Dead Drop October 16

BEWARE OF THE MILITARY/ELECTORAL COMPLEX:  With the election fast approaching, a lot of people feel that our electoral process is under siege.  And if you are under siege, who are you going to call?  The cavalry. Every four years there are allegations of some candidates stretching the rules and subtly trying to weaponize the imagery of the military to win supporters.  But this there is nothing subtle about the year 2020.  This week, the Trump administration released an online advertisement with the headline: “President Trump wants you to request your ballot.”  The ad includes a photo of four stern-faced men:  The President, Vice President, Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.  Critics wasted no time pointing out that including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Mark Milley in the advertisement was a clear violation of DoD regulations prohibiting uniformed personnel from participating in campaign activities. While not quite as line-crossing perhaps, the inclusion of Secretary of Defense Mark Esper also violated long-standing practice – if not regulation.  An unnamed JCS spokesman was quick to point out that Milley was unaware that his non-smiling face would be used in the ad.  Having already earned presidential ire for apologizing for taking part in the Lafayette Park Bible-toting photo op, Milley is probably grateful that he is currently quarantined in his quarters due to COVID-19 exposure. Another discordant note was heard when the administration deployed the U.S. Marine Corps band at a campaign-like event on the White House grounds on Saturday October 10. Despite political tee-shirts, hats and banners displayed by what some described as a “rent-a-crowd,” the administration insisted it was an official event and not an electoral one – therefore use of the band (known as the “President’s Own”) was justified.

WE’LL GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT:  A couple of Democrat Congress members (former CIA officer Elissa Slotkin and former Navy officer Mikie Sherrill) wrote to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe and acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf asking for assurances that their personnel would remain apolitical. According to Politico, Esper “stopped short of committing to keep troops away from polling stations next month.”  And, in the “you can’t make this stuff up” category, DHS said they would respond to the questions “after the election.”