# The ascent of Bannon, the former executive chairman of Breitbart **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 29, 2017, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ascent-of-bannon-the-former-executive-chairman-of-breitbart/778493 "2017-01-29T08:07:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ascent-of-bannon-the-former-executive-chairman-of-breitbart/778493/1 "2017-01-29T08:07:00Z")
WTF - [In an executive order](http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-isis-plan-bannon-security-role-20170128-story.html), Trump reorganized the National Security Council to, along with other changes, gives Bannon a regular seat on the principals committee - the meetings of the most senior national security officials, including the secretaries of Defense and State. Anyone concerned about this? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ascent-of-bannon-the-former-executive-chairman-of-breitbart/778493/2 "2017-01-29T08:54:00Z")
Of course, we’ve put a prominent white supremacist on the security council. I think it’s pretty clear that Trump is letting Bannon run much of our domestic and foreign policy while Trump raves like a mad man. What I find even more alarming is how many of the GOP are going along with this either because they don’t care about anything except staying in power, or because the GOP has become so extreme that their views pretty much align with the neo-Nazi movement. Someone will come along shortly to explain that Breitbart News isn’t a white supremacist outlet and even if it is, that doesn’t mean the person who ran it is a white supremacist for some reason or other that they’ll never really make clear, but will succeed in derailing the fact that Bannon is now on the NSC. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ascent-of-bannon-the-former-executive-chairman-of-breitbart/778493/3 "2017-01-29T15:33:16Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Of course, we’ve put a prominent white supremacist on the security council. I think it’s pretty clear that Trump is letting Bannon run much of our domestic and foreign policy while Trump raves like a mad man. What I find even more alarming is how many of the GOP are going along with this either because they don’t care about anything except staying in power, or because the GOP has become so extreme that their views pretty much align with the neo-Nazi movement. > > Someone will come along shortly to explain that Breitbart News isn’t a white supremacist outlet and even if it is, that doesn’t mean the person who ran it is a white supremacist for some reason or other that they’ll never really make clear, but will succeed in derailing the fact that Bannon is now on the NSC. So he’s a Goebbels surrogate? ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ascent-of-bannon-the-former-executive-chairman-of-breitbart/778493/4 "2017-01-29T16:14:33Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Of course, we’ve put a prominent white supremacist on the security council. I think it’s pretty clear that Trump is letting Bannon run much of our domestic and foreign policy while Trump raves like a mad man. Trump’s busy. He’s got shows to watch and tweets to tweet. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ascent-of-bannon-the-former-executive-chairman-of-breitbart/778493/5 "2017-01-29T16:17:22Z")
Only Hitler is Hitler. Bannon is an all American white supremacist on the NSC while the actual Director of National Intelligence no longer has a permanent seat on the NSC.[Trump gives Stephen Bannon National Security Council role](http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/01/29/national-security-council-stephen-bannon-presidential-memo/97210776/) ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ascent-of-bannon-the-former-executive-chairman-of-breitbart/778493/6 "2017-01-29T16:33:14Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > So he’s a Goebbels surrogate? …with 18 film credits on IMDB! (every single one sucks donkey nads.) [spoiler] I _ **especially** _ appreciate the one about the ‘mad scientist’ who is going to murder people in a steam room unless his “crack-pot theory” \*\*\*\*\* on Global Warming is broadcast. \*Oh wait. Its working again. Test ( :rolleyes: ). For a minute my eye-roll smilie over loaded and stopped working. It was like Aubrey Plaza needing the Heimlich Maneuver… [/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ascent-of-bannon-the-former-executive-chairman-of-breitbart/778493/7 "2017-01-29T16:46:54Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Of course, we’ve put a prominent white supremacist on the security council. I think it’s pretty clear that Trump is letting Bannon run much of our domestic and foreign policy while Trump raves like a mad man. What I find even more alarming is how many of the GOP are going along with this either because they don’t care about anything except staying in power, or because the GOP has become so extreme that their views pretty much align with the neo-Nazi movement. > > Someone will come along shortly to explain that Breitbart News isn’t a white supremacist outlet and even if it is, that doesn’t mean the person who ran it is a white supremacist for some reason or other that they’ll never really make clear, but will succeed in derailing the fact that Bannon is now on the NSC. I am always hesitant to go with Hitler comparisons but there are some frightening parallels between what’s happening now and