He’s trying to buy love. He’s a little afraid of the military because, while our military has no history of involvement in domestic politics, he knows he’s extremely unpopular with military folkls and he wants to win them over so that he doesn’t have to worry about them when he starts doing things that might provoke resistance.
Buying allegiance - the Chicago way. Sadly, it will probably work, too.
If they show up at all, it will be for what husband and I call the “Salute and Go” — for the free food!
Not with the majority of the U.S. military people, whether active duty, or retired. It'll be more of a high-price, taxpayer-funded sound bite that the meida will glom onto as showing how wonderful the new CINC is.
Sure -- there are liberals in the military (comes with an army in a democracy). Proportionately fewer than in general population, but still present.
Thing is, attendance will probably be pretty strong, because at the rank of most of the people likely to be attending (general/flag level officers, super-senior Beltway-oriented enlisted), their focus shifts over from the operational to the political, and being seen at a function with the uber-boss is just good politics, regardless if you like him or not.
LLS
The military ball was started by Bush, and I suspect all future presidents will continue the tradition.
Even if it doesn’t work, the media will tell us it did. All Hail Zero!