Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Susan Calvin

(2,245 posts)
Sat Jan 18, 2025, 09:22 AM Jan 18

A thought just popped into my head regarding Hegseth.

He's obviously totally unqualified for the job, and anything he does on his own will just be flailing around. So I think the real question is who actually is going to be running the Department of Defense.

I've got no expertise or background for reaching the conclusion that prompted me to ask this question. It just kind of seemed obvious to me.

37 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
A thought just popped into my head regarding Hegseth. (Original Post) Susan Calvin Jan 18 OP
hegseth and the others are just front men. not decision makers rampartd Jan 18 #1
And I don't really think of Trump as a decision maker milestogo Jan 18 #20
Putin, Thiel, China, other billionaires. yardwork Jan 18 #25
Imagine walking in on your first day on the job... MiHale Jan 18 #2
The Peter Principle strikes again. no_hypocrisy Jan 18 #3
Peter the Pud Principle...... magicarpet Jan 18 #22
Putin/Musk gab13by13 Jan 18 #4
Hegseth will be too busy trying to please Putin and hiding his real motives Walleye Jan 18 #5
Dunning Kruger? C_U_L8R Jan 18 #6
Because the point of these people is not to run, but to destroy. For THAT, niyad Jan 18 #11
Have seen this in the private sector. Those who will likely fail falsely believe the big boss will allegorical oracle Jan 18 #13
Dang 3auld6phart Jan 18 #27
I have been asking myself the same question. About all of these "picks." MLWR Jan 18 #30
He will be attempting to steer something HAB911 Jan 18 #7
Joint Chiefs. Irish_Dem Jan 18 #8
God I hope so. Susan Calvin Jan 18 #23
Well that was last time. Trump may do an end run around the generals now. Irish_Dem Jan 18 #24
General McCaffrey thinks Hegseth is is whip smart, articulate, can think on his feet and doc03 Jan 18 #9
WTAF ??? That comment was not The Onion??? niyad Jan 18 #12
No he said it live in person on Morning Joe. nt doc03 Jan 18 #14
Oh Dear Goddess. And to think that I once had an iota of respect for him. niyad Jan 18 #18
It's sadly true. Heard him support Hegseth twice -- on two separate days. nt allegorical oracle Jan 18 #16
My mom always knew how to handle a drunkard boss... hunter Jan 18 #29
And to many of us. As I have been pointing out, the creatures that niyad Jan 18 #10
Actively working to destroy or simply working at an unqualified inept level which dismantles NoMoreRepugs Jan 18 #15
THAT is the point. The ones we see are not the ones running things. niyad Jan 18 #19
Their uber purpose is to foment Armageddon... BoRaGard Jan 18 #28
I forgot about the whole End Times insanity. Thank you for the reminder. niyad Jan 18 #34
What happens when Jesus Linda ladeewolf Jan 18 #36
No, they will just say they got it wrong because of some BS reason just like all the false prophets state of stupid Jan 18 #37
Excellent question. Trump's nominee for Deputy Sec of Defense is a hedge fund guy. surfered Jan 18 #17
Gerneral Kelly? Great question. Plus he'll be blotto a lot of the time. marble falls Jan 18 #21
Trump will be the greatest military genius Turbineguy Jan 18 #26
Putin, I guess. Musk. travelingthrulife Jan 18 #31
It'll be run by MAGA staffers who survive the purge, and new appointees who don't know what they're doing. William Seger Jan 18 #32
Beware of popping thoughts, but the DoD is huge, important and with world changing consequences elocs Jan 18 #33
It was suggested that the Christian Nationalists who propped up the campaign have a long list of 'special assistants' Ford_Prefect Jan 18 #35

rampartd

(1,812 posts)
1. hegseth and the others are just front men. not decision makers
Sat Jan 18, 2025, 09:26 AM
Jan 18

the actual policy swill come from their 'think tanks' and from trump.

milestogo

(20,190 posts)
20. And I don't really think of Trump as a decision maker
Sat Jan 18, 2025, 09:52 AM
Jan 18

because there is no thought that goes into his decisions.

He is an easier puppet than George W Bush was.

We should start calling him Putin's Puppet.

MiHale

(11,506 posts)
2. Imagine walking in on your first day on the job...
Sat Jan 18, 2025, 09:27 AM
Jan 18

And asking your underlings …”What do I do?”

niyad

(123,134 posts)
11. Because the point of these people is not to run, but to destroy. For THAT,
Sat Jan 18, 2025, 09:37 AM
Jan 18

they are qualified.

allegorical oracle

(4,517 posts)
13. Have seen this in the private sector. Those who will likely fail falsely believe the big boss will
Sat Jan 18, 2025, 09:40 AM
Jan 18

support them unconditionally. May be true once or twice, but as soon as the heat builds up, the big boss will order someone else to fire the embarrassing failure.

