He still won’t endorse VP Harris and says he likes Trump’s policies. How are these men able to twist themselves in knots to NOT go all in against someone they say is a dangerous fascist?!?! I mean, wtf??
Kelly, who was Trump’s longest-service chief of staff, said he was not endorsing anyone in the presidential race because it would be inappropriate as a former military officer. But he made it clear he doesn’t support the former president.
I mean, I guess that he can lean into that excuse? I would just think that as a former military officer his duty would be to endorse any candidate that would support and follow the constitution to which he pledged an oath.
Kelly has made it absolutely clear that he is strongly against Trump. One of the things that he knows is bad about Trump is Trump's desire to merge military power and Trump's personal/presidential power; politicizing of the military is (correctly, wisely) anathema to people like Kelly. So, given his military background, I think his approach is appropriate.
Wow I wasn’t aware of that. Like many Republican leaders who warn of the danger to elect Trump and cowardly do not fight like Liz Cheney to make sure he is not elected
I have so much respect for Liz Cheney. She literally torched her own career to put country over party. And in the MAGA world, SHE is the traitor...not Trump.
This NYT piece should be on the front page of every city and large or small-town newspaper in the Country this Sunday. Then, should Trump win on November 5, 2024, there can be no denying to history and future American generations that the voters did not know "what" they were voting for.
This just all goes to a point I have frequently made: Trump really was telling the truth when he said that he could shoot someone in the middle of 5th Avenue and not lose a single voter. There is nothing that he says or does that will ever in the eyes of his supporters be disqualifying. NOTHING.
If this election is as close as everyone says it will be then if even a few people take what Kelly says to heart it could make a difference. Not as much difference as it should but it might be enough to change an outcome in a swing state.
I hope you don’t mind but I published a long excerpt from this on my Facebook page. Many of my relatives are Trumpers and I generally avoid politics but your prose is so stark, simple and compelling (minus explanation points) and this election so important, no less than 2020 was, that I needed to risk family dissension.
Will it lead to a shift in the polls? Presumably not. But it's a pretty damning interview. What it might do is get others who were part of Convicted Felon Trump's administration to speak out -- in detail -- about what he's really like.
Governor Chris Sununu was a true profile in courage on CNN. It's numbing to watch their responses. Yea, he said it, but it's baked in with Trump and the people want lower prices. That's it, that is all they got to say. A freakin GENERAL says the man is a fascist. But, you, know, his policies are good.
What friggin’ policies?! To say that he has the “concept of a plan” is to give him too much credit. And many many economists, ie those that actually study the field and are peer-reviewed, have made it clear that Trump’s tariff plans will tank our economy. But for some reason that I just can’t wrap my head around, the “average” American thinks he’ll be “better for the economy”.
I get that the GOP base is not going to change their mind on Trump for anything, no matter what he says or does, or is accused of saying or doing. They’re with him all the way. It’s the people who should know better, the cowards in elected office, who remain silent or defend him on anything and everything that is so difficult to process. I know they still aren’t going to change their minds. They’ve fully cast aside all their morals, values and principles to support Donald Trump. He and his ability to end their political careers is more important than the future of the country they claim to serve. That’s the truth, and it’s just really sad to see the lengths they will go to defend him.
What is the final piece of information that the undecided voters are waiting for before they can/will choose a candidate? If undecided voters are unlikely to read or hear about Gen. Kelly's views on Trump, are they doing anything to help them reach a decision regarding their vote? Or are they ignoring everything until Election Day and then they'll just flip a coin?
Oh please.... John Kelly, HR McMaster, Miley, and the other military clowns are all complicit in legitimizing and normalizing Trump's presidency. They have forfeited all credibility and should just be ignored as opportunists.
For what it is worth, what Chris is saying is important, Ezra Klein's newest podcast talks a lot about this and how these type of people will not be in his cabinet. John Kelly and others kept Trump controlled. He will not be controlled this second term.
But ... John Kelly is a day late and a dollar short. He should have made these comments months and months ago and then gone on Fox and made the comments again.
