Cliff W. Gilmore
@cliffwgilmore.bsky.social
Apartisan husband, adoptive father of two, grandfather, honorably retired U.S. Marine Corps officer, COO, PhD of organization and management with a leadership specialization, reader, writer, occasional actor, board game collector, dog & cat person.
Pinned
I am a retired Marine officer who swore an oath to support & defend the Constitution, not to a person or party, & who understands that an order against the “…and domestic” part of “against all enemies, foreign and…” is one of the most morally challenging orders a U.S. military member could receive.
Leadership is a lifestyle.
Live to serve.
Serve to lead.
Lead to live.
If you’re exhausted, it’s understandable. That’s part of the fascist strategy.
Leadership chooses us, often when we are least ready.
Link arms with trusted friends & colleagues. Lift each other up. Rest on the move. Lead.
Live to serve.
Serve to lead.
Lead to live.
If you’re exhausted, it’s understandable. That’s part of the fascist strategy.
Leadership chooses us, often when we are least ready.
Link arms with trusted friends & colleagues. Lift each other up. Rest on the move. Lead.
November 26, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Leadership is a lifestyle.
Live to serve.
Serve to lead.
Lead to live.
If you’re exhausted, it’s understandable. That’s part of the fascist strategy.
Leadership chooses us, often when we are least ready.
Link arms with trusted friends & colleagues. Lift each other up. Rest on the move. Lead.
Live to serve.
Serve to lead.
Lead to live.
If you’re exhausted, it’s understandable. That’s part of the fascist strategy.
Leadership chooses us, often when we are least ready.
Link arms with trusted friends & colleagues. Lift each other up. Rest on the move. Lead.
Solid op-ed here from @kschake.bsky.social, who was kind enough to burn some of the limited word count on a quote from me.
Keep up the good fight, Kori.
www.aei.org/foreign-and-...
Keep up the good fight, Kori.
www.aei.org/foreign-and-...
www.aei.org
November 26, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Solid op-ed here from @kschake.bsky.social, who was kind enough to burn some of the limited word count on a quote from me.
Keep up the good fight, Kori.
www.aei.org/foreign-and-...
Keep up the good fight, Kori.
www.aei.org/foreign-and-...
This is being done in the name of We the People.
The first official confirmation that Noem herself made the decision not to turn the planes around. A couple hundred men were tortured as a result — and soon after, the Supreme Court confirmed that the Trump admin’s Alien Enemies Act process was a total violation of due process.
BREAKING:
“After receiving that legal advice, Secretary Noem directed that the AEA detainees who had been removed from the United States before the Court’s order could be transferred to the custody of El Salvador. “
“After receiving that legal advice, Secretary Noem directed that the AEA detainees who had been removed from the United States before the Court’s order could be transferred to the custody of El Salvador. “
November 26, 2025 at 3:36 AM
This is being done in the name of We the People.
In fairness, if they’re going to wear it, it obviously can’t be beneath their clothing where it might come into contact with their skin.
Thou shalt not wear a cross around your neck if you always do the opposite of what Jesus would do.
November 25, 2025 at 9:33 PM
In fairness, if they’re going to wear it, it obviously can’t be beneath their clothing where it might come into contact with their skin.
Will say it again: We the People don’t need (& shouldn’t want) our military to take unilateral action to remove a President. That would be a coup. We need our military to remain professional, disciplined, subservient to civil authority — & quietly stay in the barracks when ordered into the streets.
November 25, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Will say it again: We the People don’t need (& shouldn’t want) our military to take unilateral action to remove a President. That would be a coup. We need our military to remain professional, disciplined, subservient to civil authority — & quietly stay in the barracks when ordered into the streets.
All is not lost. The world zigs and zags. Sometimes falls backward. But does seem, in the aggregate, to advance. (Until we reach extinction level climate markers, of course, but I’m trying to see some sunshine here.)
Viktor Orban is currently having a coronary.
BREAKING: This is huge news, the EU's equivalent of the 🇺🇸Supreme Court's 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling.
🇪🇺Court of Justice just ruled all 🇪🇺countries must recognise same-sex marriages granted in other member states.
This effectively legalises gay marriage across 🇪🇺
🇪🇺Court of Justice just ruled all 🇪🇺countries must recognise same-sex marriages granted in other member states.
This effectively legalises gay marriage across 🇪🇺
November 25, 2025 at 7:43 PM
All is not lost. The world zigs and zags. Sometimes falls backward. But does seem, in the aggregate, to advance. (Until we reach extinction level climate markers, of course, but I’m trying to see some sunshine here.)
As I used to tell my Marines, you can’t take credit for all the second hand good — the blood stripe, the Oo-RAH!, the Honor, Courage, Commitment, the presumption of excellence — w/o ALSO accepting the negative.
This thing shared here is being done in OUR names. It doesn’t matter how we voted.
This thing shared here is being done in OUR names. It doesn’t matter how we voted.
November 25, 2025 at 6:37 PM
As I used to tell my Marines, you can’t take credit for all the second hand good — the blood stripe, the Oo-RAH!, the Honor, Courage, Commitment, the presumption of excellence — w/o ALSO accepting the negative.
