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eppur_se_muova

(40,684 posts)
19. Currently reading a biography of Napoleon -- author calls him a pychopath, he was obviously a megalomaniac as well.
Sat Nov 29, 2025, 04:06 PM
Nov 29

Some of the parallels with Trmp are eye-opening, as is the contrast. NB was better educated, much more competent, and actually reformed the wreck that was the French government (not entirely for the better, to be certain). And he was more at war with his own family (mostly over Josephine) than Trmp has ever appeared to be. Of course, he won some campaigns through exceedingly hands-on tactics and some truly astonishing luck, but lost two entire armies (so far -- we haven't even gotten to Moscow yet) through appallingly bad planning, where he engaged in planning beyond the fantasy stage at all. And he looted not just France, but its recent conquests, to accomplish those disasters.

The comparison with Kegsbreath seems almost laughable. The only power Kegsbreath has is what was handed to him on a gold-plated platter. Napoleon seized power through audacity and cruelty and, admittedly, tactical competence (strategy was another thing). Kegsbreath looks like a Mean Girl who found a powerful sugar daddy in contrast. If Trmp stops supporting him, he's not just done, he's incinerated.

(I'm no military expert, and would welcome hearing from real military thinkers/planners where they can speak out re Kegsbreath. I know he has some accomplices, but can't believe they're all that many (could the Universe really be that cruel ?) or sufficiently well-placed to survive the next ketchup-flinging outburst.)

Recommendations

4 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

He struck me as the type of leader more concerned with himself and he's a fast talker. surfered Nov 29 #1
Like Harold Hill in The Music Man BonnieJW Nov 29 #13
Harold Hill made it work in the end, though. nt Gore1FL Nov 29 #31
I think he's a bully. enigmania Nov 29 #2
He's a total fucking poser. Initech Nov 29 #30
I don't doubt that military recognize a certain (disreputable) persona in Hegseth.. hlthe2b Nov 29 #3
A martinet. The kind of brass we all hated. Ping Tung Nov 29 #4
This is why I refer to this shitbag Aviation Pro Nov 29 #5
Informative article, thanks KS Toronado Nov 29 #6
He probably had political connections. Do we know if he even attended Ranger school or applied? Did he get peered out? ChicagoTeamster Nov 29 #7
Well. He does have a degree in "Politics" from Princeton in the late 90's. haele Nov 29 #17
I saw on Wickipedia that he was commissioned from Princeton's ROTC program. He played basketball there. ChicagoTeamster Nov 29 #29
Thanks for catching the ROTC cite, haele Nov 29 #34
What does "COIN" stand for? calimary Nov 29 #8
No military but my guess is lonely bird Nov 29 #10
Counterinsurgency COL Mustard Nov 29 #20
Aha! calimary Nov 30 #39
You can say what you like about service members, but most have good bullshit detectors...nt Wounded Bear Nov 29 #9
"dangerously meh". Well put! chowder66 Nov 29 #11
teehee. see his ax throw. pansypoo53219 Nov 29 #18
Hagsbreath is just another barstool soldier Hey Joe Nov 29 #12
That's certainly the message I took from this reddit thread. KPN Nov 30 #37
He reminds me of an XO we had in Vietnam .. a major. Bo Zarts Nov 29 #14
Damn. That's a LOT of whiskey. COL Mustard Nov 29 #21
We had a Lieutenant XO in Vietnam The Wizard Nov 29 #22
What does "adjust fire" mean? LearnedHand Nov 29 #25
He was assigned to be a forward observer The Wizard Nov 29 #35
Thank you LearnedHand Nov 29 #36
We had an 04 like that. A real PITA...he was always demanding we cover for him. GP6971 Nov 29 #33
Scary, though. Thank you for your service. Joinfortmill Nov 30 #40
He's a product of the Fox News machine SleeplessinSoCal Nov 29 #15
So, he was with 101st I never got out of jump school? ashredux Nov 29 #16
Currently reading a biography of Napoleon -- author calls him a pychopath, he was obviously a megalomaniac as well. eppur_se_muova Nov 29 #19
Not SECDEF. He is SOW JCMach1 Nov 29 #23
aka/dba TripleSECDEF alterfurz Nov 30 #41
Hobbit Drinking struggle4progress Nov 29 #24
He's psychotic spanone Nov 29 #26
Yup. KPN Nov 30 #38
South Park "Pete Hegseth is a ****ing douche" underpants Nov 29 #27
Kegsbreath should be required to blow into a breathalyzer every 4 hours Blue Owl Nov 29 #28
It doesn't appear he attended, let alone completed, the Army Command & General Staff College. GP6971 Nov 29 #32
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