Sadly, he takes the military dodge and then doesn't endorse Harris. While I understand his rationale, he should stand with the Cheney's and the others that have called Trump unfit and then endorsed Harris just for the saving of the nation that he supposedly holds so dear.
It would have had more impact months ago to the Republicans who hate Trump but cannot bring themselves to vote for Harris. It might not have brought Harris votes, but it could have resulted in a lot of those Republicans not placing a vote for Trump (undervotes).
I am betting (and hoping) that Trump underperforms in this election because of his unfavorability.
On another note, watch VP Harris answer the question poised to her if she is being honest with the American people about JB’s declining health. It’s priceless! She immediately looks away, the first sign of deception! What makes it even more rich is it’s question on honestly and she tells a fib! Her body language gives it away.
In what way is this relevant to Trump's fascist mentality and the behavior that Chris summarized in the piece? Biden has none of these tendencies/behaviors and in response to concerns about his age, he is no longer the candidate.
Thanks for sharing. I (for one) truly want to better understand your thinking in your support for Trump and MAGA because it's simply so different from my perspective. What are your thoughts on what Kelly said? And are you at all concerned that Trump has any "fascist" tendencies, or do you think that's mainstream media nonsense and/or Trump Derangement Syndrome?
Are you concerned about honesty in the candidates? Then obviously you do not support djt who lies every single time he speaks.
He IS the one who had over 30,000 verified lies during his single term.
Recently at a 60 minute "news confrernce" he lied over 160 times, more than twice a minute!
So, if you value honesty djt is NOT the candidate to support.
Plus, you have no idea what Harris knew or saw about President Bidens being slowed by age (there is no evidence he is in declining health). Sometimes it happens suddenly, that does not make his administration liars for not brining it up previously.
"162 lies and distortions in a news conference. NPR fact-checks former President Trump"
He is old and showing signs of age related slowing down, but that is not the same as a decline in health.
If you have evidence that shows otherwise please share it.
"The typical signs of aging only appear once the reserves have become a lot smaller. These signs of aging aren't medical problems, though, and it’s often possible to counteract them for a long time: For example, if muscles start becoming weaker, you can do exercises to strengthen them"
"Signs of decline in overall health include weight loss, changes in appetite, problems swallowing, fatigue, burns, black and blue marks (possible signs of falling), hearing loss (look for signs of lip reading and talking loudly), withdrawn without reason, complaints of muscle weakness, insomnia, excessive sleeping or dehydration"
Biden, who had to have brain surgery for 2X aneurysms, struggles to complete sentences. If he were a relative, with a medical history of brain surgery displaying visible cognitive decline, one would naturally consult a specialist.
Clearly you haven’t read the Wall Street Journal article from 05 June. They clearly lay out his mental decline. Also, rich coming from the guy who was certain that Biden was actually winning the polls due to your deep dive and cross tab analysis. We can certainly quibble about the nature of decline, old age or actually mental heath issues, but his decline was on display for everyone during the debate. That cannot be argued.
Oh, THAT’S rich, @dutchmaga! The sole reason you come to the Comments section of So What every single day is to troll us and argue about one point or another!
The truth here in your response? When you try to call out Harris for maybe telling the truth or maybe not telling the truth, you expose yourself to the comparison with Trump (and Vance, for that matter) and you have quite literally NO defense for that position. You don’t give a rat’s ass about the truth! If that was a driving factor for you, you wouldn’t put “MAGA” in your profile.
There’s a term for what you’ve done here: brazen hypocrisy, pure and simple.
He still won’t endorse VP Harris and says he likes Trump’s policies. How are these men able to twist themselves in knots to NOT go all in against someone they say is a dangerous fascist?!?! I mean, wtf??
From Politico:
Kelly, who was Trump’s longest-service chief of staff, said he was not endorsing anyone in the presidential race because it would be inappropriate as a former military officer. But he made it clear he doesn’t support the former president.
I mean, I guess that he can lean into that excuse? I would just think that as a former military officer his duty would be to endorse any candidate that would support and follow the constitution to which he pledged an oath.
Kelly has made it absolutely clear that he is strongly against Trump. One of the things that he knows is bad about Trump is Trump's desire to merge military power and Trump's personal/presidential power; politicizing of the military is (correctly, wisely) anathema to people like Kelly. So, given his military background, I think his approach is appropriate.
