An Excuse to Blow Up A Few Good Men

When I was a young man, I’d see a speech like this and lose my mind; whining and crying “OH MY GOD, HOW CAN THESE PEOPLE BE CLAPPING LIKE THIS?????!!!! WHATS THEIR PROBLEM???!!”

Now I see it and laugh; I realize of course he’s speaking to a roomful of people that are in the tank for him – he could stand there and read Garfield Weighs In, and when the APPLAUSE sign lights up, the people clap. I could do the same thing in my own room with the right people.

HOWEVER.

After laughing throughout this thing, there was a line that stuck with me; a line that I could not help but think you know what…I think I could tie this into A Few Good Men.

MCCAIN: But the truth is I was the one who called at the time for tighter restrictions on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that could have helped prevent this crisis from happening in the first place.

Now, if I was a devil’s advocate kinda guy, I would note that okay, IF WE ARE TO SUSPEND BELIEF ENOUGH TO ASSUME THAT WHAT HE'S SAYING IS TRUE, McCain jumped in to call for action that would have prevented the financial crisis. And guess what? Apparently, nobody listened/cared. On one hand we have the President today cheating off of Obama’s notes and taking action; on the other, we see that McCain isn’t enough of a leader to get other Congressmen to follow his lead (right or wrong.) Which one sounds more presidential to you?

If McCain was enough of a leader, then why wouldn't his opinions have been taken seriously?

KAFFEE: Colonel, I have just one more question before I call Airman O'Malley and Airman Perez: If you gave an order that Santiago wasn't to be touched, and your orders are always followed, then why would he be in danger, why would it be necessary to transfer him off the base?
And JESSEP has no answer.
Nothing.
He sits there, and for the first time, seems to be lost.
JESSEP: Private Santiago was a sub-standard marine. He was being transferred off the base because--
KAFFEE: But that's not what you said. You said he being transferred because he was in grave danger.
JESSEP: Yes. That's correct, but--
KAFFEE: You said, "He was in danger". I said, Grave danger". You said--
JESSEP: Yes, I recall what--
KAFFEE: I can have the Court Reporter read back --
JESSEP: I know what I said. I don't need it read back to me like I'm a damn--
KAFFEE: Then why the two orders?
(beat)
Colonel?
(beat)
Why did you—
JESSEP: Sometimes men take matters into their own hands.
KAFFEE: No sir. You made it clear just a moment ago that your men never take matters into their own hands. Your men follow orders or people die. So Santiago shouldn't have in any dangor at all, should he have, Colonel?
Everyone's sweating now. Everyone but KAFFEE.
JESSEP: You little bastard.

ROSS: Your Honor, I have to ask for a recess to--
KAFFEE: I'd like an answer to the question, Judge.
RANDOLPH: The Court'll wait for answer.
KAFFEE: If Kendrick told his men that Santiago wasn't to be touched, then why did he have to be transferred?
Jessep is looking at O'KALLEY and PEREZ.

KAFFEE: Colonel?