The latest example is “hero” Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller who called out the incompetence of the Pentagon hierarchy on the deadly botched Afghanistan “withdrawal”. He knew making his disagreement public on social media was a career death sentence, but clearly knowing how conservatives love a “patriot”, he did so and the results were predictable and loud.

Jailed viral Marine officer’s parents say ‘his crime was speaking truth to power’
Marine officer of viral video fame now in brig after defying gag order
Marine lieutenant colonel who demanded ‘accountability’ in brig, not charged
Mom of jailed marine Stuart Scheller: ‘They’re trying to bury our son’
36 members of Congress sign letter calling for Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller’s immediate release from grim military brig after he was detained for repeatedly criticizing chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal
Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller Is The Billy Mitchell Of The 21st Century
Fox ‘The Big Sunday Show’ panelists break down the hypocrisy of jailed marine’s firing

There are dozens of others.

After mentions of his plight were trumpeted on Fox News, conservative talk radio and media, a fundraiser was created and over $2 million dollars has been raised to-date for his defense, retirement, etc.

But like Owens, Scheller had social media posts he obviously knew wouldn’t be helpful when it comes to the sympathy and generosity of conservatives.

A response was obviously necessary.

It could be argued had Tucker Carlson and others known and shared portions of the Facebook posts to their audiences, Scheller may not have the $2 million-and-counting waiting for him upon his release.

The problem remains that those in the conservative media (like their liberal counterparts) NEVER admit when they were not only wrong, but led millions to support those not worthy. For example, too many who demand we support Donald Trump were viciously against him during the 2016 campaign and (with the recent exception of Glenn Beck) have yet to admit they were wrong about him and his agenda.

Many of us bought the hype and initially saw Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller as a hero. While those of us who served are well aware of the UCMJ rules and know the First Amendment technically doesn’t exist for unit cohesion reasons and also served at a time when social media didn’t exist so those complications never had to be addressed, Scheller’s actions were not the smartest. It could be speculated that Scheller would have rightly busted any enlisted subordinate who did the same thing he did.

Conservatives admired his passion and commitment to those who lost their lives during the last days in Afghanistan, but it now appears Scheller deleted Facebook posts as to make himself more sympathetic to a preferred MAGA demographic; one that would turn honor into sympathy and ultimately, dollars.

It’s sad we have to dissect the possibly motivations of those who just appear out of nowhere but until conservatives do, we might as well tape a piece of paper on our backs with a big “sucker” written on it. And sadly, this also appears to be another example of how the officer class takes care of their own assuring a soft landing when their time of service comes to an end.

UPDATE

Obviously news of Lt. Col. Scheller’s anti-Trump Facebook posts being shared among Trump supporters, presumably the majority of those donating to his fundraiser, may have resulted in a down-tick.

Time for damage control… on Fox News!

The “that’s-not-who-I-am” defense, most notably used after embarrassing actions are made public, doesn’t always play well. We’ll see if another fooled by the media is successful in profiting off a president and movement he clearly had no respect for.

UPDATE

It must be nice to be an officer!

Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller was sentenced on Friday to receive a punitive letter of reprimand and forfeit $5,000 of one month’s pay after pleading guilty to all charges stemming from his public tirades against top military and civilian leaders, the Marine Corps announced.

Scheller will now begin the process of exiting the service, said Capt. Samuel Stephenson, a Marine Corps spokesman. The nature of Scheller’s discharge will be determined by the Navy secretary.
— Task & Purpose, 10/15/21

Many of us who served know there are officers like Scheller who’d be the first to bust down any enlisted person for doing exactly the same thing. A dishonorable discharge would be a given.

The officer class takes care of their own. Scheller will land softly; maybe even a gig with Fox News, supported by the very people he dissed.

Must be nice.

But let a general publicly apologize for obeying a lawful order from President Trump, and let the liberal love fly!

As senior leaders, everything you do will be closely watched. And I am not immune. As many of you saw, the result of the photograph of me at Lafayette Square last week. That sparked a national debate about the role of the military in civil society. I should not have been there. My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics. As a commissioned uniformed officer, it was a mistake that I have learned from, and I sincerely hope we all can learn from it.
— Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, pre-recorded speech to a group of graduates from the National Defense University

Here’s the problem.

Those of us who’ve served know what could happen to any of us if we said anything bad about the Commander-in-Chief while we were on active duty. We were all subject to the rules and/or penalties under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Rules and penalties are rather specific for officers, especially in this case.

Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
— Article 88, UCMJ

And the reasons are obvious.

The main reason for this regulation is to keep military members who have access to major weapons of war to ever get involved in politics. Once they are retired or resigned their commission and a civilian citizen, they may partake in such political arguments in both written or spoken word.
— UCMJ Article 88 – Contempt Toward Officials

Had ANY of us, while on active duty, talked openly and our words were easily interpreted as having an issue with an action performed, standing right next to the Commander-in-Chief, a general like Mark Milley would be the first to have us relieved from duty, lose our liberty (ability to leave a base or ship), and await punishment that could result in a court-martial, possible dishonorable discharge, and loss of all post-military benefits only after possible incarceration.

General Milley may have contracted the #BlackLivesMatter #woke disease but he’s still on active duty. The rules still do apply to him. In the real world, some of us know that the higher the officer, the more asses are kissed around him and some officers can get real full of themselves. The comments made to National Defense University graduates was all about him, how he felt, and what he should have done.

But we ARE talking about the #swamp and the Pentagon is within the boundaries.

Officials within the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation activity worked to sabotage the Trump transition and Administration. Had any of us done this we’d be in jail for a very, very long time, yet they are ALL still walking the street, making good money as cable news contributors while also enjoying government pensions.

And now, the top military officers can publicly comment in ways that will be used to damage the Commander-in-Chief. Do you think anything will happen to General Milley? Yes, President Trump has fired many people and Milley could be next, but if he isn’t it won’t be a shock.

There is a two-tier system on Capitol Hill. Federal employees can break the law and smile. It looks like the military is now officially part of the #Resistance and we all know how ugly this can get.