Worried About How Much Something Costs
Case in
point: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has quietly summoned every general
and flag officer in command billets — along with their senior enlisted
advisors — to what’s being billed as a “call to the colors.”
We still don’t know exactly what will be announced or decided at the
meeting (and that secrecy is deliberate).
President
Trump has said he’ll be there, which only raises the stakes and
confirms this is no routine staff briefing.
Here’s the delicious part: as the brass and senior NCOs get called to
account and the White House prepares whatever corrective or clarifying
action it plans to take, at least one prominent Democrat suddenly finds
his wallet.
Outrage
over costs — as if fiscal hair-splitting were the first priority when
senior commanders are being assembled and the commander-in-chief shows
up in person:
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., wrote to the Pentagon seeking details on
the cost of flying in officers on such short notice and whether virtual
alternatives were considered. About 800 general and flag officers are
stationed worldwide, and together with their enlisted advisors and
aides, the number descending on Quantico could exceed 1,000, according
to Duckworth. She also asked what accounts would cover the costs,
whether return travel might be disrupted by a potential government
shutdown, and if a cost-benefit analysis preceded the decision to meet
in person.
Wait
— seriously? Senator Tammy Duckworth — the Tammy Duckworth — suddenly
clutching her pearls over taxpayer costs? The same Illinois Democrat who
scores an F with the National Taxpayers Union, ranked #93 out of 100
with a 12% rating since her first election to the Senate?
Give me a break. The political theater writes itself: when the brass are
called in and Trump shows up, Duckworth discovers budgetary conscience
overnight. Cue the hypocrisy chorus. You can’t make this stuff up.
Before she plays the fiscal watchdog, how about answering one simple
question: how much did the “Autopen Joe” Biden administration leave
behind in Afghanistan — how many billions worth of military hardware
abandoned and handed over to the Taliban?
Put that figure on the table first, then we’ll talk about who’s suddenly
worried about taxpayer dollars.
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