This thing shared here is being done in OUR names. It doesn’t matter how we voted.
This thing shared here is being done in OUR names. It doesn’t matter how we voted.
I want to thank @aaronjames.bsky.social for his most excellent scholarly work, “Assholes: A Theory.”
I’m not into name-calling, but am fond of accurate terms of analysis.
He put rigor to the term, and for that I will eternally be grateful.
I’m not into name-calling, but am fond of accurate terms of analysis.
He put rigor to the term, and for that I will eternally be grateful.
November 24, 2025 at 11:49 PM
I want to thank @aaronjames.bsky.social for his most excellent scholarly work, “Assholes: A Theory.”
I’m not into name-calling, but am fond of accurate terms of analysis.
He put rigor to the term, and for that I will eternally be grateful.
I’m not into name-calling, but am fond of accurate terms of analysis.
He put rigor to the term, and for that I will eternally be grateful.
Ok. I’ll go: As I was trained and trained others, US military service members are legally, morally, & ethically obligated to refuse to follow unlawful orders.
Doing so is high risk, as it is a de facto case of guilty until proven innocent — but it is a duty to refuse to follow them all the same.
Doing so is high risk, as it is a de facto case of guilty until proven innocent — but it is a duty to refuse to follow them all the same.
November 24, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Ok. I’ll go: As I was trained and trained others, US military service members are legally, morally, & ethically obligated to refuse to follow unlawful orders.
Doing so is high risk, as it is a de facto case of guilty until proven innocent — but it is a duty to refuse to follow them all the same.
Doing so is high risk, as it is a de facto case of guilty until proven innocent — but it is a duty to refuse to follow them all the same.
It is my deepest hope that hegseth is due to learn some hard lessons about both the civil & military legal systems at some point.
I am objectively vastly more qualified than him to be SECDEF — & yet I am nowhere near qualified to be SECDEF.
I am objectively vastly more qualified than him to be SECDEF — & yet I am nowhere near qualified to be SECDEF.
The Secretary of Defense is threatening Democratic Senator Mark Kelly with court martial for his messaging reminding servicemembers that their oath is to the Constitution and they should not obey unlawful orders.
(The statement also asserts that “orders are presumed to be lawful”…)
(The statement also asserts that “orders are presumed to be lawful”…)
November 24, 2025 at 5:15 PM
It is my deepest hope that hegseth is due to learn some hard lessons about both the civil & military legal systems at some point.
I am objectively vastly more qualified than him to be SECDEF — & yet I am nowhere near qualified to be SECDEF.
I am objectively vastly more qualified than him to be SECDEF — & yet I am nowhere near qualified to be SECDEF.
This sort of thing is necessary.
Check out this amazing queen!
I love that she demanded eye contact. What a rock star!!!
#DemVoice1 #ProudBlue #Pinks
www.tiktok.com/@heyitstwig2...
I love that she demanded eye contact. What a rock star!!!
#DemVoice1 #ProudBlue #Pinks
www.tiktok.com/@heyitstwig2...
Reading Charlie Kirk quotes to Republican members of Congress in THEIR OWN OFFICES #charliekirk #congress #republican #fypシ #idols
TikTok video by heyitstwig
www.tiktok.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:19 PM
This sort of thing is necessary.
Not as subtle as Dylan, but gets the point across.
November 21, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Not as subtle as Dylan, but gets the point across.
Setting aside that the statements in the video were verifiably accurate, what authority would the military have to investigate this matter?
His ignorance and that of those he panders to is… profound.
His ignorance and that of those he panders to is… profound.
I couldn't possibly - POSSIBLY - detest anyone more than I do this ugly fucking traitorous clown! 🤬🤬🤬
'Very serious violation of the law': Trump says military looking into Democrats’ video
www.alternet.org/trump-milita...
'Very serious violation of the law': Trump says military looking into Democrats’ video
www.alternet.org/trump-milita...
'Very serious violation of the law': Trump says military looking into Democrats’ video
One day after calling for six Democratic lawmakers to be arrested for “seditious behavior,” President Donald Trump is now claiming the military is looking into a video they recorded reminding members ...
www.alternet.org
November 21, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Setting aside that the statements in the video were verifiably accurate, what authority would the military have to investigate this matter?
His ignorance and that of those he panders to is… profound.
His ignorance and that of those he panders to is… profound.
She leads.
The stakes are too high to wait: we need to impeach Trump now.
I’ll be speaking at the Remove the Regime rally in Washington, DC this Saturday. I hope to see you there!
@flareusa.bsky.social @removalcoalition.bsky.social
I’ll be speaking at the Remove the Regime rally in Washington, DC this Saturday. I hope to see you there!
@flareusa.bsky.social @removalcoalition.bsky.social
November 21, 2025 at 2:24 PM
She leads.
The irony of saying every order given within the illegally renamed “Dept of War” is lawful is delicious.
Leavitt: Why aren't you talking about what these members of congress are doing to encourage violence…. They're literally saying to 1.3 million active duty service members not to follow lawful orders
Reporter: Actually they said illegal orders.
Reporter: Actually they said illegal orders.
