Halls of Shrewd'm / US Policy
No. of Recommendations: 16
"Robert Mueller died today, at age 81. Decent people around the world mourn his passing. Americans who know about public service recognize him as a stellar example. If the phrase “with privilege, comes responsibility” can apply to any Americans of recent history, the list might start with him.
And today, the person who is now on his 24th golfing trip to Mar-a-Lago of his second term—the actual number, at millions of dollars per trip in public expense, while the world reels from a war he started on a whim, while families he promised to help are struggling with medical expenses and gas prices and tariff increases and everything else—today that same person wrote publicly of Mueller:
Good, I’m glad that he is dead.
This is the most despicable public statement by an American public official in my lifetime.
It needs to be recognized as such.
Any head of state who can say this in public about a countryman, even about a political adversary, is a moral monster. Either he has no ability whatsoever to empathize with others; or he has no sense whatsoever of a leader’s duty; or he has no remaining cognitive ability whatsoever to “filter” what he says. Or all three.
If I thought Trump had ever heard of John Donne, I would remind him of “no man is an island.” If I thought he had ever been seriously in any place of worship, I would remind him that none teaches being “glad” at another person’s death. If I thought he had a soul, I would recommend that he attend to it.
Just while I’m at it, here is how Donne’s most famous passage ends:
Any man’s death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.
Whatever your political views, including about “the Mueller report,” respect Robert Mueller’s example of service. And stand up against Trump’s example of depravity. —James Fallows
No. of Recommendations: 14
I think Mueller's family should invite Trump to the memorial service. There's always a chance he will accept and make a further ass of himself. They just have to make sure there's audio and video so that Trump thinks he can put on a show for his base.
Let's review the character of the two men:
Mueller:
A graduate of Princeton University and New York University, Mueller served as a U.S. Marine Corps officer during the Vietnam War, receiving a Bronze Star for heroism and a Purple Heart. He later attended the University of Virginia School of Law. Mueller was a registered Republican in Washington, D.C., and was appointed or reappointed to Senate-confirmed positions by presidents George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.
...
Mueller cited the combat death of his Princeton lacrosse teammate David Spencer Hackett in the Vietnam War as an influence on his decision to pursue military service.[16] Of his classmate, Mueller said, "One of the reasons I went into the Marine Corps was because we lost a very good friend, a Marine in Vietnam, who was a year ahead of me at Princeton. There were a number of us who felt we should follow his example and at least go into the service. And it flows from there."[17]
...
After waiting a year for a knee injury to heal, Mueller was accepted for officer training in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1968. He attended training at Parris Island, Officer Candidate School, Ranger School, and Jump School. He later said that he considered Ranger School the most valuable because it "more than anything teaches you about how you react with no sleep and nothing to eat."[19][20]
In the summer of 1968, Mueller was deployed to South Vietnam, where he served as a rifle platoon leader with Second Platoon, H Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division.[2][21] On December 11, 1968, during an engagement in Operation Scotland II, he earned the Bronze Star with "V" device for combat valor after rescuing a wounded Marine under enemy fire during an ambush in which half of his platoon became casualties.[22][23] In April 1969, he was wounded in the thigh by enemy gunfire, recovered, and returned to lead his platoon until June 1969.[24]
For his service in the Vietnam War, Mueller's military decorations and awards included the Bronze Star Medal with "V" device, the Purple Heart, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals with Combat "V", the Combat Action Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with four service stars, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Parachutist Badge.[2][24][20][25]
...
Reflecting on his service, Mueller said, "I consider myself exceptionally lucky to have made it out of Vietnam. There were many—many—who did not. And perhaps because I did survive Vietnam, I have always felt compelled to contribute."[27] In 2009, he told a writer that despite his other accomplishments, he remained "most proud the Marine Corps deemed me worthy of leading other Marines."[20]Trump: 5 draft deferments, and:
In an unearthed interview from 1997, Donald Trump claimed he was a "brave soldier" for avoiding STDs during his single years in the late '90s.
"It's amazing, I can't even believe it. I've been so lucky in terms of that whole world, it is a dangerous world out there. It's like Vietnam, sort of. It is my personal Vietnam. I feel like a great and very brave solider," Trump said in the interview when Howard Stern asked how he handled making sure he wasn't contracting STDs from the women he was sleeping with.
The business-mogul-turned-politician elaborated on the fact in the interview, calling women's vaginas "potential landmines" and saying "there's some real danger there."https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Muellerhttps://people.com/politics/trump-boasted-of-avoid...
No. of Recommendations: 15
Did you see Scott Bessent's response when asked about Trump saying he was glad that Mueller was dead?
We must feel pity for poor little Trumpie-poo. His tender feelings were hurt.
Truly stupid and despicable deflection...
Bessent declined to denounce the President's comments, instead suggesting that the public should have empathy for Donald Trump. His defense included the following points:
Call for Empathy: Bessent stated, "I think that we should all have a little empathy for what has been done to him [Trump] and his family.
"The "Green Room" Story: He recounted being with Trump in a green room at Davos, watching a video of the 2022 FBI search of Mar-a-Lago. He described seeing "the look in his eye" and claimed that most people cannot understand the emotional toll those investigations took on the President.
Deflecting the Question: When pressed multiple times on whether it was appropriate to celebrate the death of a decorated veteran and public servant, Bessent maintained that it was "impossible" for others to understand what Trump had been through.
And horror of horrors, the agents went through Melania's closet!
What a disgusting little Quisling Bessent is.
No. of Recommendations: 3
I think Mueller's family should invite Trump to the memorial service. There's always a chance he will accept and make a further ass of himself.
Dunno about you, but I wouldn’t be inviting anyone to a family funeral, in hopes that they make an ass out of themselves.
No. of Recommendations: 10
Bessent maintained that it was "impossible" for others to understand what Trump had been through.
Possibly because none of us have spent our entire lives breaking the law and being terrified of finally being held accountable.
What a disgusting little Quisling Bessent is.
Yup. As is the entire wretched Trump admin cabal of corrupt lickspittle swill-guzzling lie-spewing ass-kissing co-complicit co-conspirators.
No. of Recommendations: 4
Dunno about you, but I wouldn’t be inviting anyone to a family funeral, in hopes that they make an ass out of themselves.
Yeah, you're right, but Mueller has two kids. Selfishly, I'd love to see one of them tear Trump a new one. However, I assume, like their father, they will take the high road and let others continue to do the condemning of Trump's despicable words.