the rise of the Nazis in the late 1920s and early 1930s. The conservatives in the Reichstag thought Hitler was a joke and believed that he and his fledgling party could be controlled to get what they wanted, only to be proven wrong at every turn, which resulted in ever-weakening opposition. Obviously the values of liberalism are probably stronger and more widespread in the United States in 2017 than they were in 1930s Germany. And unlike Hitler, who assumed control amid the post-WWI political and economic chaos, Trump takes over an economy that is expanding. The baseline is that Trump is taking control of a country that is doing fairly well, even if a number of his supporters feel otherwise. But at the same time, there is the same distrust of institutions and the sentiment that globalism is injurious to the people within their borders. Nationalism is on the rise. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ascent-of-bannon-the-former-executive-chairman-of-breitbart/778493/8 "2017-01-29T17:24:13Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Of course, we’ve put a prominent white supremacist on the security council. I think it’s pretty clear that Trump is letting Bannon run much of our domestic and foreign policy while Trump raves like a mad man. What I find even more alarming is how many of the GOP are going along with this either because they don’t care about anything except staying in power, or because the GOP has become so extreme that their views pretty much align with the neo-Nazi movement. Other options: lack of principles, afwaid of The Trumpster, afwaid of their constituents, hiding under their desks, no balls, all of the above, and then some. > [@](#): > > Someone will come along shortly to explain that Breitbart News isn’t a white supremacist outlet and even if it is, that doesn’t mean the person who ran it is a white supremacist for some reason or other that they’ll never really make clear, but will succeed in derailing the fact that Bannon is now on the NSC. Yup… in three… two… one… ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ascent-of-bannon-the-former-executive-chairman-of-breitbart/778493/9 "2017-01-30T14:43:26Z")
Finally, someone in Congress speaks up [McCain blasts Bannon placement on National Security Council](http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/mccain-bannon-nsc-234329) > [@](#): > > John McCain is harshly criticizing the elevation of White House strategist Steve Bannon to President Donald Trump’s National Security Council, calling the move “radical” because it minimizes the role of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. > > “I am worried about the National Security Council. Who are the members of it and who are the permanent members? The appointment of Mr. Bannon is something which is a radical departure from any National Security Council in history," McCain said on “Face the Nation” on CBS on Sunday morning. > > As the Senate Armed Services chairman, McCain said it’s concerning that Trump has centralized power around Bannon, a former executive at Breitbart who is credited with developing Trump’s form of populist and combative politics. The Arizona Republican said the most important decision-maker on the National Security Council, Gen. Joseph Dunford, is now being shut out of critical meetings. > … > > White House press secretary Sean Spicer defended the reshuffling, which makes Bannon’s presence permanent on the panel and changes Dunford’s from mandatory to optional. Spicer said that the new structure will “streamline” decision-making and praised Bannon, a former naval officer, as someone with a “tremendous understanding of the world and the geopolitical landscape that we have now.” … More on that: > [@](#): > > ([CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/29/politics/susan-rice-steve-bannon/)) President Donald Trump’s decision to reorganize the National Security Council in a way that removes the director of intelligence and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from always attending the principals’ committee is “stone cold crazy,” former National Security Adviser Susan Rice said Sunday. > Rice retweeted another Twitter user, P.E. Juan, who said: “Trump loves and trusts the military so much he just kicked them out of the National Security Council and put a Nazi in their place.” > … > > “This is stone cold crazy. After a week of crazy. Who needs military advice or intell to make policy on ISIL, Syria, Afghanistan, DPRK?” Rice tweeted, with DPRK referring to North Korea. > > White House press secretary Sean Spicer told ABC News Rice’s comments were “clearly inappropriate language from a former ambassador.” > … > > Trump chief of staff Reince Priebus said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the director of national intelligence are both “included as attendees anytime that they want to be included.”… Oh, well, I guess that’s okay then. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ascent-of-bannon-the-former-executive-chairman-of-breitbart/778493/10 "2017-01-30T17:33:00Z")
