President Trump
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John Swinton, a former Chief of Staff at The New York Times, is famously credited with saying journalists are "intellectual prostitutes" during a toast at the New York Press Club in 1880. According to the account of the speech, Swinton responded to a toast for an "independent press" by stating:
Since Barack Obama has been in the White House, high ranking military officers have been removed from their positions at a rate that is absolutely unprecedented. Things have gotten so bad that a number of retired generals are publicly speaking out about the 'purge' of the U.S. military that they believe is taking place. As you will see below, dozens of highly decorated military leaders have been dismissed from their positions over the past few years.
I would believe him before I believed the NY Times or any AI output.
I guess I need to keep them more simple for you.
It's because you don't know how to use emojis so you when you see them it confuses you.
Yes—some members of Congress publicly raised concerns and used “purge” language about the Obama administration removing/relieving senior officers. Across the 2013–2014 period, several Republican members voiced criticism over reported high-level officer removals/retirements and demanded explanations from the administration (often tied to broader worries about politicization of the military).
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
That's not the topic. It's the claim that Hegseth did the same thing as Obama.
And I thought Trump didn't start wars?
And are you encouraging violence?
And I thought Trump didn't start wars?
And are you encouraging violence?
morekaos
Well-known member
again, who cares? And how am I encouraging violence…it’s been awhile since we’ve killed anybody over thereThat's not the topic. It's the claim that Hegseth did the same thing as Obama.
And I thought Trump didn't start wars?
And are you encouraging violence?
irvine buyer
Active member
I don't know how long you've been following politics but quite a bit was written back during Obama's second term about him getting rid of people who did not agree with him or believe in his ideology; not just in the Pentagon but in other agencies as well. The media outlets that criticized what Obama was doing were right-leaning. Obama's media allies ran cover for him if they covered this; just like the NY Times did with yesterday's article. In order to preserve their narrative NY Times has to frame Hegseth as a liar.
John Swinton, a former Chief of Staff at The New York Times, is famously credited with saying journalists are "intellectual prostitutes" during a toast at the New York Press Club in 1880. According to the account of the speech, Swinton responded to a toast for an "independent press" by stating:
- "There is no such thing, at this date of the world's history, in America, as an independent press."
- "I am paid weekly for keeping my honest opinion out of the paper I am connected with."
- "The business of the journalist is to destroy the truth; to lie outright; to pervert; to vilify; to fawn at the feet of mammon, and to sell his country and his race for his daily bread."
- "We are intellectual prostitutes."
Since Barack Obama has been in the White House, high ranking military officers have been removed from their positions at a rate that is absolutely unprecedented. Things have gotten so bad that a number of retired generals are publicly speaking out about the 'purge' of the U.S. military that they believe is taking place. As you will see below, dozens of highly decorated military leaders have been dismissed from their positions over the past few years.
I would believe him before I believed the NY Times or any AI output.
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
I would believe AI before someone's unverified opinion:
I get why you’d treat a statement from a retired general seriously. But being a former officer doesn’t automatically make the claim accurate—so it’s still worth checking the specifics.
Paul E. Vallely is a retired two-star general who has been active in political commentary for years. He’s not citing official Department of Defense data in that quote—it’s an opinion-based interpretation.
Under Barack Obama:
Examples often cited:
That’s consistent with how civilian control of the military has worked under many presidents, not something unique or “unprecedented.”
Vallely’s argument typically:
In a military with hundreds of generals/admirals:
If there had truly been an “unprecedented purge”:
There were criticisms of specific decisions—but not credible, evidence-backed confirmation of a broad purge.
If you want, I can go deeper and actually list every senior officer removal during those years and show which ones were routine vs. unusual—that’s the clearest way to see how the “purge” narrative gets constructed.
I get why you’d treat a statement from a retired general seriously. But being a former officer doesn’t automatically make the claim accurate—so it’s still worth checking the specifics.
Who is making the claim
Paul E. Vallely is a retired two-star general who has been active in political commentary for years. He’s not citing official Department of Defense data in that quote—it’s an opinion-based interpretation.
What the evidence actually shows
1) There’s no verified “unprecedented purge”
Under Barack Obama:
- Some senior officers were removed or reassigned, but
- Those cases were individual and specific, not a coordinated mass removal effort
Examples often cited:
- Stanley McChrystal — resigned after publicly criticizing civilian leadership
- David Petraeus — resigned over a personal scandal
- A handful of others tied to misconduct, poor performance, or policy disputes
That’s consistent with how civilian control of the military has worked under many presidents, not something unique or “unprecedented.”
2) The “dozens” framing is misleading
Vallely’s argument typically:
- Aggregates unrelated cases over several years
- Mixes normal rotations, retirements, and disciplinary actions
- Sometimes includes officers who weren’t “purged” at all
In a military with hundreds of generals/admirals:
- Turnover of dozens over multiple years is normal, not extraordinary
3) No institutional alarm at the time
If there had truly been an “unprecedented purge”:
- You would expect systemic warnings from Congress, the Pentagon, or bipartisan defense officials
- That didn’t happen in a sustained or consensus way
There were criticisms of specific decisions—but not credible, evidence-backed confirmation of a broad purge.
Bottom line
- Vallely’s statement is an opinion, not a substantiated finding
- It relies on selective examples and loose definitions of “removed”
- There’s no solid evidence that Obama carried out a sweeping or unprecedented purge of military leadership
If you want, I can go deeper and actually list every senior officer removal during those years and show which ones were routine vs. unusual—that’s the clearest way to see how the “purge” narrative gets constructed.
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
Another joke that went over your head.again, who cares? And how am I encouraging violence…it’s been awhile since we’ve killed anybody over there
I guess I need to keep them more simple for you.
It's because you don't know how to use emojis so you when you see them it confuses you.
morekaos
Well-known member
it’s all comedy to me
irvine buyer
Active member
My AI vs. your AI
Yes—some members of Congress publicly raised concerns and used “purge” language about the Obama administration removing/relieving senior officers. Across the 2013–2014 period, several Republican members voiced criticism over reported high-level officer removals/retirements and demanded explanations from the administration (often tied to broader worries about politicization of the military).
| Maj. Gen. Patrick Henry Brady, U.S. Army, Ret. | Medal of Honor recipient; Vietnam “Dust Off” helicopter pilot | Claimed Obama was weakening military morale and would “fire anyone who disagrees with him,” especially over social-policy and readiness issues. |
| Lt. Gen. William G. “Jerry” Boykin, U.S. Army, Ret. | Delta Force founding member; former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence | Said he believed there was a “purging of the military” and that the number of senior four-star officers being relieved or retired was unusual. |
| Maj. Gen. Paul E. Vallely, U.S. Army, Ret. | Former deputy commanding general, Pacific Command; Fox military analyst | Accused the Obama White House of “weakening and gutting” the military and claimed officers who disagreed or spoke out were being pushed out. |
| Capt. Joseph R. John, U.S. Navy, Ret. | Not a general, but a retired senior naval officer and chairman of Combat Veterans For Congress PAC | Claimed many officers were forced out or blocked from promotion for not complying with Obama-era policies. |
morekaos
Well-known member
brilliant move by the Democrats. Shut the government down for several months push people out of work and got…squat.
www.cbsnews.com
House approves Senate bill to fund DHS and end record-setting 76-day shutdown
Trump signs bill funding DHS, ending record-breaking 76-day shutdown
The longest shutdown of a federal department in U.S. history came to an end on Thursday when President Trump signed a bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security following a breakthrough on Capitol Hill.
www.cbsnews.com