The Trump Presidency (Act V - The One Where Everybody Dies)

[BobTheCoward]

Does the number of western countries falling into this sort of jingoistic trap make it better?

Yes.

 

[CapelDodger]

Another step along the way.

Trump’s ‘marching orders’ to the Pentagon: Plan a grand military parade



https://www.washingtonpost.com/poli...91602206fb7_story.html?utm_term=.323d70a10cf4

Any Senator voting against awarding him a Triumph for Making America Great Again will be judged guilty of treason.

 

[dudalb]

Well, the Queen has a parade for her birthday every year.

And the Guards parade from the Wellington Barrack to Buckingham palace and St James's Palace every day and the Cavalry from Hyde Park Barrack to Horse Guards.

Does that count.

The US Military has units that take part in parades, but no massive displays of equipment.
There is a difference between a platoon from the local Guard taking part in a Fourth of July parade, and the massive parade that Trumpy has set his heart on.

 

[C_Felix]

"If we don't change it, let's have a shutdown," Trump said of the nation's immigration laws. "We'll do a shutdown and it's worth it for our country. I'd love to see a shutdown if we don't get this stuff taken care of."

 

[dudalb]

Does the number of western countries falling into this sort of jingoistic trap make it better?

We have a tradition of Not Having Annual Show of Force Day. Donnie Johnny is a man-child and like his "Vroom! Vroom!" moment in the big truck, this is a childish thing.

This.Even the huge parades after the Civil War and WW 1 and 2 did not have huge displays of equipment, it was just mainly troops from the different services marching with a few bands ,not the Soviet May Day style Extravanga that the Orange FUngus has in minds.

 

[CapelDodger]

Will he have a nice uniform made. After all he is Commander in Chief.

I'm thinking lots of gold braid. He'll love that. It shows class.

 

[dudalb]

"If we don't change it, let's have a shutdown," Trump said of the nation's immigration laws. "We'll do a shutdown and it's worth it for our country. I'd love to see a shutdown if we don't get this stuff taken care of."

Oh, the Republicans in congress up for relection must just love that.

 

[BobTheCoward]

This.Even the huge parades after the Civil War and WW 1 and 2 did not have huge displays of equipment, it was just mainly troops from the different services marching with a few bands ,not the Soviet May Day style Extravanga that the Orange FUngus has in minds.

Or french style or Italian style.

 

[Strawberry]

And the french

The French have national service, hence they have plenty of spare people to waste their time preparing for the annual parade while the real soldiers get on with what real soldiers do.

The US military don't, and will therefore probably see this as a waste of their time.

 

[dudalb]

I'm thinking lots of gold braid. He'll love that. It shows class.

It is another tradition in the US that the President,despite his status and Commander in Chief, does not appear in a military uniform..one set by George Washington, who did it to emphasize that in the US, the Military was subordinant to the Civilian. Even those entitled to wear a Uniform like Grant and Eisenhower refrained to do so as President.
But I think even Trump would not quite go that far.

 

[BobTheCoward]

It is another tradition in the US that the President,despite his status and Commander in Chief, does not appear in a military uniform..one set by George Washington, who did it to emphasize that in the US, the Military was subordinant to the Civilian. Even those entitled to wear a Uniform like Grant and Eisenhower refrained to do so as President.
But I think even Trump would not quite go that far.

It won't be fleet week, that's for sure.

Man, I wish I could have gone to fleet week.

 

[CapelDodger]

Well, the Queen has a parade for her birthday every year.

And the Guards parade from the Wellington Barrack to Buckingham palace and St James's Palace every day and the Cavalry from Hyde Park Barrack to Horse Guards.

Does that count.

They're more like re-enactments than parades, meant to entertain tourists rather than cow Johnny Foreigner.

 

[dudalb]

The French have national service, hence they have plenty of spare people to waste their time preparing for the annual parade while the real soldiers get on with what real soldiers do.

The US military don't, and will therefore probably see this as a waste of their time.

They will. In the US military there is a term "Dog and Pony SHow" for useless demonstrations and parades that serve no purpose but to satisfy the ego and provide photo ops for visiting politicians. I took part in a couple of those when in the US Army. Considered an pain in the butt and a total waste of time by everybody, from the Commading Officer to the lowest private.

 

[CapelDodger]

It is another tradition in the US that the President,despite his status and Commander in Chief, does not appear in a military uniform..one set by George Washington, who did it to emphasize that in the US, the Military was subordinant to the Civilian ...

