<p>All well and good, but don't hold your breath. He's toast.</p>
<p>Sad, but true.</p>
<p>I didn't know much about the circumstance and found this article to be enlightening:</p>
<p>
[quote]
But now some are questioning whether the White House and Congress, in denying Lippold's Pentagon-approved promotion to the rank of captain, have nailed the right man.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Now THAT is interesting. The death of a person's career has always been seen as coming from the Pentagon. VERY interesting, indeed.</p>
<p>Good grief. I hate politics. :mad:</p>
<p>I'd be willing to bet some other Captain is in line for promotion, and he knows some politico or other, who is holding up this guy under the premise of the COLE attack.</p>
<p>This country is slowly circling the drain, but picking up speed. :(</p>
<p>Do you hate politics or politicians? Politics are an integral part of everyday life, just something that you must learn to navigate. "Political" backstabbing, shuffling, maneuvering, etc. is not going away. The alternative, that is the alternative to knowing when to shutup and knowing when to speak up, is to suffer professionally. You may hold your integrity, you may be noble, you may be right . . . you just won't be in a position to do anything about it.</p>
<p>One can call those that succeed in the poltiical game a weasel or some other perjorative term [like Senator or President] but it nonetheless remains a fact of life. At all levels, whether in government or in the private sector the following told to me by a goofy professor has always been applicable: Employers expect you to prove that you can do something their way before you can show them that your way is better. Recognizing this, demonstrating it, and promoting you ability to "do it the company way" is, perhaps, not self-fulfilling . . . at least until you get the great promotion for being such a team player.</p>
<p>I didn't know where to begin with the story. There are some great quotes. It is particularly regretful, however, that Bush chooses to not intervene. Perhaps he knows something that is not revealed in the article. Perhaps he really is the insenstive, incompetent manager that holds only the easily defeated accountable. Who knows, maybe the Commander is thought of as a trouble maker, an inconvenient reminder of things gone wrong.</p>
<p>As Z has pointed out, the seascape is littered with more than one Naval career abruptly cut short under circumstances that don't seem fair. This, however, seems a particularly egregious circumstance.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Do you hate politics or politicians?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Both. </p>
<p>I don't care how much a part of reality they are. It's a dirty, unethical, disgusting business populated by individuals who are the least qualified to populate it.</p>
<p>Sure, I have my preferences, and there are a few (VERY few) I actually admire (and most of those are no longer in office, sad to say), but for the most part, I don't trust any of them, and can only bear to "support" a few of them.</p>
<p>"One can call those that succeed in the poltical game a weasel or some other perjorative term [like Senator or President]" </p>
<p>Hehehe. Bill, you crack me up!</p>
<p>Thanks for posting up the article. This is essentially the same article I read in the Sacramento Bee a couple of weeks ago - looks like McClatchy syndicated it. I've scanned around a bit since then and it looks like there is more publicity being stirred up.</p>
<p>The inspiring thing is that this guy continues to speak around the country about his experience with the USS Cole disaster and seems to be taking a very dignified approach to his situation - not choosing to engage in the politics of it. While I am sure he must feel bitter, the accounts of his speaking engagements portray a heroic man who is fiercely loyal to his country and his Navy.</p>
<p>Reality bites . . .</p>
<p>Politics. The art or science of government or governing, especially the governing of a political entity, such as a nation, and the administration and control of its internal and external affairs. . . . Intrigue or maneuvering within a political unit or group in order to gain control or power. . . . The often internally conflicting interrelationships among people in a society. </p>
<p>You can bet that Cmdr. Lippold is, in fact, engaging in the politics of it all. He is attempting to get his message out in a light favorable to him just as others are, perhaps, trying to sweep his career under the rug. </p>
<p>That's the whole point, and a lesson that young people must learn, you can "hate" the politics of an office [position, comand, etc.] as much as you want, nobly stating how you refuse to participate in office politics. The result will be a marginalization of your efforts while others succeed to positions of authority.</p>
<p>Cmdr. Lippold is, perhaps not by choice, in the political fight of his career.</p>