Sunday, November 10, 2024

The Pentagon Plans for Trump's Lawless Reign

Pentagon officials are holding informal discussions about how the Department of Defense would respond if Donald Trump issues orders to deploy active-duty troops domestically and fire large swaths of apolitical staffers, defense officials told CNN.

Posted by Corky at 08:32 PM | 27 COMMENTS | permalink

More

Trump has suggested he would be open to using active-duty forces for domestic law enforcement and mass deportations and has indicated he wants to stack the federal government with loyalists and "clean out corrupt actors" in the US national security establishment.

Comments

"Trump last month said the military should be used to handle what he called "the enemy from within" and "radical left lunatics."

"I think it should be very easily handled by, if necessary, by National Guard, or if really necessary, by the military, because they can't let that happen," he added, referring to potential protests on Election Day.

Several former senior military officials who served under Trump have sounded the alarm in recent years about his authoritarian impulses, including Milley and retired Gen. John Kelly, Trump's former White House chief of staff.

Kelly said before the election that Trump fits "into the general definition of fascist" and that he spoke of the loyalty of Hitler's Nazi generals."

Wow. Just wow... I mean, Republicans were bad enough at being the Establishment, but they are even worse as the revolting rwingers. And Establishment Republicans still LOVE their Cult Leader.

You would have at least thought they might notice that part.

#1 | Posted by Corky at 2024-11-09 10:37 PM

The military likes to give and get orders.

It doesn't like chaos.

If trump found them resistant before he will feel this time like he can't even get in the building.

#2 | Posted by Tor at 2024-11-10 09:16 PM

If trump found them resistant before he will feel this time like he can't even get in the building.

He'll be the commander in chief. They'll just have to suck it up. He can make Eric Secretary of Defence. His power is limitless.

#3 | Posted by REDIAL at 2024-11-10 09:20 PM

As is his odor, apparently.

#4 | Posted by Corky at 2024-11-10 09:27 PM

I know a guy who got called to dc from time to time as an expert.

He told me a freshman congressman on his first day in office once threatened to fire the secretary who had served his district for 20+ years.

The next day his office was without furniture and she had quit.

He had to rehire her and apologize after spending a day retrieving his offices content for an entire day.

#5 | Posted by Tor at 2024-11-10 09:30 PM

It's already a lawless reign and he hasn't even taken office yet. The body politic has allowed a former sitting president that incited an insurrection to run again much less take the office of POTUS again. It's a disgrace to say the least.

#6 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2024-11-10 09:41 PM

Related?

How a Trump presidency could lead to a purge at the Pentagon
www.reuters.com

... During his campaign for re-election, Donald Trump vowed to purge the military of so-called "woke" generals. Now that he is president-elect, the question in the halls of the Pentagon is whether he would go much further.

Trump is expected to have a far darker view of his military leaders in his second term, after facing Pentagon resistance over everything from his skepticism toward NATO to his readiness to deploy troops to quell protests on U.S. streets.

Trump's former U.S. generals and defense secretaries are among his fiercest critics, some branding him a fascist and declaring him unfit for office. Angered, Trump has suggested that his former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley, could be executed for treason.

Current and former U.S. officials say Trump will prioritize loyalty in his second term and root out military officers and career civil servants he perceives to be disloyal.

"He will destroy the Department of Defense, frankly. He will go in and he will dismiss generals who stand up for the Constitution," said Jack Reed, the Democrat who leads the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Culture war issues could be one trigger for firings. Trump was asked by Fox News in June whether he would fire generals described as "woke," a term for those focused on racial and social justice but which is used by conservatives to disparage progressive policies.

"I would fire them. You can't have (a) woke military," Trump said. ...


#7 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-11-10 10:03 PM

@#7

So, Pres-elect Trump seems to determine the security of the Country is more about adulation to him, and not really about the security of the Country?

#8 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-11-10 10:04 PM

Hopefully Cowardly ------- will continue to be a McCheese Eating Surrender Monkey.

#9 | Posted by truthhurts at 2024-11-10 10:13 PM

@#9 ... Surrender ...

At this point, Pres-elect Trump's comments have been conflicting.

Especially regarding Ukraine, and Pres Putin's unprovoked invasion of a sovereign Ukraine.

Does Pres-elect Trump want Pres Putin to back off?

Or does Pres-elect Trump want Ukraine to bow down and cede territory to Pres Putin?

The answer will eventually be known.

But at this point, my guess would be, which solution benefits Pres-elect Trump personally the most?

Will the ultimate outcome result in a Trump Hotel in Moscow or Kyiv?

Too soon to tell..

#10 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-11-10 10:28 PM

North Korea's joining the war and fighting on the side of Russia kills any chance of putin claiming he's nothing like a communist dictator.

#11 | Posted by Tor at 2024-11-10 10:46 PM

@#11 ... North Korea's joining the war ...

There's this new addition today ...

Russia finalises defence cooperation pact with North Korea
www.france24.com

... The defence cooperation deal signed by Russia and North Korea obligates both states to provide military assistance "without delay" in the case of an attack on the other. Russia's President Vladimir Putin struck the deal during a visit to North Korea in June. It was ratified by Russia's parliament and signed this weekend by the Russian president. ...


#12 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-11-10 10:57 PM

re: #11, #12,

Yeah, that whole North Koreans fighting for Russia situation kinda mucks things up. Might be risky for South Korea to send arms to Ukraine, perhaps they can find a way to send aid without pissing off the North?

#13 | Posted by hamburglar at 2024-11-11 05:15 AM

They might be able to throw up roadblocks, but how much can they really do beyond delay? The military isn't structured such that disobedience lasts very long.

