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eppur_se_muova

(41,885 posts)
19. Currently reading a biography of Napoleon -- author calls him a pychopath, he was obviously a megalomaniac as well.
Sat Nov 29, 2025, 05:06 PM
Nov 2025

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 2025 #1
Like Harold Hill in The Music Man BonnieJW Nov 2025 #13
Harold Hill made it work in the end, though. nt Gore1FL Nov 2025 #31
I think he's a bully. enigmania Nov 2025 #2
He's a total fucking poser. Initech Nov 2025 #30
I don't doubt that military recognize a certain (disreputable) persona in Hegseth.. hlthe2b Nov 2025 #3
A martinet. The kind of brass we all hated. Ping Tung Nov 2025 #4
This is why I refer to this shitbag Aviation Pro Nov 2025 #5
Informative article, thanks KS Toronado Nov 2025 #6
He probably had political connections. Do we know if he even attended Ranger school or applied? Did he get peered out? ChicagoTeamster Nov 2025 #7
Well. He does have a degree in "Politics" from Princeton in the late 90's. haele Nov 2025 #17
I saw on Wickipedia that he was commissioned from Princeton's ROTC program. He played basketball there. ChicagoTeamster Nov 2025 #29
Thanks for catching the ROTC cite, haele Nov 2025 #34
What does "COIN" stand for? calimary Nov 2025 #8
No military but my guess is lonely bird Nov 2025 #10
Counterinsurgency COL Mustard Nov 2025 #20
Aha! calimary Nov 2025 #39
You can say what you like about service members, but most have good bullshit detectors...nt Wounded Bear Nov 2025 #9
"dangerously meh". Well put! chowder66 Nov 2025 #11
teehee. see his ax throw. pansypoo53219 Nov 2025 #18
Hagsbreath is just another barstool soldier Hey Joe Nov 2025 #12
That's certainly the message I took from this reddit thread. KPN Nov 2025 #37
He reminds me of an XO we had in Vietnam .. a major. Bo Zarts Nov 2025 #14
Damn. That's a LOT of whiskey. COL Mustard Nov 2025 #21
We had a Lieutenant XO in Vietnam The Wizard Nov 2025 #22
What does "adjust fire" mean? LearnedHand Nov 2025 #25
He was assigned to be a forward observer The Wizard Nov 2025 #35
Thank you LearnedHand Nov 2025 #36
We had an 04 like that. A real PITA...he was always demanding we cover for him. GP6971 Nov 2025 #33
Scary, though. Thank you for your service. Joinfortmill Nov 2025 #40
This message was self-deleted by its author jfz9580m Feb 26 #42
He's a product of the Fox News machine SleeplessinSoCal Nov 2025 #15
So, he was with 101st I never got out of jump school? ashredux Nov 2025 #16
Currently reading a biography of Napoleon -- author calls him a pychopath, he was obviously a megalomaniac as well. eppur_se_muova Nov 2025 #19
Not SECDEF. He is SOW JCMach1 Nov 2025 #23
aka/dba TripleSECDEF alterfurz Nov 2025 #41
Hobbit Drinking struggle4progress Nov 2025 #24
He's psychotic spanone Nov 2025 #26
Yup. KPN Nov 2025 #38
South Park "Pete Hegseth is a ****ing douche" underpants Nov 2025 #27
Kegsbreath should be required to blow into a breathalyzer every 4 hours Blue Owl Nov 2025 #28
It doesn't appear he attended, let alone completed, the Army Command & General Staff College. GP6971 Nov 2025 #32
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