Update to GOP Assault on USA Military Leadership

[NATI BENGALS]

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/defense-secretary-lloyd-austin-blasts-gop-senators-blockade-military-p-rcna99759

“for the first time in the history of the Department of Defense, three of our military services are operating without Senate-confirmed leaders."

“This is unprecedented, it is unnecessary, and it is unsafe,” he added. “This sweeping hold is undermining America’s military readiness. It’s hindering our ability to retain our very best officers. And it’s upending the lives of far too many American military families.”


Quote from the Secretary of Defense…………

Mind you the enormous tensions with china and Russia right now.

Makes me sick ?

The damage this new GOP has done to our country the last 7 years is staggering

[NATI BENGALS]

I am starting to wonder. When one side is simultaneously weakening our military leadership, ignoring/down playing how big of an issue it is, while propagating civil war.

How many traitors are really out there?

[SunsetBengal]

What if those previous "leaders" were weak, and needed weeded out? Did we really want to face Russia or China with weak leadership over our military? Can't have military leaders attempting to follow "politically correct" agendas, when the defense of the free world is at stake.

[NATI BENGALS]

Yes I would want to face Russia and China with full strength USA military leadership.

Just so happens the "weak leadership" you speak of. Would be no freaking leadership at all. Just like now and how some rich senator ***** from Alabama, in title only because he lives at his beach house in florida, is blocking military promotions at the highest level. And as the US SECRETARY OF DEFENSE said himself “This sweeping hold is undermining America’s military readiness. It’s hindering our ability to retain our very best officers. And it’s upending the lives of far too many American military families.”

[GMDino]

(08-15-2023, 08:46 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: What if those previous "leaders" were weak, and needed weeded out?  Did we really want to face Russia or China with weak leadership over our military?  Can't have military leaders attempting to follow "politically correct" agendas, when the defense of the free world is at stake.

Hypotheticals are hypothetical.

The only way Tuberville would have any point is if in the middle of battle a "leader" took time for for an abortion.

He is literally holding everything up because people get time off for a medical procedure that he disagrees with.

But then he's another Trump style grifter, governing in a state he doesn't live in and not doing anything but obstructing because he has no idea how things work.

[Luvnit2]

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/tuberville-showered-with-support-biden-admin-refuses-urge-democrats-vote-held-military-nominations

Just to be clear, Schumer could bring each nominee up for a vote individually. So no, it is not one person holding up nominations. Or the military can remove access to abortion and paid leave to do so.

"The Democrats and DoD could call for an individual vote on any of these nominations, but they have chosen not to because they don’t want to discuss the policy. Giving free annual leave — all expenses paid — for an abortion but not for the death of a family member is one of many examples of how the military has been politicized," Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., told Fox.

The ball is in Schumer's court and he can get these nominees through quickly, but there would have to be a debate. Then a vote on record supporting these policies by guys like Manchin and Tester up for reelection.

Tuberville does not have the power to stop the nomination process, thus the OP is wrong.

[HarleyDog]

(08-15-2023, 08:46 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: What if those previous "leaders" were weak, and needed weeded out?  Did we really want to face Russia or China with weak leadership over our military?  Can't have military leaders attempting to follow "politically correct" agendas, when the defense of the free world is at stake.

Agreed. This is why enlistments are down. You go to the military to serve the greatest nation in the world and be awesome. You don't go to the military to be embarrassed and appear as weak to your enemies. Our military has become a joke. So much so that it wouldn't surprise me if company commanders tucked their soldiers in at night and had an NCO read them a bedtime story. 

[GMDino]

(09-07-2023, 09:03 PM)HarleyDog Wrote: Agreed. This is why enlistments are down. You go to the military to serve the greatest nation in the world and be awesome. You don't go to the military to be embarrassed and appear as weak to your enemies. Our military has become a joke. So much so that it wouldn't surprise me if company commanders tucked their soldiers in at night and had an NCO read them a bedtime story. 

Hyperbole much?

There are probably a myriad of reason why enlistment is down.  One I hear from my son and his friends was that they don't want to die because someone else decided they needed to fight.

But Tuberville is saying servicemen are reading poetry so he can't support the promotions?

This is all such nonsense and performative theater that it would be funny if it was so sad.

