The Corps of TeeVee Generals

[Stinky The Clown]

Every network has its cadre of former military generals who work for them as analysts. We've all seen them, talking about tactics and mircopolicies. We rarely see them asked to weigh in on the macro policy - "Should we have ever gone into Iraq?"

I see this as part of the game the networks play with us. I actually only know the macro policy views of two of them because I have heard them say it on teevee. Barry McCaffrey thought it was right when it happened but now opposes us being there; he does not have an 'out now' view, but he favors some level of stabilization and then leaving. (I can only imagine what 'stabalization' might look like.) Wesley Clark has been opposed since day one.

I have my suppositions on others of them. I think some of them are in the Clark camp and others are in the McCaffrey camp. Except for very few, none are gung ho about 'the mission' today.

So where's the game?

Simple. By keeping their participation limited to discussing tactics and specifics, we all could get the impression that, since they agreeably discuss the right and wrong thing to do (in that limited scope they're asked about) it is easy to simply assume they favor being there and are in full agreement with the cabal.

I think that's a bad assumption to make.

[ChiciB1]

1. David Grange... Is A Schill!! n/t

[Totally Committed]

2. Wow! I couldn't agree with you more!!!

And he always has been.

TC

[Stinky The Clown]

3. I agree. He's among the worst

He's in that small group I excepted in the OP. He's mainlining Kool Aid.

[Totally Committed]

4. He's good-looking, too...

in that blow-dry, Ken-Doll, no-lip Republican sort of way. I'm surprised they haven't tried to run him for office. He's a kind of non-chickenhawk Mitt Romney type.

TC

[Stinky The Clown]

5. We talkin' about the same guy ....... ?

This Ken Allard?



I think he looks like some pencil neck

[Totally Committed]

6. Uh, no...... I was talking about David Grange...

TC

[Donna Zen]

11. Well....not so much

Aside from his hairline which is rather odd, have you ever noticed his smile? Whew! ghoolish doesn't begin to describe that ah--er--grin.

But I don't want to get too personal, and instead will stick to the OP.

My latest and now constant gripe: why are the networks continuing to ask the opinion of people who got the entire mess wrong in the first place? Why would people like Grange and other not-generals be any more correct today than they were 3+ years ago? Riddle me that? Answer: they're probably not. There is no known cure for "shit for brains."

[Totally Committed]

12. Yeah... I jusst hoticed the weird hairline when I posted the pic... odd,

to say the least. All Republicans, if you notice (even the better-looking ones), have that sort of wild-ass-weirdo-hiding-just-behind-the-eyes look. Something's *just* not normal. And, they have no lips. None of them do. It's weird.

Anyway, I still think Grange is Mitt Romney with military experience... and I can't understand why they aren't trying to run him for anything.

TC

[Donna Zen]

14. N O L i P S!!!

TC, I've been weirded out by this for years. The women don't have lips either. Well, Laura has lips...I think; it is so difficult to tell with all of that lipstick. Anyway, my friend keeps telling me that it a result of the lizard DNA. I'm glad someone has noticed this...sistah TC. Lips are one of the first things I check for when listening to the talking heads. And george doesn't seem to have any upper teeth. Weird.

[Totally Committed]

16. I've always noticed it!

I thought it was just in-breeding. :rofl:

(The only reason Laura has lips is because she paints them on with dark red lipstick.) But, truly... most Republicans have no lips.

TC

[Stinky The Clown]

19. Okay ... different guy entirely

[NCarolinawoman]

18. Allard is one of the "good guys".

He has several degrees. He does look a bit strange but I would call him an "egghead" rather than a pencil" neck. LOL

He use to come on IMUS in the early days of the war and made it clear that he thought going into Iraq was utterly stupid. He didn't seem to think much of Bush. (Of course, they haven't had Allard on in ages).

[Stinky The Clown]

20. My head is spinning .........

..... Allard ..... Downing ..... Joe Fookaka .... General Vinnie Boombatz .... the only two I can picture when I just hear their names are Clark and McCaffery. The rest kinda morph until I see their faces. Then I know who they are. Not the names so much as the face and an associated position.

[DURHAM D]

7. I saw Gen. Wayne Downing on Hardball the other night -

he appears to be a "stay the course" guy. In other words, he has a third position from the other TV Generals.

[ChiciB1]

9. Yeah, He IRKED Me Too! In Fact... The TV Was On In The Other

room as I was fixing din-din so I didn't actually "see" the person and didn't hear the lead-in either as to who was being interviewed. I ACTUALLY thought it was David Grange. They sound alike and they almost say the same things.

Downing is just the teeniest bit less of a shill, but I would put them in the same bucket if I was picking up clams and sorting them by size!!!

