General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHe has fired Esper. Can Trump fire the Joint Chiefs of Staff and replace them with his loyalists?
We have learned over the past four years that Trump will do ANYTHING in an attempt to get his way. He has some 70 days left in office, and I am getting a bit nervous, what with Esper's firing, and McConnell now seeming to back Trump's refusal to concede, and Martha McSally refusing to concede, and Bill Barr now saying he will start investigations into voter fraud, and the Trump supporters' Million "Maggot" March on Saturday.
Could he be trying to instigate an actual military coup? I don't want to be alarmist. I hope that other DU posters are right and that this is just to create chaos and keep his supporters roiled up so that they vote in the Georgia runoff. I am just looking for reassurance that this is not possible and we will be rid of that repulsive sack of pus on January 20, 2021.
BlueNIndiana
(94 posts)They serve at the pleasure of the president and can removed without cause.
BlueNIndiana
(94 posts)Have the courts overturn the election
Have the republican legislatuers seat different electors. ( I know the law says no but that doesnt matter to the GOP).
Last but not least a military coup (or at least an attempt to start one)
I knwo i sound alarmist but pundits have said Trumo can't do this, Trump can't do that. The courts or polictiaon wont allow him. During these past four years Trump has done pretty much whatever he has wanted to do.
The GOP does not beleive in democracy, period.
Thekaspervote
(32,793 posts)BlueNIndiana
(94 posts)LaMouffette
(2,039 posts)Because I know it sounds like crazy-talk, firing the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but how many times have we thought, "Naaah, he wouldn't dare do that!" and then he does it. Or just surprises us out of the blue with something we never even imagined a U.S. president would do (like collude with Russia to win an election).
I hope the Biden team is already considering this worst-case scenario.
BlueNIndiana
(94 posts)This is not Qanon theories.
The GOP does not exist as a party anymore its just a party of one, Trump.
Buckeye_Democrat
(14,857 posts)Hoyt
(54,770 posts)Dont think hes planning a military coup. It wouldnt work anyway. This is what, the thousandth CT along these lines?
LaMouffette
(2,039 posts)everything is going to be all right. They've got this!
Thekaspervote
(32,793 posts)Esper came out against that and now Trump is being petty and getting his "revenge" once it can't cost him politically.
Expect him to fire a bunch of other people too before it's over.
I don't know why he think firing someone who's going to lose their post in 10 weeks is a big deal to them, but whatever.
AmericanCanuck
(1,102 posts)Not everyone is a trumpanzee
Thekaspervote
(32,793 posts)To enlisted soldiers that there were legal and illegal orders, they knew the difference and should follow their oath.
LSFL
(1,109 posts)Me ( to my rep military buddy) We fought people who started out with this shit.
Him: I know
Me : Ready to do it here?
Him :
I can't kill US soldiers.
Neither can I. But as for the 3 %s and cops who emulate what they see on TV?
We laugh at these ass clowns. They talk like assholes and mishandle their weapons to appear to be military per Hollywood.
I guess it depends on whose side they're on
MyMission
(1,850 posts)Both current and former; some who joined as cult members but many were activated as cult members while already serving or after they left.
I would think that being part of a cult would disqualify one from serving, since their loyalty and actions could be swayed by the cult leader, but that's not the case.
Sadly, I do see some who would consider it their duty to protect the president, their commander and chief, at all costs. But they will be taken down by those military who are not cult members, and then it will hurt the military units that will experience this.
AmericanCanuck
(1,102 posts)There people who decide where to dig, how fast to dig and how deep to dig. Rank and file just digs - they have no say in the digging.
MyMission
(1,850 posts)The commander and chief? Or
Their commanding officer, who tells them to either
A) do what the president says or
B) do what I say, not the president
That's my concern. Who's giving the orders, and does the military allegiance go to the president or the country? And of course some of the grunts and enlisted will think for themselves, and may decide to act contrary to orders they don't approve of. Enlisted men have killed their commanding officers , on rare occasions.
I know some former military who are cult members. They would follow the president. They know the generals consider him dangerous, but they voted for him anyway and would protect and defend him, to keep him in power.
These are very unsettling times, as they are clearly planning a coup. I don't want to worry or think about that, but I do.
iSquire
(1 post)These days, Presidents can, in practice, fire:
Cabinet Secretaries and other senior Executive-Branch Officials he appointed (but until now they would usually be careful about certain positions within the DoJ)
Ambassadors and other senior Diplomats
White House political Staffers
Any Member of the military, from the topmost Generals and Admirals to the lowliest Privates
Only if a Position is Established as a Legislative, Judicial, or a dual Legislative-Executive Office which were more common in the past, or the Position comes under the Civil Service System, is it protected from a President's whim.
LaMouffette
(2,039 posts)Now I'm really scared what today's firing of Bill Barr could mean. It sure seems as if Trump is clearing himself a path to doing something really horrific. Now that Barr is gone, who is left with a scintilla of intelligence and a crumb of morality to tell Trump not to do something insane like nuke Iran?