General Mattis quits

It will be remembered forever as the "Saturday Night Massacre."  It happened on October 20, 1973.

It is worth remembering because in the wake of President Richard Nixon's order to fire the Watergate Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox, Elliot Richardson resigned as the nation's Attorney General.  A NY Times story the following June points out that at that point in the 20th Century, only four cabinet level officials had resigned in protest of a policy decision by a president.

Defense Secretary James Mattis resigned in protest over Donald Trump's decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria and 50% of the 14,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan.  His letter of resignation makes this all too clear.

If you review the 15 cabinet positions (14 under George H. W. Bush) and add in the White House Chief of Staff billet, the turnover in the first two years of the five most recent presidencies is somewhat higher in the Trump Administration.

Bush Sr - 5 position changes
Clinton - 5 position changes
Bush Jr - 3 position changes
Obama - 3 position changes
Trump - 7 position changes

The impasse between Donald Trump and the Congress has us within hours of a shutdown of roughly 25% of the federal government.  Unless a solution is found, the government of the United States of America is going to shutdown for the third time this year tonight at midnight.  This is unacceptable.

Donald Trump may have labeled himself a "stable genius" but he has what may be the least stable in our nation's history.  His administration has been plagued by scandals.

The resignation of Secretary Mattis is a warning.  Is anyone listening?