My column today at Real Clear Politics taking on Gen. Jim Mattis and his media allies in the Never Trump Resistance is based on two posts I made here at HeartlandDiaryUSA.com two weeks ago. I make some valuable points about the Constitution and the executive authority of the president. Let me know what you think.
By Frank Miele
In case you were wondering whether we are still a constitutional republic or not, the last two weeks have answered that question with a resounding and worrisome NO!
It turns out that the president of the United States — the constitutionally authorized commander-in-chief — is beholden to his generals and secretary of defense. At least, that’s what we are led to believe by the smug letter of resignation tendered by Gen. Jim Mattis and the reaction to it among fawning Democrats and “Never Trump” Republicans, all of whom seemed ready to go to war for Secretary of Defense Mattis — as long as it was a war against Trump.
Somehow, the advice of generals has now become mandatory rather than suggestive. If Mattis says we should keep troops in Syria, then that settles it! Thank God no one told President Lincoln he was required to do whatever his idiot generals told him to do. Half of us would be living under Stars and Bars now instead of Stars and Stripes. If the liberal media have their way, we will be under the thumb of the global military-industrial complex for the rest of our lives. Syria forever! Afghanistan even longer!
But let’s make no mistake. The Constitution grants authority to Congress to declare war, and to the president the authority to direct the armed forces. It grants no power of any kind to the secretary of defense, whether he is a decorated general like Mattis or a civilian like most of those who have held the office.
Article II of the Constitution spells it out clearly: “The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual service of the United States.”
The fact that Mattis is being lauded by left-wing media pundits and congressional plutocrats as a protector of the nation against the president shows just how far from constitutional authority we have fallen.
For more background on the Deep State, the Fake News Media and the war against Trump, please take a look at my “Why We Needed Trump” trilogy, which is a collection of essays from the last 14 years about how the One-Party Oligarchs have played us for suckers until Trump came along.
Thank you, you tell it as it is, make sense’ it was great to read, appreciate your writings, always do.
Thanks Joyce! And hope you have a happy new year!
Frank, to repeat !! So pleased that you have an even greater platform than your many years of the “2 cents” articles. Was afraid you were going to “ride off into the sunset” !! Excellent comment on Mattis, almost believe he was “turned” after his appointment .
Thanks! I don’t know how many people I am reaching but pleased to still have me hand in the game!