A military coup in the US!

...or, more precisely, what would it take for one to happen?

I've been thinking about this quite a bit, recently (probably fueled by the violent fantasies gripping me every time I see Trumps face or, almost worse, hear his voice, even from afar): In the first Trump admin, the generals were mostly among the adults in the room, and who knows what he would have gotten up to without them. Now I know the regime has been hard at work getting "illloyal" people out of the way, but I imagine there must be many high-ranking military gusy left who see him as the horrible, dangerous, reckless, power-hungry narcissist he is.


On one hand, I'm pretty sure these guys are talking, cautiously trying to build networks, finding out whom they could trust if push comes to shove. On the other hand, high-ranking Wehrmacht generals did just that from pretty early on after Hitler came to power, but still, for a variety of reasons (sense of loyalty, agreement with the general militaristic stance of the regime, common enemies on the left, fear of a civil war), waited until pretty much all was lost anyway to carry out a plan that probably wouldn't have worked even if Hitler had been killed, heroic as it may have been.


What would Trump have to do for them to take action? Would there be any chance of success?

There were actually numerous plots against Hitler, beginning shortly after his rise to power. They only made the movie about the last one.

And they only made the movie because Tom Cruise wanted to suck up to the Germans so they’d leave Scientology alone.

Yes, I know… my point is, they didn’t really get anywhere (the one by solitary civilian Georg Elser probably got furthest), and some of the supposed military plots are a bit dubious for only being mentioned after the war when it became opportune. But there definitely were high ranking military officers plotting from quite early on, that’s exactly my point. I’d really like to know how many US generals are doing the same (if only in their own minds) and what their respective lines in the sand would be.

They've tried to kill him twice already, cheered on by most of you. I have no doubt they'll try again. Call it what you will.

A regrettable couple of centimetres, is what I call it. What I most certainly wont call it is a military coup, which is what this thread is about. Are you suggesting it was? Honest question, I haven’t been keeping up with the conspiracy theory scene…

You say that like cheering it on is a bad thing.

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if there were rogue elements of the military involved. Obviously, not sure.

But the fact you regret that he wasn't killed truly says something about your character. It's also not a good look for this site. You've got some serious problems.

And here I thought there was hope for you.

Every military member receives training on the difference between lawful orders and unlawful orders. I'd like to think that when the orange moron and his drunkard SecDef try doing something unlawful . . . violating posse comitatus, for example . . . the military would refuse.
As for an actual by-God coup? I don't think that's in the cards without a constitutional crisis. The military takes an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution, not the president. Ultimately there'd be a split in the military between Trumptards and non-Trumptards. And if that happens we're in a civil war anyway, so . . .

I used to not endorse such things. But as I am genuinely terrified at the direction this country is careening towards, my views have changed. I started to think "this guy needs a bullet to the head" around the time of his eating the dogs comment.

I'd feel more comfortable about that if the J6ers didn't include so many military members.

Still. Cmon, man. I detested Obama. Never wished that upon him.

a. it depends on how far he's allowed to get in his ambition to replace flag officers with loyalists (don't think the possibility of having his orders defied hasn't crossed his mind) - much harder to stand opposed to unconstitutional orders when the leadership is complicit

b. I don't see a viable scenario in which "the military seizes power" would ever happen, but one could envision a number of situations in which an obvious defense of the constitution would demand certain oppositional actions. Say for example Trump comes out one day and announces that he's signed an executive order to disband Congress. That could not be enforced without the military and if it were attempted their oath would demand they not let such a thing happen, even on pain of removing him from office.

I've never wished it upon any politicians either. But I see Trump as an existential threat to the democracy. And an instigator to a violent conflict. So my normal views on this have ceased to apply to a man whom I see as an actual threat to our country.

BTW, I like you a lot better when you do the troll persona bullshit.

So that's why the vast majority of conservatives allowed Trump to happen! They're biding their time until he thoroughly fucks things up, then they'll be all "clearly, democracy has failed. However, we, the military and veterans, are here to take over and bring us back from the brink of chaos! Also, there's some alien bugs out there we don't like the look of, so someone needs to invent power armor. Wanna vote? Join the Mobile Infantry! Service Guarantees Citizenship®"

While I don't like either, if my choices are Trumpian "Christian" Nationalism or Heinleinian Fascistic Military Dictatorship, guess which one I'm picking?

