Paul Revere by Cyrus Dallin, North End, Boston

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Monday, September 7, 2020

HORRIBLE: Trump: Americans Who Died in War Are ‘Losers’ and ‘Suckers’


Every American should be deeply ashamed of this loathsome villain:



Trump Canceled Trip To Cemetery Honoring Slain Soldiers Who He Called ‘Losers




"President Trump reportedly skipped his scheduled visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris in 2018 after dismissing the U.S. soldiers who died during the Battle of Bellaeu Wood as “losers.” According to a report in The Atlantic published Thursday, Trump’s excuses of “the helicopter couldn’t fly” and that the Secret Service wouldn’t drive him to the cemetery in France due to the rain were false claims.


 Citing four people with firsthand knowledge of the discussion that day, The Atlantic reported that the President was reluctant to pay a visit to the cemetery in France honoring slain American soldiers because of concerns that his hair would become disheveled in the rain. Additionally, Trump reportedly mocked the soldiers who died during the Battle of Bellaeu Wood during a conversation with senior staff members on the morning of the scheduled visit. “Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers,” Trump said, according to The Atlantic. 

 The Atlantic also reported that Trump characterized the more than 1,800 marines who died in the Battle of Belleau Wood as “suckers” during a separate conversation on the same trip. Trump also asked aides, “who were the good guys in this war?” and expressed that he didn’t understand why the U.S. would intervene on the side of the Allies. 

 The Battle of Belleau Wood in the spring of 1918 proved to be consequential in that it was the first large-scale battle fought by American soldiers in World War I. The U.S. Marines and Allied forces had stopped the German advance toward Paris in the forested area. After weeks of the Marines launching attacks, Americans prevailed, but at the cost of nearly 10,000 dead, wounded, or missing in action."





"...[Trump] has also clashed with the military leadership by extending clemency to accused and convicted war criminals, seeking to order active-duty forces into the streets of Washington to crack down on demonstrations and trying to block an effort to change the names of Army bases named for Confederate generals. 

 A new poll by The Military Times taken before the party conventions last month and released this week showed former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. leading Mr. Trump with 41 percent to 37 percent among active-duty troops, a stark departure from the military’s longstanding support for Republicans. 

 People familiar with Mr. Trump’s comments say he has long scorned those who served in Vietnam as being too dumb to have gotten out of it, as he did through a medical diagnosis of bone spurs in his heels. At other times, according to those familiar with the remarks, Mr. Trump would marvel at people choosing military service over making money."

22 comments:

Les Carpenter said...

America's Loser - Donald J. trump.

And American integrity and its reputation loses with Donald J. trump as its president.

Shaw Kenawe said...

"The article also said that Mr. Trump’s well-known antipathy for Senator John McCain, the Republican from Arizona and Vietnam War hero, was on display after the senator’s death in August 2018. “We’re not going to support that loser’s funeral,” the article quotes Mr. Trump telling his staff. He became furious at seeing flags lowered to half-staff. “What the fuck are we doing that for? Guy was a fucking loser,” the president told aides, according to the article."

This is totally believable, even if Trump screams his denials. Trump has mocked a POW, John McCain; he disrespected a Gold Star family; he fired Lt.Col. Vindman (and his brother) for answering a legal subpoena and telling the truth; he call General Mattis "the world's most overrated general."

"President Donald Trump questioned a Marine's sacrifice during a Memorial Day visit to his grave with the man's father, The Atlantic reported Thursday.

"I don't get it. What was in it for them?" Trump was said to have asked retired Marine Corps Gen. John Kelly, who later became Trump's chief of staff, as the two stood beside 1st Lt. Robert Kelly's grave at Arlington National Cemetery in 2017.

One of Kelly's friends who is a retired four-star general told The Atlantic that Trump "can't fathom the idea of doing something for someone other than himself."


What a disgrace to America Trump is!

Anonymous said...

Rep. Jason Crowe, D-Colo, former Army Ranger:

“When you serve, you do so selflessly. You don’t do it for the paycheck, the medal, or the uniform. You do it because you believe in America,” Crow wrote in a statement. “That’s something Trump will never understand.”

Ray Cranston said...

Here's the quote from Trump where he calls John McCain a "loser."

Trump did describe McCain as a loser, citing his capture by enemy forces.

"I like people who weren't captured," Trump said at an Iowa summit during his presidential campaign in 2015, adding, "I don't like losers."


This is why the article in the Atlantic is believable: Trump called a POW a "loser."

The Commander-in-Chief calls Fallen Heroes LOSERS!

