Video: Gen. Kelly on Trump’s Call to Grieving Family

 

Gen. John Kelly, a gold star parent himself, addressed the controversy raised by Rep. Frederica Wilson’s (D–FL) allegation that President Trump was disrespectful in his phone call to the family of a fallen soldier.

Rep. Wilson shabbily responded with, “John Kelly’s trying to keep his job. He will say anything. There were other people who heard what I heard.”

What do you think about this latest controversy the media has been ginning up? Is Trump wrong? Is Wilson?

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  1. Instugator Thatcher
    Instugator
    @Instugator

    A-Squared (View Comment):
    nor is here at our demise.

    Yeah, I don’t believe this is the demise of the nation, regardless of what the democrats say.

    • #61
  2. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    A-Squared (View Comment):
    Since I believe 1) the real flight 93 election was 2012 and America lost and therefore 2) we as a nation are past the tipping point, I think this is inevitable.

    I’m willing to concede that. I think history may even judge 2008 to be the Perfect Storm election. Only seven years after we were brutally attacked by Islamists, we elect a nothing — no accomplishments, no American upbringing, no legislation proposed or passed, no traceable record of writings or academic performance — a cipher with a Muslim name, but who happened to be superficially appealing to assuage the (false) guilt imposed (by the Left) on America for all the ills of humanity. The Perfect Storm candidate.

    A-Squared (View Comment):
    We now think of the enemy as less than human and nothing is out of bounds in this war.

    This I strongly disagree with. “We” tend to be Christians (evangelicals are supportive of Trump for the most part — see Values Voter Summit) or of other religious persuasion, and so “we” tend to acknowledge the inherent dignity, if fallen human nature, of all men. “We” believe in consistent means and ends.

    It’s the Left that has been demonizing (de-humanizing) the Right for decades. It’s the Left that lies (you can keep your doctor), promotes envy and division (white “privilege”), and otherwise abuses power (weaponizing the IRS) to get control of every aspect of our lives. “We” just want to be left the hell alone by our government. But, that ain’t ever gonna happen by being a doormat. “They” believe the Utopian ends justify whatever means are necessary for more power.

    • #62
  3. A-Squared Inactive
    A-Squared
    @ASquared

    Instugator (View Comment):

    A-Squared (View Comment):
    nor is here at our demise.

    Yeah, I don’t believe this is the demise of the nation, regardless of what the democrats say.

    Maybe not, but I wouldn’t put much money on it.

    The only way to possibly save this country is to completely reform entitlements and start running sizable government surpluses annually until then government debt is reduced to a manageable level but no politician that advocated entitlement reform or sizable surpluses would ever get elected. Even Trump, who allegedly is this wrecking ball of government, refuses to touch entitlements.

    I simply don’t see a path back to constitutional order.  We are truly in an attention deficit democracy.

     

    • #63
  4. A-Squared Inactive
    A-Squared
    @ASquared

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):

    A-Squared (View Comment):
    We now think of the enemy as less than human and nothing is out of bounds in this war.

    This I strongly disagree with. “We” tend to be Christians (evangelicals are supportive of Trump for the most part — see Values Voter Summit) or of other religious persuasion, and so “we” tend to acknowledge the inherent dignity, if fallen human nature, of all men. “We” believe in consistent means and ends.

    It’s the Left that has been demonizing (de-humanizing) the Right for decades. It’s the Left that lies (you can keep your doctor), promotes envy and division (white “privilege”), and otherwise abuses power (weaponizing the IRS) to get control of every aspect of our lives. “We” just want to be left the hell alone by our government. But, that ain’t ever gonna happen by being a doormat. “They” believe the Utopian ends justify whatever means are necessary for more power.

    My comment was directed at those who wish to abandon civility.  At first, I was going to say perhaps you are not among those who wish to abandon civility.  But then you go on to say, they started it.

    • #64
  5. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    A-Squared (View Comment):

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):

    A-Squared (View Comment):
    We now think of the enemy as less than human and nothing is out of bounds in this war.

