As Romney applies for the job of president (see the wonderfully clever diary here) we should consider his qualifications (or rather lack thereof) for one of the most important positions: Commander-in-Chief. Although war powers allegedly belong to the Congress, in practice the president has most of the power.
So how would Mitt do as C-i-C?
1. He forgets to mention the troops. Troops are simply part of a laundry list of things to remember, and not even a very important part of that laundry list, since he forgot to mention them.
2. He thinks our greatest threat comes from Russia. Not saying that they are our best friends, but they are not our greatest threat.
3. He can’t stay on a single position for more than a few hours. How could this man ever stay the course when things are difficult, as they inevitably do in times of conflict?
4. He has shown no interest in vets. Given what he has done to employees at the companies he has “saved” or “eviscerated”, more vets would find themselves in the streets.
5. He is advised by Bush advisers. This would be bad enough, but Romney has shown very little interest in foreign affairs, and so would be more likely to be led here than almost anywhere else. And that is saying something!
6. He wants to significantly increase defense spending even against the advice of the Pentagon and the Joint Chiefs. My belief is that he wants this because he is being encouraged by those who make money off of juicy defense contracts. Not only is this bad for the economy and another way to steal from the lower classes, these defense contractors are often hawks eager to start more fights to justify their existence.
7. His money and his heart elsewhere. Mitt, when given the chance to fight in the Vietnam War, went to France to convert the French to his religion. Despite having five sons, none of them have participated in the military. My sense is that Mitt cares about Mitt, money, Mormonism and maybe his family …
Can anyone imagine Mitt and the three a.m. phone call? It is a terrifying prospect.
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