Hegseth is living dangerously

[billvon]

A few days back Kristi Noem was fired by Trump. The reason was not her gross incompetence, or her misuse of government funds, or the crimes of ICE under her leadership. It was that when she was asked about the money for her new airplanes, she replied that Trump knew about it.

Trump's kryptonite is responsibility for his actions. He has often denied responsibility for actions he himself took, and the one thing he can absolutely not abide is anyone else suggesting he is responsible for anything in government. Hence Noem's rapid departure when she suggested that Trump had knowledge of the sex plane payments.

With that in mind, Hegseth's statement today that "Trump gets to control the throttle of war with Iran" moves dangerously close to saying that Trump is responsible for the progress and execution of the war. We'll see if that's enough to get him booted out, or whether it will take something more.

 

[Sarkus]

Nah, it's what Trump wants to hear, that he, single-handedly almost, is winning the war against Iran. And when something bad happens, it'll be because of poor execution (no pun intended) of what he wanted by individuals that he can then remove, not because toddler-Don was wrong. So Hegseth is safe in that regard. If he wasn't going to get kicked out for inviting a journalist to a classified chat-group, it's going to take something serious to see Chump kick him out.

Noem was different: she was ineffectual from the outset, just doing whatever she could to push her own image everywhere (hence the Barbie Noem moniker). And she spent $220m on an ad campaign that really did nothing but tell Americans that she can spend their money for no good reason. That's $220m. An Avengers movie costs less than that (although I appreciate that most of the money probably/hopefully went on buying the time on the airwaves than into "production values"). So it's really an accumulation of errors that cost her, I think, not just that one - although undoubtedly the straw that broke Donny's feeble thin-skinned back.

 

[DaveC426913]

... individuals that he can then remove, not because toddler-Don was wrong. So Hegseth is safe in that regard. If he wasn't going to get kicked out for inviting a journalist to a classified chat-group, it's going to take something serious to see Chump kick him out.

But he didn't leave the chat gaff at Trump's feet, so Trump is not motivated to fire him.

Hegseth is setting it up so his own ass is covered from public blame. If he harkens back to his claims that Trump is responsible for the war (when it goes awry), that's Hegseth will be booted.

 

[billvon]

Nah, it's what Trump wants to hear, that he, single-handedly almost, is winning the war against Iran.

PROVIDED it goes well. If it goes poorly, and people start quoting Hegseth to counter Trump's claim that he had little to do with the war - it could lead Trump to see Hegseth in the same light as Noem.

 

[Randwolf]

Placing a situation in Trump's wheelhouse is admittedly risky, as it may go south. This is an accepted occupational hazard for Toadies.

With care, the risk can be mitigated - you need only step inside his mind for a second. (Don't stay long, it is a very scary place)

One must simultaneously remind that The Orange One has absolute dominion yet remains blameless for misfortune.

First, ensure credit for each and every positive is rightfully ascribed to His Greatness. That's the easy part...

What about "bad stuff"? Shit happens, but it cannot be The Supreme Turnip's fault - accountability for negative events is anathema.

An "Other" is needed - whether it be "brown people" to blame for social and economic woes or an imprudent aide to assume responsibility for an ill-advised policy - someone must take the fall.

Hegseth may be playing with fire, but so long as he credits T-Rump for every victory and maintains a goat to scape for every setback, he'll be fine. For now...

 

[billvon]

So Hegseth is safe in that regard.

While Trump may be widening the net, looks like Pete Hegseth is not in the clear. His latest targets:

"Based on what Steve and Jared and Pete and others were telling me, Marco is so involved, I thought they were going to attack us!"

Up next - Trump explains that he was just given bad intel, and that this current mess is all their fault.