Adam Kinzinger: I served with Tulsi Gabbard and Yikes

[Qutzupalotl]

DURING MY TIME IN CONGRESS, I had the privilege of working with all kinds of people from all over the country with different experiences, backgrounds, priorities, ideologies, approaches, strengths, and weaknesses. One of the people I overlapped with was Tulsi Gabbard, whom Donald Trump has announced he intended to nominate to become director of national intelligence (DNI). This role, the top job in America’s huge, powerful, world-beating intelligence-gathering and analysis enterprise, requires someone with steadfast integrity, sound judgment, and an unwavering commitment to the security of the United States.

Gabbard lacks all three qualities.
….

What concerns me most, however, is the amorality apparent in her decision-making. A DNI must be resolute in defending the Constitution, impartial in assessing threats, and unwavering in his or her commitment to American values. Gabbard’s track record suggests she prioritizes personal advancement and political expediency over these critical responsibilities. Her ability to shift loyalties and principles to suit her ambitions is not a trait we need in a position that demands impartiality and integrity.

Trump’s choice of Gabbard for this role is as perplexing as it is dangerous. By selecting someone with no significant intelligence experience and a history of erratic behavior, he is undermining the credibility of one of the most important positions in our national security apparatus—one whose ability not only to uncover and protect secrets but to tell hard truths to people in power is a key asymmetric advantage the United States enjoys over its adversaries. Worse still, Gabbard’s history of promoting authoritarian narratives raises legitimate concerns about her ability to prioritize America’s interests over those of foreign adversaries.

more: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/i-served-with-tulsi-gabbard-and-yikes

[JustAnotherGen]

1. It's out of my hands

[Maru Kitteh]

6. That's it right there. This was in the hands of voters in 7 states and not one

of them was even close enough to recount. This country voted and elections have consequences. Now we all get to pay the price, collectively.

[usaf-vet]

19. Because in all likelyhood more than one if not all of the 7 swing states had stolen elections. I live in Wisconsin.....

... and I have seen it move from a strong, "honest" purple state to one that was manipulated step by step, starting with Scott Walker and the Koch brothers' financial support. To a likely red state with each federal election. We were the test tube that led the way to other states being manipulated.

Please don't ask me how I know. I have lived through it, with each little step leading to targeting the following link that needs to be broken. It is only through retrospect that I can now see the whole picture.

Here is an example. The powers of change made one former lumberjack a congressman by gerrymandering Wisconsin's seventh congressional district. A few short elections later, Trump nominated him as the Secretary of Transportation. His only knowledge of transportation is from his moves from northern Wisconsin to central Wisconsin to Washington DC to Fox News and now to the White House Cabinet.

I do realize that fighting back against "stolen" elections is a difficult job. It is simple to brush aside each one of us who plead for it to happen by simply discounting our concern with "show us your evidence."

[usaf-vet]

24. The reason they are all close is because some very smart PROGRAMMER wrote the software to do just that......

..... make it close, but DO NOT send up red flags.

Here are my favorite current examples of highly complex software routines that make the once impossible now possible.

and this

STEALING VOTES easy peasy when no one is or can watch.

[BadgerKid]

36. Surprised there's no parachute to slow down the rocket, save fuel.

[usaf-vet]

44. Just saving the booster is a big mission savings.

[iemanja]

57. They weren't close

And one programmer didn't design all the machines and didn't penetrate all the machines that aren't connected to the internet. Trump gained in 90% of the counties in America. Your conspiracy would have had to involve thousands of Democratic election officials to come to pass.

It's sad that you are falling for this nonsense. I expected better.

[usaf-vet]

61. You are entilted to your own dream.

[usaf-vet]

62. Then there is this. It's not just old guys like me that feel we must audit our election results.

https://freespeechforpeople.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/letter-to-vp-harris-111324-1.pdf

[iemanja]

63. "We have no evidence . . .

We have no evidence that the outcomes of the elections in those
states were actually compromised as a result of the security breaches, and we are
not suggesting that they were." That is what your letter authors say.

Instead, he insists that recounts should be commonplace. Well then, he needs to lobby for laws in those states to hand recount every election. He can then explain to the legislatures and people how money should come from basic programs to pay for his notions. He doesn't offer to cover the hundreds of millions, perhaps more, that a recount would cost. I suspect he and you want the Harris campaign to fleece the American people out of such funds to pay for the fact some of you can't cope with reality.