Fed up said...

The usual Trumper blogs are ignoring this bombshell of a story. They've behaved this way all through Trump's lousy presidency pretending all's well while keeping their heads firmly buried in the sand. They're as repulsive as he is.

Shaw Kenawe said...

John O. Brennan
@JohnBrennan
·

Last year, a former four star general & colleague who worked directly for Trump said to me, “Donald Trump is the most loathsome individual I ever met.”

Trump’s attitudes & behavior toward America’s heroes are repugnant.

Vote him out, resoundingly.

Dave Miller said...

We need these folks to eschew anonymity and step forth.

We've had enough of people sniping from the shadows. If these comments are true, they have a duty to the country to identify themselves and step forward. And if not them, the perhaps the journalists need to come forward and out them.

Yes, it would probably end Goldberg's career, but we are at an inflection point in our country. Just as soldiers put their lives on the line, is Goldberg of the same stock? Are these people accusing the president?

Unattributed, these attacks simply serve to divide.

While I do not doubt the reports, faces and names would attached to them would be a game changer.

skudrunner said...

I am not saying it didn't happen but for a way left magazine publishes something that "happened" over two years ago and their source is non existent. They published this 90 days before an election where their candidate is losing ground. I guess you don't question it because it is against trump. Of course when biden is accused by a women of inappropriate actions she is lying.

Rev, if a journalist outed them how many leaks do you think he would get. Much easier to say anonymous source than try to prove something. The art of reporting is dead and replaced by the art of opinion.

Wear a MAGA hat or display a trump sticker and you should be fearful of verbal and physical attack. You can't show support for a candidate the left hats or you may be injured. Somehow that does seem one sided doesn't it.

Dave Miller said...

BTW... the reports have been largely verified the AP, Washington Post and now, even FOX News.

Anyone believing this story is not true?

I mean anyone not traveling on the Mothership...

Shaw Kenawe said...

You know what is astonishing, Dave? Even when corroborated by the propaganda arm of the GOP, people like skid refuse to believe what’s in front of their noses. And that’s why we ended up with Trump as POTUS in 2016.

According to witnesses, Trump said people who fight for their country are suckers and losers. I can easily believe he said those things because I heard with my own ears and saw with my own eyes Trump call John McCain a “loser.” But skid still defends the indefensible.

Let me tell you,Dave, that I understand more than ever now what happened in Germany in 1930. Skud and the folks on the Mother Ship and all those who continue to support Trump all give witness to how a loud mouth malignant narcissist can hold certain people in thrall to his lying, cheating, and lawlessness.

Shaw Kenawe said...

Skud, not skid.

Dave Miller said...

Skud... you said...

"I guess you don't question it because it is against trump. Of course when biden is accused by a women of inappropriate actions she is lying."

Clearly you have not been paying attention.

Regarding Biden, I've been very critical, on both this blog and RN's, of the Dems "flexible" stance towards Biden today and Clinton in the past. As I have about how they have lived out their "Women must be believed" stance. Do your homework.

As for not questioning something because it is against Trump, really? You responded to what I wrote, so I assume you read it. I'm calling for people to come forward, or even for Jeffrey Goldberg to out his sources. That would seem to say I want, or need more verification before I believe it all.

But let's look at this? Trump said he's never called McCain or soldiers, losers. Is the tape of him doing so altered? Is his tweet doing the same a ruse? We've already seen this level of behavior from Trump. But assuming he said these things is not the same as verification of him doing so.

And in that vein, we can thank other news orgs for what they have done. Reaching out to other sources, the AP, Washington Post and even FOX News have verified what the "left magazine" has published. I think that covers the political spectrum bringing together the left, right and center in rare harmony.

Perhaps all of them are wrong and Trump is being truthful in his denials. Maybe this time he is telling the truth.

Finally, if timing is an issue, you go with the stories when you get them. Should a reporter hold a story if it damages a candidate within an election season? A lot of these stories are just now filtering out of the Trump Admin, admittedly, because people working within that Admin are worried for America.

But does timing negate truthfulness?

Grey One talks sass said...

skud said "Of course when biden is accused by a women of inappropriate actions she is lying."

Of course you ignore the due diligence performed on Ms Reed and her allegations. Of course you ignore the facts - because it doesn't help Your Neato Cheato.

Do you have any evidence skud? Ever? I mean, I've been reading this blog for a while and thus far your record is innuendo - bamzillion facts - zip. Just saying....