    This I strongly disagree with. “We” tend to be Christians (evangelicals are supportive of Trump for the most part — see Values Voter Summit) or of other religious persuasion, and so “we” tend to acknowledge the inherent dignity, if fallen human nature, of all men. “We” believe in consistent means and ends.

    It’s the Left that has been demonizing (de-humanizing) the Right for decades. It’s the Left that lies (you can keep your doctor), promotes envy and division (white “privilege”), and otherwise abuses power (weaponizing the IRS) to get control of every aspect of our lives. “We” just want to be left the hell alone by our government. But, that ain’t ever gonna happen by being a doormat. “They” believe the Utopian ends justify whatever means are necessary for more power.

    My comment was directed at those who wish to abandon civility. At first, I was going to say perhaps you are not among those who wish to abandon civility. But then you go on to say, they started it.

    I would rather say “civility” isn’t my priority– western civilization is.

    And, there is simply no comparison between rioting in the streets, shouting down opposition, damaging other people’s property, and beating people with bike locks and sendng out some insulting  tweets. Where is the equivalent incivility on the right?

    • #65
  6. Instugator Thatcher
    Instugator
    @Instugator

    A-Squared (View Comment):
    The only way to possibly save this country is to completely reform entitlements and start running sizable government surpluses annually until then government debt is reduced to a manageable level but no politician that advocated entitlement reform or sizable surpluses would ever get elected.

    Disagree – this is a problem that will solve itself and when it does the path back to constitutional order will be largely clear.

    The politicians that created it will be largely in the grave by then, the ones left will have to deal with the fallout. Look at Greece, doesn’t matter what the socialists say – they still have to pay their bills.

    • #66
  7. Instugator Thatcher
    Instugator
    @Instugator

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):
    I would rather say “civility” isn’t my priority– western civilization is.

    Yep – this!

    • #67
  8. George Townsend Inactive
    George Townsend
    @GeorgeTownsend

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):
    I would rather say “civility” isn’t my priority– western civilization is.

    Yep – this!

    For Heaven’s sake, Western Civilization is about civility!

    • #68
  9. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    George Townsend (View Comment):

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):
    I would rather say “civility” isn’t my priority– western civilization is.

    Yep – this!

    For Heaven’s sake, Western Civilization is about civility!

    Are we speaking to each other now? Or does only @Instugator get to answer this?

    • #69
  10. Instugator Thatcher
    Instugator
    @Instugator

    George Townsend (View Comment):

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):
    I would rather say “civility” isn’t my priority– western civilization is.

    Yep – this!

    For Heaven’s sake, Western Civilization is about civility!

    No it isn’t. Western Civilization resulted in civility, but it isn’t about civility. Civility is a by product.

    Why, even today, I am taking a break from figuring out how many ISIS we need to kill, how to help partner forces do it economically, how to measure when the coalition has won – in fact I am, at this very moment (well, not at this exact moment – right now I am talking to you in compliance with the CoC), engaged in the most uncivil of behaviors in support of Western Civilization (in defense of, or in promotion of) – take your pick.

    • #70
  11. George Townsend Inactive
    George Townsend
    @GeorgeTownsend

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):

    George Townsend (View Comment):

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):
    I would rather say “civility” isn’t my priority– western civilization is.

    Yep – this!

    For Heaven’s sake, Western Civilization is about civility!

    Are we speaking to each other now? Or does only @Instugator get to answer this?

    I probably shouldn’t bother, but such unadulterated bilge tends to get me going.

    • #71
  12. George Townsend Inactive
    George Townsend
    @GeorgeTownsend

    Instugator (View Comment):

    George Townsend (View Comment):

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):
    I would rather say “civility” isn’t my priority– western civilization is.

    Yep – this!

    For Heaven’s sake, Western Civilization is about civility!

    No it isn’t. Western Civilization resulted in civility, but it isn’t about civility. Civility is a by product.

    Why, even today, I am taking a break from figuring out how many ISIS we need to kill, how to help partner forces do it economically, how to measure when the coalition has won – in fact I am, at this very moment (well, not at this exact moment – right now I am talking to you in compliance with the CoC), engaged in the most uncivil of behaviors in support of Western Civilization (in defense of, or in promotion of) – take your pick.

