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‘Who the (bleep) is this guy?’: Defense world reacts to Trump’s surprise Pentagon pick
Politico ^ | 11/12/24 | Joe Gould, Robbie Gramer, Paul McLeary, Connor O’Brien and Jack Detsch

Posted on 11/13/2024 8:14:45 AM PST by DallasBiff

President-elect Donald Trump’s Tuesday night surprise pick of a conservative commentator and television host as his Pentagon chief shocked Washington, which had expected the nominee to be a seasoned lawmaker or someone with defense policy experience.

National security officials and defense analysts had braced for surprises from Trump after experiencing his first four years in office. But even grading on that curve, they say the announcement of Fox News host and decorated Army veteran Pete Hegseth caught them totally off-guard.

“[Trump] puts the highest value on loyalty,” Eric Edelman, who served as the Pentagon’s top policy official during the Bush administration, said in an interview. “It appears that one of the main criteria that’s being used is, how well do people defend Donald Trump on television?”

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: dod; hegseth; trump
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The swamp is going ape you know what over Hegseth, good.
1 posted on 11/13/2024 8:14:45 AM PST by DallasBiff
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To: DallasBiff

Ready for duty:

https://x.com/i/status/1856731220857532624


2 posted on 11/13/2024 8:15:38 AM PST by bigbob (Yes. We ARE going back!)
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To: DallasBiff

LOVE it!!!!One SMART move with President Trump’s pick!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO TRUMP GO!!


3 posted on 11/13/2024 8:16:04 AM PST by pollywog (" O thou who changest not....ABIDE with me")
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To: DallasBiff

I am perfectly happy that a retired 11A (Infantry platoon leader) with combat experience is going to be the next Sec Def.


4 posted on 11/13/2024 8:16:26 AM PST by MNJohnnie (Don't blame me, my congressman is MTG!)
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To: DallasBiff
"‘Who the f--k is this guy?’

The Pentagon staffer who said this will likely be one of the first to go.

5 posted on 11/13/2024 8:17:43 AM PST by Carl Vehse
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To: DallasBiff

FAFO who the f—k he is.

politico trying to stir up sh!t


6 posted on 11/13/2024 8:17:45 AM PST by V_TWIN (America...so great even the people that hate it refuse to leave!)
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To: MNJohnnie

you think maybe now Hegseth will get a decent haircut/
s


7 posted on 11/13/2024 8:18:27 AM PST by MagUSNRET ((" I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of he night"))
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To: DallasBiff
Washington...had expected the nominee to be a seasoned lawmaker or someone with defense policy experience

The Left loves politicians.

8 posted on 11/13/2024 8:18:52 AM PST by Jim W N (MAGA by restoring the Gospel of the Grace of Christ (Jude 3) and our Free Constitutional Republic!)
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To: DallasBiff

LOL AWESOME

I’d be worried if they liked him and knew him


9 posted on 11/13/2024 8:19:25 AM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the Days of Lot; They did Eat, They Drank, They Bought, They Sold ......)
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To: DallasBiff

Oh noes! Someone they dont have dirt on and not in their circle! Good choice.


10 posted on 11/13/2024 8:19:41 AM PST by mikey_hates_everything
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To: MNJohnnie
Hegseth's rank should not be an impediment.

Remember Jim Webb was a retired USMC Captain and he was Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs and Secretary of the Navy under Reagan. Granted, he had some honest to goodness combat experience and a Silver Star, Navy Cross, two Bronze Stars, and two Purple Hearts.

11 posted on 11/13/2024 8:20:34 AM PST by P8riot (You will never know Jesus Christ as a reality in your life until you know Him as a necessity.)
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To: DallasBiff

*** [Trump] puts the highest value on loyalty,” Eric Edelman, who served as the Pentagon’s top policy official during the Bush administration, said in an interview. ***

Well, after what Trump’s been put through with his last set of appointments, can you blame him?


12 posted on 11/13/2024 8:20:35 AM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: DallasBiff

Trump] puts the highest value on loyalty,” Eric Edelman
.......

Spying on his campaign has consequences,Eric..


13 posted on 11/13/2024 8:20:40 AM PST by delchiante
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To: DallasBiff

Yes, it is a brilliant nomination by Trump.


14 posted on 11/13/2024 8:22:05 AM PST by devere
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To: DallasBiff

The bass turds never asked who the **** Austin was. Sounds like there is some racist BS going on. With the caliber of officers running the military these days, I can understand why they didn’t know who Hegseth was. His most recent best seller is entitled, “The War On Warriors, Behind the Betrayal of The Men Who Keep Us Free.” They probably wouldn’t be interested in a book like that.


15 posted on 11/13/2024 8:22:09 AM PST by FlingWingFlyer (Jamaicans Haitians and Indians used to run motels and 7-11s. Now,they run Congress and the judiciary)
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To: DallasBiff
Their going to learn what it truly means to be unburdened by what has been.

The old saying is that if you keep doing what you're doing, you'll keep getting what you're getting. So, things are definitely going to be different!

16 posted on 11/13/2024 8:23:34 AM PST by Repealthe17thAmendment
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To: DallasBiff
‘Who the f--k is this guy?’

They don't watch Fox News but they'll have plenty of time after DOGE.

17 posted on 11/13/2024 8:23:46 AM PST by bertmerc1 (Conservative Buddhist)
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To: DallasBiff

All these seasoned managers, directors, and policy wonks spent trilions on a war where in the end, lost to a bunch of goat herders in embarrassing fashion.

So people need clap back and say, “Who the f’ are you losers?”


18 posted on 11/13/2024 8:24:27 AM PST by rollo tomasi
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To: DallasBiff

He’s a pesky citizen, that’s who.


19 posted on 11/13/2024 8:24:57 AM PST by Buttons12 (Don't just gripe. Retire now. Cut off their allowance. )
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To: DallasBiff
[Trump] puts the highest value on loyalty

Which is why he's had a history of trouble picking his staff.

Trump has trouble sometimes distinguishing the elements of successful business with the elements of just constitutional gov't.

While personal loyalty is foremost in business, not so much in constitutional gov't. The standard in constitutional gov't is loyalty to constitutionally LIMITED gov't and individual freedom - loyalty to the Rule of Law of the Constitution and to the constitutionally protected freedom of the American People from unconstitutional gov't coercion.

20 posted on 11/13/2024 8:26:05 AM PST by Jim W N (MAGA by restoring the Gospel of the Grace of Christ (Jude 3) and our Free Constitutional Republic!)
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