After his politicized Thanksgiving call, maybe Trump should not visit the troops

[left-of-center2012]

(CNN national security analyst John Kirby, a retired rear admiral in the US Navy, was a spokesman for both the State and Defense departments in the Obama administration.)

By John Kirby, CNN National Security Analyst

President Donald Trump says he will soon be visiting troops in a war zone. It's a pity he's had to be goaded into that. But if his Thanksgiving Day phone call to men and women stationed abroad is any indication of what we can expect, I would just as soon have him stay home.

He needlessly politicized that conversation (the Thanksgiving Day teleconference with the military), railing against the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which has ruled against him on immigration, complaining about unfair trade deals, and wrongly accusing his predecessor, Barack Obama, of underfunding the military.

Let me be blunt. The United States military is not a voting bloc. It's not a MAGA rally crowd. It's not a plaything, and it's most certainly not an arm of the Republican Party. Our troops, of course, must obey the orders of the commander in chief. They execute the military policy he sets forth. But their loyalty belongs to the American people and to the Constitution.

Trump seems to interpret this loyalty and obedience as political support for him personally. He simply cannot be around them without finding a way to politicize it, and them in the process. And it's why I am not all that bothered by the fact that he hasn't yet visited troops in the field. He'll just make it all about him. He'll subject the troops to a monologue about his political opponents. Just like he did on Thanksgiving, he'll use them as props.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/22/opinions/after-politicized-thanksgiving-call-maybe-trump-should-not-visit-the-troops-kirby/index.html

[safeinOhio]

1. Not to worry...

He has a doctors letter to avoid combat zones.

[MyOwnPeace]

2. But...........

Every time he opens his mouth he probably proves to one more military person how inept he is and helps them realize that they need to be an active voter during the next election to be sure that there is someone truly qualified to serve as the commander-in-chief (provided, of course, the Repugs don't steal their absentee ballots when they do submit them!).

[Scarsdale]

3. I expect tRump

to soon show up in a military uniform, like other dictators have done. Chest full of medals and all. He is certainly not NORMAL, and he proves that every time he speaks unscripted. With a script, he is obviously not speaking from the heart. He sounds like a grade school kid, reading Shakespeare. What a disgrace he is to this country.

[left-of-center2012]

5. "I expect tRump to soon show up in a military uniform"

Will this do?

[Runningdawg]

4. He will give the troops

the same stand-up routine he gives every rally. Lock her up. My polls say I am at 95%. My crowds are the biggest. No collusion. Maybe he can do an impression of McCain being captured or the killing of OBL, that should go over well. If all else fails he can remind them they should be thankful they aren't on the MX border.