    You’re a busy fellow! I think I’ll let you back to the troops. Thanks for honoring me with your perspicacity!

    Incidentally, differentiating between a “byproduct of” or “about” is playing with words in order to justify for support for a man who is undermining the strength and heart of conservatism every day.

    • #72
  13. Instugator Thatcher
    Instugator
    @Instugator

    George Townsend (View Comment):
    Incidentally, differentiating between a “byproduct of” or “about” is playing with words in order to justify for support for a man who is undermining the strength and heart of conservatism every day.

    The argument about what Western Civilization is about is most definitely not about President Trump and his relation to conservatism.

    Nor is it playing with words.

    Take civility, for instance. If Western Civilization is about civility (and words) then you better dig out the Left’s preferred pronouns and get used to saying ze, zher, and zhey.

    If Western Civilization is more about, say liberty, then I am free to tell the left to get stuffed over their stupid gender words.

    As to President Trump, while I wished he had more words to describe the concept of  ‘wonderful’, I am quite content with his advancement of conservatism. (Namely: constitutional governance, re-introduction of due process in colleges, reducing the regulatory state, and judicial nominations) He is doing a fine job when it comes to matters of substance. When it comes to the entertainment value, why I haven’t been so entertained by politics in 17 years. I am not yet tired of all the winning.

    • #73
  14. George Townsend Inactive
    George Townsend
    @GeorgeTownsend

    Instugator (View Comment):

    George Townsend (View Comment):
    Incidentally, differentiating between a “byproduct of” or “about” is playing with words in order to justify for support for a man who is undermining the strength and heart of conservatism every day.

    The argument about what Western Civilization is about is most definitely not about President Trump and his relation to conservatism.

    Nor is it playing with words.

    Take civility, for instance. If Western Civilization is about civility (and words) then you better dig out the Left’s preferred pronouns and get used to saying ze, zher, and zhey.

    If Western Civilization is more about, say liberty, then I am free to tell the left to get stuffed over their stupid gender words.

    As to President Trump, while I wished he had more words to describe the concept of ‘wonderful’, I am quite content with his advancement of conservatism. (Namely: constitutional governance, re-introduction of due process in colleges, reducing the regulatory state, and judicial nominations) He is doing a fine job when it comes to matters of substance. When it comes to the entertainment value, why I haven’t been so entertained by politics in 17 years. I am not yet tired of all the winning.

    One more time. This becomes boring, repetitive, and, of course, ineffective, because people who only care about their own “genius” and how they understand, versus the people who have the effrontery to disagree with them, will never be convinced that they are not the brilliant thinkers they imagine themselves to be.

    I never said this had anything to do with Trump, except insofar as the devotion people like you have to him. And the fact is he has not advanced  conservatism. Thanks to Reagan, Washington now has many people who understand what conservatism is. Mike Pence is one of those. I do credit Trump with choosing him. But he did it because he was advised this would win over conservatives. The policies and appointments – and Executive Orders – he has done are, of course, good. But to give Trump total credit denies any to the good people and organizations surrounding him.

    One thing they can’t affect, however, is his temperament. This is where he has dealt conservatism a mortal wound. This philosophy is about conserving Western Civilization and our precious founding documents, which have advanced it. And, as people like Burke, Buckley, and others have shown, conservatism starts with Morals and Manners. This is Trump’s great failure.

    • #74
  15. Instugator Thatcher
    Instugator
    @Instugator

    I find it difficult to square this:

    George Townsend (View Comment):
    I never said this had anything to do with Trump, except insofar as the devotion people like you have to him.

    With this

    George Townsend (View Comment):
    Incidentally, differentiating between a “byproduct of” or “about” is playing with words in order to justify for support for a man who is undermining the strength and heart of conservatism every day.

    So are you talking about President Trump or not?

    • #75
  16. Instugator Thatcher
    Instugator
    @Instugator

    George Townsend (View Comment):
    And, as people like Burke, Buckley, and others have shown, conservatism starts with Morals and Manners. This is Trump’s great failure.

