SAAC-PAO 18 April 2022

MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD
SUBJECT: Media Policy for Army National Military Cemeteries

[….] ANC and the SAHNC are military installations and media procedures in the cemeteries are governed by 32
CFR Part 553 and AR 360-1.

[….]
Filming or photographing will not be permitted if it conveys the impression that cemetery officials or any visitor or family member is endorsing any product, service or organization. Additionally, ANC will not authorize any filming for partisan, political or fundraising purposes, in accordance with the Hatch Act, 32 CFR 553, and AR 360-1.
[….]

Mark Alford (r) [2024 file photo].

Two days ago, from Mark Alford (r):

Congressman Mark Alford
[August 27, 2024]
Joe Biden left 13 U.S. service members to die at Abbey Gate during his disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Since then, Joe and Kamala haven’t even reached out to the 13 families. It’s a slap in the face to our heroes.
Shameful.
[….]

Three years ago:

With Biden Looking On, The Remains Of 13 Service Members Killed In Kabul Return Home
August 29, 2021 3:58 PM ET

With American flags draped over caskets, President Biden watched Sunday at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware as the remains of 13 U.S. service members killed in the attack on the Kabul airport this past week were returned to their families.

The process, known as a “dignified transfer,” was a particularly somber occasion, as it came just two days before the president’s Aug. 31 deadline for withdrawing from Afghanistan after 20 years of war.

[….]

There are scathing responses to Mark Alford’s (r) social media post:

Has Trump ever mentioned or met with the 63 families of service members that died in Afghanistan under his administration? Has he laid wreaths on their Graves on the anniversary of their deaths? [….]

And Trump INSULTS Gold Star families.
And he blamed Gold Star families for giving him Covid.

[….] Did you hear about the fight trump’s team had with the cemetery official? Verbally and physically abused a cemetery official who was trying to stop them from blatantly desecrating hallowed ground. There is absolutely no low with these people. [….]

[….] Shameful exploitation for a pic op. [….]

Trump made fun of gold star families and put down the medal of honor.

Shameful is staging a campaign photo op in the cemetery. He also broke the law. Not surprising from a convicted felon and adjudicated rapist.

General H.R. McMaster told CNN’s Anderson Cooper Monday night that Trump, while president, sought to negotiate with the Taliban as U.S. troops began leaving Afghanistan, which undermined the Afghan government. As a result, the U.S. government forced the Afghan government to release 5,000 members of the Taliban.

So disrespectful to our hallowed ground
Investigation into event is happening as Arlington rules broken, (no surprise), by tRump. [….]

A gold star family has complained that the Trump** campaign has photographed the grave site of their loved one in spite of FEDERAL LAW that prohibits photography.
It’s time for my congressman to call for an investigation into this criminal matter.

Another instance of Don2Old breaking the law
“Federal law prohibits political campaign or election-related activities within Army National Military Cemeteries, to include photographers, content creators or any other persons attending for purposes, or in direct support of a partisan political candidate’s campaign,” according to the statement. “Arlington National Cemetery reinforced and widely shared this law and its prohibitions with all participants.”
In a statement to NPR, Arlington National Cemetery said it “can confirm there was an incident, and a report was filed.” [….]

Two members of Donald Trump’s campaign staff had a verbal and physical altercation Monday with an official at Arlington National Cemetery, where the former president participated in a wreath-laying ceremony, NPR has learned.
A source with knowledge of the incident said the cemetery official tried to prevent Trump staffers from filming and photographing in a section where recent U.S. casualties are buried. The source said Arlington officials had made clear that only cemetery staff members would be authorized to take photographs or film in the area, known as Section 60.
When the cemetery official tried to prevent Trump campaign staff from entering Section 60, campaign staff verbally abused and pushed the official aside, according to the source.

It doesn’t matter if what you say is true. Just say it with conviction and repeat often, people will believe it.

Sad that they lost their lives in service of their country. Also sad that, as you mentioned that the current administration had a part in this loss, the former administration set it in motion with the Doha Accord. Let’s not forget that there’s blame to be laid at the feet of the former President, “the great negotiator”, as well.