Wow I wasn’t aware of that. Like many Republican leaders who warn of the danger to elect Trump and cowardly do not fight like Liz Cheney to make sure he is not elected
I have so much respect for Liz Cheney. She literally torched her own career to put country over party. And in the MAGA world, SHE is the traitor...not Trump.
A few votes here and there can change things…..
This NYT piece should be on the front page of every city and large or small-town newspaper in the Country this Sunday. Then, should Trump win on November 5, 2024, there can be no denying to history and future American generations that the voters did not know "what" they were voting for.
This just all goes to a point I have frequently made: Trump really was telling the truth when he said that he could shoot someone in the middle of 5th Avenue and not lose a single voter. There is nothing that he says or does that will ever in the eyes of his supporters be disqualifying. NOTHING.
If this election is as close as everyone says it will be then if even a few people take what Kelly says to heart it could make a difference. Not as much difference as it should but it might be enough to change an outcome in a swing state.
I hope you don’t mind but I published a long excerpt from this on my Facebook page. Many of my relatives are Trumpers and I generally avoid politics but your prose is so stark, simple and compelling (minus explanation points) and this election so important, no less than 2020 was, that I needed to risk family dissension.
Will it lead to a shift in the polls? Presumably not. But it's a pretty damning interview. What it might do is get others who were part of Convicted Felon Trump's administration to speak out -- in detail -- about what he's really like.
Governor Chris Sununu was a true profile in courage on CNN. It's numbing to watch their responses. Yea, he said it, but it's baked in with Trump and the people want lower prices. That's it, that is all they got to say. A freakin GENERAL says the man is a fascist. But, you, know, his policies are good.
What friggin’ policies?! To say that he has the “concept of a plan” is to give him too much credit. And many many economists, ie those that actually study the field and are peer-reviewed, have made it clear that Trump’s tariff plans will tank our economy. But for some reason that I just can’t wrap my head around, the “average” American thinks he’ll be “better for the economy”.
I get that the GOP base is not going to change their mind on Trump for anything, no matter what he says or does, or is accused of saying or doing. They’re with him all the way. It’s the people who should know better, the cowards in elected office, who remain silent or defend him on anything and everything that is so difficult to process. I know they still aren’t going to change their minds. They’ve fully cast aside all their morals, values and principles to support Donald Trump. He and his ability to end their political careers is more important than the future of the country they claim to serve. That’s the truth, and it’s just really sad to see the lengths they will go to defend him.
What is the final piece of information that the undecided voters are waiting for before they can/will choose a candidate? If undecided voters are unlikely to read or hear about Gen. Kelly's views on Trump, are they doing anything to help them reach a decision regarding their vote? Or are they ignoring everything until Election Day and then they'll just flip a coin?
Oh please.... John Kelly, HR McMaster, Miley, and the other military clowns are all complicit in legitimizing and normalizing Trump's presidency. They have forfeited all credibility and should just be ignored as opportunists.
Not a single doubt in my mind that Trump said all this. It's in his MO. It ties in with the rest of the garbage that spews from his big mouth.
5 to 1 retired senior officers oppose Trump
https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/19/politics/military-leaders-sound-the-alarm-trump/index.html?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
For what it is worth, what Chris is saying is important, Ezra Klein's newest podcast talks a lot about this and how these type of people will not be in his cabinet. John Kelly and others kept Trump controlled. He will not be controlled this second term.
Agree with you Chris. This changes nothing.
But ... John Kelly is a day late and a dollar short. He should have made these comments months and months ago and then gone on Fox and made the comments again.
Sadly, he takes the military dodge and then doesn't endorse Harris. While I understand his rationale, he should stand with the Cheney's and the others that have called Trump unfit and then endorsed Harris just for the saving of the nation that he supposedly holds so dear.
Who would've listened then that isn't listening now? I agree with Chris -- it changes nothing (and would've changed nothing months ago).
