A little bill introduced by Walter ‘Freedom Fries’ Jones has the most co-sponsors of any bill introduced since 1973. Before that, we don’t have records. All this bill does is change the name of the Department of the Navy to the ‘Department of the Navy and Marine Corps.’ The purpose is simply to honor the sacrifice and role of the Marine Corps in providing for the national defense. However, John McCain is objecting to this change. Interestingly so is former Marine, Sen. Jim Webb (who also served as Secretary of the Navy). I don’t understand the objection. I would think the image of the Navy would be enhanced by greater awareness that the Marines are part of the Navy.
About The Author
BooMan
Martin Longman a contributing editor at the Washington Monthly. He is also the founder of Booman Tribune and Progress Pond. He has a degree in philosophy from Western Michigan University.
but–anybody who has had more than the absolute rock-bottom-basic knowledge of the Navy would know the Marine Corps has been part of the Navy since before the founding of the Nation.
The multi-discipline force that needs more publicity re: who they are and to whom they report should be the Coast Guard… The hardest-working branch of the Armed Forces, IMO, for the level of personnel staffing they maintain.
that’s why this is a ‘stupid’ political debate.
Rep. Walter Jones (NC-Camp Lejeune) must be a little worried that the Marines at Lejeune might forget him this year.
But then, the hereditary Representative Jones has frequently come up with loopy (as in “what has he been smoking”) stuff.
In a party that’s up to its ears in batshit crazy, Jones’s loopiness is somewhat reassuring that absolutely all former Democratic GOPers have not totally lost their minds.
Make that ‘Department of the Marine Corps and Navy’ since the Navy has been mostly a no-show in current wars.
The objection is probably based on the Navy being the senior service. The Marine Corps is subordinate to the Navy. This bill would appear to put them equal. Those on top always object to equality.
If we’re going to get all uptight about honesty in packaging, maybe this proposal could be an amendment to a bill changing the Dept of Defense back to the War Department.
I like that.
Remember when Raygun tried to get rid of the Coast Guard?
The Senate is broken. The Republicans are so proud of themselves. They have blocked just about everything.
They don’t care.
so let me get this straight:
And our senators and reps are arguing ABOUT CHANGING THE NAME OF THE GODDAMN NAVY?
Someone needs to give these stupid motherfuckers a mop and bucket and send them down to the Louisiana coast where they can provide some actual public service.
If you look at the Congressional Record, you see that they’ve ground up millions of trees publishing stupid crap like this by the bushel, day after day. It would be interesting if some statistician did a count on what percent of their efforts are about stuff that EVERYBODY agrees is stupid. I think we might finally bring the country together on that point, at least.