I'm not sure that surpasses red vs green apples as a contrast...

Not really, but also, kind of.

It seemed like there was a lot less racism and other bigotry going on in Starship Troopers Authoritarianism, although that was probably in large part because humans had Arachnids and Skinnies to hate instead, and we currently don't have space aliens trying to wipe us out (that we know of.)

It also seemed like Terran Federation had leadership that was at least somewhat competent, which, would be worse in a lot of ways, very worse. But also, maybe, I don't want to say "better"... but, less bad in some ways?

Also, I mentioned the power armor, right? One has power armor, the other, the best we're going to get is Musk saying "fully-functional power armor for our troops, next year," every year, for at least a decade, with nothing but prototype suits that stop functioning the moment it starts raining.

My loyalty can be bought with a suit of power armor.

Until I get the power armor, anyway. After that, don't need to be loyal; I have power armor and who is going to stop me?

Honestly, what did the Skinnies ever do? Were they allied with the Bugs?

They were at first, but then they decided they didn't like the bugs anymore and they'd rather be allies with the humans. It's was also not clear what the bugs did either, other than typical war shit, probably.

Also, while in the movie the Federation is definitely fascist, in the book it's... less clear. It's pretty much American government, but one has to do federal service to be able to vote or hold public office. (Public service is strictly voluntary, mostly non-military, and the government isn't allowed to overtly reject anyone, although they do try to subtly discourage people to make sure they're serious. If one isn't very capable, they give you something dumb to do. If one can stick with it for three years without getting bored and quitting, then, congratulations, you're a citizen and can vote.)

It's... not a system I like, but it could be one I could tolerate.

Although, whether or not a system of government in a novel functions well is entirely dependent on whether or not the author wants it to function well. In the book, one has to earn the right to vote, and the process for earning the right to vote is more or less fair, on paper at least. If it was tried in real life, the process for earning the right to vote almost certainly would not be fair.

For one to happen I think you would need Trump to cancel elections or order the launch of nukes and one happening in the near to medium future would make things far worse.

Well, I think you'd have to be willing to kill the next America First party leader, too. Then where does it end?

I wasn't trying to be anything that I'm not. When people truly want to engage, I'll respond in kind. Always been this way.

To the extent that I concur, it has to protect us from Elon too (if not others)

Trump is all animal instinct, like a toddler, he wants what he wants and he doesn't care what it costs to get it - for his own personal ego and gratification.

Elon? Elon is a plotter, a schemer - I don't think he is a genius but he understand the art of exploiting weakness and if someone somehow put a bullet in Trump tonight Elon would still be - maybe moreso - an existential threat to not just our republic but democracy around the world. And he feels entirely entitled to do so because (he thinks) he's better than the rest of us.

Are you talking about the same Wordforge where one of the top posters turned out to be a white supremacist? The one where Tasvir threw the N word around like beads at Mardi Gras on the regular? Where "Kikey Mikey" was a common taunt? Where mods photoshopped two users' faces into a porn title because they spoke up about the staff protecting a creep that was only bounced because he went after Tamar's niece? The one where's woman was slut shamed on the word of another creep here? The one where people have felt comfortable in throwing up swastikas in avatars?

THAT Wordforge?

And you're clutching pearls about this?

Understood. Wasn't aware of ALL of that. Still, not a good look.

THIS is a PRIME example of a trump supporter gets handed numerous FACTS states that they understand those FACTS and then REPEATS the exact same thought as before. to quote Jethro Tull 'thick as a brick'

No, it's a case of several wrongs still don't make a right. Supporting Trump has nothing to do with it. I'd never call for or support the assassination of any president. Then again, I don't have TDS like you do.

you don't have anything but an empty soul

#feelings

There's a scene in an old episode of Family Guy where there's a prison riot, and one of the convicts gets ahold of a knife, and pricks himself with it in the belly, and goes "OUCH!! That really hurts! This is what I've been doing to people? I really do belong here ".

Righties (usually) cannot get to that "this is what I do to people?" moment.

Long way of getting to; Tamar got fucking Tamar-ed, and she kept right the fuck on Tamar-ing.