Tillis continues clash with Hegseth, defends Democrat who urged troops disobey the president
Yes, despicable.
This jagoff is intending to burn it all down on his way out the door as our alleged representative in the United States Senate.
Never mind that Trump endorsed Tillis for reelection in 2020. Never mind that Trump has also endorsed Thom’s preferred successor and protégè Michael Whatley in the 2026 Senate race. Thommy Boy apparently doesn’t feel he’s been lathered with enough attention from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. So, he’s going to subject us all to a defiant butt-showing marathon all the way to the very end. (Which is in about a year. *SIGH*)
Tillis has taken every opportunity to earn face-time with CNN and the rest of the drive-by media by bashing any sort of activity by the Trump administration.
This dirtbag thought it was cute to team with Pete Hegseth’s ex-wife, the Democrats and a few of his fellow RINOS during Hegseth’s confirmation for Secretary of War. Well, that back-fired in Thommy’s face like a case of explosive diarrhea. Tillis took some PR heat and Hegseth got confirmed.
Thommy soon learned about polling that showed him losing a reelection bid to all-comers, perhaps even the pizza guy who ran against him in 2014 and 2020. He announced his retirement and rejoiced over now not having to actually worry about what the folks back in North Carolina think. And the whining and back-stabbing ratcheted up a few gears.
This latest kerfuffle involves senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz) who is also a Navy veteran. Kelly and some of his Senate and House colleagues thought it would be cute to make a video addressing active duty troops. Kelly & co. — they explained — were veterans who don’t think much of our current president. The video strongly suggested that active duty troops don’t have to either, and can even defy presidential orders if they want to.
Kelly apparently still has veteran benefits and receives a pension. He, like most vets, can be recalled to active duty if the need arises. Kelly and his cohorts knew the rules while they were active-duty. And they know damn well what still applies when they are off active-duty.
In another era, they could have gotten away with this outrageous behavior. But we’re in the Trump era. There are consequences for stupidity, now. FAFO.
Here’s some reporting on Tillis opining about Kelly:
Two Republican senators are voicing concern over Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s move to censure and demote Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., a retired Navy captain, The Hill reported Monday.
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said it was not “appropriate” to target Kelly’s military rank over his participation in a video that urged U.S. service members to disregard illegal orders from President Donald Trump.
And outgoing Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., called Hegseth’s announcement “ridiculous” and said the secretary “overreached.[…]
Says someone who has never served and doesn’t know the rules and regulations governing military service.
MORE:
[…] Hegseth said earlier Monday that the censure was “a necessary process step” in proceedings that could lead to Kelly’s demotion from his retired rank as a Navy captain.
“I don’t think that’s appropriate,” Collins said.
“I think it has a chilling effect on speech, and I’ve got a real problem with it. And I think Hegseth overreached,” Tillis said, The Hill reported.
In November, Kelly and five other lawmakers — all veterans with backgrounds in the military and intelligence community — urged U.S. service members to uphold the Constitution and refuse to carry out what they called “illegal orders.”
“As a retired Navy Captain who is still receiving a military pension, Captain Kelly knows he is still accountable to military justice. And the Department of War — and the American people — expect justice,” Hegseth said in Monday’s post.
Kelly has been formally notified of the War Department’s action and will have 30 days to respond, Hegseth said, adding that the retirement grade review process is expected to be completed within 45 days.
Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Kelly will have an opportunity to defend himself in what he described as an “adjudication process.”
When asked whether the disciplinary action is appropriate given Kelly’s role as a sitting senator and Armed Services Committee member, Rounds said he believes the matter should be allowed to run its course.
“I think we’ll let the process play out,” Rounds said, adding, “Sen. Kelly is perfectly capable of working his way through this issue.”
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said the disciplinary issue is a matter between Kelly and the Pentagon.
“I think that’s really between the Department of War and Sen. Kelly. I’ll let them sort that out,” she said. […]
Rounds make sense here. It’s too bad we can’t be represented by someone with his level of sense rather than the buffoon we’ve got.
