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Main Forums => Politics => Topic started by: Ben on March 27, 2018, 11:03:51 PM

Title: Why Mattis is Bulletproof in a Trump Administration
Post by: Ben on March 27, 2018, 11:03:51 PM
Even though it's way to the left Politico, I thought this was a pretty good article on Mattis' strategy for working in the Trump administration.

I would say Mattis is only close to bulletproof. I could actually see Trump go on a tear were a Mattis comment to get out that was personally directed at the President in a negative way, and fire the guy. If he did though, I think he would lose, or lose a lot of support from, at least half his voting base.

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/03/23/james-mattis-defense-secretary-how-to-succeed-in-trump-cabinet-without-getting-fired-217699
Title: Re: Why Mattis is Bulletproof in a Trump Administration
Post by: Scout26 on March 27, 2018, 11:24:16 PM
I would say Respect born out of Fear, on Trump's part.
Title: Re: Why Mattis is Bulletproof in a Trump Administration
Post by: T.O.M. on March 28, 2018, 09:12:48 AM
I would say Respect born out of Fear, on Trump's part.

QFT.  Even Trump, with as much ego as he has, must recognize that Mattis has the support of damned near everyone who is wearing, or who has worn, a uniform in defense of this nation, along with their friends and family.   Keeping Mattis means, in large part, keeping those votes on his side.

You know, I always pictured Mattis as the kind of General who would be willing to roll up his sleeves and get dirty next to his Marines if that what was needed.  I picture him leading from the front, not issuing commands from an air conditioned office like a REMF.  The kind of officer I respected and tried to emulate when I was wearing a uniform.
Title: Re: Why Mattis is Bulletproof in a Trump Administration
Post by: Ben on March 28, 2018, 09:33:41 AM
I would say Respect born out of Fear, on Trump's part.

I absolutely believe that is a large part of it.
Title: Re: Why Mattis is Bulletproof in a Trump Administration
Post by: Jamisjockey on March 28, 2018, 09:36:21 AM
QFT.  Even Trump, with as much ego as he has, must recognize that Mattis has the support of damned near everyone who is wearing, or who has worn, a uniform in defense of this nation, along with their friends and family.   Keeping Mattis means, in large part, keeping those votes on his side.

You know, I always pictured Mattis as the kind of General who would be willing to roll up his sleeves and get dirty next to his Marines if that what was needed.  I picture him leading from the front, not issuing commands from an air conditioned office like a REMF.  The kind of officer I respected and tried to emulate when I was wearing a uniform.

That's his rep.  Says a lot that all the branches admire him.
Title: Re: Why Mattis is Bulletproof in a Trump Administration
Post by: Ben on March 28, 2018, 09:43:53 AM
That's his rep.  Says a lot that all the branches admire him.


Seems like that goes across the civilian spectrum as well. The fact that Politico wrote an essentially positive piece on him seems to indicate that he's popular, or at least accepted and respected, across the political spectrum. I can't think of the last time the far left had positive comments for a SECDEF in an R administration.
Title: Re: Why Mattis is Bulletproof in a Trump Administration
Post by: T.O.M. on March 28, 2018, 10:46:57 AM
Seems like that goes across the civilian spectrum as well. The fact that Politico wrote an essentially positive piece on him seems to indicate that he's popular, or at least accepted and respected, across the political spectrum. I can't think of the last time the far left had positive comments for a SECDEF in an R administration.

Maybe because he's not a career politician.  Yes, he's politically adept.  Can't achieve that rank in any military branch without significant political skills.  But he is a Marine first.  Even most hard core libs realize that there is a need for people willing to wear a uniform and stand in harm's way.
Title: Re: Why Mattis is Bulletproof in a Trump Administration
Post by: Viking on March 28, 2018, 03:33:45 PM
QFT.  Even Trump, with as much ego as he has, must recognize that Mattis has the support of damned near everyone who is wearing, or who has worn, a uniform in defense of this nation, along with their friends and family.   Keeping Mattis means, in large part, keeping those votes on his side.

You know, I always pictured Mattis as the kind of General who would be willing to roll up his sleeves and get dirty next to his Marines if that what was needed.  I picture him leading from the front, not issuing commands from an air conditioned office like a REMF.  The kind of officer I respected and tried to emulate when I was wearing a uniform.
I assume you've read the James Mattis Christmas Story?
Title: Re: Why Mattis is Bulletproof in a Trump Administration
Post by: Perd Hapley on March 28, 2018, 04:16:44 PM
I assume you've read the James Mattis Christmas Story?