Hey Mark who gives a thumbs up at a soldiers grave…your clown candidate. Former President Donald Trump shared a TikTok video including footage from Arlington National Cemetery that likely violates a federal law against using military cemeteries for campaigning purposes. NPR previously reported Trump campaign staffers had a physical altercation with an Arlington National Cemetery staffer on Monday over the restriction. The Trump campaign was not authorized to film or photograph in Section 60, federal law prohibits the use of military cemeteries for campaign events and two campaign staffers got in a physical and verbal altercation with the Arlington staffer that tried to prevent the filming. [….]

[….] and using their deaths like Alford has done multiple times in the past 2 days is the most disgraceful of all. Shame on all those politicians using this. Shame on Alford. Shame on Trump !!

The suicide bomber who killed them was one of the 5000 prisoners Trump agreed to release in his negotiations with the Taliban. Put the blame where it belongs, on Trump. Also dumbass, has Trump reached out to the families of any of our military members that died when he was in office? No he hasn’t. Biden was at Andrews AFB when their bodies where returned home and he gave his condolences to the families either in person or via phone.

Sharing this kind of trash , is making you look less as a congressman , trump and Vance violated laws and made a mockery of our fallen soldiers

Using deaths of service members to score political points is the most disgusting act a member of Congress could ever do and that is who you are

You using the death of soldiers for political gain is one of the most pathetic things you have done. Trump giving a thumbs up over a soldier’s gravesite is right there with you. [….]

You politicize veteran’s deaths? Congressman Mark Alford you are a disgrace![….]

Trump used Arlington for a photo op. How disgusting. A thumbs up at a GRAVE? [….]

Mark Alford (r) [2023 file photo].

Congressman Mark Alford
[August 27, 2024]
Hardworking Americans are facing the pain of Kamalanomics every day—from the grocery store to the pump.
Families are being hit where it hurts the most—in their paychecks, retirement funds, and bank accounts.

There is much hilarity in the responses:

Please explain to me Congressman Mark Alford, my grocery prices have remained almost the same since before the pandemic. My retirement funds, bank account, and stock portfolio are all doing better know than when Trump was in office. Tell us all why you were so against a bill that would have stopped price gouging.

The rest of us are sick of your floccinaucinihilipilification of us even existing and having the audacity to think that you should care about our differences of opinion! And I didn’t even have to make that word up.

“Occupation?”
“Stand-up philosopher.”
“What?”
“Stand-up philosopher. I coalesce the vapors of human experience into a viable and meaningful comprehension.”
“Oh, a bullshit artist!”
[Grumble…]
“Did you bullshit last week?”
“No.”
“Did you try to bullshit last week?”
“Yes!”
History of the World: Part I (1981)

Trump is proposing a 10% tariff. Economists say that amounts to a $1,700 tax on Americans.

[….] Economists have said more trump tariffs will cost the US consumer $80 BILLION, in addition to causing out of control inflation. trump has said many times on the campaign trail he will institute 60% tariffs. I don’t think any Alford supporter here realizes that trump tariffs when trump was in office cost them $1300 the first year, $1500 the second year, and even more in subsequent years. (Not to mention the business and farm closures that only happened due to trump tariffs)
Alford supporters also fail to understand the US is a consumer based economy – and exactly what are they going to do when all those consumables they pack out of Walmart regularly, those iPhones, iPads, cell phones, PCs, those cars, those car parts, that food, et al, have a 60% tariff levied on each and every thing?

Thanks for the newsbreak. What bills have you introduced to eliminate the problem?

In the meantime corporate America is collecting record profits on food. You may want to include that for true perspective.

[….] Inflation isn’t at 7%. It is at 2.9%. Just admit that corporations are price gouging the American people and quit with the bullshit.

Mark. Just curious. Do you understand or even heard the word economics?
Have you ever taken a class ?
I highly suggest you take one
Obviously you’re clueless to why we have inflation.

Oh, looky at you, made up a word and you hope it catches on. I’ll keep the economics we have. Stocks and savings and investments all doing very well thank you. Inflation is slowing down, interest rates to be reduced again, exporting more oil than EVER BEFORE. Record new jobs created. Unemployment at historic lows. Income has increased for the vast majority of workers. No empty shelves, no buying toilet paper on Ebay. And no dead bodies stored in semi trailers.

