The Corporal Klinger of Our Day
You may have read that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace told the Chicago Tribune today that he supports the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy because homosexuality is “immoral.” To me this is the clearest indicator yet that the brass expect the so-called “Surge” to fail.
No, really. There’s already a Kos diarist calling for Pace’s resignation and that kind of talk has to build pretty swiftly. (Via Atrios.) I bet Pace is hoping that the liberal media drive him into retirement. He slips the chain of Iraq dragging him down to the muddy bottom of Posterity Ocean, escapes from having to lead a foolish war against Iran, he can play the victim-of-PC card and have a nice second career as a right wing poster boy, maybe run for Senate on a “Traditional Values and They Wouldn’t Let Me Win the War” platform. He could be Roy Moore in camos!
The only flaw in his plan is the notion that the liberal media are that powerful. He should have talked it over with William Boykin first.
Comment by Nell —
March 13, 2007 @ 9:44 am
Brilliant. Including the post title.
When I read about Pace’s comments, I was completely stumped for an explanation. This makes eminent sense.
No such luck, Pete. We’re consumed with the U.S. Attorney scandal and that other one in your bailiwick — the disgraceful state of care for wounded vets. Don’t get your hopes up there, either; Kiley will be as far as it goes up the chain.
So put a little energy into those “we’ll resign if Bush attacks Iran” leaks, ’cause it’s on the calendar.
Comment by mds —
March 13, 2007 @ 10:15 am
The only flaw in his plan is the notion that the liberal media are that powerful. He should have talked it over with William Boykin first.
Well, to be fair, the liberal media could be that powerful. It’s just that William Boykin’s god is even bigger than the liberal media’s god.
Comment by moocat —
March 13, 2007 @ 11:02 am
Igck!! God, but I WISH this were a calculated political move… instead of further evidence that the “troglodyte political elite” still vastly out powers the “sodomite elite.”
If that is his plan, I sure hope he gets his wish. I rarely write my Congressfemales (all 3) without prompting from Moveon.com, but this one was red meat enough for me to do the research, find their email addresses, and vent away.
Comment by Mona —
March 13, 2007 @ 11:08 am
Jim’s thesis is more plausible than most, and altho I could be naive, I find it pretty hard to believe Pace would introduce such inflammatory views for no reason at all except conviction about his utterance. Much as I despise “don’t ask, don’t tell,” it isn’t my most pressing issue of the moment, and it damned sure ain’t Pace’s either.
Comment by Nell —
March 13, 2007 @ 2:47 pm
Further reinforcement for Jim’s ‘Cpl. Klinger’ theory: Pace was on CNN this morning; I had the sound off because I was just waiting for Schumer, but the graphic said, REFUSES TO BACK DOWN.
Tailor-made. And CNN!! (Say it with a hiss…)
Comment by Nell —
March 13, 2007 @ 7:09 pm
On the other hand:
Oh. My. God.
Republican Sen. John Warner, a veteran member of the Senate’s Armed Services Committee, said through a spokesman: “I respectfully but strongly disagree with the chairman’s view that homosexuality is immoral.”
I can’t decide if that means he’s definitely running for Senate in 2008, or if he definitely isn’t…
Comment by brucedene —
March 14, 2007 @ 7:02 pm
From the link to Boykin, I learn this:
So there are regulations! Whew! ‘Cause, you know, otherwise we’d totally have to take him and Pace at their word. You’d think that alone would cause them to lose sleep.