[NCarolinawoman]

17. I think Downing is an actual NeoCon.

When Meet the Press had the "Four Generals" show, You could see Clark and Downing glaring at each other. Even Russert appeared to be amazed at their body language which conveyed utter animosity.

This show was last August and Downing kept saying how everything was "fine in Iraq and we were going to win, the elections were wonderful, Bush had it right, blah, blah blah".

[Lars39]

8. Did you catch this?

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=1691973&C=america

Rumsfeld To Meet with Military Commentators on Iraq

Beating back calls for his resignation, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has summoned military commentators for special Pentagon briefings on Iraq and the war on terrorism, a spokesman said April 17. snip

On April 14, the Pentagon emailed the commentators a fact sheet intended to rebut charges by a group of retired generals that Rumsfeld has given short shrift to military advice, leading to strategic blunders in Iraq.

The fact sheet enumerated the number of times Rumsfeld has met with the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The commentators — many of them retired senior officers now working for U.S. television networks — also have been called to a meeting April 18 at the Pentagon with Rumsfeld to discuss Iraq and the broader war on terrorism, said Bryan Whitman, a Pentagon spokesman. snip

”We have a regular program to keep ... people that work for many of your news organizations in here well informed, providing them factual information, statistics, to keep them in a position where they can add some value and context to the reporting that goes on out there,” he said.

A dozen to 15 commentators typically attend the sessions, he said.

[ChiciB1]

10. THIS Is The Equivalent Of Politicians Who Retire, Then Become

Lobbyists! Generals do commentary on TV for the BIG bucks! And of late most of them are just "passing the same buck" that the WH wants passed!!

McCaffrey used to be more "WH" but never to the extent as Grange. I'm glad to see that his views are still being sought because I have noticed a change. Guess he must have a contract or something! Too bad for "the corrupt ones" but if he keeps it up I would think they will buy him out! They just CAN'T have people defecting and it would look "really really bad" if they contacted the station and told them to pull him! I think he would put up a fight and blow it for them!

[Donna Zen]

15. The commentators

I know General Clark got paid by the appearance, and considering the scale of network salaries, the commentators don't get paid that much.

[ChiciB1]

23. Okay... You Have A Point... However, These Generals Aren't Doing

this stuff for peanuts. Perhaps they don't garner as much as real "TV personalities" but they are doing this for SOME reason. I think they were recruited to come extent because they were thought of as relatively safe... but they might have gotten cheated on the grand scheme of things.

They aren't out there simply because they want to "change" the world!! It's just double or triple dipping, IMO! I could be wrong, but for the most part I really haven't seen Clark on CNN & MSNBC as a regular. Good that he gives an alternative view, but in actuality... I mean let's really think about it... WHY FOX???

I'm not against Clark in any way, but has anyone thought that perhaps he might do more good by "stumping" to some extent like John Edwards is??? I know I NEVER watch FOX myself and I think he may feel he's reaching out to the other side, but again... is the OTHER SIDE really listening?? Do you really think they are going to change their minds by listening to Clark on FOX?? May happen, but I don't think so.

Then you might want to go further and think about Powell, where the HELL IS HE??? I have a feeling there will be those who will find links to my questions, but favor the most part... I'm not hearing Clark OR Powell all that much. I may be wrong, but Clark may have thought by reporting with FOX he was trying to "reach out" but for those of us who NEVER even "go there" I have no idea what he says from day to day. And of course, that IS my fault. But I just don't "DO FOX"!

[FrenchieCat]

24. First off......I must laugh at this statement....

I'm not against Clark in any way, but has anyone thought that perhaps he might do more good by "stumping" to some extent like John Edwards is???

Cause Clark's been stumping a plenty! Read this thread if you want, and then see if you would seriously ask that question again once you've read it...
(the thread was back in May....but his calendar has been just as full since).
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2639735


But beyond that, you don't have to watch Fox to actually see what the General says there....as there are many reports and videos all over blogs all of the time!

Try doing a search on http://www.newshounds.us/ -- they've got plenty of Clark footage and reviews.

[gratuitous]

13. No, the origins of the Iraq mess have been deemed out of bounds

Too much baggage there for the networks and cable channels to handle. They were all in a panting, frothing ecstasy of prospective war coverage to consider the question then, and they sure as hell aren't going to look into it now. It's like those nudie pictures a starlet does early in her career for the money and then is embarrassed when they resurface the day after she wins her Oscar for her Very Serious Performance.

[Stinky The Clown]

21. I do NOT wanna see Norman Schwartzkopf nude!

You ruined my night, you know! :)

[Totally Committed]

22. Hell.... I don't even wanna IMAGINE

Norman Schwartzkopf nude!

Ugh... too late!!!! ---- someone pass the mind eraser!

TC