Retired Marine General Nicknamed ���Mad Dog��� May Be the Real Unifier in New Trump Administration
While many of President-elect Donald Trump���s cabinet selections, and considered cabinet selections, have been the subject of some hand-wringing on the part of key Democrats, there is one likely pick that seems to be inspiring relatively uniform agreement across party lines���and is doing so on behalf of a retired marine general with the decidedly unprogressive nickname of ���Mad Dog.���
Bloomberg is reporting that Gen. James N. ���Mad Dog��� Mattis met with Trump about the possibility of becoming Secretary of Defense, and while Mattis clearly has an enthusiastic champion in the incoming president, the career warrior���s reputation has also seen him make a bevy of fans out of many on the other side of the political dividing line.
As a matter of fact, the news that Mattis appears to be the leading candidate for the slot was reportedly met with ���bipartisan relief,��� as Bloomberg put it, at the Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia. Forum attendee Jeanne Shaheen, a Democratic senator from New Hampshire, responded to the prospect of Mattis becoming Defense Secretary by saying, ���Given the range of people who have been suggested, I think he will be a good choice.���
For his part, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said, ���I have not met General Mattis. But by his reputation he is seasoned and capable military officer. Obviously he deserves a full and fair hearing.���
In addition to Trump���s vigorous support, Mattis is the recipient of a lot of political affection throughout the Republican Party. For example, new U.S. Congressman Mike Gallagher, a Marine veteran himself, says of Mattis, ���I know of no better patriot, warrior, or servant-leader than General Mattis,��� while syndicated conservative radio host Laura Ingraham responded to the consideration of Mattis by tweeting that ���Mattis is the best candidate for SecDef.���
Mattis is a professional warrior comprised of two sides that come together in a way that creates a leader who is politically transcendent. On the one hand, he is capable of expressing sentiments that convey great ruthlessness, like ���I���m going to plead with you, do not cross us. Because if you do, the survivors will write about what we do here for 10,000 years.���
On the other hand, he is the kind of American general who made sure to regularly visit the battlefield in Iraq in order to share stories of Marines who managed to show great compassion and cultural sensitivity in the heat of battle.
A fierce warrior, but one with a strong capacity for reasonableness in the employment of ���violence of action.��� What���s not to like?
By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large
