Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who is blocking hundreds of military nominations, bemoaned the fact that the military is “struggling” to fill its personnel needs.

  • Stanard@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    This is infuriating. Let me make sure I’ve got this right:

    So, our military personnel “volunteer” to serve, and in doing so are forced to reside at whatever military base in whichever State/country that the higher ups decide. Then the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which allowed for existing abortion bans to go into effect in various states as well as paved the way for other abortion bans to be put into effect. Our military personnel are also bound by the laws of wherever they are stationed. To help alleviate the concerns of our military personnel, President Biden issued a travel reimbursement policy so that our volunteer based military personnel wouldn’t have to pay to travel somewhere that they more agree with the laws of, to have a medical procedure performed that is outlawed where they have been forced to reside. Then this chucklefuck Tuberville decides to block any and all military promotions because he essentially thinks that the most regressive state laws should apply to the entire volunteer based military. And then he complains that the military is facing personnel issues? Excuse me but what the fuck? Am I missing something?

    I don’t think anyone is even forcing states to allow abortions for military personnel, just trying to provide travel reimbursement so that personnel can go to a state that hasn’t banned abortions without having to pay the travel costs themselves. Right? Why wouldn’t we want that policy? Military personnel don’t get to choose where they’re stationed (they do sometimes get some say but they don’t make the final decision) so why not reimburse them if they’re forced to travel for medical reasons?

    If he thinks the military is facing personnel issues now, and at least partially because he’s interfering, has he even considered the ramifications of taking even more rights away from people that volunteer to serve? I mean, ffs they already give up many of their rights as is. And abortion bans have already proven to be an extremely unpopular policy, with citizens in several Republican states already voting against said bans and in fairly large numbers with large margins to boot.

    I legitimately feel like I must be missing something. Can this guy really be this stupid? Or does he actually despise the American people? Is there some pro-life lobbying group bribing donating to him for him to do this?

    • Zombiepirate@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I legitimately feel like must be missing something. Can this guy really be this stupid? Or does he actually despise the American people? ls there some pro-life lobbying group bribing donating to him for him to do this?

      The Republicans want these positions open so that they can stuff them with Christian Nationalists if they win in 2024. They don’t intend to let the military interfere with the next coup.

    • CADmonkey@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Is there some pro-life lobbying group bribing donating to him for him to do this?

      I’m cynical enough to wonder if the pro-life anti-woman donors backing this guy are just a foreign country paying him to weaken the US military. None of these politicians actually care about anyone’s kid.

  • snorkbubs@fedia.io
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    1 year ago

    That burning anger you feel when reading about stuff like this, is partly the point. Your outrage is funny to them, and they can’t wait to unleash more contradiction and hypocrisy, just to watch you squirm.

    I’m not saying to ignore them, or to become apathetic. People should just be aware of that aspect, so they’re not as easily toyed with by vile little men, like Tuberville. Ignore the trolls, look for the helpers, and cheer them on.

    Apologies for the light digression, and rant. I typed that out as a reminder for myself, more than anything else. So tired of these clowns gumming up the works of every single thing they touch.

    • Bone@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      No, it’s good you mentioned, and not just for yourself but also for those of us easily annoyed! So, thank you. And even though after hearing it it’s not as if I didn’t understand it beforehand. But, I’ll probably still be easily annoyed moving forward, just the same. 🤷‍♂️

    • Zomg@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Thanks for this perspective. An old Navy Chief I worked with would give me the advice “don’t let them know what bothers you” I guess to avoid intentional ribbing from his shipmates or others, but it applies here too.

      Regardless, it’s tough because it has consequences and is just one dumb issue to contend with out of the large stack.

    • theneverfox
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      1 year ago

      I don’t think you’re wrong, but you’re missing the core issue.

      He’s saying this because he has no morals, and it’s advantageous to him. He gets to sabotage the government and blame it on wokeness, he gets points with his base for both calling out the Dems and blocking access to reproductive control of the lower class, and he gets points with his faction for strengthening their position.

      And forget hypocrisy, by doing something and accusing the Dems before they get a chance to react, he frames the truth as copium.

      These people are inhuman. Republicans will embrace hypocrisy and do mental gymnastics to “own the libs”, and they’re laughing… But the far right politicians aren’t doing this for fun.

      They’re doing it because if you position yourself correctly, destruction is extremely profitable. All but a fraction of the worth of a thing is destroyed, but a small group gets the value because they knew it was coming first (because they did it).

      That’s what this is… Destroying our society bit by bit. And although it means things will be worse for everyone (including them), comparatively they can get a bigger slice of a smaller pie

      • AphoticDev@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        1 year ago

        Maybe, if the IDF ever did any talking. They don’t like doing that, makes them look bad anytime one of their commanders opens their mouth.

    • APassenger@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      national security.

      I’d argue they’re a threat to world security. They back wars we shouldn’t fight, fossil fuels, and regimes that should be weakened - not supported.

  • Omega@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I still do not understand why a singular Senator has this power. It doesn’t make any sense and the technical reason hasn’t even been explained to me.

  • Rapidcreek@reddthat.com
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    1 year ago

    "Leader Chuck Schumer told Democrats during their lunch on Tuesday that he will file cloture on three key military nominees, which have been delayed for months due to Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s hold,” CNN reports.

    “Specifically, he will file cloture on the officers nominated to be chief of Naval Operations, Air Force chief of staff, and, notably, the vice commandant of the Marine Corps."