[NATI BENGALS]

(09-07-2023, 07:50 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/tuberville-showered-with-support-biden-admin-refuses-urge-democrats-vote-held-military-nominations

Just to be clear, Schumer could bring each nominee up for a vote individually. So no, it is not one person holding up nominations. Or the military can remove access to abortion and paid leave to do so.

"The Democrats and DoD could call for an individual vote on any of these nominations, but they have chosen not to because they don’t want to discuss the policy. Giving free annual leave — all expenses paid — for an abortion but not for the death of a family member is one of many examples of how the military has been politicized," Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., told Fox.

The ball is in Schumer's court and he can get these nominees through quickly, but there would have to be a debate. Then a vote on record supporting these policies by guys like Manchin and Tester up for reelection.

Tuberville does not have the power to stop the nomination process, thus the OP is wrong.

Ah yes. The spin machine.

It is one person holding up this nominations. Point blank period. All he has to do is stop. He is abusing the senate unanimous consent rules.

Do you think the senate has bigger things to handle than spending 2-3 days on each individual promotion? When Tuberville’s single handed blockade has gotten into the hundreds of nominees.

Has he provided a legislative solution to the problem? Hahahahah hell no.

All the GOP does is obstruct and theater

[Mickeypoo]

(09-07-2023, 07:50 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/tuberville-showered-with-support-biden-admin-refuses-urge-democrats-vote-held-military-nominations

Just to be clear, Schumer could bring each nominee up for a vote individually. So no, it is not one person holding up nominations. Or the military can remove access to abortion and paid leave to do so.

"The Democrats and DoD could call for an individual vote on any of these nominations, but they have chosen not to because they don’t want to discuss the policy. Giving free annual leave — all expenses paid — for an abortion but not for the death of a family member is one of many examples of how the military has been politicized," Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., told Fox.

The ball is in Schumer's court and he can get these nominees through quickly, but there would have to be a debate. Then a vote on record supporting these policies by guys like Manchin and Tester up for reelection.

Tuberville does not have the power to stop the nomination process, thus the OP is wrong.

(09-08-2023, 04:29 AM)NATI BENGALS Wrote: Ah yes. The spin machine.

It is one person holding up this nominations. Point blank period. All he has to do is stop. He is abusing the senate unanimous consent rules.

Do you think the senate has bigger things to handle than spending 2-3 days on each individual promotion? When Tuberville’s single handed blockade has gotten into the hundreds of nominees.

Has he provided a legislative solution to the problem? Hahahahah hell no.

All the GOP does is obstruct and theater

Is the bolded part of Luvints post true?  If so, that is truly sad and disturbing.  

[Luvnit2]

(09-08-2023, 11:34 AM)Mickeypoo Wrote: Is the bolded part of Luvints post true?  If so, that is truly sad and disturbing.  

Yes it i true. It appears the left hates facts. It is also true Schumer could call for a vote on each nominee. It is BS they have better ways to spend their time. If this is a priority to Schumer and Democrats, then bring nominees in one by one, have them pitch their case and then vote. Democrats control the senate vote and not Republicans.

Maybe Democrats don't want to debate the issues Tuberville is concerned about, maybe our military should stick to developing strong soldiers.

[*Nately120*]

(09-08-2023, 11:34 AM)Mickeypoo Wrote: Is the bolded part of Luvints post true?  If so, that is truly sad and disturbing.  

In all fairness, the time of leave could be shorter if military personnel didn't have to now travel out of state to receive medical attention and not just for abortion, as this also covers fertility treatments.  Right wrong or otherwise, making this stuff illegal in certain states had caused logistical issues that a military that is struggling to meet quotas can't always just meet with a reply of "Tough shit."  

If this is a long-term situation, which it probably will be, I think we will continue to see military installments moving from restrictive states, particularly since the military has operated under the practice of personnel and their families having little to no control over where they are stationed and therefore to which laws they are subjected.