    You must have missed Buckley’s engagement with Gore Vidal.

    • #76
  17. Instugator Thatcher
    Instugator
    @Instugator

    George Townsend (View Comment):
    …people like you have to him…

    Tell me more about these “people like” me. I yearn to meet them.

    Are you referring to my rotundity?

    or my winning smile?

    Is it ancestry?

    Or the people with whom I’ve shared my last mile?

    It can’t be my wardrobe.

    That’s unique.

    Were I sensitive, it could possibly be my pique.

    Oh to meet these people like me!

    Then I could be all I can be.

     

    • #77
  18. George Townsend Inactive
    George Townsend
    @GeorgeTownsend

    Instugator (View Comment):
    You must have missed Buckley’s engagement with Gore Vidal.

    I’ve seen that, of course.

    Some people love to point to it. We are a fallen people, who makes mistakes. God understands that, and forgives, so long as people try to grow from it.

    The fact is that Bill Buckley was ashamed that he let Vidal push him over the edge like that, and always changed the subject, whenever it came up, even when people would compliment him on his behavior.

    • #78
  19. George Townsend Inactive
    George Townsend
    @GeorgeTownsend

    Instugator (View Comment):

    George Townsend (View Comment):
    …people like you have to him…

    Tell me more about these “people like” me. I yearn to meet them.

    Are you referring to my rotundity?

    or my winning smile?

    Is it ancestry?

    Or the people with whom I’ve shared my last mile?

    It can’t be my wardrobe.

    That’s unique.

    Were I sensitive, it could possibly be my pique.

    Oh to meet these people like me!

    Then I could be all I can be.

    This is too cute for words. Perhaps Jimmie Kimmel needs an assistant. You’d be perfect!

    • #79
  20. A-Squared Inactive
    A-Squared
    @ASquared

    Instugator (View Comment):

    George Townsend (View Comment):
    And, as people like Burke, Buckley, and others have shown, conservatism starts with Morals and Manners. This is Trump’s great failure.

    You must have missed Buckley’s engagement with Gore Vidal.

    FWIW Buckley felt deeply embarrassed by that outburst for the rest of his life.

    • #80
  21. George Townsend Inactive
    George Townsend
    @GeorgeTownsend

    A-Squared (View Comment):

    Instugator (View Comment):

    George Townsend (View Comment):
    And, as people like Burke, Buckley, and others have shown, conservatism starts with Morals and Manners. This is Trump’s great failure.

    You must have missed Buckley’s engagement with Gore Vidal.

    FWIW Buckley felt deeply embarrassed by that outburst for the rest of his life.

    Thank you very much, A-Squared, for verifying what I wrote.

    Just as an aside: What does FWIW mean? I admit to be totally ignorant when it comes to Internet-speak. I pretty much know what LOL means, but, beyond that, I am kind of clueless.  :-)

    • #81
  22. A-Squared Inactive
    A-Squared
    @ASquared

    George Townsend (View Comment):

     

    Just as an aside: What does FWIW mean? I admit to be totally ignorant when it comes to Internet-speak.

    FWIW is an acronym for “For What It’s Worth”

    • #82
  23. Instugator Thatcher
    Instugator
    @Instugator

    A-Squared (View Comment):

    Instugator (View Comment):

    George Townsend (View Comment):
    And, as people like Burke, Buckley, and others have shown, conservatism starts with Morals and Manners. This is Trump’s great failure.

    You must have missed Buckley’s engagement with Gore Vidal.

    FWIW Buckley felt deeply embarrassed by that outburst for the rest of his life.

    I know.

    I am just enjoying the irony of someone lecturing me about civility, (while lecturing me about President Trump’s civility) who happens to hold up as a model someone who had a very public uncivil exchange (which, granted, they regretted for the rest of their life) –

    Who also lectures me about God’s forgiveness (yet cannot extend the same grace to someone who disagreed with them in #51)

    Who is utterly thin-skinned (even going so far as to say, “how dare you”) – yet has the complete lack of self awareness to refer to the mythical “people like you” and follow it up by suggesting that I have a career working for the very left that hates me.

