2nd Chances

Tis the season...or is it ?

I’ve been thinking about second chances a lot in this season of giving. Whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or whatever spiritual or Winter Solstice celebrations or rituals you are celebrating with friends and family…giving a second chance could be one of the best gifts you give this month. But there needs to be an appropriateness about this gift. Doesn’t there ?

I’m sure we’ve all been in the position of needing or wanting a second chance about some issue or moment in our lives…and/or we’ve been in the position of having to decide how or if to bestow that gift.

I’m not a believer in one strike and you’re out…

unless the strike is REALLY egregious….and then the police and courts usually deal with it.

So my specific illustration of second chances today is Pete Hegseth…a person who wasn’t on my radar 2 months ago. But has really gotten my attention…and the whole US and much of the world since President Elect Trump made him his Secretary Of Defense nominee.

A lot of not flattering news stories have come out about his alcohol problem, problems with women and issues at the Veteran focused Non Profits he was involved with. We’ve all seen those stories….

and a part of Pete’s response has been, if you give me this 2nd chance I’ll stop drinking and I’ll do better. He’s basically been begging for the job…and keeps going to the Hill to convince skeptics he is “the right guy.”

To use Doc Holiday’s (Val Kilmer’s) expression in the movie Tombstone.
”I’m your Huckelberry” to Johny Ringo’s threats.

Doc Holiday won that one in a gunfight. This issue isn’t about the fastest gun…it’s about the right gunfighter…the best gunfighter…the gunfighter in charge of all of our paid and trained gunfighters. The ones who protect us all…not just law and order in dusty old Tombstone.

When Hegseth was nominated by Trump, I did a lot of research into the history of our Sec Def’s and was VERY impressed with their resumes and credentials…across the board…nominated by Republican & Democratic Presidents…it did not matter. I wrote a detailed substack about this a month ago. Our current Sec of Defense Lloyd Austin has a warriors resume and admin and command experience 10 miles long.

Secretary of Defense was not a “second chance” for any of these people who have held this VERY important…critical position in our government. It’s the last “gift” that should be bestowed on anyone now. I don’t care who they are.

There must be an appropriate 2nd chance that President Elect Trump can give his friend in this season of giving. Pentagon reporter on Fox…some Post in the VA where he can advocate for wounded warriors and help take better care of them.

He has direct knowledge and experience for those gigs. The United States Secretary of Defense is a job that you spend a lifetime getting ready for, it’s not the gift of a second chance for anyone, ever….

and in Pete’s defense I think this nomination says a whole lot more about the nominator than the nominee. So can we just move on to real candidate for this position of grave responsibility?

Peace to all