Is it not apparent that, as much as we'd like to ignore it, a military dictatorship

[Atticus]

is being created while we watch and wring our hands?

[femmocrat]

1. Maybe.....but Kelly could be on his way out.

And I am still hoping that saner heads will prevail at Defense. Also, we need to flip the House in November so there is real oversight!

[Atticus]

4. Agree we need to flip House AND the Senate, but have my doubts that "saner heads" at

Defense will be allowed to prevail. I think our fate is in the hands of "We, the People---."

[BSdetect]

5. The Dems will have to become really tough in using any power they acquire

We blew it in 2008 - 2010

[atreides1]

7. The heads in charge at DOD

Are Mattis and Dunford...two Marines cut from the same cloth as Kelly...so I wouldn't count on any hope coming from that direction!!!

[RKP5637]

2. Trump wants to set himself up as dictator as millions of Americans snooze, and the naive vote for

and enable him. And many are along for the ride hoping to increase their wealth. Then many just don't get it, like DUH. There is also a tremendous lazy factor in the US, don't pay attention, too lazy to vote, and some just don't give a damn. The net/net of it all is a bad combination and is being used to the hilt by Trump and his gang. Trump is not stupid, he knows how to use many Americans.

[hack89]

3. No

I work with the military on a daily basis - don't see it at all. When Trump suspends the judiciary and congress is when I will get concerned.

[Atticus]

6. I think by that time---suspension of courts and Congress----- will be far too late to save our

democracy. Imagine that they avoid any single action which immediately impacts those who COULD stop them. Instead, they just continue to obfuscate and confuse while all the time turning up the heat under us frogs in the pot..

[hack89]

11. There are no indications whatsoever that the military is onboard with a coup

the notion that the military would violate their oaths to the constitution to support a right wing takeover of the government is nonsense - for one thing there are many Democrats in the military that would refuse.

BTW - have you been paying attention to all of Trump's losses in the courts?

I see a lot of rhetoric from you and others but not a lot of specifics. Reminds me of the RW condemning Obama for destroying democracy through all of his executive orders.

[Atticus]

19. No one claimed our current military is "on board" with a right-wing takeover. But,

we have a *president who claims to know more than "the generals'". If the present military leadership was replaced with people more like Flynn and Kelly, are you saying the subordinate officers and rank and file would disobey their orders? I don't really expect a meaningful reply simply because use neither of us KNOW what would happen. In our current environment, "that would not happen" doesn't comfort me very much.
And, as for "specifics", who do you think has those in the Age of Trump? Laws and rules are ignored; traditions are abandoned and might is preferred to right. "Specifics" are questionable, at best. What's wrong with considering "possibilities"?

[hack89]

20. The military understands very well what constitute illegal orders

so yes, they would disobey.

So every conspiracy theory is merely considering "possibilities"? Ok. I personally think rational thought, common sense and calm consideration of the actual facts works better but your mileage might vary.

[Atticus]

21. I don't have any "conspiracy theories". I thought the post might lead to a reasoned discussion

of our Putin/Duterte/Kim Jong Un-wannabe *pre.sident, but I am sorry if you didn't see it that way. No disrespect to our military was intended.

[hack89]

22. There is no doubt that he has autocratic tendencies

and has no respect for tradition and institutions. But we are not headed for a military dictatorship. American democracy has weathered worse crises in the past - it is much stronger and resilient than you give it credit for.

[Atticus]

25. I genuinely hope you are right, but until November of 2016, I would have bet that

we were strong enough and resilient enough to make a "*president Trump" impossible.
Thanks for the civil exchange of views.

[atreides1]

10. He doesn't have to suspend either!

His party controls the congress and the Supreme Court! If the midterm elections result in the Democrats taking control of either House, or both...then we don't have to worry!

If on the other hand, the Russians come to the rescue and the midterms are hacked, then we'll have a problem!

[RandomAccess]

13. He doesn't need to susped the judiciary --

he's replacing it and diluting what's left.

I saw a better link yesterday or the day before, but this will have to do for now:

ETA: From Nov last year:

Grassley and Trump plan to pack the US Judiciary
Just reported on MSNBC that Grassley wants to add 447 federal judicial positions that Trump can pack with ultra-conservative justices that serve for life.

This is so transparent and corrupt, yet nothing we can do to stop it. I anticipate a massive regression of social policies and equality in the near future.

This country is really on its way to being unlivable and more akin to 2nd and 3rd world countries. Conservative dominated countries are almost always hell-holes. America is headed in that direction.

While I hope we can stop the damage, I also wish I had some other options of countries to move to. As a gay Jew, I'm very concerned about my rights and safety in this country, completely ignoring the the issues with healthcare and taxes which will substantially hurt me.
https://upload.democraticunderground.com/10029891465

[hack89]

15. That has nothing to do with a one party military dictatorship

and lets not forget all of us that are resisting everyday. I am not giving up - are you?

[RandomAccess]

16. Don't be silly

First - I'm in a hurry this morning and keep tripping over myself in my haste. I meant to also say that I agree with you about the military coup -- not happening anytime soon if ever.

BUT, you pack all those courts with rabid consevatives, a one party MILITARY dictatorship wouldn't be necessary.

[hack89]

17. We will see.

one thing that the past few years has taught us is to expect the unexpected. The RW has plans - so do we.

[Raven]

8. I've thought for a while that Trump is

throwing $$$ at the military in order to curry favor with them. If not for that, what does the military have to love about Cadet Bone Spurs?

[atreides1]

12. Four infamous words

"I was following orders!"

From Wounded Knee to My Lai, those four words echo throughout US history...and were used to try and excuse atrocities committed by the American military...it worked for Wounded Knee!!!

If you have the time look up the No Gun Ri massacre!

[Orsino]

9. No.

Creeping militarization of our country is definitely worrying, but there's no sign of a military dictatorship.

[mythology]

14. No and obviously not. This shouldn't even be a serious question

[sarisataka]

18. Just like Jade Helm?

[maxsolomon]

23. Its not Military

its an Autocratic Kakistocracy.

To be precise.

[Atticus]

24. Thank you for expanding my vocabulary! nt

[Hoyt]

26. GOPers said the same thing about Obama.

[Atticus]

27. Your point? nt

[Hoyt]

28. Simple. If we are going to make stupid accusations, at least be original.

[Atticus]

29. Gotcha! From now on, all my stupid accusations will be original. Have a great

evening.