Posted on 12/29/2013 2:38:57 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
HELENA — Lt. Gov. and U.S. Senate candidate John Walsh said Saturday that he disagrees with a 2010 report by the inspector general of the U.S. Army concluding that Walsh, then adjutant general of the Montana National Guard, had improperly used his position for private gain....
(Excerpt) Read more at billingsgazette.com ...
This would be Lt. Governor John Walsh, Democrat, potential candidate for Senator – and possibly the person that would have been picked to temporarily replace the possibly-quitting Max Baucus, although that might be up in the air now. The very short version: Walsh was running for a leadership position in the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS), and used his position as a colonel in the Montana NG to coerce his subordinates to join the group and improperly use resources to benefit the NGAUS.
I know, I know: sounds like something that would get investigated, and it was:
The report lists three different “substantiated allegation(s) and conclusion(s)”:
* Walsh improperly endorsed a non-federal entity (NGAUS); * Walsh improperly used his government position for private gain; * Walsh improperly used government resources.
But said investigation took place in 2010. Amazing what you can get up to when you have the right people running the federal government, eh?
And, in case you’re wondering: yup, Governor Steve Bullock (also a Democrat) admits to knowing back in 2012 that Walsh was caught with his hand in the cookie jar in 2010, only it doesn’t matter because you shut up now you just shut up you stupid stupid-head. Seriously, neither Walsh nor Bullock are even trying to deny the existence of the report; they’re merely acting all indignant that how dare people take the revelation that a National Guard officer was caught coercing his subordinates to join a third-party group for said officer’s benefit as some kind of indication that the officer in question was immoral.
Scratching your head at the way that Walsh is sounding so tone-deaf, there? Well, you must understand: the people who run the Democratic party feel entitled to everything they want. And they do not think that the rules apply to them.
http://www.redstate.com/2013/12/28/john-walsh-montana-national-guar/
I support our armed forces in all its forms - active, reserve, guard - and also the various private, nonprofit organizations that work on their behalf (24 year veteran myself). That said, this creep used his position to coerce his officers & senior enlisted to join. Typical ‘RAT pressure tactic.
I love a scandal as much as anyone, especially with a “D” after the name— but this seems like a pretty mild one. If all he did was pass out material in a staff meeting and say “hey this organization works to help protect the guard and out benefits and I am running for xyz, how about joining and supporting me” It sounds like somebody is getting even for something the Col did to piss them off. If he threatened their efficiency report, promotion opportunity or a job opportunity then hang him, but this stuff goes on all the time.
Was he selling Amway? /s
Ahhh, yes. The State Adjutant General. A purely political position if ever there was one. These are Jean Larte’ Guys’ doddering Generals who need their bowel movements looked after by fawning Field Grade aides. One that we had in Illinois was an unremarkable, basically good officer. Kept things going with a minimum of interference and preformed the party functions required.
Another was the biggest POS I have ever encountered in the Military, bar NONE. Complete Clinton Clone. He even looked like him. Wielded power with a club, harassed females at the drop of a hat. Made sure everyone around him knew precisely who he was and the power he could use. Used conferences for threat sessions....on and on and on.
He got taken down in a harassment/financial scandal. I had a schadenboner for year after that. Anyone who is familiar with the ILARNG from the mid 90’s, knows exactly whom I am referring to.
Little known fact: The State Adjutant General does not have to be a General. It’s appointed by the Governor and, in fact, can even be held by someone as low as an E-4.
Oh, the first AG I described was a Republican. The second was.....take a guess.
What stuff? Coercion, threats, using power position for personal gain?
Since it "goes on all the time", that makes it OK?
Since he's a demonRAT and they have lower standards, it's OK? WTF?
I doubt the position at the guard organization is even a paid position. Without knowing the details the coercion most likely consists of a suggestion to join the organization. It becomes “coercion” based on the relative ranks. The NG is a “good old boy” organization. (factions and politics can get pretty heated though) Membership in the organization is a few bucks a year. We aren’t talking millions or even thousands of $$ in contracts or kickbacks. This is mickey mouse gotya politics unless I am missing something. But what the hell, he is a Dem. so bring it on-that’s what would happen to a Rep.
You are exactly right in your portrayal of how it usually goes but that thin veneer of “respectability” is generally lost on those who are coerced since it’s always a senior officer to junior officer/NCO situation. It was certainly that way in my NG time in OK in the early ‘80s. I rapidly tired of the politics and called it a day after I completed my service requirement. I didn’t have the time or resources to play by their rules.
After 9/11, there was a buttload of federal "Homeland Security" money absolutely wasted in Iowa through pet projects of certain Iowa Democrats and their friends (which included too many IGOP at-the-trough stalwarts); I got to see firsthand how people with position and/or connections could milk the Guard (not the Air Guard in this case) and DHS. Sickening.
Mr. niteowl77
This is peanuts. Johnny Walsh’s Department of Military Affairs has $23,000,000 of stimulus money unaccounted for. Where’s that story?
I was seated two chairs to the right of Joe May’s “spy.”
A reporter from WHO TV had sniffed out the drift of the story and passed the clue to me. I was covering for Ch. 7, KWWL TV.
Just as Governor Ray took the last question, the paper’s photographer stood up and took about five shots with his motor driven Canon. There was enough light in the room, courtesy the TVs so the surprised look on the fake reporter’s face came through perfectly in the local edition of the Tribune and the next morning in the Register.
It was the only time I can remember Gov. Ray looking angry.
Needless to say, General May’s flying days were over.
I got our video tape to the noon Grayhound bus to Waterloo in time for Ch. 7’s 6 PM news...
The Guard has always been entwined in politics, some states are worse than others. The Army does not like this, but mostly gets told to shut up, sit in the corner, and color.
The Army investigation confirmed that this man is a politician and was behaving like a politician in a job where there were clear restrictions to political conduct. Walsh ignored those restrictions, mostly likely because he knew that he answered to the Governor, not the Army. If he is elected, he will know that he answers to Harry Reid, not to the people of Montana. Cast your ballots folks.
Piece of crap.
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