No.
Title: Re: Why Mattis is Bulletproof in a Trump Administration
Post by: Viking on March 28, 2018, 10:06:07 PM
No.
http://www.naus.org/a-general-mattis-christmas-story/
Title: Re: Why Mattis is Bulletproof in a Trump Administration
Post by: Hawkmoon on March 29, 2018, 12:05:57 AM
http://www.naus.org/a-general-mattis-christmas-story/

Great story. I've seen it several times before, but it doesn't get any worse for being seen multiple times.
Title: Re: Why Mattis is Bulletproof in a Trump Administration
Post by: T.O.M. on March 29, 2018, 06:31:10 AM
http://www.naus.org/a-general-mattis-christmas-story/
Hadn't heard that before, but is exactly what I thought of the man.
Title: Re: Why Mattis is Bulletproof in a Trump Administration
Post by: Jamisjockey on March 29, 2018, 08:27:43 AM
If you really want to understand him, this is a fantastic interview with him
https://youtu.be/HOc38ZwEO8s
Title: Re: Why Mattis is Bulletproof in a Trump Administration
Post by: French G. on March 29, 2018, 08:36:50 AM
When you see him in theater carrying his own bags that says whole volumes. If you could clone him and get rid of all the mealy mouth boot lickers (Amos) this country would have a chance.
Title: Re: Why Mattis is Bulletproof in a Trump Administration
Post by: Jamisjockey on March 29, 2018, 08:47:14 AM
When you see him in theater carrying his own bags that says whole volumes. If you could clone him and get rid of all the mealy mouth boot lickers (Amos) this country would have a chance.

Also armed in theater.
Title: Re: Why Mattis is Bulletproof in a Trump Administration
Post by: T.O.M. on March 29, 2018, 09:51:42 AM
Also armed in theater.


Thread tangent...now that the M17 is rolling out, I wonder if they will make a special model for generals, as they did with 1911s and the M9...

Trying to find an article about what handgun Mattis carried, and issue handguns for Generals, I came across this article.

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/16623/the-us-army-is-issuing-its-new-m17-pistols-to-many-more-troops-than-its-predecessor

Apparently, the Army is going to issue more handguns to infantry units, and toyed with the idea of issuing an M17 to everyone.  Looks like the plan may be to issue a handgun to every squad leader, not just senior NCOs and officers.  Looks like lessons learned from all the CQB in Iraq and Afghanistan has shown that maneuverability in close quarters favors the handgun over the carbine. 
Title: Re: Why Mattis is Bulletproof in a Trump Administration
Post by: MechAg94 on March 29, 2018, 12:23:09 PM
With the modularity and the ability to swap out frames and slides, it wouldn't take much to customize the gun for a general.  I was hoping there would be more choices on frame sizes and shapes.  I am not sure how they would add bling if any.
Title: Re: Why Mattis is Bulletproof in a Trump Administration
Post by: Jamisjockey on March 29, 2018, 01:01:01 PM
Thread tangent...now that the M17 is rolling out, I wonder if they will make a special model for generals, as they did with 1911s and the M9...

Trying to find an article about what handgun Mattis carried, and issue handguns for Generals, I came across this article.

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/16623/the-us-army-is-issuing-its-new-m17-pistols-to-many-more-troops-than-its-predecessor

Apparently, the Army is going to issue more handguns to infantry units, and toyed with the idea of issuing an M17 to everyone.  Looks like the plan may be to issue a handgun to every squad leader, not just senior NCOs and officers.  Looks like lessons learned from all the CQB in Iraq and Afghanistan has shown that maneuverability in close quarters favors the handgun over the carbine. 

Knowing the way it seems that Mattis operates, I doubt it.  Mattis originally threatened to buy an off the shelf handgun and probably would have if congress would have let him.
Title: Re: Why Mattis is Bulletproof in a Trump Administration
Post by: Angel Eyes on March 29, 2018, 05:23:13 PM
Thread tangent...now that the M17 is rolling out, I wonder if they will make a special model for generals, as they did with 1911s and the M9...

Does the M17 fix that little drop-test problem? 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ch7si_VQsGA
Title: Re: Why Mattis is Bulletproof in a Trump Administration
Post by: T.O.M. on March 29, 2018, 05:38:19 PM
Does the M17 fix that little drop-test problem? 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ch7si_VQsGA


My understanding is that it was a P320 issue, not an M17 issue. Also, a fix is just a recall upgrade away.
Title: Re: Why Mattis is Bulletproof in a Trump Administration
Post by: Angel Eyes on March 29, 2018, 05:48:51 PM
My understanding is that it was a P320 issue, not an M17 issue. Also, a fix is just a recall upgrade away.

https://www.reddit.com/r/SigSauer/comments/7sx0xf/whats_the_difference_between_a_p320_and_the_army/

It's not clear to me that the differences between the two will affect drop-test performance, but I'm not a SIG expert.
Title: Re: Why Mattis is Bulletproof in a Trump Administration
Post by: MechAg94 on March 29, 2018, 06:45:51 PM
What I had heard was the "fix" essentially did what was already done in the M17.  The M17 trigger had already been changed over the course of military testing.