I know. That’s what makes political argument there such a guilty pleasure. Quite a change from this place – not because Litsters are less intelligent/sophisticated/rational than Dopers, but because they generally found that board for different reasons from those for which one generally finds this one, and because there are no forum rules at all, at all, that I can determine.
In the context of this thread, it is attractive because it is almost the only way soldiers could tell themselves their honor and oath require them to participate in a coup. Their oath is to the Constitution, which names the POTUS as their CinC, but if he’s not constitutionally the POTUS . . .
I absolutely agree. If the President holds power illegitimately, whether due to constitutional ineligibility, vote fraud, assassination or what have you, there are several legitimate means of removing him from power. A military coup will never, ever be one of them, as it does not fall to the military to determine who is CINC. The subordination of the military to civil authority is a bedrock element of modern constitutional democracy. I seriously cannot envision any remotely likely scenario in which the U.S. military would either sanction or carry out a coup. The day it did would be the day that American democracy was badly, probably fatally, wounded.
Any member of the U.S. military doing this needs to stow that shit ASAP, or be assured of finding himself very quickly before a court-martial.
BrianGlutton,
I’ll second the call on this. What is the site that you are reading that “seriously” states that the military will be involved in a coup against this President. I’d be interested in seeing it.
Link in post #28; caveat in post #30.
BrianGlutton,
Seriously, this is what you based this thread on?? You found a reply on a tread of that bastion of political and international relations thought called, literotica - literotica for Christ sake -
(. . . And in other news, the President, after consulting the State Department, the Joint Chiefs and the literotica brain trust, has decided to annex the red light district of Amsterdam. . . )
-and based on this, you argue that the “angry right-wingers argue, seriously, that the military will never go along with Obama?” This statement was:
“Primarily you assume that the military, whose oath is to the constitution not the president, may not have different ideas.”
I’m active duty military. And I know some right wingers. They wouldn’t think for a millisecond of disobeying an order from the President, let alone to stage a coup.
I know you strive to find any way to assault those that think anything to the right of Bill Clinton, but this is a stretch, even for you. There is a name for this. It’s called obsession.
President O is Posleen?
How would you characterize those mentioned in Frylock’s links? Outliers unworthy of serious attention?
Glad (though not surprised) to hear it, but beside the point, I think. I don’t think BrainGlutton is claiming that any military personnel are actually considering staging a coup (though Frylock’s links suggest their might be one or two). His point, rather, is that certain (presumably) civilian wingnuts are openly fantasizing about this, hoping for it, and perhaps even doing what they can (not much, in reality, I imagine) to encourage it.
I do not have any specific evidence to back BrainGlutton’s claim, but frankly, given the level of anti-Obama crazy I have heard of from the far right recently, I would be surprised if some of them were not fantasizing and talking about this.
In Turkey maybe?
The Turkish military staged coups d’etat in 1960, 1971, 1980, and 1997. I can’t see how any of them did the Republic any good.
Sean Hannity recently posted an online poll asking responders if they endorse a military coup, armed rebellion, or war of secession. (Results not available, the poll has been taken down. Not clear if “None of the above” was an option.)