There’s that.

My retirement fund is doing well. Didn’t the stock market set another record this past week?

[….] That Capital Gains tax is ONLY for those making over $100 MILLION a year. Read that again, because reading comprehension is key. Biden/Harris wants a specific Capital Gains tax on ONLY people making OVER $100 MILLION a year. If you did know anything about the subject, you’d also know that tax is to fairly tax Wall St hedge fund managers that are using a loophole in the law to claim their WAGES are undeclared capital gains in order to AVOID the same wage taxes you pay. Learn the facts before you spread lies.

[….] not likely. As a school teacher married to a school teacher our earnings won’t be approaching that threshold. That’s just another myth the wealthy hope you’ll buy so they can avoid paying taxes.

[….] your source leaves out a lot of details, just like Mark Alford. A couple would be exempt from capital gains on their home unless those gains exceed a half million dollars. As school teachers from Missouri, my wife and I don’t have to worry there (ranked 47th in pay nationally). Our pensions will be taxed as income (which is a higher rate than billionaires currently pay on capital gains). I mean, if you make so much money that you have to pay that highest rate on your capital gains, I’m happy for you. Odds are, almost anyone here won’t see anything out of this except for lower inflation when government borrowing goes down.

Kamalanomics. That’s what 2.3 million in less than 15 months has gotten us from Mark Alford. Talking like a school yard bully while out spending money.
The next time Mr. Alford decides he needs to lecture everyone on taxes, out of control spending, etc., he might want to look inside his own shop first.
The Statement of Disbursements of the House has spending records through March 31, 2024 on file and readily available for review. In less than 15 months, Mr. Alford has gone through over 2.3 million dollars.
Some highlights of taxes at work.
Just under $1,370,000.00 in Wages for 20 staff and 4 interns. Mr. Alford’s wages are not listed in this. Over $194,000.00 of this is case workers.
Over $128,000.00 in travel, including over $48,000.00 in personal vehicle mileage, over $41,000.00 in lodging, over $28,000 in airfare, $268.00 on gas, and $1,600 in cabs.
$71,950.00 in postage. $4,000 in office cleaning. $5,300 in security services. Over $30,000.00 in techology softare to build relationships with constituents. $192.00 for laundry.
Over $75,000 in advertising. $3,080.00 in facebook advertising. $30,600.00 in public affairs advertising. $66,000 in direct mailer related expenses.
Over $75,000.00 in printing. Over $31,000.00 in telecom, including over $18,000.00 for the district offices. Over $76,000.00 in rent for the district offices.
$45,692.96 in TELEPHONE TOWN HALL EXPENSES
Over $6,000.00 for ATT Mobility. $2,800.00 for Evergy. $3,800.00 in internet. $1,450.00 for Missouri Gas Energy. Over $1,000.00 in P,O, Box rental. Over $2,200.00 in food and beverage via amazon, sams club, hi-vee, etc. $350.00 in framing costs. Just shy of $3,700.00 in habitation expenses. $15,600.00 in office supplies. Over $25,700.00 in publication expenses, including local newspapers and $16,000.00 for what has to be a POLITICO subscription.
Over $50.00 for Twitter paid features. Over $60.00 for Apple.com. Over $3,00.00 for a video making software. $650.00 for water, including PRIMO water service.
It goes on and on. Less than 15 months. April through June numbers are to be released by the end of the month. What he is spending now will not be available until the end of November.

Somebody did some research.

[….] his expenses to visit lardo in Florida are crazy. All for alford to kiss the ring and swear fealty.

[….] dont forget how he spends his campaign funds on travel, Ubers and $27k to Mar-a-Lago

And THE CIGARS! Let’s not forget the thousands Alford spent in Florida for CIGARS!!

[….] the money, taxpayer money he dropped on that lardo visit was insane. And no way should we pay for his cigars or liquor.

[….] Have you taken a look at the money Alford spends at The Capitol Hill Club? [….]

Mark Alford (r) [2024 file photo].

I remember when they used to say Ike Skelton (D) was unbeatable.