Trump is about to start his administration by nakedly looting the nation's largest boondoggle

[Simeon Salus]

By elevating a couch cushion to SecDef and eliminating any independent review, Trump now has the keys to the entire military industrial complex. Strategic policy is now whatever Stephen Miller says it is.

Everyone else is under chain of command.

We are in night of the long knives territory, folks.

[milestogo]

1. Its happening so fast.

But in this age, other countries can see what is happening. Hopefully that makes a difference.

[wnylib]

12. They will act to protect themselves, as they should.

But I wouldn't count on them to come to our rescue. We've got to deal with this however we can.

[Joinfortmill]

16. Everything was planned in advance, even the ballot tampering, I suspect.

[Irish_Dem]

2. Yes. Trump will only do things which benefit him personally.

The goals are power, wealth, revenge, hatred and cruelty.

[Simeon Salus]

3. Predictably, next will be purge of military officers who aren't sufficiently loyal

The inspector generals' dismissal is a signal rocket fired over all commands; "your asses belong to me".

[RockCreek]

5. Hopefully not

Very unfortately, they actually are some of the only ones in a position to do anything to stop him. Not an OK solution, but it could be better than nothing. NEVER thought I would say or think such things....

[birdographer]

7. Remember when

he ordered someone—police? His SS?—to shoot protesters in the legs so he could get his photo op holding a Bible upside down, and the guy refused? Maybe some of the military people he will order to do insane things will have a thread of decency in them and refuse. Yeah, I know, and rainbow unicorns cavort in hidden meadows.

[RockCreek]

8. I do have hope in some military

So many join for good reasons. Many value law and honor.
Child of Vietnam protestors raised to think the military was close to the devil speaking here Live and learn...

[hedda_foil]

15. National Guard.

[wnylib]

14. Maybe the dismissed personnel will form their own shadow military.

[dickthegrouch]

19. We called those Militias

Although I’ll grant that many members of those are more wannabe than actual ex-service members.

[wnylib]

20. I think that you missed my point.

Yes, there are militias that are a shadow military. Many of them are present and former cops and military, with combat experience and training. They have been arming themselves for decades. They will serve the fascist regime.

But, the shadow military that I alluded to would be composed of people who are not MAGA, not fascist, and in fact, who oppose those ideologies and their practices. When those military personnel get fired for not being loyal fascists, will they give up on the country that they swore to defend? Or will they form their own shadow military to oppose the fascists?

[dickthegrouch]

21. I don't know how to tell the difference between them

Was my point.
Especially when MAGAts lie through their teeth as a matter of course.

[wnylib]

22. What matters is that the anti fascist, fired personnel know the difference.

[Midnight Writer]

4. Wait until he gets around to the Social Security Trust Fund.

[rampartd]

6. do you mean the "meme coin reserve?"

[RainCaster]

9. The GOP's Ultimate Wet Dream

The GOP has been pleasuring themselves with that thought for decades now. This time, they may actually do it.

[Beck23]

10. Now that the IGs are gone

There will be no one to report when Hegseth goes off the rails.

[Geechie]

11. You're gonna get JDV all excited

with that couch cushion talk

[Bluethroughu]

13. The military should coup.

[pfitz59]

17. Hegseth's macho talk will resonate with some in the military

while angering others. Military regulations are vast, and the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) complex. It will not be lost on the troops that Major Hegseth violated one of the biggest no-no's in the UCMJ, adultery, which is a crime under military law. Sen Miss Lindsay Graham is a former JAGOFF, and should know this, yet he voted for Hegseth, a clear violation of his own oath as Senator and retired Officer. The hypocrisy is blatant.

[Sneederbunk]

18. Macho Man Randy Savage talk.

[haele]

23. If Hegseth manages to purge insufficiently loyal folks,

Plus women, disabled, LGBTQ, and naturalized citizens from the DoD, National Guard, or Reserves, he will end up with a military the size of the Mexican Military with far less support structure.
Not even adding in all the III percenters will give them a "military" that could protect the US, even against an internal insurrection.
His "unconstrained He-Man Military" ideal is highly flawed and leads to a corrupt, fairly inept conscript military, like that of Russia, North Korea and China.