Bannon has the classic look of an alcoholic: pasty, doughy complexion; dull, rheumy eyes; overweight and unshaven. Not just my opinion, but that of medical professionals. We really don’t need a drunkard heading up this group. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ascent-of-bannon-the-former-executive-chairman-of-breitbart/778493/11 "2017-01-30T17:41:48Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Finally, someone in Congress speaks up > [McCain blasts Bannon placement on National Security Council](http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/mccain-bannon-nsc-234329) > > More on that:Oh, well, I guess that’s okay then. :dubious: Don’t praise McCain too hard, he still put party before country when he endorsed Trump (later recinded but it never should have been done) and he’s still an idiot. > [@](#): > > Notably, McCain praised the rest of Trump’s national security team, including retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, the national security adviser. Flynn embraced the “lock her up” chant during Trump’s campaign against Hillary Clinton. > > “The national security team around President Trump is very impressive," McCain said. “Gen. Flynn is great.” ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ascent-of-bannon-the-former-executive-chairman-of-breitbart/778493/12 "2017-01-30T18:37:01Z")
Also, I think Palin paved the way for Trump, but McCain is with us today and when a jackass flies you don’t blame it for not staying up there very long. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ascent-of-bannon-the-former-executive-chairman-of-breitbart/778493/13 "2017-01-30T18:59:07Z")
I haven’t seen “deadbeat dad” anywhere. He’s pretty despicable to his daughters. [Bannon divorce records](https://theopporeport.com/2016/12/02/the-bannon-files-divorce-records-reveal-marital-discord-and-questionable-parenting/) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ascent-of-bannon-the-former-executive-chairman-of-breitbart/778493/14 "2017-01-30T19:19:37Z")
> [@Helena330](#): > > I haven’t seen “deadbeat dad” anywhere. He’s pretty despicable to his daughters. > > [Bannon divorce records](https://theopporeport.com/2016/12/02/the-bannon-files-divorce-records-reveal-marital-discord-and-questionable-parenting/) Oh, he’s a piece of work alright. But he must also be the very best advisor there is, since Mr. Trump told us he would have the very best people in his cabinet… right? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ascent-of-bannon-the-former-executive-chairman-of-breitbart/778493/15 "2017-01-30T20:12:50Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Don’t praise McCain too hard, he still put party before country when he endorsed Trump (later recinded but it never should have been done) and he’s still an idiot. I’m not canonizing him, just giving credit to him for speaking up. He should have ditched Trump back when Trump insulted him during the campaign. But I’m still glad he’s finally saying something about Bannon. ---
**Author:** ![Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Backwater_Under_Duck)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ascent-of-bannon-the-former-executive-chairman-of-breitbart/778493/16 "2017-01-31T02:11:22Z")
Bannon is now, apparently, senior to the Joint Chief of Staff in Trump’s administration. He is qualified because he is a former naval officer. Anybody know what his retired rank was? Anybody? _Bueller???_ ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ascent-of-bannon-the-former-executive-chairman-of-breitbart/778493/17 "2017-01-31T02:40:12Z")
I dont see the big deal. The NSC will have 3 former generals on it so its not as though it will be berift of military advice. This just seems to be hating on Trump and Bannon. Not that theres anything wrong with that. I just think its best to limit it to situations where its obviously bad. Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ascent-of-bannon-the-former-executive-chairman-of-breitbart/778493/18 "2017-01-31T03:44:33Z")
> [@treis](#): > > I dont see the big deal. The NSC will have 3 former generals on it so its not as though it will be berift of military advice. This just seems to be hating on Trump and Bannon. Not that theres anything wrong with that. I just think its best to limit it to situations where its obviously bad. Why would you remove the director of national intelligence and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs from their permanent seats? Room too small? The USA can’t afford the cash for extra office chairs? Or something else? ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ascent-of-bannon-the-former-executive-chairman-of-breitbart/778493/19 "2017-01-31T17:19:44Z")
> [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](#): > > Bannon is now, apparently, senior to the Joint Chief of Staff in Trump’s administration. He is qualified because he is a former naval officer. Anybody know what his retired rank was? Anybody? _Bueller???_ Corporal? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ascent-of-bannon-the-former-executive-chairman-of-breitbart/778493/20 "2017-01-31T17:19:53Z")
> [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](#): > > Bannon is now, apparently, senior to the Joint Chief of Staff in Trump’s administration. He is qualified because he is a former naval officer. Anybody know what his retired rank was? Anybody? _Bueller???_ He didn’t retire, as he only served seven years. He was on a destroyer and had a gig at the Pentagon. He probably made it to Lieutenant grade in that amount of time, and may have been eligible for Lieutenant Commander when he got out. I doubt that he made it past the O-4 grade, as time in grade would have precluded it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ascent-of-bannon-the-former-executive-chairman-of-breitbart/778493.md?page=2)