Would Trump Use A Terrorist Attack As a Pretext for Expanded Presidential Powers?

[TomCADem]

Trump is not only refusing to attend or read intelligence briefings, but he is also openly questioning the value and accuracy of U.S. intelligence. Given this almost aggressive indifference to national security, and his open hostility to the CIA, what would happen in the event of a terrorist attack. It would provide a perfect pretext for Trump to once again pat himself on the back for the attack, then use it as a pretext for expanding Presidential powers while also cleaning house within the U.S.'s national security agencies.

9/11 lead to rampant abuses by the Bush administration, which at least did not outwardly brag about engaging in torture. Trump has repeatedly said that he would do a lot worse in order to fight terrorism. I guess we may all find out.

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. His handlers certainly will. It probably will happen

With or without.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

2. He would use a hangnail to justify expanding his powers. n/t

[subterranean]

3. Of course he would.

It wouldn't surprise me if he suspends whatever's left of the Constitution.

[AlexSFCA]

4. no doubt

Exactly like Putin did in Russia. And with new biased administration and their own "news" you won't know the facts. That is why once Trump makes it beyond Jan. 20, I do not beleive he would
be impeached. So many people including politicians are still in such denial that things will get so much worse essentially terminating American democracy.

[sakabatou]

5. Bush did, so I wouldn't be surprised.

[Judi Lynn]

6. He doesn't have the ability to restrain himself.

[tinrobot]

7. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice... well, don't get fooled again.

No question he would try.

The bigger question is would we let him?

I hope not.

[bdamomma]

27. WE

cannot let this man get in. He will detrimental damage to us and to the earth.

[world wide wally]

8. You'll notice not one person in his cabinet can be called a patriot who would perform a noble act

[HassleCat]

9. Kind of accepted practice, I think. (eom)

[0rganism]

10. wouldn't he?

i wonder if he's got his least favorite cities and states on a roulette wheel to see who gets to host his personal Reichstag fire, or if he goes by who pisses him off the most last week

[byronius]

11. Trump would use this post as a pretext to declare martial law.

Which he might after 1/20, if he actually gets to be president.

Oh god.

[DetlefK]

12. It would play out EXACTLY like 9/11. Step by step:

1. President gets lazy with national security.
2. terror-attack
3. Republicans demand unquestioning loyalty to the President.
4. Blame Obama and Hillary Clinton.
5. Don't blame Trump, because he was barely in office, maybe a year or so.
6. profit

[bdamomma]

25. your #6

should be in caps PROFIT

[rpannier]

13. Trump would kill his own children to expand his powers

I don't think he has any limits on how far he would go to achieve, keep and expand them

[Solly Mack]

14. He won't need an attack. He's Trump, his ego is going to demand it regardless.

He'll say how silly or troublesome or bothersome it is to go through certain channels, and how, as president, he shouldn't have to.

His supporters will go along because, gee, he only wants to be able to do his job effectively.

[RobinA]

29. Trump Don't Need No

Steenkin' Pretext. Losers need pretexts. Trump is a winner. He can do what he wants because he's smart, and right, and knows what needs to be done!

[Solly Mack]

35. I can hear him saying that.

[octoberlib]

15. Yes and his " advisers "will be

cheering him on. Bannon, who wants to destroy both parties and Thiel who prefers a dictatorship to a presidency.

[Nay]

21. And Pence (plus many others) would prefer a theocracy. nt

[jmowreader]

16. Does a bear shit in the woods?

[SamKnause]

17. Yes.

John Bolton=PNAC

[montana_hazeleyes]

18. I wouldn't doubt anything evil he may do.

But how it looks to me now, he doesn't really have to. He will do what he wants, when he wants at will. And he will get away with everything with no problem.

How horrible to have such depressing, horrifying thoughts. But I'm 68 and this is the scariest sh!t I've seen. And I've lived through a lot.

[Nay]

20. I'm 65 and this is the scariest shit I've ever seen, too. I also think Trump will

be able to do what ever addled thing he feels like doing, and the only thing we can hope for is that all the other sane countries will institute workarounds so no one goes over the edge and starts a war at the instigation of this moronic 'president.'

And the major problem is that the RW, racist, misogynist, theocratic Republicans have their greasy hands on everything now, and can really screw up the country royally for 4 years with literally no interference. I sure don't expect many Dems to stand up and fight; they seem totally helpless.

[canetoad]

19. LOL of course he would

but it would be Bannon's doing or bannion's winged monkeys. Nothing is off the table since these arseholes have their pasty white hands on the workings of the most powerful country.

[bdamomma]

22. keep his fingers off that button!!!!

let him tweet stupid man/child.

[Bettie]

23. He has no clue what the actual scope of presidental powers are

so, he'll expand them simply because he thinks he is now king.

[Vinca]

24. He's probably got Mark Burnett working on the production already.

[workinclasszero]

26. Of course he will

And he will use the attack as a weapon against the CIA to either neuter it for his pal Putin or just pack it with braindead yes men.

Everything that was even halfway good in America dies on Jan 20 2017. Its Trump's world then.

People have no idea whats coming for this country.

[no_hypocrisy]

28. Wouldn't surprise me if the plans were finished in July.

[Madam45for2923]

30. Yep! & ASAP!

[get the red out]

31. Possibly

It would depend on if there was any push-back from Republicans in Congress.

[mcar]

32. I fear that is the plan

[tibbiit]

33. all any terrorist organization has to do is car bomb some Trump hotels

Do 5 or more at the same time on the same day. (Note:I am making this up because even to me, a regular American, it is the obvious thing to do) Attack Trump properties like Timothy McVeigh, you won't need airplanes to bring it on!
I bet that's how it will be done. PNAC for the late Teens! (2016-2019)

tib

[Squinch]

36. I have no doubt that he will.