#14 | Posted by jpw at 2024-11-11 10:23 AM

Lawless? You mean like biden going ahead with foisting student loans into us taxpayers, even after the SCOTUS declared he could not. biden allowing illegals to enter the country by the millions in violation of out immigration laws - that kind of lawlessness?

#15 | Posted by MSgt at 2024-11-11 10:35 AM

MSGT, with all respect, you are ignorant.

Please let me give you a little information on how our government works.

1. Congress passes laws, the Executive Branch implements the laws and the Courts adjudicate conflicts between injured parties regarding those laws.
1a. No injury=no cause for court action (Full Stop).

2. The executive branch interprets laws every day. The courts ONLY become involved when there is a conflict between parties, when one of those parties has suffered an injury.
2a. The courts DO NOT have the authority to adjudicate laws when there is no conflict or injury=THAT IS LEGISLATING

3. Congress SPECIFICALLY wrote in the student loan law that the Executive branch could forgive loans

4. The lawsuit that overthrew the forgiveness included, as their injured party, the Missouri state entity implementing student loans (MOHELA).

5. MOHELA has publicly stated that they were not party to the lawsuit (see yet how wrong the courts were for taking the case?)

6. MOHELA would have actually MADE money through the student loan forgiveness program-THUS THERE WAS NO INJURY

Do you understand yet?

The second round of forgiveness was for programs that the laws provided specific power to Biden to do. Like Congress said Biden has the power to forgive these specific loans

The courts used a made up doctrine (called the major questions doctrine) to overrule congress and the president's authority

Do you understand yet?

Now, you have been informed.

#16 | Posted by truthhurts at 2024-11-11 10:50 AM

BTW the student loans were simply not foisted on you. Period Full Stop.

The forgiveness involved zero new funding.

Yet another example of Magat scum voting on lies

#17 | Posted by truthhurts at 2024-11-11 10:54 AM

Again, all the over analysis is entirely unnecessary.

Just look to Msgt's posts to see the reason Trump won-the abject stupidity of the American electorate.

#18 | Posted by jpw at 2024-11-11 01:51 PM

South Korea Could do bombing runs on Russian bases at night.

#19 | Posted by Tor at 2024-11-11 06:23 PM

The only concern I have is there are no more Mattis type folks.

Folkheros of the troops.

Even Mattis wasn't completely who we thought him to be (Theranos involvement).

#20 | Posted by GOnoles92 at 2024-11-11 08:14 PM

#21

Blackjack!!!!

#21 | Posted by lee_the_agent at 2024-11-12 07:17 AM

#10

Trump will say whatever he needs to to be popular. He doesn't have any real opinions.

I also told him once that his persona was getting more belligerent and divisive. To me, he had seemed like a more benign, if crazily narcissistic, Macy's Thanksgiving Day balloon of a figure in the New York real estate days.

Why was the former pro-choice Democrat going down such a dark and authoritarian path as a candidate?

"I guess," Trump mused, "because of the fact that I immediately went to No. 1, and I said, Why don't I keep the same thing going?'"

Trump can play it round or square, pro-choice or anti-abortion, pro-TikTok or anti-TikTok, pro-crypto or anti-crypto. He has no philosophy, except: What's in it for him? The only thread of continuity in his life is self-interest. He supercharged and retrofitted the Republican Party for his own benefit.

-Maureen Dowd

archive.ph

#22 | Posted by lee_the_agent at 2024-11-12 07:20 AM

The entire USA is now looking forward to a lawful reign of government instead of the unlawful reign we had from Biden and Co,.

#23 | Posted by Robson at 2024-11-12 07:02 PM

The entire USA is now looking forward to a lawful reign of government instead of the unlawful reign we had from Biden and Co,.

Posted by Robson at 2024-11-12 07:02 PM | Reply

Not when you start with a convicted felon and insurrectionist you don't.

#24 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2024-11-12 07:29 PM

The entire USA is now looking forward to a lawful reign of government instead of the unlawful reign we had from Biden and Co,.

#23 | Posted by Robson

Ty smeshnaya marionetka, tovarishch ---- solntsa. Vse znayut, chto vy russkiy operativnik. Kak rebenok Trampa. Pozhaluysta, ubey sebya, prezhde chem mne pridetsya eto sdelat'.

#25 | Posted by billy_boy at 2024-11-12 07:42 PM

It's funny how Trumpers still believe the Lawfare Lie rather than dozens of Trump's own top aides' testimony under Oath about his and their crimes.

Trump was and is being prosecuted for illegal acts. Acts that the people he had perform are in prison for after following his orders.

#26 | Posted by Corky at 2024-11-12 07:43 PM

#23 | Posted by Robson

Ubey sebya. Ili ya pokhishchu tvoikh blizkikh i ub'yu ikh na glazakh u tebya. Togda ya kastriruyu tebya i budu smeyat'sya, poka ty istekayesh' krov'yu.

#27 | Posted by billy_boy at 2024-11-12 07:56 PM

Drudge Retort Headlines

Musk Suddenly Realizes He Has No Clue How to Govern (32 comments)

Trump's Coming House Headaches (23 comments)

Abbott Buys Billboards Threatening Migrants (14 comments)

Lousiana Bars Health Dept. from Promoting Vaccines (14 comments)

German Christmas Market Attack (13 comments)

Musk Raises Alarms by Endorsing What's Known as 'German neo-Nazi party' (13 comments)

Matt Gaetz Report to Be Released on Monday (11 comments)

Clearance Thomas Received More Lavish Gifts from Harlan Crow (11 comments)

Newspaper: Absent Sitting Congress Woman Found in Dementia Care Facility (10 comments)

U.S. Sees Rise in Life Expectancy (10 comments)