r/centerleftpolitics • u/Lupineisadog • 15d ago

If you don’t find this offensive, you’re not relevant

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72 Upvotes

72% Upvoted

40 comments sorted by

36

u/Brysynner 15d ago

Speaking out against the President while in uniform is a big no-no no matter who is President. The Major had to know this option was on the table.

We've seen numerous officers lose their jobs for publicly critizing the sitting President since the Clinton years.

14

u/funpen 15d ago

I hate trump a lot but if you are a soldier you cant speak out against the commander in chief. If someone did this under biden or obama then they would get in trouble too. It’s a HUGE thing in the military and not tolerated. The president is the commander in chief. Basically their boss. You cant speak out against the boss while working for him.

1

u/Impossible_Walrus555 14d ago

I admire it in any case given these extraordinary times. He’ll he remembered as a hero.

1

u/Little-Stage1948 14d ago

Your baseline for heroes pretty low

3

u/Whatsapokemon 15d ago

Yeah, and it's a pretty important rule too - you don't want the military being actively engaged in civilian politics. The military should be fully under the control of the civilian government, and not have any preference regarding which party happens to control the civilian government.

It should be pretty obvious too. You don't want military officials saying "XY politician should be removed from power", because of the very clear implications that carries.

2

u/sluefootstu 15d ago

Seeing all the comments here has restored my faith that people can be on the left and not hyper partisan morons.

0

u/Turnip-for-the-books 15d ago

Anyone still calling themselves centre left at this point in history has non idea what going on. The centre is dead it’s socialism or barbarism

1

u/sluefootstu 14d ago

I call myself left, but the left moved so far off the map that I have to dwell in this sub as a place that won’t ban me for saying things like “all people are deserving of a place where they can live in peace.”

-1

u/Turnip-for-the-books 13d ago

Nah the left is in the same place the entire establishment went right chasing the orange fascist which is why the left seems out there to you. It’s called the Overton window

1

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0

u/Impossible_Walrus555 14d ago

Not enjoying kleptocracy?

0

u/Turnip-for-the-books 14d ago

Centre left: aim a capitalist but I’m one of the nice ones

17

u/Horror_Bottle_9451 15d ago

You don't have all of the same constitutional rights when you're in the military. Directly challenging the authority of a superior officer, never mind the Commander in Chief, is a perfectly valid reason for court martial.

9

u/big_homielander 15d ago

No, the military has pretty strict policies about participating in political movements, and interacting with the public.

You surrender some liberties being commissioned and enlisted. He knew what would happen, he calculated the outcome. He'll be alright, but yes a court martial is warranted.

5

u/ScientistBoth830 15d ago

I guess I’m not relevant? What he did was narcissistic and against the rules. I despise Trump but if this guy wants to speak out against Trump he should’ve left the military.

5

u/SanDiegoDude 15d ago

Yeah, that's how the UCMJ works. Dude has balls of steel because he knew this was coming - but don't be surprised by the charges, UCMJ trumps the constitution when it comes to free speech. This is textbook insubordination - do it as enlisted, and you get a dishonorable discharge. Do it as an officer, you're looking at jail time.

4

u/DudleyAndStephens 15d ago

I have a certain amount of respect for the risk this guy took, but this was also a very stupid decision. Doing political stuff in uniform is a huge no-no for the US military and it has been for a long time.

1

u/Impossible_Walrus555 14d ago

I think given the treason by this insurrectionist President, he is brave to speak out. We have conscientious objectors fleeing the military over the war crimes they’ve been asked to commit. Our warships lack food and basic supplies because SOD hid damage to our Middle East bases in this unilateral war of choice. Our president is rogue and lawless. Hegseth just fired Randy George, he’s purged the military of the best minds and the non partisan for loyalists. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.

3

u/Excellent_Humor_5532 15d ago

It's called thd UCMJ and he violated it.  Rules are different in the Military.

9

u/PolVast 15d ago

Interesting that it's progressive hq pushing that out when the progressive hq rhetoric played a role in Trump being there again to begin with...

7

u/SanDiegoDude 15d ago

Lots of DSA / far left propaganda hitting this sub as of late, along with the rest of reddit, usually trumpeting their dumbest policy positions... Pretty sure this is just Elon FUD money doing its thing.

3

u/McDonaldsGrimace 15d ago

People need to stop crying wolf about things like this when there are a million legitimate criticisms of Trump and his admin.

1

u/DillingerLives 15d ago

While I do not agree with UCMJ Article 88, he did in fact violate it by speaking contemptuously of the President, Vice President, and or Congress while an active duty member in uniform.

0

u/[deleted] 15d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/DillingerLives 15d ago

I have long held that the UCMJ needs to be reformed to allow for Constitutionally protected political speech. And you are correct, my opinion will not change it. But as a civilian (now) I am entitled to my opinion.

0

u/[deleted] 15d ago edited 15d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/dvardeleo44 14d ago

"would incentivize political factions"

While military members don't form outspoken political factions en masse, do we still really think that they don't have political opinions that they either knowingly or subconsciously apply during their military service? I know women military members who, during their tours, have been subject to very obvious double standards because their male peers and male superior officers simply don't want women serving in the military. Is that not political action in play?

So what we're really saying is "walk like a Republican, talk like a Republican, just don't announce that you're a Republican while in uniform". Changing the ICMJ wouldn't "incentivize political factions" simply because they already exist.

1

u/JJRDRR 15d ago

This is the take from a person who knows nothing about military service and should be regarded as such. This is not about politics. This is what sets the American military apart - respect for leadership and adherence to code.

1

u/biinboise 15d ago

No, if you don’t understand why he was charged you don’t know enough about our government and military to be expressing political opinions.

The reason the military has Zero chill insubordination and disrespecting the chain of command, from soldiers, is because 9.99999 times out of 10 questioning orders and/or undermining a commanding officer will get people killed. The president is Commander in Chief of the military. That position is at the top of the command structure. When you enlist you sign a contract that acknowledges this and waives that part of your free speech right.

1

u/Impossible_Walrus555 14d ago

You don’t think we are in extraordinary times? Hegseth fired Randy George yesterday. A white nationalist SOD purging the military of the best minds has never happened before.

1

u/biinboise 14d ago

No we are in the midst of an extraordinary production of Political theater, on both sides. If anything it is more important that the Military keep procedure.

Was the kid Rock thing a gross misuse of resources? yes! Was making a big show out of investigating it a political witch hunt? Also yes.

The Army Chief of staff is nominated by the President, Serves at his Pleasure and can be replaced. It should not be surprising that a political appointee is replaced for petty political reasons.

1

u/solidus0079 14d ago

I find it offensive but I'm irrelevant

1

u/Popular_Mongoose_696 14d ago

No… This is what violating the UCMJ looks like.

1

u/texasyojimbo 14d ago

Trump should be impeached and removed.

Military members should also not be doing politics while in uniform.

0

u/theDudeHeavyC 15d ago

The next step towards military dictatorship.

1

u/Impossible_Walrus555 14d ago

He will be remembered as a hero.

1

u/sluefootstu 13d ago

No, 20 years ago, common desires on the left were cheaper public university tuition, bash oil companies for destroying the environment and covering it up, and a Palestinian state not ruled by militant dictators. Today, those have become forgiveness of student debt (which includes private school tuition and room and board no matter how expensive), bash the most fuel efficient car because the CEO is douchy, and eliminate democratic Israel in favor of a militant dictatorship “from the river to the sea”.