That Trump gained ground in over 90% of the counties in America, even deep blue ones, should tell you something. That the results were consistent with the exit polls should tell you something. That the results were close to the preelection polls and conformed to the projections of the poll aggregators should tell you something. But you don't want to learn. You don't want to cope with the results of a horrifying election. Instead, you want the rest of us to indulge you. Harris, Walz, the DNC nor I will be doing such a thing. Carry on, keep pressing salt into the wound, and see how much that makes you and everyone else feel better.

I used to be furious when at these posts because they simply seek to prolong everyone's agony--all because a few people can't move on past denial through the ordinary stages of grief. Now I just feel sorry for you. I will also evaluate your future posts accordingly, given what I have learned about your lack of concern for evidence.

[keep_left]

26. A big part of that manipulation was a right-wing "think" tank, the Bradley Foundation...

...where they have been slaving like stevedores since at least the '90s to drag the state farther and farther to the right. The Bradley Foundation (along with a few other "think" tanks) played a crucial role in pushing through the disastrous school-voucher experiment in Milwaukee. They were aided by some very reactionary groups in the Catholic Church which also lobbied for the voucher program. There's a really good book about the corrupting effects of all that right-wing money on education in Wisconsin. Years ago, one of the local Wisconsin nonprofits published The Feeding Trough. It's not easy to find, but it should be available through a library loan.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100219521978#post7

[usaf-vet]

29. You are right the Wisconsin based Bradley Foundation is part of this remake of Wisconsin and now onto the USA.

[LiberalFighter]

48. Citizens United

[Maru Kitteh]

31. Legally manipulated is not the same thing as stolen.

It may land softer on the psyche to call it theft, I grant you, but election denialism on the left is every BIT as destructive and nonsensical as it is on the right. Gerrymandering and voter intimidation has been their MO since before you or I were born. They didn’t ‘steal' every election they’ve won since God was in short pants. “Stolen” is sore-loser talk, it weakens Democracy, and most importantly, needs to be reserved for cases of actual theft.

More voters in 7 states voted for hate, purportedly because eggs or something. I don’t think it was the eggs.

[Callie1979]

37. I agree. Unless shown otherwise.

And not some theory.

[NJCher]

52. so are there studies out

that interviewed voters in 7 states and that quantitatively showed they voted for hate? These would have to be studies done since the election. I'd like to read them, so if you don't mind, please provide a link.

Because if you don't have quantitative studies, then putting out an opinion like this "is every BIT as destructive and nonsensical as it is on the right." It makes Democrats look like they're projecting, which is something that we often see on the right. Do you understand why you need a study to attribute motivation?

Also, I don't think most of these posters are claiming "stolen election." All they are asking for is an inquiry--a recount. They haven't drawn conclusions yet. They are merely asking for a recount, which is only common sense when you are dealing with a known criminal like Donald Trump. In fact, you'd be a damn fool to do any transaction with him and expect a straight-up deal.

OTOH, you have a good point about "legally manipulated" not being the same as "stolen," although as I have pointed out, I have not yet seen anyone saying stolen. I do see substantial numbers of people asking for a recount. There's nothing wrong with that.

Legal manipulation, gerrymandering, and voter intimidation are practices they have engaged in that have no doubt had an effect.

[NJCher]

54. Dems are no slackers when it comes to gerrymandering

You might find these articles of interest:

How Democrats learned to stop worrying and love the gerrymander

This article examines gerrymandering and while it has brought republicans some gains, they do not last long because Dems have fought back, using the same tactics. They have no choice, considering the conservative SC.

Democrats Decry Gerrymandering--Unless they Control the Maps

Dems can be ruthless with gerrymandering. Hmmm.

How Much Will Gerrymandering Affect the 2024 Election (The Independent);

There are some choice paragraphs in this article. Bottom line is that no, it didn't have much of an effect on 2024 but that doesn't mean it won't in the future.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

40. You think that's bad- look at Florida. We have a dictator as a Governor.

Our state was a blue state, then a purple state. Our Governors used to be liberals/Democrats. Our state Supreme Court used to be liberal, now it’s full of right-wingers. School boards and local governments taken over.

