"Military purge disclosed for Obama's planned take over of the USA"
The actual email that I received yesterday islinked here , with the words of my title part of the introduction. What makes this somewhat unusual, is that while this was clearly classic propaganda, that was loaded with innuendos and wouldn't seem to pass any thinking persons smell test, it was not sent by an ignorant person.
The forwarder was a retired radiologist, and more impressive is where he went to high school, which was Stuyvesant in New York City, where getting in is only by the most rigorous test where there are no legacy admissions or anything else. This impresses me as much as his professional achievements. I'll continue below the squiggle out of affection for when this meant something in the good old days of D.K 3.0
If you went to look at the email you will notice the nine flag officers that Obama had purged, and I'll put up the text of one of them here. (If you go on the link you can see them in full uniform complete with a chest full of battle ribbons)
General Carter Hamm, United States Army-Served as head of the United States African Command. Was in charge of the US African command during the fateful night of September 11, 2012 when the lives of four American citizens was taken in the Embassy in Benghazi. Hamm was extremely critical of our Commander and Chief and stated he lied about not having reinforcements in the area on that night. Hamm “resigned and retired” on April of 2013.
Now for my first response to the sender:
Eric,
Have you checked out any of this? I doubt the accuracy of it, but since you forwarded it, you may consider your own responsibility in forwarding messages such as this, especially during this anniversary of the assassination of the last President. The specific charge is that the President is "planning a take over of the U.S." This makes no sense, as there is not an iota of evidence that he is doing anything that is not authorized by the constitution. You and I both disagree with many of his policies, but that's why we have elections.
Actually this and the word "purge" which would apply if the President deposed elected members of congress, makes no sense in our constitutional system. Probably none of those featured were fired for the reasons mentioned, as the only actual firing by this president was McCrystal after he has overtly criticized his elected commander in chief, which is not appropriate while in uniform, and it made headlines throughout the country.
Flyers were circulating in Dallas in November of 1963 with a wanted picture of JFK with the headline, "Traitor." All it takes is one nut with a riffle who takes these things seriously.
Regards
Al
I found this return email from Eric:
Hi Al,
My reading of what I sent to you was not that Obama is planning a take over of the U.S., but merely a purge of those that had the temerity to not go along with his cover up of the nefarious deeds of his underlings, Hillary and our US rep to the UN, (who repeated the myth that a renegade, low budget anti Muslim Movie was responsible for the spontaneous rioting. and others who made false and misleading statements relating to Benghazi, having nothing to do with 9/11 repercussions by Al Qaeda.
Eric
I like Eric, and we have had many political discussion and both have had mothers who contracted Alzheimer's disease. So he has taken my many articles, including one that appeared in The Humanist on this issue seriously. He is very much a firm conservative, and his social strata, among the most wealthy in the country, do not give him many arguments. But he enjoys a special game at the public tennis courts, with a diversity of people including myself. I responded to his comment with this, but there is more as we ended up playing together just a few hours ago.
Eric,
Tennis was crowded but fun today. Sorry you didn't make it.
Obama's "plan to take over the country" is verbatim from the first line in the email. The tone, including the term "purge" is that of someone who his attempting to subvert the constitutional order. I have a reaction when a President is criticized for canning a General, since the traditional danger to Democracies is not from elected presidents, but from a military coup.
Read the blurb again about Vice Admiral Tim Giardina above, which implies that he was fired for counterfeit poker chips with the comment, "would you believe it." Using such chips was not at a friendly game but at a casino, where this is the equivalent of money, and if true would have been a felony. Here's the link to the report from ABC News
Giardina was not fired, but demoted which seems reasonable since someone even with a meaningful suspicion of engaging in illegal activities should not be in the top chain of command for firing Polaris nuclear missiles. In no way was Giardina fired because he would not support Obama's story about Benghazi! It looks like only the first officer of the nine listed did oppose the President's attempt to make an excuse for the attack in Libya, and he was not fired. rather he resigned. Here's the article about it from the right wing Washington Times.
Just wanted to close on a friendlier note, since politics does get heated, and I realize that you didn't intend to forward something that could be incendiary, but I felt that could have been an inadvertent message to some.
Regards
Al
When I met him this morning at the courts he asked details since he hadn't read the above, and I told him I had links. He had just passed it on without thinking, and was truly impressed that I had actually done the research to explain the distortion of the email. Was it worth the effort, will it do any good, what about the thousands who will get this and not hear how it is a distortion of reality???
Yes, it was worth it for me. I can't go back and change the hatred that poisoned the mentality in Dallas a half century ago, but I can push pack just a bit today, at a time when hatred is so freely expressed without understanding of the potential damage. Eric got it, and indicated his respect for my effort, and I reciprocated, acknowledging his usual thoughtfulness that he had put on hold when he forwarded this to his friends.
For most of the more simplistic partisans, (even the very very few on our side), an exchange like this would be useless, as the phrase, "don't confuse me with the facts" is operative. But this was rewarding, a clearing of the air that may have contributed to our game of doubles being even more enjoyable today.
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Addendum:
10 USC § 888 - Art. 88. Contempt toward officials
Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.