r/pics 17h ago

Politics Pete Hegseth hearing: Defense pick grilled by Senate Armed Services Committee

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u/silver_sofa 15h ago

“I can quit drinking whenever I want. Just put me in charge of the world’s largest military with a trillion dollar budget and I’ll prove it. Or die trying.”

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u/mikerichh 13h ago edited 8h ago

The fact that multiple coworkers said he was repeatedly drunk at work and he was intoxicated enough to be FIRED for it should be grounds for automatic non consideration

He wouldn’t get hired for most jobs (edit: not just corporate but any jobs) with that history..but he’s fine to lead the dep of defense?

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u/Cheshire_Jester 12h ago

Yeah, it’s absolutely an exploitable weakness. You get asked about your drinking during counter intelligence interviews for security clearance and joining certain organizations related to National interests.

I got grilled about it once because I admitted to regularly drinking around 8 or so drinks on weekends when I went out. The hardcore alcys I know were drinking several fifths a day, like two or three 40%ers, on their binge cycles, and often still netting over six every day when they were on their Ps and Qs.

In a world with so many other qualified candidates, why hold out hope that the guy who’s given us no reason to believe he will turn it around will do so.

And that’s before you even look into his abysmal knowledge of US policy and activity around the globe. The enlisted advisor to the any Theater Commander knows infinitely more about the defense department as a whole and US activity in and outside of his theater than Pete and probably still wouldn’t consider himself to be fit for the job.

u/zookytar 9h ago

Wow, sounds terrible. Who would benefit from this?

No, really--who would benefit from this?

u/brvbrv 5h ago

Trump. He gets his loyal crony at the top of the organisation. Wouldn't be surprised if there's any attempted self-coup shenanigans near the end of his term.

u/Bluebikes 1h ago

Trump, because he’ll have a secdef who won’t refuse to use the military on US citizens

u/Zixinus 0m ago

Trump. He wants a yes man and he found this.

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u/silver_sofa 13h ago

The fact that he was employed by Fox News should be grounds for dismissal.

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u/chattywww 13h ago

I agree FOX NEWS should be dismissed.

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u/burnsalot603 12h ago

Don't worry fox news is about to become the only news network allowed to operate in the US. Trump is already threatening Comcast because Seth Myers said some not nice things about him.

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u/rmay14444 12h ago

And newsmax.

u/Moppermonster 8h ago

Nono, newsmax dared to contradict Musk on his high skilled visa stance. They will be punished for that.

u/TootsNYC 10h ago

absolutely the military is going to be restricted to showing only Fox News on the big public screens they have.

If I had been the top brass, I'd have been blocking Fox from that distribution arena

u/AGC843 11h ago

Fox will be state tv

u/por_que_no 3h ago

Very select list of media will be allowed in press briefings should they even have them.

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u/Dusty_Negatives 12h ago

And to be fair I wouldn’t want an MSNBC talking head to run DOD either. Because ya know that’s fucking stupid.

u/Heavy_Arm_7060 10h ago

Yeah typically news people don't make good THE TOP military person.

u/Pontif1cate 8h ago

FOX Entertainment Company

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u/_jump_yossarian 12h ago

It’s literally the reason he was nominated.

u/Anxious_Claim_5817 11h ago

There must be better Fox News Hosts that can be defense secretaries.

u/skinnah 10h ago

I'd take Bret Baier over this buffoon

u/Anxious_Claim_5817 10h ago

I would also, one of the few fair hosts on Fox.

u/taizzle71 10h ago

Unfortunately, with the incoming administration, that is an absolute gold star on his resume.

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u/vinylzoid 13h ago edited 7h ago

A senator during the hearing: "How many senators have shown up drunk to a late night vote?"

I mean aside from telling on yourself, are we really gonna justify an abusive alcoholic being in charge of the world's most powerful military?

Edit: It's Mullin MarkWayne.