HAB911

(9,562 posts)
7. He will be attempting to steer something
Sat Jan 18, 2025, 09:30 AM
Jan 18

not designed to change course. It will be interesting and terrifying to experience

Irish_Dem

(67,672 posts)
8. Joint Chiefs.
Sat Jan 18, 2025, 09:31 AM
Jan 18

The rumor going around when Trump was in the WH the last time is that Joint Chiefs
did an end run around Trump and went directly to Pelosi and McConnell to consult with them,
not Trump.

Trump knew this and hated them.

Irish_Dem

(67,672 posts)
24. Well that was last time. Trump may do an end run around the generals now.
Sat Jan 18, 2025, 11:03 AM
Jan 18

And just let Putin run the US military.

doc03

(37,671 posts)
9. General McCaffrey thinks Hegseth is is whip smart, articulate, can think on his feet and
Sat Jan 18, 2025, 09:33 AM
Jan 18

has the experience. WTF I don't know who to believe any more..

hunter

(39,445 posts)
29. My mom always knew how to handle a drunkard boss...
Sat Jan 18, 2025, 11:29 AM
Jan 18

... and that gave her a lot of power.

niyad

(123,134 posts)
10. And to many of us. As I have been pointing out, the creatures that
Sat Jan 18, 2025, 09:33 AM
Jan 18

TRAITOR**/RAPIST/FELON34 is appointing are quite qualified, if one understands that their purpose is to destroy the agencies, groups, etc., that they will control, in plain sight, while the overlords are in the dark background actually running things.

NoMoreRepugs

(11,168 posts)
15. Actively working to destroy or simply working at an unqualified inept level which dismantles
Sat Jan 18, 2025, 09:41 AM
Jan 18

the operation? I go with the latter because I’ve yet to see a whole bunch of really intelligent Republicans in DC for a while.

niyad

(123,134 posts)
19. THAT is the point. The ones we see are not the ones running things.
Sat Jan 18, 2025, 09:45 AM
Jan 18

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

BoRaGard

(4,874 posts)
28. Their uber purpose is to foment Armageddon...
Sat Jan 18, 2025, 11:25 AM
Jan 18

so Jesus can come back and punk all the people they don't like.

No joke.

Linda ladeewolf

(819 posts)
36. What happens when Jesus
Sat Jan 18, 2025, 12:37 PM
Jan 18

Doesn’t come back? Do they throw themselves on a funeral pyre? Or do they say that mercy has been extended for another 100 years or that they got the date wrong (again).

state of stupid

(121 posts)
37. No, they will just say they got it wrong because of some BS reason just like all the false prophets
Sat Jan 18, 2025, 01:04 PM
Jan 18

who prophesied God would cause Joe Biden to lose to The Liar and made excuses when that did not happen, their own followers let it slide.

The Old Testament contains several warnings against false prophets. In Deuteronomy 18:20-22, God provides a clear criterion for identifying false prophets: "But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods—that prophet must be put to death." The passage further instructs that if a prophet's predictions do not come to pass, that prophet has spoken presumptuously.

surfered

(6,008 posts)
17. Excellent question. Trump's nominee for Deputy Sec of Defense is a hedge fund guy.
Sat Jan 18, 2025, 09:43 AM
Jan 18

His Secretary of the Navy has no military experience. His Under Secretary of Defense came from the Office of Management and Budget from Trump’s first term

It seems to be mostly Amateur Hour, but competence is not as an important requirement as loyalty to our Dear Leader.

William Seger

(11,517 posts)
32. It'll be run by MAGA staffers who survive the purge, and new appointees who don't know what they're doing.
Sat Jan 18, 2025, 11:46 AM
Jan 18

elocs

(23,949 posts)
33. Beware of popping thoughts, but the DoD is huge, important and with world changing consequences
Sat Jan 18, 2025, 11:53 AM
Jan 18

for bad decisions.

Ford_Prefect

(8,326 posts)
35. It was suggested that the Christian Nationalists who propped up the campaign have a long list of 'special assistants'
Sat Jan 18, 2025, 11:59 AM
Jan 18

to each agency who will supply dogma and policy particulars in line with creating and enforcing the new "Christian" Reich. Similar speculation was made that where Xian Dogma was not required various industry hacks would supply policy directives.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»A thought just popped int...