And skudrunner, because I'm an old and can remember how people used to be trustworthy, how dare you imply Joe Biden is inappropriate when you give your Neato Cheeto a free pass on 20+ credible rape allegations including the rape of a child. Your lack of empathy I guess is a feature, just like your hero.

When will you address the child rape skud? When?

Shaw - had to say this to skud as they are just so... fact free and I'm beyond done with their slurs against Biden while letting the current occupant in The People's House a pass. Biden was not my first or second choice. That said I will vote Blue to ensure our great democratic experiment is not flushed in November.

Also - on topic - my late husband (cancer) was a Marine. He was neither a sucker nor a loser and would have died for his country. In fact after 9/11 he tried to reenlist but was too old. It was a sore spot for the rest of his life. To his dying breath he wanted to be a part of an old gummer brigade. Old, sneaky, and not afraid of death. That's a brigade I'd not like to face any time soon. :)

skudrunner said...

Why doesn't the source come forward? I would find this more believable if it was either clinton or the swell guy because they all hater the military. Somehow when john bolton who is not a trump fan says it didn't happen it means more than some unknown source.

GO, I don't give anyone a pass and that includes joey. Tara Reade was not the only one who has accused joey of inappropriate behavior. Remember today if you are accused you are guilty. Eight women have alleged joey made inappropriate sexual advances toward them. Works for most people but maybe not for democrats because of course joey wouldn't do such a thing.

Rev, these unidentified sources are very convenient and it does make good headlines.

Ms Shaw, we ended up with trump because the DNC kept their word and ran a horrible candidate who could not beat a orange haired non politician. This time they are running a guy who has a history of big lies and little accomplishments.

We should be able to do better because I would like to vote for someone rather than against someone.

Shaw Kenawe said...

Skud, John Bolton said HE DIDN'T HEAR Trump say those disgusting things about our military. Bolton DID NOT SAY TRUMP NEVER SAID THEM. There's a difference. But a Trump cultists who is determined to defend the indefensible in this horrible human being is blind to simple logic.

It is pretty obvious to a majority of the American people who are NOT marinated in Trump's cesspool of lies and bullshit that trump would disparage the sacrifices of our men and women in unifor. We Americans who've been paying attentiaon actually heard Trump denigrate a POW -- John McCain; a Gold Star family, and saw Trump fire Lt.Col. Vindman who answered a legal subpoena and told the truth under oath. Trump thought so little of Vindman, who's walking around with schrapnel still in his body and a Purple Heart for his sacrifice to America.

Trump FIRED that hero.

It is TOTALLY believable that a dishonorable man like Trump would say such things because he knows nothing about sacrifice for something bigger than himself. Not one member of the Trump tribe in 4 generations has ever done military duty, in Europe or here in America.

Trump called avoiding getting syphilis from shagging so many women while avoiding being drafted "my Vietnam."

You and your far right blogging pals continue to defend and excuse this liar, cheat, and fraud, and the majority of Americans who see through his lies and bullshit will remember that.

Meanwhile, if you knew anything about reporting and how reporters work with anonymous sources, you wouldn't ask such a dumb question. I'm not here to enlighten Trumpers. I've decided long ago that is futile.

Ray Cranston said...

Benedict Donald is on record calling John McCain a "loser." What the hell is wrong with skud and people like him defending that shit?

John McCain was a POW who was tortured for 5 years in service to his country and that p.o.s. who never did anything but lie and cheat called McCain a loser.

Skud always brings in Obama and Clinton. Neither of those men ever called a POW or any man or woman who bled for America a "loser." What the fk is wrong with people like skudrunner?

Shaw Kenawe said...

Ray, skud and his fellow right wingers are cultists. Perod. There's nothing a cult leader can do to make them speak ill of him or her. I've read the far right bloggers and they're sticking with Trump, even after this horrendous report about his disrespect for those Americans who gave their lives for their country. They really believe these are lies, and they HAVE to believe this, otherwise they'd have to face the fact that they've given their allegiance to a phony, lying, cheating, fraud, and that would be too painful for them to face.

They've been had. No one likes to admit that. And that's why they'll continue to support this miserable excuse for a human being.

Shaw Kenawe said...

Read this by David Ignatius:

"Reconciling Donald Trump’s self-promoting “Art of the Deal” with the military’s reserved code of loyalty and service was always a stretch. In Trump’s early months in the White House, though, the two cultures seemed to coexist without much damage.

But the fabric began to fray by mid-2017. Trump increasingly treated the military as props in the reality-TV show of his presidency. He wanted them for parades and victory celebrations, not the anguish of combat. He seemed to take his strategic guidance from Fox News more than his commanders. The generals and admirals kept their mouths shut, but the resentment was building.