According to this article, 
There have been 91 abortions performed in U.S. military hospitals since 2016, at least two-thirds of which were for active-duty service women whose lives were threatened by their pregnancy or who were victims of a crime, according to a Defense Department report provided to Congress and obtained by Military.com.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2023/02/16/military-cover-travel-costs-and-offer-leave-troops-seeking-abortions-fertility-treatment.html


So if that's true, this really isn't all that new of an issue and it's one that has been made more inconvenient, which means more of us paying for more time off for women involved in the military to continue things as they are.  It's a feel-good money sink, in the most cynical terms.  Ban abortion in your state and then pay for someone to get an abortion somewhere else.

[Mickeypoo]

(09-08-2023, 12:20 PM)Nately120 Wrote: In all fairness, the time of leave could be shorter if military personnel didn't have to now travel out of state to receive medical attention and not just for abortion, as this also covers fertility treatments.  Right wrong or otherwise, making this stuff illegal in certain states had caused logistical issues that a military that is struggling to meet quotas can't always just meet with a reply of "Tough shit."  

If this is a long-term situation, which it probably will be, I think we will continue to see military installments moving from restrictive states, particularly since the military has operated under the practice of personnel and their families having little to no control over where they are stationed and therefore to which laws they are subjected.


According to this article, 
There have been 91 abortions performed in U.S. military hospitals since 2016, at least two-thirds of which were for active-duty service women whose lives were threatened by their pregnancy or who were victims of a crime, according to a Defense Department report provided to Congress and obtained by Military.com.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2023/02/16/military-cover-travel-costs-and-offer-leave-troops-seeking-abortions-fertility-treatment.html


So if that's true, this really isn't all that new of an issue and it's one that has been made more inconvenient, which means more of us paying for more time off for women involved in the military to continue things as they are.  It's a feel-good money sink, in the most cynical terms.  Ban abortion in your state and then pay for someone to get an abortion somewhere else.

So all expenses paid for an abortion/fertility treatment , but not for the death of an immediate family member?

[*Nately120*]

(09-08-2023, 12:53 PM)Mickeypoo Wrote: So all expenses paid for an abortion/fertility treatment , but not for the death of an immediate family member?

Well I just googled and got this:

The new leave benefit is authorized in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022. In accordance with Section 701(l) of Title 10, U.S.C., a member who experiences such a loss will be allowed up to 14 days of leave to be used in connection with the death of a Spouse or Child.


As well as this:

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3345316/dod-announced-new-bereavement-leave-benefit-for-members/

[Mickeypoo]

(09-08-2023, 01:14 PM)Nately120 Wrote: Well I just googled and got this:

The new leave benefit is authorized in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022. In accordance with Section 701(l) of Title 10, U.S.C., a member who experiences such a loss will be allowed up to 14 days of leave to be used in connection with the death of a Spouse or Child.


As well as this:

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3345316/dod-announced-new-bereavement-leave-benefit-for-members/

Very glad to see this!

[*pally*]

What the policy allows is for each and every member of the United States military to access legal medical treatments regardless of where the military forces them to live.

Currently, if a military person needs a treatment not available at their duty station, ie chemotherapy or specialized orthopedic surgery they are sent to a location that can provide that service. What is being done in the case of reproductive health is the same thing.

The military "woke" up in 1948 with Executive Order 9981 when Harry Truman ordered the desegregation of the military, something, many in and out of the military opposed. They had to wake up some more when women were allowed to serve alongside men first in non-combat units and then in combat units. Now they have to adjust to members of the LGBTQ community serving openly. The military will survive. An all-volunteer force should be a microcosm of society as a whole. If some conservative kid chooses not to serve in the military for "wokeness" reasons, it's a good thing. They have no business whatsoever being in the military. They are putting their own political agenda ahead of serving the country

[LSUfaninTN]

(08-15-2023, 09:09 PM)NATI BENGALS Wrote: Yes I would want to face Russia and China with full strength USA military leadership.

We should probably wait until we have someone in the White House who isn’t being paid tens of millions of dollars by shady Chinese companies and allowing them to fly spy balloons over military bases at will. 

Also, the Russia / China alliance, which is made stronger every day we stay in the proxy war, would not end well for the U.S. They’re building their military while we’re focusing on pronouns. I don’t think we’re exactly in a place to take on the world’s strongest navy and a country who has so much farmland near military bases, while paying the “Big Guy” and his corrupt family millions of dollars. 

