The Corrupting Influence of Donald Trump

That it has become necessary to PROTECT a United States Military Service Member from retaliation by the President and/or his administration, is substantial evidence that corruption has occurred.

“Dad, I’m sitting here today, in the U.S. Capitol talking to our elected professionals — is proof that you made the right decision 40 years ago to leave the Soviet Union. Do not worry, I will be fine for telling the truth.”
– LTC Alexander Vindman, United States Army, member of the National Security Council, opening statement before the House Intelligence Committee Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019 receiving testimony concerning President Trump’s call to Ukraine

“Our military is supposed to be the ultimate meritocracy. It is simply unprecedented and wrong for any Commander in Chief to meddle in routine military matters at all, whether or not he has a personal vendetta against a Soldier who did his patriotic duty and told the truth — a Soldier who has been recommended for promotion by his superiors because of his performance. I won’t just sit by and let it happen, and neither should any of my colleagues. This goes far beyond any single military officer, it is about protecting a merit-based system from political corruption and unlawful retaliation.”

–– Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), retired LTC U.S. Army helicopter pilot, Iraq War veteran

“I will not be lectured about what our military needs by a five-deferment draft dodger.”

–– Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), retired LTC U.S. Army helicopter pilot, Iraq War veteran, on U.S. Senate floor, January 2018

---

politico.com

Duckworth Threatens To Block Military Nominees Unless Impeachment Witness Vindman Gets Promotion

By John Bresnahan and Marianne LeVine

---

Sen. Tammy Duckworth on Thursday announced she’ll hold up the confirmation of more than 1,000 military promotions until Defense Secretary Mark Esper confirms that the promotion of impeachment witness Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman will move forward.

Duckworth, a retired Army officer who lost both legs because of wounds sustained in the Iraq War, said she intends to block 1,123 promotions until Esper “confirms in writing that he did not, or will not, block the expected and deserved promotion” of Vindman to colonel.

The move by the Illinois Democrat raises the stakes amid reports that the White House could nix Vindman’s promotion from a list of officers set to move up the ranks.

“Our military is supposed to be

Ignorance abounds in Alabama… but, there are signs of hope & change!

I wouldn’t have believed it had I not seen it with my own two eyes.

Alabama State Senator Bryan Taylor’s (R) response to a query on McCarthyism.

In a recent news report, it was mentioned that Alabama State Senator Bryan Taylor – whose Twitter presence and moniker is @SenBryanTaylor – recently Tweeted in response to a query mentioning late former United States Senator Joe McCarthy, that “Never heard of the guy, so I guess I’ll have to get the book, study up on him, and see if its credible.”

Report: 20% of all American suicides are new Veterans

UPDATE 19 April 2012:

Major General Dr L. P. Chang, commander of 807th medical command says #army #suicide rate surpassed civilian rate in 2008. #AASConference
— Mayo Clinic (@MayoClinic) April 19, 2012

—
The news you don’t hear…

Just because you don’t hear it doesn’t mean it goes away.

Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, who is the Defense Department’s top enlisted leader, held a press conference in Washington, D.C. December 9, 2011 in response a report to Congress on suicide among America’s military veterans conducted by Center for a New American Security. Testimony was given December 2, 2011 before the House Committee on Veteran’s Affairs, and may be found here. The findings are that suicide by veterans constitutes a serious threat to the stability of an all-volunteer military force. About 1% of Americans have served during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but 20% of suicides in the United States are former service members. The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates 18 veterans die by suicide each day.

Never before have our military service members been asked to do so much. Never before have our military service members been asked — or required — to attend numerous tour of combat duty consecutively. Those changes occurred under

Video Shows Oakland Police Throwing Flashbang Grenades Onto Wounded Scott Olsen

Be certain you read the related story, and see the pics – the ones that news media will NOT show you.

Video follows the break…

Scott Olsen, Iraq War Veteran Injured at Occupy Oakland

Iraq War Vet Injured During Oakland Protests

abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/iraq-war-vet-injured-oakland-…

By TERRY COLLINS Associated Press
OAKLAND, Calif. October 27, 2011 (AP)

A clash between Oakland police and Occupy Wall Street protesters left an Iraq War veteran hospitalized Wednesday after a projectile struck him in a conflict that came as tensions grew over demonstration encampments across the San Francisco Bay Area.

Scott Olsen, 24, suffered a fractured skull Tuesday in a march with other protesters toward City Hall, said Dottie Guy, of the Iraq Veterans Against the War. The demonstrators had been making an attempt to re-establish a presence in the area of a disbanded protesters’ camp when they were met by officers in riot gear.

Scott Olsen - Iraq War Veteran, moments after he was injured@OccupyOakland

It’s not known exactly what type of object struck Olsen or who might have thrown it, though Guy’s group said it was lodged by officers. Several small skirmishes had broken out in the night with police clearing the area by firing tear gas and protesters throwing rocks and bottles at them.

Police Chief Howard Jordan said at a late afternoon news conference that the events leading up to Olsen’s injury would be investigated as vigorously as a fatal police shooting.

“It’s unfortunate it happened. I wish that it didn’t happen. Our goal, obviously, isn’t to cause injury to anyone,” the chief said.

An Oakland hospital spokesman said Olsen, a network administrator in Daly City, was in critical condition Wednesday.

{PHOTO CAPTION} Occupy Wall Street protesters run from tear gas deployed by police at 14th Street and Broadway in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011. (AP Photo/Darryl Bush)

Later Wednesday, Oakland officials allowed protesters back into the plaza where their 15-day-old encampment had been raided but said people would be prohibiting from spending the night. The campsite itself was fenced off so it could be cleaned and treated with chemicals.

About 1,000 people quickly filled the plaza for a general assembly where speakers criticized city officials but urged the crowd to remain peaceful. Despite the pleas for order, a small number of people pulled down a section of the fence and the enclosure started falling like dominoes as others jumped on the downed pieces.

“I’m going to

U.S. Military Deaths: A Perspective

I am a U.S. Army veteran.