    My irony meter is pegged.

    I have proven my anti-Trump bona fides and in the presence of new information I have changed my position to support him. Which includes giving him the benefit of the doubt AND extending him the same credit for actions of his administration that I would give any other President. The buck stops here and all that.

    Oh, and God’s forgiveness is not contingent on never doing the same sin again – otherwise none of us would be forgiven. But we are taught that if we want forgiveness for ourselves, we need to extend forgiveness to others.

     

    • #83
  24. George Townsend Inactive
    George Townsend
    @GeorgeTownsend

    A-Squared (View Comment):

    George Townsend (View Comment):

    Just as an aside: What does FWIW mean? I admit to be totally ignorant when it comes to Internet-speak.

    FWIW is an acronym for “For What It’s Worth”

    Thanks!

    • #84
  25. George Townsend Inactive
    George Townsend
    @GeorgeTownsend

    Instugator (View Comment):

    A-Squared (View Comment):

    Instugator (View Comment):

    George Townsend (View Comment):
    And, as people like Burke, Buckley, and others have shown, conservatism starts with Morals and Manners. This is Trump’s great failure.

    You must have missed Buckley’s engagement with Gore Vidal.

    FWIW Buckley felt deeply embarrassed by that outburst for the rest of his life.

    I know.

    I am just enjoying the irony of someone lecturing me about civility, (while lecturing me about President Trump’s civility) who happens to hold up as a model someone who had a very public uncivil exchange (which, granted, they regretted for the rest of their life) –

    Who also lectures me about God’s forgiveness (yet cannot extend the same grace to someone who disagreed with them in #51)

    Who is utterly thin-skinned (even going so far as to say, “how dare you”) – yet has the complete lack of self awareness to refer to the mythical “people like you” and follow it up by suggesting that I have a career working for the very left that hates me.

    My irony meter is pegged.

    I have proven my anti-Trump bona fides and in the presence of new information I have changed my position to support him. Which includes giving him the benefit of the doubt AND extending him the same credit for actions of his administration that I would give any other President. The buck stops here and all that.

    Oh, and God’s forgiveness is not contingent on never doing the same sin again – otherwise none of us would be forgiven. But we are taught that if we want forgiveness for ourselves, we need to extend forgiveness to others.

    I will not be going at this again. I should not have gone this far. You don’t want to have a meaningful discussion. You want to prove yours is the superior position, by twisting words, quoting people partially, and by ignoring main points of the discussion.

    Just to name one example: I did not say that God will  only forgive you if you never do it again. Otherwise, He’d never forgive an alcoholic. I said that you must grow from the experience. People may repeat their mistake a few times, but they may at least be trying to make amends. Trump never does that. He never apologizes. He just goes on insulting those who dare do something that he thinks make him look bad.

    Keep on following him. If our land changes to be unrecognizable in the next few years, it won’t because of a Trump-skeptic.

    And, oh  yeah, I bought up Kimmel not because you two agree on things. Obviously not. You two are alike in believing that you both hold the high ground, and anyone else is too dense to understand your “brilliance”. Talk about a lack of self-awareness!!

    • #85
  26. Instugator Thatcher
    Instugator
    @Instugator

    George Townsend (View Comment):
    We are a fallen people, who makes mistakes. God understands that, and forgives, so long as people try to grow from it.

    I am arguing that God forgives independent of “trying to grow from it”, which you have here a a condition of God’s forgiveness.

    Just curious, how do you know that President Trump hasn’t been growing?

    I do note that you ignore

    Instugator (View Comment):
    But we are taught that if we want forgiveness for ourselves, we need to extend forgiveness to others.

    My bad, I must have used words that are too large.

    • #86
  27. Instugator Thatcher
    Instugator
    @Instugator

    George Townsend (View Comment):
    ignoring main points of the discussion.

    What main points did I ignore? I thought we were discussing civility and Western Civilization?

    • #87
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