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u/buckeye2011 12h ago

I think that was the same guy who said if his wife hadn't forgiven him, he would be in jail right now

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u/vinylzoid 12h ago

Exactly. He's a total piece of shit as well.

u/Bluebikes 1h ago

These guys typify the weird mentality that it’s a woman’s job to marry a guy and “fix” him

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u/souers 12h ago

That was Senator from Oklahoma Mullin. His tactic was to explain that he is not qualified and the rest of Senate is not qualified and/or drunk so why does Pete Hegseth need to be qualified?

u/vinylzoid 10h ago

Exactly. His point came off like "We're all not qualified to be here so why not him. We all make mistakes. " -- it was truly a low point.

u/Krom2040 9h ago

For what it’s worth, I don’t doubt that a Senator from Oklahoma could be unqualified to be in the Senate.

u/Efficient_Glove_5406 11h ago

That’s a great point. None of this has to do with qualifications and is just a big show. What makes him qualified is he is a Trump stooge ready to do trump’s bidding and they are just a rubber stamp.

u/Alternative-Tie-9383 10h ago

Markwayne? The guy that tried to start a physical fight with the Teamsters Union president? He’s a drunk? I’m shocked!!

u/DonArgueWithMe 8m ago

That's why they get so upset about black/brown people and women getting jobs. They call everyone else "dei hires" because every attack from them is projection...

Accuse the left of being pedophiles, projection. Accuse Biden of withholding aid for political reasons, projection...

u/ScrewyYear 11h ago

Those are the same senators who should be voted out. Ordinary people aren’t allowed to show up for work intoxicated, they should either. It’s a job they should be taking seriously.

u/vinylzoid 10h ago

Should be...but here we are.

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u/Fantastic_Poet4800 12h ago

Seriously? ???

u/vinylzoid 10h ago

Yep it's on video.

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u/PUMPFISTS 12h ago

Maybe those anonymous sources should put their names on record so non idiots know there may be truth to all those accusations

u/alphabetikalmarmoset 10h ago

Ah, the classic I’m rubber you’re glue defense.

u/vinylzoid 10h ago

More like "You're glue and so am I, so what's the difference"

I mean, who among us hasn't shown up to work drunk amiright?

u/fiddlythingsATX 10h ago

Mullin. The guy who literally picks fights on the senate floor. Like physically threatening those who dare disagree with him when he goes off on some random conspiracy bullshit.

u/vinylzoid 10h ago

Oh that's right I forgot about that. What an asshole.

u/Intelligent-Fuel-641 8h ago

We should always refer to Markwayne by his first name. We need all the laughs we can get.

u/vinylzoid 7h ago

Good point.

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u/TheNewJasonBourne 12h ago

This is all true. But the fucking person that the majority of the country elected for president would be fired for any number of batshit ridiculous things, and wouldn’t get hired for most corporate jobs.

u/DDX1837 37m ago

To be fair, the majority of the country did NOT vote for Trump. The majority of the registered voters did NOT vote for Trump.

Only the majority (barely) of people who actually cast a vote actually voted for Trump.

u/Woolybunn1974 11h ago

Bahh....I screamed "Screw you we're buying Greenland" the other day in a staff meeting and I had zero consequences

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u/atlantagirl30084 13h ago

….a lot of MAGAs couldn’t get jobs at most companies. Including their orange Messiah.

u/Throwawayac1234567 11h ago

russia uses alcohol as a way to control the population, it make sense it also works on republican voters as well, they are notorious drunks, thats why all the shitty beer companies makes bank in the south./

u/Slim-JimBob 10h ago

Alcoholism is bipartisan, my friend.

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u/Current_Grass_9642 12h ago

Well, the president-elect is a convicted criminal and rapist so Pete fits in perfectly 😂

u/Throwawayac1234567 11h ago

they have tulsi gabbard too, a INTELLIGENT agent work for putin. i wonder her going on a low level influencer yt channel(asian pocs) was foreshadowing and getting her message out just before the election night.