Said the general who became President.

 

[Foolmewunz]

Yes.

Reminds me o' the yarn 'bout the school marm.

Mizz Taylor was showing the tykes the new hamster they got for the classroom.
Li'l Timmy: Is it a girl or a boy?
Mizz Taylor: Well, I don't rightly know.
Smart Alec: Oh, I know how you can tell.
Mizz Taylor, dreading the need to teach the "birds and the bees" to six year olds: How's that Alec?
Smart Alec: We can take a vote!

Argumentum ad populum. The fact that another country or a dozen more countries need to practice swing-dickery on the High Street does not make it acceptable or amenable to the American version of Democracy any more than eleven six-year olds can turn a female hamster into a male.

And you know who else loved military parades?

 

[dudalb]

They're more like re-enactments than parades, meant to entertain tourists rather than cow Johnny Foreigner.

Nearest we have to the British Guard units is the 3rd US Regiment, "The Old Guard" which is stationed in DC and provides honor guards and ceremonial units for the official ceremonies in the Capital. It's most famous unit is the Tomb Guard, the unit that provides the 24 hour sentries at the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldiers in Arlington.
The Third Regiment also has a ceremonial fife and drum unit that wears Revolutionary War uniforms.
No doubt Trump would want to change that to something more modern and impressive. Fife and Drums are not macho enough....

 

[BobTheCoward]

Reminds me o' the yarn 'bout the school marm.

Mizz Taylor was showing the tykes the new hamster they got for the classroom.
Li'l Timmy: Is it a girl or a boy?
Mizz Taylor: Well, I don't rightly know.
Smart Alec: Oh, I know how you can tell.
Mizz Taylor, dreading the need to teach the "birds and the bees" to six year olds: How's that Alec?
Smart Alec: We can take a vote!

Argumentum ad populum. The fact that another country or a dozen more countries need to practice swing-dickery on the High Street does not make it acceptable or amenable to the American version of Democracy any more than eleven six-year olds can turn a female hamster into a male.

And you know who else loved military parades?

Every country that does it is wrong, no doubt.

I read the list of countries given by the other people and it is a lot of non democracies. To the extent we classify countries by their behavior, it is important to get the classification right.

 

[Andy_Ross]

Nearest we have to the British Guard units is the 3rd US Regiment, "The Old Guard" which is stationed in DC and provides honor guards and ceremonial units for the official ceremonies in the Capital. It's most famous unit is the Tomb Guard, the unit that provides the 24 hour sentries at the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldiers in Arlington.
The Third Regiment also has a ceremonial fife and drum unit that wears Revolutionary War uniforms.
No doubt Trump would want to change that to something more modern and impressive. Fife and Drums are not macho enough....

The Guards Regiment aren't special ceremonial units though. They are operational units that also stage the guard. They are rotated through the ceremonial duties.
Other regiments and the other Servicew also take turns now and again. For example last year the RAF, Navy and the Ghurkas paraded at Buckingham Palace among others.
Foreign units have also mounted the guard. Usually similar palace guard units from around the world. I know of Denmark and Brunei last year.

 

[BobTheCoward]

The Guards Regiment aren't special ceremonial units though. They are operational units that also stage the guard. They are rotated through the ceremonial duties.
Other regiments and the other Servicew also take turns now and again. For example last year the RAF, Navy and the Ghurkas paraded at Buckingham Palace among others.
Foreign units have also mounted the guard. Usually similar palace guard units from around the world. I know of Denmark and Brunei last year.

Are the guards ready to kill an attacker?

 

[dudalb]

The Guards Regiment aren't special ceremonial units though. They are operational units that also stage the guard. They are rotated through the ceremonial duties.
Other regiments and the other Servicew also take turns now and again. For example last year the RAF, Navy and the Ghurkas paraded at Buckingham Palace among others.
Foreign units have also mounted the guard. Usually similar palace guard units from around the world. I know of Denmark and Brunei last year.

The Third regiment is a fully qualified and equipped US Infantry Regiment, so it is not exactly a "ceremonial only " unit. They also provide security to most US Military installations in the DC area.
The Tomb Honor Guard is very selective about who they recruit. Although it's not an official requirement you have to had served a four year hitch with no black marks to be considered.

The changing of the Guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns is impressive. A must see if you visit D.C.