November 21, 2025 at 2:09 PM
The irony of saying every order given within the illegally renamed “Dept of War” is lawful is delicious.
This word is suddenly contemporary.
Word of the day is ‘quockerwodger’ (19th century): a puppet politician whose strings are pulled entirely by someone else.
November 21, 2025 at 2:06 PM
This word is suddenly contemporary.
This message is spot on.
There is nothing wrong with it.
There is nothing wrong with it.
#ResistanceUnited #DV1 #ProudBlue
A death threat to these proud veterans, for saying the right thing?
A temperamentally volatile, mentally immature Commander-in-Chief is a security risk for your nation and all other countries in the world.
A death threat to these proud veterans, for saying the right thing?
A temperamentally volatile, mentally immature Commander-in-Chief is a security risk for your nation and all other countries in the world.
This is the video that enraged Trump so much that he called for these Democratic lawmakers to be hanged.
They served our country, and now the President wants them dead because they said something he didn't like. We cannot become numb to these disgusting calls for political violence.
They served our country, and now the President wants them dead because they said something he didn't like. We cannot become numb to these disgusting calls for political violence.
November 21, 2025 at 1:58 PM
This message is spot on.
There is nothing wrong with it.
There is nothing wrong with it.
If you’re feeling a bit herky-jerked these days, it’s because you’re being herky-jerked.*
*See also: gaslit
*See also: gaslit
November 21, 2025 at 1:12 PM
If you’re feeling a bit herky-jerked these days, it’s because you’re being herky-jerked.*
*See also: gaslit
*See also: gaslit
Well, we wouldn’t want our hate symbols to be too divisive now, would we?
*headeskheadeskheadesk*
(Mine, not yours. Or maybe also yours, but of your own volition.)
*headeskheadeskheadesk*
(Mine, not yours. Or maybe also yours, but of your own volition.)
November 21, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Well, we wouldn’t want our hate symbols to be too divisive now, would we?
*headeskheadeskheadesk*
(Mine, not yours. Or maybe also yours, but of your own volition.)
*headeskheadeskheadesk*
(Mine, not yours. Or maybe also yours, but of your own volition.)
Sounds like a bad plan. Of course, he ain’t what one would call a “planner,” so there’s that.
Very on brand. Putin must be so pleased.
Here is Trump's full 28 point plan for Ukraine. It would destroy Ukraine as a sovereign state and leave it helpless to face a Russian attack in the future. It would also give Putin full vindication and immunity from prosecution.
www.axios.com/2025/11/20/t...
www.axios.com/2025/11/20/t...
November 21, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Sounds like a bad plan. Of course, he ain’t what one would call a “planner,” so there’s that.
Well played, sir. Always fun to see an analytic mind pitted against a… less-analytic… mind.
Oh my.
James Talarico is incredibly skilled in dismantling Christian Nationalists.
Get this man in the Senate.
James Talarico is incredibly skilled in dismantling Christian Nationalists.
Get this man in the Senate.
November 20, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Well played, sir. Always fun to see an analytic mind pitted against a… less-analytic… mind.
Bovinian Rhapsody.
I’m just a poor cow from a poor family…
I’m just a poor cow from a poor family…
November 20, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Bovinian Rhapsody.
I’m just a poor cow from a poor family…
I’m just a poor cow from a poor family…
US military members are obligated to disobey unlawful orders.
It’s a high risk de facto “guilty until proven innocent” act, but obligatory all the same.
There. I said it, too. My insincere apologies if that freaks anyone out.
It’s a high risk de facto “guilty until proven innocent” act, but obligatory all the same.
There. I said it, too. My insincere apologies if that freaks anyone out.
November 20, 2025 at 12:30 PM
US military members are obligated to disobey unlawful orders.
It’s a high risk de facto “guilty until proven innocent” act, but obligatory all the same.
There. I said it, too. My insincere apologies if that freaks anyone out.
It’s a high risk de facto “guilty until proven innocent” act, but obligatory all the same.
There. I said it, too. My insincere apologies if that freaks anyone out.
I’m no white male genius and that’s the first thought that crossed my mind. Followed immediately by recognition of how many who match my demo probably thought it was funny & fair — & how many more of my demo still don’t recognize that THAT is the toxic masculinity many of them say doesn’t exist.
Donald Trump said “quiet piggy” to a female reporter because she dared to ask about the Epstein files, and as bad as that is, the fact that none of her colleagues defended her, is even worse.
November 18, 2025 at 2:27 PM
I’m no white male genius and that’s the first thought that crossed my mind. Followed immediately by recognition of how many who match my demo probably thought it was funny & fair — & how many more of my demo still don’t recognize that THAT is the toxic masculinity many of them say doesn’t exist.
Well now, we certainly wouldn’t want a bunch of tourists will enough disposable wealth to pay for international travel and FIFA tickets to stick around for a few extra days as tourists, would we?
Kristi Noem on FIFA tourists: "Then they would go home. And go home in a timely manner."
November 17, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Well now, we certainly wouldn’t want a bunch of tourists will enough disposable wealth to pay for international travel and FIFA tickets to stick around for a few extra days as tourists, would we?