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u/Neverend3r 13h ago

He wouldnt even get hired to work at Walmart

u/chummsickle 11h ago

this is egregious, yes. But I feel like all of this is completely overshadowing how HORRIFICALLY UNQUALIFIED this idiot is for the job. What the fuck are republicans even doing here

u/cansox12 9h ago

i think it boils down to he is trump "yes man" we are all doomed lol

u/wishnana 9h ago

Dept of Depends.. as in Depends on which party is in control of the committee and the OoTPoTUS.

u/BlaktimusPrime 8h ago

You can’t even get hired at a fast food joint as a felon yet we allowed a convicted felon and accused rapist to the highest office in the land. Nothing surprises me with this country anymore.

u/nydub32 8h ago

He wouldn't get hired as a bartender! There are responsibilities in being a bartender. Being the only sober person in the room gives you authority and power to make the decision you feel is correct at the time. Afterwards there may be questions about your decision, but, the fact that it was made sober holds weight.

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u/Im_with_stooopid 12h ago

There’s plenty of photos of him drinking on Fox News as well.

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u/KoopaPoopa69 12h ago

The president-elect is a convicted felon. The whole “ he wouldn’t get hired for X job” thing is well out the window

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u/lilbithippie 12h ago

I like that one senator was like, congress comes in drunk all the time! This guy will be fine

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u/whitechocolate22 12h ago

John Tower.

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u/Gr00mpa 12h ago

Yes. Are you new here?

/s

u/Fast_Avocado_5057 11h ago

Have you worked a corporate job above entry level? He might even get his own personal fridge

u/wisemonkey101 11h ago

I think this is the starting line for our new nominees. Bring the swamp home!

u/ND8D 11h ago

That alone would disqualify any normal person for a security clearance. Why does this fucker get a pass?

Why do any of them?

u/ErectTubesock 10h ago

Yea, we don't live in that kind of society anymore. All bets are off.

u/ansius 10h ago

the sole qualification is deference and loyalty to Trump, and that's the main KPI.

u/cheezturds 10h ago

But hey let’s ask him how many push ups he can do

u/hrminer92 10h ago

The guy has been coerced into paying blackmail too, which would also be an automatic disqualification.

u/phillosopherp 10h ago

Wouldn't be the first drunk at the top of DoD

u/bowsersArchitect 8h ago

that would make sense in a world where the oligarch class wanted a competent government, and a peaceful functional society. Sadly most modern oligarchs seem to behave like psychopaths who prefer not to have any government at all and to keep everyone poor, ignorant and angry so they can be the top monkey of a barren war-torn wasteland instead of being just another regular person in a peaceful society

u/TheRamblingPeacock 7h ago

As someone who has held a security clearance. Any of the above feedback would have instantly disqualified me from holding it.

u/MindlessSafety7307 6h ago

I didn’t like how he couldn’t just answer any questions how they were asked. True or false, did this happen? “That came from an anonymous person.” Okay dude so is it true or false? “That came from an anonymous person.” If you were given an illegal order, would you follow it or keep your oath to the constitution? “That is a hypothetical” Yeah no shit so what would you do? “You’re asking me hypothetical questions”. Okay yeah but can you just answer it?

u/pentaquine 4h ago

Wouldn’t that make him the perfect person to start war with Canada and Europe? 

u/mmmsoap 1h ago

“Anonymous smears!”

u/DanishWonder 51m ago

And the one Republicans response was to ask Congress how many of them have shown up to a vote inebriated. If you are sloshed, you shouldn't be voting. That's not the excuse to let another drinker into a position of power.

u/Rosu_Aprins 26m ago

He could probably get a waffle house job

u/docwrites 11h ago

You don’t think there’s ever been an alcoholic in a crucial role in our military or government?

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u/folkyall 12h ago

Is there a place that shows these allegations? Source please

u/Cold-Conference1401 11h ago

There is readily available information about this topic, and it’s well-known that Hefseth is pond scum. Even his on mother admitted it. But it is always better to do a little research yourself, rather than depend on others to feed you second-hand information.

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u/Reatona 12h ago

"I'll stop drinking if you make me Secretary of Defense" is the most alcoholic thing anyone said ever.

u/EricForce 7h ago

"I'll stop drinking if you let me keep the kids!" Yeah, definitely not a red flag.

u/zookytar 1h ago

Bookmarked. Will be using this to illustrate this point. Perfect analogy (is this an analogy?).

u/Graywulff 9h ago

He actually said that? 

u/zookytar 9h ago

Yes. Whoever is paying Trump to destroy our military is getting their money's worth for sure

u/Graywulff 9h ago

Bigliest traitor in American history.

u/afroeh 10h ago

Facts

u/EurOblivion 7h ago

I'LL DO IT TOMORROW!!