[DENVERPOPS]

25. My consolation will be

to watch all the Trumphumpers, going down, right and left, just like all of us........And it is already starting to happen!
The moment Trump has his inauguration, all hell will break loose like a tsunami on all the lower 99%.........
The RepubliCONs, Corporations, and Top 1% have been planning for this moment for 45+ years, and have greatly intensified their efforts the last 8+ years, and have finally reached their goal.....

WASF, but so are the Tens of Millions of Trump Humping Voters. They are just too ignorant/stupid to realize they will be kicked to the curb, and under a bus now that they have set in motion a tyranny, where their vote will no longer be needed....

[Bettie]

41. Lower 99.9%

that's going to be amusing, watching the "not quite rich enough to matter" lose it all with the rest of us, because they think they are part of the "win" and they aren't.

[DENVERPOPS]

43. Agreed,

by the time he reaches his third term, or JD Vance succeeds him, it will be the top .01% ruling America.
The 99.9% will all be crushed into basically being serfs and peasants.......

Re-Read the Grapes of Wrath, by Steinbeck for insight into what faces the entire population of the nation, and the peons with their "Hoovervilles" existence.

[CTyankee]

45. I heard one of these confused people say "I'll be rich someday and I won't want to pay all these taxes."

they actually believed that if they voted Republican they would be rich "someday." Funny how the really rich laugh at them.

[Bettie]

49. And they don't get it

they think those people are just like them.

They don't get that if running them over with a car would net them a dollar more, well, they'd be dead, crushed under that car and the rich guy who did it would not care one little bit. (Probably not all of them, but frankly, most).

[Qutzupalotl]

8. Your senators get a vote.

Call them.

[CTyankee]

10. Mine don't need to be called...mercifully I have two liberal Dem Senators!

[rubbersole]

12. Rubio and Scott will be glad to hear my concerns.

Oh, wait...

[calguy]

17. My Senator is Tom Cotton

How do you think he's gonna vote?
As another poster said, "It's completely out of my hands."

[Qutzupalotl]

34. Call anyway.

Especially if you have a red senator. As a constituent, you can threaten to never support him again (even if you never did). They keep track of all calls and report them to the officeholder. A deluge will be hard to ignore.

[calimary]

51. YES YES YES YES YES !!!!! Call ANYWAY !!!!!

Just DO IT!!!

They DO keep a record of calls and that’s public information. And it’s VERY valuable feedback that, if they’re really of a mind to honor and favor public service, they’ll be compelled to acknowledge. Certainly one or more of their staffers do.

And if you have a complaint, PUT IT IN WRITING!!!!!.

And keep a COPY!!!!!

Yes, I’m SHOUTING!!!

——-
On edit:
What I said, above, is about assembling documentation so you have something to refer to, later, if you need to. Cuz if you’re a normal human being, you’re very likely to forget something, and later, you may want (or need) a reminder. Make a note.
Make several notes.
Make sure to date them and note the time, if you can. The more details you have, the more believable you are. Credibility is king.

We’ve been watching a “marathon” of “To Catch a Smuggler” programs. It’s just stunning to me how many of the perpetrators facing hot water cannot answer simple questions about something that looks suspicious. They wind up looking
a) stupid
And b) awfully fishy and non-credible.

[usaf-vet]

30. My ONLY contact with my Senator is when they ask for money.

[murielm99]

35. That is unfortunate.

My Senators, Durbin and Duckworth, are very accessible.

[Bettie]

42. My senators don't care

heck, Chuck Grassley doesn't even know what's going on.

Most of the time, no one answers the phone...and the voice mail is full.

[Renaissance Man]

2. Asset of a Foreign Adversary

Tulsi Gabbard has always crossed me as someone who could be an asset of a foreign adversary. I would not be surprised if her lifelong assignment was to infiltrate and control the U.S. intelligence infrastructure.

[Irish_Dem]

3. Trump's choice is not perplexing in the least.

And Kinzinger knows it.

Gabbard is the choice of Putin, who will directly benefit from obtaining all
US national security intelligence staring in January.

[arthritisR_US]

58. Prsident elect Trash didn't pick this cabinet, putinshit did.

[Irish_Dem]

59. I agree. Choices designed to humiliate and destroy the USA.

Putin's fingerprints are all over this.