The bad marriage exploded this week, when former senior staff members told Jeffrey Goldberg of the Atlantic of their shock at Trump’s crude comments about combat and loss — and his reported characterization of fallen warriors as “suckers” and “losers.” The quotes were anonymous, but it has been an open secret in Washington that many prominent retired four-stars have regarded Trump with growing horror as he assaulted the traditions of discipline and professionalism that are bedrocks of military life.

The first open break point came in June, after former military leaders watched Trump try to use the military to put down protests for racial justice. Retired Adm. Mike Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, denounced Trump for “politicizing the men and women of our armed forces.” Retired Gen. Jim Mattis, the former defense secretary, called Trump “the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people.” Retired Gen. John F. Kelly, a former Trump White House chief of staff, said he agreed with Mattis.

It’s hard to remember now that Trump’s dealings with military leaders started off pretty well. I remember traveling in May 2017 with our Special Operations forces to the newly liberated town of Tabqa, at the gates of the Islamic State’s capital of Raqqa. A senior U.S. official told the Syrian Kurdish commander who led the assault that this rapid assault “never would have happened without Donald Trump.” There would have been too many meetings under his predecessor, President Barack Obama.<"

Shaw Kenawe said...

(cont.)

"Trump wanted victory in Afghanistan, too, so long as it was fast and unambiguous. Gen. John Nicholson, the U.S. commander in Kabul, was given authority to use America’s most intimidating conventional weapon against the Taliban — the so-called “mother of all bombs.” No more anguished meetings in the Situation Room. The gloves were off.

Trump initially saw Mattis as a man in his own image — awarding him the Trumpian nickname “Mad Dog,” even though the ascetic Mattis was closer to a monk than a mongrel. Over the two years Mattis ran the Pentagon, his relationship with Trump grew poisonous. The more Mattis tried to educate Trump, as in his widely reported July 2017 seminar in the “tank” at Pentagon, the more Trump became resentful.

Trump berated his generals at that gathering — with language that’s eerily similar to what was reported in the Atlantic this week. According to Philip Rucker and Carol D. Leonnig in their book, “A Very Stable Genius,” Trump said: “You’re all losers. You don’t know how to win anymore.”

Trump really did seem to think he knew better than his generals. “I wouldn’t go to war with you people,” Trump told them, according to Rucker and Leonnig. “You’re a bunch of dopes and babies.”

Shaw Kenawe said...

(cont.)

"The commander who succeeded best in keeping the lid on, as Trump grew cockier, was Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs. A tall, reserved and utterly reliable Marine, he was often able to curb Trump’s impulsive decisions and steer him toward steady policy, without infuriating him.

What the military liked in Trump was that he was sometimes (not always) prepared to “take the shot” at terrorist adversaries, such as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State, and Gen. Qasem Soleimani, the leader of Iran’s Quds Force.

Trump’s near-constant belittling of NATO hurt his standing with the Pentagon. So did his inexplicable affinity for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Yet military leaders bit their lips, because they were grateful that Trump had endorsed a national military strategy that took a tougher stance toward Russia and China — and added money for new weapons to combat these near-peer adversaries.

A heartbreaker for the military was Trump’s decision to abandon the Syrian Kurds who had fought so bravely against the Islamic State. I remember talking to the officer who had to break the news of Trump’s decision to quit Syria to Gen. Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces. His description of that betrayal was unprintable.

What the military came to understand over the past four years is that, for all Trump’s talk of patriotism, he truly is transactional. Throughout his career, he has always believed that loyalty was for chumps. That’s why New York business executives told me back in early 2016 they had never wanted to do business with him.

The military understand their role in a democracy. They have obeyed Trump as their commander in chief, even amid his tirades and insults. And they will continue to do so if he’s reelected. But many of them won’t like it: Trump just isn’t a guy with whom you’d want to share a foxhole."

Fed Up said...

So here’s where we are at, MAGA Lunatics hated Colin Kaepernick for taking a knee to bring awareness of police brutality and racial injustice, but they’re okay with widows being attacked and fallen troops being called "losers and suckers" for their service. Got it.

Anonymous said...

John R. Bolton, the president’s former national security adviser who has broken with him and called him unfit for office, said he was on the trip in question and never heard Mr. Trump make those remarks. “I didn’t hear that,” Mr. Bolton said in an interview. “I’m not saying he didn’t say them later in the day or another time, but I was there for that discussion.”