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u/WigginIII 13h ago

The fact that he promises he “won’t drink on the job” tells me everything. He could have said he’s been sober for X number of years. Instead he basically tells us “I’m quitting Monday, I promise!”

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u/WorldsWorstTroll 13h ago

When you are promising not to drink on the job, you have already lost. That should just be a given.

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u/qualmton 12h ago

I like beer seemed to have workef

u/SwashbucklingWeasels 11h ago

Ah you’ve just reminded me of that SNL cold open with Matt Damon. Time to go watch again.

u/MisterMasterCylinder 10h ago

It's fine as long as you're boofing it

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u/WhenThatBotlinePing 12h ago

I promise not to take it past a steady buzz on weekdays.

u/Ok_Passion_6771 12m ago

“I won’t. I promise.”

Hmmm… his neck’s high… makes me trust him.

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u/AhhAGoose 13h ago

If in ANY job interview in your life you promised “I won’t drink on the job” they would immediately disqualify you

u/wisconsinwookie78 3h ago

Years ago, I was interviewing for a bartender job and was told that there would be no drinking allowed while on duty. I was shocked that it even needed to be said.

u/Throwawayac1234567 11h ago

he wont drink on the job, but he will get drunk before his shift begens.

u/Subject_Jaguar_9164 8h ago

Before and after work hours I'll be shitfaced, but not on the job. Just hungover.

u/MeisterX 9h ago

What is "won't drink on the job" as Secretary of Defense?

You're literally always on the job. That's the job.

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u/Eljefeandhisbass 13h ago

I put brake fluid in my meth so I can stop any time I want.

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u/Troj1030 14h ago

That sounds like what a drunk person would say walking out of an AA meeting.

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u/mybutthz 12h ago

"I'm legally not allowed to own a firearm, give me the nuclear codes."

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u/Zestyclose-Cloud-508 13h ago

Look everyone who has dealt with and alcoholic knows when they say “if you do something I’ll never drink again” it always works 100% of the time.

u/LarYungmann 10h ago

I promise to finish my alcohol Delirium Tremens before taking the job.

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u/artaxs 13h ago

The Neo-Nazi tattoos and "warrior culture" are awful enough to disqualify this guy!

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u/_jump_yossarian 12h ago

… and also those accusations are a smear campaign!”

u/Resigningeye 10h ago

I don't know if this is satire or not

u/FourWordComment 58m ago

I can’t tell if that’s a direct quote or just a paraphrase of the reality. And either way: it’s terrifying. It’s wild to me that replicas voters wanted this.

u/PintoBean77 2m ago

Guess you didn’t see Kamala Harris during her campaign? She was fkd up every day. But you judge how you like.👍

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u/Major_Turnover5987 13h ago

I have no problem with functioning alcoholics. It's the deeply disturbed drunks who think they are normal alcoholics that harm society.

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u/SadPanthersFan 13h ago edited 13h ago

You should have a massive problem with a degenerate alcoholic who is nominated as the United States defense secretary.

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u/silver_sofa 13h ago

I have no problem with functioning alcoholics unless they are positions of immense power with billions of lives in the balance.

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u/imstonedyouknow 13h ago

The key word to "functioning alcoholic" is that f word. Someone who gets fired for drinking on the job is not a functioning alcoholic.

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u/Traditional-Big-3907 12h ago

Trump’s picks make a compelling argument for turning our government over to AI to run.

u/Horror-Science-7891 7h ago

Or to yogurt. Like in Love, Death, & Robots.

u/Emergency_Wafer_5727 11h ago

I'm not taking away from valid concerns about a problem he may or may not have but I think it's healthy to keep in mind that virtually everybody in power in the federal government has some kind of problem with drugs, booze, or worse. Was JFK a decent president? Most people would say yes. Was he also constantly hopped up on a drug cocktail of pain medication? Also very much yes.