Promoted from the diaries – ed.

A year ago, Barbara Boxer – my state’s junior senator – made news across the country when, during a Senate Committee hearing, she laid into Brigadier General Michael Walsh of the Corps of Engineers. BGen Walsh made the mistake of calling her “Ma’am” in answering a question. She went off on Walsh telling him to call her “Senator” as she had worked so hard for the title.

For many military people and veterans who don’t track political news day-to-day and are relatively apolitical (that was me, until recently), it was one of a handful of political news items to cross our radar. I remember my reaction at the time—a brief “what the hell has her knickers all in a bunch” question, knowing that Walsh was paying her a compliment.

Later, however, I thought about my reaction to the incident and began to see it in an altogether different and more serious light. Barbara Boxer after so many years in the Senate has no idea at all of the culture of the Armed Forces of the United States. She literally does not understand the requirements incumbent on those who have sworn the Oath, to support and defend our Constitution against all enemies.

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