is no more influential on Democratic politics than, say, the Michigan Militia is on Republicans. Don't equate noise with influence. Anyone who thought Obama was anything but a moderate center-left pol was either not paying attention, or paying attention only to right wing talking points.

]]> By: DLS http://themoderatevoice.com/24859/iraq-and-afghanistan-veterans-speak-out-on-obamas-shinseki-pick/comment-page-1/#comment-166459 DLS Mon, 08 Dec 2008 04:02:49 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/24859/iraq-and-afghanistan-veterans-speak-out-on-obamas-shinseki-pick/#comment-166459 Thanks. I was flippant elsewhere about Obama "shutting up" the farther lefties (like Code Pink). As NPR reported today, the lefties (including many lefty bloggers) have _not_ shut up. They do _not_ like Gates in Defense, as a rule; that is seen as betrayal of those who originally supported Obama, who were progressive activists opposed to the war. Thanks. I was flippant elsewhere about Obama “shutting up” the farther lefties (like Code Pink). As NPR reported today, the lefties (including many lefty bloggers) have _not_ shut up. They do _not_ like Gates in Defense, as a rule; that is seen as betrayal of those who originally supported Obama, who were progressive activists opposed to the war.

]]> By: D. E.Rodriguez http://themoderatevoice.com/24859/iraq-and-afghanistan-veterans-speak-out-on-obamas-shinseki-pick/comment-page-1/#comment-166450 D. E.Rodriguez Mon, 08 Dec 2008 03:19:32 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/24859/iraq-and-afghanistan-veterans-speak-out-on-obamas-shinseki-pick/#comment-166450 Excellent comment...and possibility<br><br>Dorian Excellent comment…and possibility

Dorian

]]> By: DLS http://themoderatevoice.com/24859/iraq-and-afghanistan-veterans-speak-out-on-obamas-shinseki-pick/comment-page-1/#comment-166441 DLS Mon, 08 Dec 2008 02:21:47 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/24859/iraq-and-afghanistan-veterans-speak-out-on-obamas-shinseki-pick/#comment-166441 Aside from what he might do to reform or improve the VA (and align it possibly to be incorporated someday in Medicare while Obama and the others also possibly view this with Medicaid as well as S-CHIP), mark my words that Shinseki is also a possible replacement for Gates once Obama with Gates has made the tough Defense budget-cutting decisions. Aside from what he might do to reform or improve the VA (and align it possibly to be incorporated someday in Medicare while Obama and the others also possibly view this with Medicaid as well as S-CHIP), mark my words that Shinseki is also a possible replacement for Gates once Obama with Gates has made the tough Defense budget-cutting decisions.

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