68 Comments
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Tom Stephenson's avatar

Predictably, Pete went Full Bondi.

Stacey S.'s avatar

Exactly my thought, they all follow the same play book. Deny & deflect with that arrogant smirk & defensive posturing. They think they are smarter than everyone else.

Tom Stephenson's avatar

You’re so right and they often seem to be on the edge of full blown hysterics.

Bruce Kopetz's avatar

Do you think for a second Popov Pete didn't prepare his testimony under the relentless tutelage of Stephen Heydrich Miller, memorizing every fascist retort word-for-word, like Agent Blondi did?

Mike's avatar

There does seem to be proctoring involved. They all act with the same arrogance and talk the same $hit according to some unholy script written by some demonic little weasel. There is a desperation to it all too. They know they need to lie their a$$es off to keep in TFG's good graces. It must suck to be a sycophantic slave to TFG. Every one of them know they are going to hell in a hand basket and nothing can save them.

Mary Roeser's avatar

In reality, they aren't smarter than anybody.

Bruce Kopetz's avatar

At first I thought you had typed "went full Bond" (Agent 007).

Kim Nesvig's avatar

In an administration populated with arrogant incompetents, Hegseth manages to stand out in both categories. It is difficult to imagine a person less deserving of mention on the same page as Eisenhower, Marshall and MacArthur.

JA's avatar

All of these Trump characters reflect such painful insecurities that it is appalling!

How can trump know so many and appoint such a herd? And more to come?

Afraid so . . .

Moreen Halmo's avatar

Why would. we expect anything different. He's a stupid animal who has no core.

Anthony j. Santo's avatar

IMO, the most important line in Steve's post today is, "There was only a man convinced that confidence could substitute for competence."

Hegseth is 100% confident that everything he does is morally and strategically the correct thing to do. That is because he is operating under the illusion that his extreme religious views are inerrant.

His goal is to do the will of God and his vicar, Trump; unfortunately, he sees that goal as paving the way to Armageddon which, in reality, would spell the end of mankind and most, if not all, other life forms.

Husaria's avatar

And, is it not ironic that the same “ enemy “ that Sec. Hegseth rails against has the same goals as he does.

The IRGC ( Islamic revolutionary guard corps ) wants Armageddon like Sec. Hegseth. They are waiting for the hidden Imam to rise from the ashes of Armageddon to usher in an Islamic world where everyone practices the same religion. If they, IRGC, do that via nuclear means? Well, they’re OK with that.

This is why extreme and literal religious views are deadly. And why our founders saw the need to keep govt and church ( Temple, Mosque, Shrine, et al ) separate.

Mike's avatar
May 1Edited

"Hegseth is 100% confident that everything he does is morally and strategically the correct thing to do."

Anthony, I predict he is in for a big surprise at the end of his days.

Bruce Kopetz's avatar

Popov Pete should have been breathalyzed before he entered the hearing room and immediately after each bathroom break. Then the chairperson should have read aloud the blood alcohol concentration result.

Christine's avatar

The fact that approximately 27 members of Trump’s appointments are from FOX Entertainment/News(?) should tell you everything you need to know!

He is just like Trump. Full of himself, ego driven, arrogant and stupid!

Wendy Shelley's avatar

He sounded just like Pam Bondi, and we all know how that turned out. Can’t get rid of him soon enough. Thank you, Steve, for stating this so plainly.

Julia's avatar

This regime is soulless and self-dealing. Hegseth doesn’t strike me as confident. He talks like an insecure belligerent teenager. Three wives won’t be the final count.

JA's avatar

But, wife #3 was behind him smiling. Why would she need to be in the room? Understand she has an office at the Pentagon to over see and defend “her man.”

Hegseth thinks he reflects confidence? Think again!

Rod Goncalves's avatar

As a veteran, I am appalled every day when I listen to him speak with such bravado. He diminishes and discounts the commitment of our men and women in the armed forces. only commanders who you cited voluminously in your commentary, understand the gravity of war, the chaos it unleashes, and the limits of its effectiveness.

Brooks R Susman's avatar

Arrogance and obstinance, the two words that keep him as "Secretary of War". DonnieFelon has such contempt for Congress, that Hiccup played the script as designed.

TAS's avatar

More and more I keep thinking the worst person who America ever produced was Roy Cohn, Joseph McCarthy's lawyer then Trump's. He is the one who transformed Trump years ago to deny and to double down on everything. All of these assholes have adopted this performance art and methodology.

Mabelman's avatar

Great commentary Steve! Well said.

Olivia X. LaRosa's avatar

He dared to call himself a king while next to a real King. Delusional

carol greenberg's avatar

When you sleep with dogs you wake up with fleas/ they are all fleas!!!

CJ's avatar

And ticks carrying diseases

Douglas Mackay's avatar

No foundation. No pillars. No substance. Without a strong underpinning there can be no strong structure despite the “look”, the architectural adornments, the tattoos, or the suit coat lining. The structure will not bend with the weather conditions but break and be scattered. Ask any beachfront property owner. Didja notice all the shore homes now being built on pillars sunk 30-40 feet into the ground? Pete would do well to sell now and resign rather than after he comes tumbling down even before the tide turns, the incoming storm surge arrives and his protector is left powerless.

Elaine Seal's avatar

We're never getting out of the Iran debacle with this clown in charge. In some perverse way I think he enjoys it.

Gordon Berry's avatar

He is making money on it - his billionaire cronies too!

Elaine Seal's avatar

Yep. They all are. Big bunch of amoral crooks.

Ian MacFarlane's avatar

He must feel he is above the law, beyond touch, responsible to no one, not even his boss, DTs.