Stephen Day recently took a trip to the vibrant world of talk shows—specifically, “The View”, which is basically a buffet of opinions where everyone tries to grab a plate without getting into a food fight. On this particular episode, Day decided to deliver a big ol’ reality check, aimed mainly at none other than Senator Mark Kelly, a man who wears many hats: astronaut, veteran, and apparently, someone who needs to keep his lips zipped about military orders. Now, that’s quite the combination, right? He’s got the credentials to make Buzz Lightyear jealous, but it seems Day wasn’t thrilled about Kelly reminding troops they can say “no” to illegal orders.
So, what’s the big deal with reminding our brave men and women in uniform that they don’t have to follow illegal orders? You’d think Kelly was suggesting they play hopscotch on a battlefield. Day’s argument boils down to saying that if folks want to question legality, there’s a right way to do it—by filing some paperwork or, you know, actually doing their job instead of appearing on daytime TV like a celebrity in a soap opera. You’ve got to admit that for someone with Kelly’s experience, maybe he should stick to flying around in space instead of flying in the face of military protocol. Imagine telling your flight crew they can just ignore the pilot’s commands because, you know, legality. Next thing you know, airplanes will be landing on their own!
Now, there’s a reason Day gets worked up here. It’s not just about Kelly but the principle of the matter. Can you imagine a shout-out to ignore orders becoming a thing? “Attention, troops! You may now start using your own judgment when orders come through—because why not?” It’s almost like handing over the keys to a joyride. Everyone is on board until someone calls “illegal U-turn,” and then it’s a “whoopsie daisy” moment that doesn’t end well.
Day’s take is pretty clear—harking back to past impeachment attempts which spiced up the political arena like a bad soap opera cliffhanger. He points out the irony of calling out someone for illegal orders when the very people dishing it could use a reminder or two. They’ve made it their specialty to play Whack-A-Mole with the Constitution and do their political gymnastics. After knocking over a former president twice, Day might be wondering if they’ve got a spare set of impeachment papers lying around just for kicks.
Of course, this gets real serious real fast. It’s a slippery slope when political figures start telling military personnel that they can pick and choose which orders to follow. Are we looking at a new version of “Simon Says”? The idea that a Navy pilot is unleashing this kind of advice can give anyone pause. Day’s comment on the notification troops already know what to do just shows how poorly this whole messaging is landing.
At the end of the day, whether you’re a senator with a flair for the dramatic or a talk show host trying to infuse some reason, the message matters. If we’re not careful, we may end up with more confusion than clarity in areas where certainty is crucial. So, as everyone goes back to their corners after the political boxing match, one has to wonder: is there any solution that doesn’t involve throwing more paperwork into the ring? One can hope. If nothing else, Day’s spirited retort ensures that dialogue continues, and isn’t that what makes democracy seat-grabbing entertaining?
