DrCaleb DrCaleb:
BartSimpson BartSimpson:
I like Jim Mattis but the qualities that made him a great Corps officer failed him in his transition to serving as Secretary of Defense. You don't have the luxury of an unwanted opinion as a Cabinet member. No one does.
I would imagine a long career as an upstanding honest person would be hampered by a cabinet position. But it did work well for Colin Powell.

Actually, it didn't. Powell's left of center leanings and difficult relationships with British and Israeli military leaders had negligible impact on his role as CJOS but as Secretary of State he felt free to take policy positions that were overturned by the President with an increasing regularity as the 2004 election approached.
He was a hell of a 4 star and I loved him in that role. But like Mattis he did not transition well to a political role.
Hell, look at me. I'd have likely had one or two stars had I not had so many damned knee problems over the years and while I would have loved the job I am honest enough to say the military mindset does not readily transition to a political and civilian role where your superiors do not follow a manual of conduct and where the political decisions do not square with military decision making assessment practices.