[NATI BENGALS]

(09-08-2023, 05:57 PM)LSUfaninTN Wrote: We should probably wait until we have someone in the White House who isn’t being paid tens of millions of dollars by shady Chinese companies and allowing them to fly spy balloons over military bases at will. 

Also, the Russia / China alliance, which is made stronger every day we stay in the proxy war, would not end well for the U.S. They’re building their military while we’re focusing on pronouns. I don’t think we’re exactly in a place to take on the world’s strongest navy and a country who has so much farmland near military bases, while paying the “Big Guy” and his corrupt family millions of dollars. 

Russia and China currently appear weaker than I can ever remember.

[LSUfaninTN]

(09-08-2023, 09:34 PM)NATI BENGALS Wrote: Russia and China currently appear weaker than I can ever remember.

Russia is definitely weak. China continues to strengthen their military at blazing speed. We used to have the biggest and strongest navy. Not saying it would be a definite loss, but I am saying… I don’t think we want to find out. 

[GMDino]

https://www.newsweek.com/tommy-tuberville-calls-us-military-leaders-woke-opposing-him-1825198

Quote:Tommy Tuberville Calls U.S. Military Leaders 'Woke' For Opposing Him
BY JAMES BICKERTON ON 9/7/23 AT 6:13 AM EDT





01:26
Tommy Tuberville Calls U.S. Military Leaders ‘Woke’ For Opposing Him
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U.S.TOMMY TUBERVILLEREPUBLICANSABORTIONARMY

Senator Tommy Tuberville has dismissed as "woke propaganda" the claims from senior military figures that he is undermining national security by blocking military promotions in protest against the Pentagon's policies on abortion.

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On Tuesday, Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro accused the Alabama Republican of "aiding and abetting communist and other autocratic regimes" during an appearance on CNN. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, who was also on the broadcaster's panel, claimed potential U.S. adversaries are "paying attention" to the policy which is "affecting how they view the United States and our military capabilities."

It came after Del Toro, Kendall, and Army Secretary Christine Wormuth wrote a joint opinion piece for The Washington Post, published on Monday, arguing Tuberville's block is "putting our national security at risk" and is "unfair to those military leaders and their families" who are impacted.


Sen. Tommy Tuberville on July 19, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Tuberville has dismissed as "woke propaganda" claims he is undermining U.S. national security by senior military figures.GETTY/ANNA MONEYMAKER

Tuberville has been blocking hundreds of military promotions for more than seven months in protest at the Pentagon offering servicewomen time off to have an abortion without loss of pay, in response to the Supreme Court overturning Roe. v. Wade in June 2022.

Typically senior military appointments pass the Senate with unanimous consent, but this requirement means they can be held up by a single senator if they wish to do so. To get around this, Senate leaders could bring the nominations to the floor one at a time by regular procedure. This would mean a longer process, however, sharply reducing what other business the legislature can attend to.

Tuberville hit back on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday describing the comments as "just another example of woke propaganda." He wrote: "My holds are not affecting national security, no matter what national pundits are saying."

In an attached video message, he said: "I'm not holding up any nominations from being approved. They can bring them one at a time to the floor, they have chosen not to do that.

"There's no threat to readiness. The people that we need to be really worried about are colonels and majors and sergeants and privates, they're the people that get ready to fight wars. The people up here in the Pentagon, I don't know what they do every day but they're more of giving advice."


Federal agencies cannot pay for abortions for staff members except in cases of rape, incest, or if the life of the mother is at risk.


On Wednesday, Tuberville too appeared on Fox News, where he told host Laura Ingraham that he is getting "more and more" support from the Republican Senate leadership for his actions.


Mike Pence, the former vice-president and 2024 Republican presidential hopeful, has urged the U.S. Department of Defense to back down, commenting: "What I would say if I was working in Washington D.C. is, I'd look across the Potomac at the Pentagon and I'd say this can all be over tomorrow if you just stop undermining state pro-life laws."

Newsweek has contacted the Department of Defense for comment by email.

Tuberville accused the Biden administration of "blatant patronage politics" after it was announced on July 31 that the headquarters of Space Command wouldn't be moving to his state, as had been the original intention, but would instead remain in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

And now we know the real reason....it's a pissing contest about "Space Command".

How this guy ever got elected is beyond me.