[Walleye]

4. So I guess Michael Flynn wasn't a big enough traitor

[dalton99a]

5. +1

[Maru Kitteh]

15. You do wonder what he's saving Flynn for. I'm sure we will see him.

[allegorical oracle]

16. Something that involves the military, no doubt. nt

[rampartd]

32. flynn commands the christian militias - proud boys and such

yes. we will be hearing too much of him.

[Callie1979]

38. The Cult wanted him for SecDef!

[Nictuku]

27. He will be waiting in the wings to take over once she fails (and she will)

He has said that he is open to being Gabbard's Deputy.

So when she fails, he will step right in. Mark my words....

[Aaeia]

7. That's the point.

[ScratchCat]

9. It's almost like nobody realizes

That these picks are meant to put the current administration in the predicament of either destroying America by refusing to hand power over to a man who is making 100% unqualified picks or allow him and his unqualified picks to destroy America. It has Putin all over it. If you haven't figured this out yet, you'd better quick. With each passing day, it becomes more and more obvious what is going on.

[Trust_Reality]

11. Trump's pick is not at all surprising.

The question is whether there are any Rs who will defend American democracy and security.

[rubbersole]

13. Of course there are...

...Joe and Mika will interview them in the morning, after plastering their asses with hickeys. 💋

[progressoid]

14. It's not perplexing. Stop trying to be politically correct.

She was chosen because of the reasons you listed. For Trump those are qualifications.

[LisaM]

18. Yeah, my first introduction to HER was in 2015

when Hillary Clinton's email list got hacked and the campaign blocked access to the data so Bernie Sanders' campaign couldn't use it and Tulsi Gabbard was everywhere on TV badmouthing Clinton (I'm assuming that Bernie has long since cut ties with her, though at the time she was described as his surrogate and a rising star in the Democratic party).

The next I heard of her was during a presentation my firm was doing for us for AAPI month and they were talking about gender fluidity and Hawai'ian heritage and the whole Gabbard family popped as as being anti LGBQT. Her family members also have belonged to some weird cult and this was pre-MAGA.

[rampartd]

33. gabbard was raised as a "hare krishna."

i've never heard that she had left the cult.

[jaxexpat]

20. I was hoping for some anecdotal muckraking, but this stuff could, and should, be cut and pasted for all Trumps nominees.

[elleng]

21. O M G!!!!

[patphil]

22. Is it possible that Russian Intelligence asked for her to have that position?

Payback for Russian help in the 2024 election?

[moondust]

23. Or Pooty himself asked.

And TSF wouldn't want to make his murderous, war criminal buddy angry or he might not get any more help from him on how to run an autocracy.

[Montauk6]

39. From the OP Title, I thought AZ was recalling serving in the military with her...

For all her hype, we still really don't know what she did in uniform, and she never specified other than claiming to be a combat veteran who was more qualified to understand military issues than any of her fellow candidates in the 2020 Democratic primary.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

46. It's not a perplexing choice. Dementold is choosing hyper-loyal people he knows that he's real comfy with

Not choices made by an engaged change maker. Choices by a demented old fool who is a chaos agent.

[Hassler]

47. As Hilary said about her, Gabbard is a Putinista

[Evolve Dammit]

50. "Yikes" is right, and perhaps under-stated..

[aggiesal]

53. Pendejo45 doesn't want to RUN the government, he wants to RUIN the government. ...

Just listen to Steve Bannon, they want to tear apart the government so that they can do whatever they want without any oversight in any department.
We won't know what they did to us, until they've scattered to the winds.

[barbtries]

55. this seems

seriously understated. Like the building's on fire and Kinzinger says, it's rather warm inside. Perhaps we should turn on the a/c.

she's a traitorous threat to national security being put in charge of national security. THE HOUSE IS BURNING TO THE GROUND. tell it, don't dance around it.

[Cha]

56. So Scary... Gabbard is one of Putin's

ittty bitty Puppets.

TY & Adam Kinzinger

[Jvp]

60. Lack of

What is the level of self awareness for someone who accepts a position believing that they are qualified for it when clearly they are not?
This seems to apply to each of the nominees by Trump. How could they think they are qualified themselves.
Clearly also applies to Trump.
Do they possess any sense of self worth?
What a level of superficiality!