Why Mattis is Bulletproof in a Trump Administration

[Ben]

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

[Scout26]

I would say Respect born out of Fear, on Trump's part.

[T.O.M.]

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.

[Ben]

I would say Respect born out of Fear, on Trump's part.

I absolutely believe that is a large part of it.

[Jamisjockey]

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.

[Ben]

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.

[T.O.M.]

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.

[Viking]

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?

[Perd Hapley]

I assume you've read the James Mattis Christmas Story?

No.

[Viking]

No.

http://www.naus.org/a-general-mattis-christmas-story/

[Hawkmoon]

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.

[T.O.M.]

http://www.naus.org/a-general-mattis-christmas-story/

Hadn't heard that before, but is exactly what I thought of the man.

[Jamisjockey]

If you really want to understand him, this is a fantastic interview with him
https://youtu.be/HOc38ZwEO8s

[French G.]

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.

[Jamisjockey]

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.

[T.O.M.]

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. 

[MechAg94]

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.

[Jamisjockey]

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.

[Angel Eyes]

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

[T.O.M.]

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.

[Angel Eyes]

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.

[MechAg94]

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.