Know what ticks me off? Adults, who’ve parented, trying to modify the behavior of my children…or who’ve earned PHDs, trying to change the abortion views of Catholic students…or who’ve served in the military, trying to sow doubt in young members of my country’s military and intelligence agencies. Especially self-serving politicians, who don’t honestly have a young soldier’s best interest at heart. Which brings us to last Tuesday…
…when six congressional Democrats aired a video in which they urged the US military and intelligence community to refuse “illegal orders” given, presumably, by the current Republican president. If I must write something nice, their guidance (to not carry out an illegal order) is part of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, all six once served in a branch of the US military or intelligence, and their party desperately needed a PR victory. But I choose to write the unvarnished truth, and that is this: what they aired was a stupid and futile gesture…
…of the Animal House variety, because these wannabe leaders of the Democrat Party are too disconnected from what is real to “lead” in any sense of the word. They are not now (and never were) the heads of the CIA, DHS, FBI, NSA or US military. Thus, their statements – “you don’t have to carry out orders” and “we have your back” – are wrong on two fronts; (1) they have no legal standing and (2) they invite intellectual conflict in those who must follow orders.
Intellectual conflict is what invites mutinies and other acts of insubordination, which rarely work out for the rank and file. In 1789, three of the HMS Bounty’s sailors were tried and hung in England for following Master’s Mate Fletcher Christian in the mutiny against Lt. William Bligh. In 1966, the Fort Hood Three were courtmartialed for refusing to board the plane to Vietnam (they claimed the war was “unjust, immoral and illegal”). In 2005, eighteen members of the 343rd Quartermaster Company were punished for refusing orders to drive a fuel convoy they deemed a “suicide mission”
What the Bounty’s mutineers considered “cruel and abusive” behavior by Lieutenant Bligh was considered “running a tight ship” at the Royal Navy’s court-martial that “fully exonerated” Bligh (source: BBC History). The Vietnam War was legally protested by millions of college kids, but the “Fort Hood Three” were sentenced to prison and dishonorably discharged for “refusing to follow orders” (source: Fifth Estate magazine). The Army relieved the 342’s insubordinate Captain of her duty, upgraded the armor on her trucks, and completed the mission “without incident” (source: CNN).
While the 90-second video may not meet the threshold for charges of sedition, it does sow confusion within the ranks of America’s national-security apparatus, where the jobs are often pressure-packed. Hence, it was an act of insubordination, knowingly and willfully committed by the following six members of Congress (see photos above): senators Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH) and Jason Crow (D-CO).
Knowingly – because each of them stressed that “no one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution” when each of them knows Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 explicitly establishes the President as the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Army and Navy, and of the Militia of the several States; a position of ultimate responsibility for America’s national security. Did you know Congress has not exercised its constitutional right to “declare a war” since 1942? That’s why there are no statues honoring a committee, and why the constitution empowers the president alone – be it Truman dropping A-Bombs on Japan or Trump dropping bunker-busters on Iran – to make the extraordinary and unimaginable decisions.
Willfully – because their national service (which is why they – and not Bernie Sanders or Rashida Tlaib – were tapped to make the video) left each them aware of the top-down chains of command that exist in America’s military and intelligence agencies. When they collectively stated that “you don’t have to carry out orders…we have your back,” they sent a dangerous metamessage: if “you don’t carry out orders,” a member of Congress will prove conscientious objection was your motive. Shame on them, because that is very bad advice.
So…who are these six legislators – amongst the 535 members of Congress – to decide they have the experience and expertise to command the hearts and minds of millions that are legally under the command of President Trump?
Sen. Elissa Slotkin was a CIA analyst and Obama’s acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (when Russia annexed Crimea, by the way). Sen. Mark Kelly was a naval aviator (Navy) and astronaut (NASA), whose highest rank was captain. Rep. Jason Crow was an Army Airborne Ranger and bronze-star winner, whose highest rank was captain. Rep. Chris DeLuzio was a naval officer who deployed to Iraq with a civil affairs unit, whose highest rank was lieutenant. Rep. Maggie Goodlander was an intelligence officer in the US Naval Reserve, whose highest rank was lieutenant. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan was a project manager of the US Air Force, whose highest rank was captain.
I am grateful for, and respectful of, their service to country, but I don’t see resumes that scream ready for crunch time in the Oval Office (such as supreme commanders Washington, Grant and Eisenhower brought to the job). But what, you may ask, makes President Trump any more qualified? The same credentials that qualified presidents Lincoln (winning a national election) and Truman (Article II, Section 1, Clause 6 of the constitution).
Above all, having served is no substitute for a persuasive argument, like citing a single “illegal order” from the President. They did NOT cite sending in the National Guard to restore law and order to Democrat-led cities, ordering the air attack on Iran’s underground nuclear-production facilities, or authorizing the US military to obliterate Houthi convoys and narco-terrorist drug boats. Because they know voters support law and order, a de-nuked Iran, safe sea lanes, and keeping fentanyl out of the United States.
What they should know is how old and tired their party’s anti-Trump playbook has become. Because, even after claiming he was a Russian asset, “illegitimate” and “unhinged” president, as well as a racist, rapist and fascist candidate, Trump was resoundingly re-elected in 2024. And, last Friday, the man they want to pigeon-hole as the “greatest threat” to America’s democracy welcomed a Democrat Socialist to the White House, where Trump defended the not-ready-for-primetime Mamdani (34 years old) from reporters’ gotcha questions.
When will they learn? That Trump is flexible (not unhinged), practical (not ideological), and willing to put all Americans before his party. Because it’s time Democrats put country before party and work with this Republican on the “affordability issue” that made Zohran Mamdani mayor-elect of New York City. They can start with the President’s offer to overhaul Obamacare.
Don’t hold your breath, because they are too busy “defending” their democracy from Republicans. Case in point, the ungrateful Mamdani was on NBC Sunday proclaiming Trump a “fascist” and “despot.” There they go again; a Democrat crossing the line and losing the respect of decent Americans.