It would have had more impact months ago to the Republicans who hate Trump but cannot bring themselves to vote for Harris. It might not have brought Harris votes, but it could have resulted in a lot of those Republicans not placing a vote for Trump (undervotes).
I am betting (and hoping) that Trump underperforms in this election because of his unfavorability.
Do you really think so? I dunno. I hear ya, but I remain skeptical.
On another note, watch VP Harris answer the question poised to her if she is being honest with the American people about JB’s declining health. It’s priceless! She immediately looks away, the first sign of deception! What makes it even more rich is it’s question on honestly and she tells a fib! Her body language gives it away.
In what way is this relevant to Trump's fascist mentality and the behavior that Chris summarized in the piece? Biden has none of these tendencies/behaviors and in response to concerns about his age, he is no longer the candidate.
Not relevant at all. Just a slice of MAGA perspective for the day. 😎
Thanks for sharing. I (for one) truly want to better understand your thinking in your support for Trump and MAGA because it's simply so different from my perspective. What are your thoughts on what Kelly said? And are you at all concerned that Trump has any "fascist" tendencies, or do you think that's mainstream media nonsense and/or Trump Derangement Syndrome?
Are you concerned about honesty in the candidates? Then obviously you do not support djt who lies every single time he speaks.
He IS the one who had over 30,000 verified lies during his single term.
Recently at a 60 minute "news confrernce" he lied over 160 times, more than twice a minute!
So, if you value honesty djt is NOT the candidate to support.
Plus, you have no idea what Harris knew or saw about President Bidens being slowed by age (there is no evidence he is in declining health). Sometimes it happens suddenly, that does not make his administration liars for not brining it up previously.
"162 lies and distortions in a news conference. NPR fact-checks former President Trump"
https://www.npr.org/2024/08/11/nx-s1-5070566/trump-news-conference
Absolutely no evidence of Biden's declining health!
Yes.
He is old and showing signs of age related slowing down, but that is not the same as a decline in health.
If you have evidence that shows otherwise please share it.
"The typical signs of aging only appear once the reserves have become a lot smaller. These signs of aging aren't medical problems, though, and it’s often possible to counteract them for a long time: For example, if muscles start becoming weaker, you can do exercises to strengthen them"
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563107/
"Signs of decline in overall health include weight loss, changes in appetite, problems swallowing, fatigue, burns, black and blue marks (possible signs of falling), hearing loss (look for signs of lip reading and talking loudly), withdrawn without reason, complaints of muscle weakness, insomnia, excessive sleeping or dehydration"
https://brightcare.co.uk/resource/signs-of-decline/
Agreed 💯. Where’s your proof, Leva, or is it just your usual bluster and blindness?
Biden, who had to have brain surgery for 2X aneurysms, struggles to complete sentences. If he were a relative, with a medical history of brain surgery displaying visible cognitive decline, one would naturally consult a specialist.
Larry,
Clearly you haven’t read the Wall Street Journal article from 05 June. They clearly lay out his mental decline. Also, rich coming from the guy who was certain that Biden was actually winning the polls due to your deep dive and cross tab analysis. We can certainly quibble about the nature of decline, old age or actually mental heath issues, but his decline was on display for everyone during the debate. That cannot be argued.
Hidden in plain sight. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bidens-medical-history-not-scrutinized/
Best of luck to you and your candidate. Less than 2 weeks to go. I’m not here to argue, got much better things to do. Gonna be so much fun!
Oh, THAT’S rich, @dutchmaga! The sole reason you come to the Comments section of So What every single day is to troll us and argue about one point or another!
The truth here in your response? When you try to call out Harris for maybe telling the truth or maybe not telling the truth, you expose yourself to the comparison with Trump (and Vance, for that matter) and you have quite literally NO defense for that position. You don’t give a rat’s ass about the truth! If that was a driving factor for you, you wouldn’t put “MAGA” in your profile.
There’s a term for what you’ve done here: brazen hypocrisy, pure and simple.
Yes. And the Harris -looked-away-means-she-is -lying is sooooo weak! lol!
I'm not a fan of this dictatorship I'm currently living in, but Kamala Harris looked away when asked a question, so I stand by my vote.
Best of luck Sam, under 2 weeks now!