Loyalty over Merit

Donald Trump (2016): “In my administration, I’m going to enforce all laws concerning the protection of classified information.”

Unless secret intelligence is released by Trump and his people, right, Tulsi?

It’s understood by now that the only necessary “qualification” for a job with the Trump Mob is loyalty. As with every dictator, Trump’s authoritarian rule has always favored loyalty over merit. Devotion to the leader is essential, while competence is secondary, if even a factor at all.

Let’s set the scene of this recent case of gross incompetence with a sneering arrogant boast from the embarrassingly unfit Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. “Under the previous administration, we looked like fools. Not anymore.”

That’s the kind of loyalty to Trump that got him the job.

Then this story by editor in chief  Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic broke:

 

“The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans”

U.S. national-security leaders included me in a group chat about upcoming military strikes in Yemen. I didn’t think it could be real. Then the bombs started falling.

The world found out shortly before 2 p.m. eastern time on March 15 that the United States was bombing Houthi targets across Yemen.

I, however, knew two hours before the first bombs exploded that the attack might be coming. The reason I knew this is that Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense, had texted me the war plan at 11:44 a.m. The plan included precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing.

This is going to require some explaining.

And someone needs to be held accountable

When a reporter questioned Trump about the security breach he responded, “I don’t know anything about it.” (Yeah, right.) And like any fascist would do he demeaned the source of the story.

After another reporter asked Hegseth about his security breach, It was his turn to do what all fascists would do. He deflected and attacked the journalist. “You’re talking about a deceitful highly discredited, so-called journalist who’s made a profession of pedaling hoaxes time and time again..” unironically wailed the former FOX (R) TV personality and well known wife abusing alcoholic. He lied, “Nobody was texting war plans.” (Yeah, right. Just precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing.)

The reporter should have followed up with, "Oh, so it's OK with you for us publish the entire text. Thank you."

Of course, the patriotic and respected journalist responsibly withheld the most secret information knowing the risk to our deployed military personnel.

During questions by Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee two participants on the group chat denied there was classified content.  But, alas, poor Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director Ratcliffe both developed a sudden onset of severe memory impairment. 

In addition, it appears another member of the group chat was Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, listening in from Moscow! Isn't that precious? 

We do have to wonder about the extent of this gross negligence by Trump’s mob that was hired out of loyalty over merit and qualifications. There can be no doubt foreign powers are listening in on these arrogant incompetents. And there’s also no doubt that other countries will stop sharing intelligence with the US because allies know this country cannot be trusted with Trump in power. 

Trump is serving the interests of the Kremlin, Peking and Pyongyang over Western democracies, the American people and the Constitution. 

Russian state TV host Vladimir Solovyov and head of RT Margarita Simonyan rejoiced over Trump's cabinet picks. They were especially thrilled about Kash Patel and Pete Hegseth, predicting, "They will quickly dismantle America, brick by brick." 

This was before Musk started vandalizing the executive branch and terrorizing federal employees. Russians absolutely delight in this destruction of the US Government and pitting of our people against each other, as Trump helps make Russia great again.

But Trump’s angry lush and toady Hegseth blew it. He needs to go.

While we can worry a lot about security breaches from Trump’s cabinet buffoons, I’m pretty sure Putin still gets anything he wants straight from Trump.

And now unlike with the previous administration, we REALLY look like fools.