Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Amaryllis

(9,523 posts)
Tue Aug 29, 2017, 10:56 PM Aug 2017

What does it say when people are glad the generals are defying POTUS? Mattis has been defiant lately

and the general (pardon the pun) view seems to be that it's a good thing, at least among progressives. I'm sure the righties feel differently, and Pence probably loved the transgender ban.

I have very mixed feelings. At what point does it become a military coup?
Seems like a slippery slope, and yet I like what Mattis is doing, and he seems far more sane than POTUS. The Constitution was not written for such times.

What do you all think?

I hope he hid the football.

17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
What does it say when people are glad the generals are defying POTUS? Mattis has been defiant lately (Original Post) Amaryllis Aug 2017 OP
I'd think that might put his head on tRump's chopping block too. ffr Aug 2017 #1
Mattis is highly regarded in the military ranks Best_man23 Aug 2017 #10
I've thought the Generals might end up saving us from this piece of crap so-called Potus. elleng Aug 2017 #2
I think a lot of us feel that way. I just thought what does it say about where we are when we Amaryllis Aug 2017 #3
Maybe just a mini-pseudo-coupette pangaia Aug 2017 #4
I could definitely support a coupette. Amaryllis Aug 2017 #5
Agree, it's troubling. We're down to lesser of evils. When we get back in moonscape Aug 2017 #6
yeah, but i don't think Mattis or the others are evil. i would support most of them over most other JI7 Aug 2017 #13
I wouldn't be surprised if it's already happened defacto7 Aug 2017 #7
I have wondered the same thing. n/t murielm99 Aug 2017 #8
I wasn't thinking coup as much as a "his generals" providing a buffer misanthrope Aug 2017 #14
Right, much better way to put it, buffer between a lunatic and We the People, elleng Aug 2017 #15
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think a military coup and/or martial law Expecting Rain Aug 2017 #9
That was exactly my reaction when i realized I was actually entertaining it as not so insane or a Amaryllis Aug 2017 #17
Mattis isn't defying Trump, the study is part of the order. X_Digger Aug 2017 #11
We've already had in effect a coup by Russia and those colluding with Russia. Generals standing up highplainsdem Aug 2017 #12
Could you imagine if Obama had generals resisting him like this? 'Course not, he was sane. greyl Aug 2017 #16

ffr

(22,644 posts)
1. I'd think that might put his head on tRump's chopping block too.
Tue Aug 29, 2017, 10:59 PM
Aug 2017

What is the penalty for disobeying the Commander In Chief?

Best_man23

(4,889 posts)
10. Mattis is highly regarded in the military ranks
Tue Aug 29, 2017, 11:30 PM
Aug 2017

If tRump fires him, he risks losing a good percentage of his military support.

elleng

(130,126 posts)
2. I've thought the Generals might end up saving us from this piece of crap so-called Potus.
Tue Aug 29, 2017, 11:00 PM
Aug 2017

A military coup: When a group of them take over for their own political reasons, which won't be the case here/now, imo.

Amaryllis

(9,523 posts)
3. I think a lot of us feel that way. I just thought what does it say about where we are when we
Tue Aug 29, 2017, 11:03 PM
Aug 2017

are entertaining the idea that a military coup might be better than what we have now? I was kinda shocked to find myself even entertaining the thought.

moonscape

(4,664 posts)
6. Agree, it's troubling. We're down to lesser of evils. When we get back in
Tue Aug 29, 2017, 11:08 PM
Aug 2017

power, I am assuming we will jettison military from executive.

Meanwhile, my biggest worry is that 45 will get rid of them and run the country on his own, or with Lewandowski or listen more to Miller or ...

JI7

(89,172 posts)
13. yeah, but i don't think Mattis or the others are evil. i would support most of them over most other
Tue Aug 29, 2017, 11:36 PM
Aug 2017

republicans in being president.

many generals actually were supportive of hillary clinton. including many who didn't like her husband which had to do with the draft. but they liked hillary .

defacto7

(13,485 posts)
7. I wouldn't be surprised if it's already happened
Tue Aug 29, 2017, 11:20 PM
Aug 2017

or at least is understood under conditions, and we don't or Trump doesn't know it.

misanthrope

(7,405 posts)
14. I wasn't thinking coup as much as a "his generals" providing a buffer
Wed Aug 30, 2017, 01:37 AM
Aug 2017

between the horrific destructive capacity of utterly maniacal lunacy and some semblance of normalcy. I don't see how anyone who truly believes in their oath to the Constitution could stomach abetting a military coup.

 

Expecting Rain

(811 posts)
9. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think a military coup and/or martial law
Tue Aug 29, 2017, 11:30 PM
Aug 2017

would ever be the answer to saving this country from a wannabe dictator. And I still don't.

But the mere fact that it no longer seems insane or a categorical non-starter, is evidence of how low we've sunk as a country to have a man like Donald Trump as our president.

This is a national nightmare. Every day brings more horrors.

Amaryllis

(9,523 posts)
17. That was exactly my reaction when i realized I was actually entertaining it as not so insane or a
Wed Aug 30, 2017, 08:40 PM
Aug 2017

complete non-starter - what does that say about where we are?

X_Digger

(18,585 posts)
11. Mattis isn't defying Trump, the study is part of the order.
Tue Aug 29, 2017, 11:30 PM
Aug 2017

"The president issued that notification Friday night. It directed Mattis to study the issue and determine how to implement Trump's direction".

This is how the pentagon rolls.

highplainsdem

(48,718 posts)
12. We've already had in effect a coup by Russia and those colluding with Russia. Generals standing up
Tue Aug 29, 2017, 11:31 PM
Aug 2017

to Trump when his policies are clearly harmful and unconstitutional are a good thing under the circumstances. This is an emergency, and God help us if Trump replaces those conscientious generals with flunkies, before the civilian lawmakers who should be removing Trump from office finally take action.

greyl

(22,990 posts)
16. Could you imagine if Obama had generals resisting him like this? 'Course not, he was sane.
Wed Aug 30, 2017, 01:57 AM
Aug 2017

But if it did happen with the generals defying actually righteous orders, it would be very unsettling indeed.

There was Joe "You lie!" Wilson, McConnell, and other disrespectful lines drawn in the sand, but generals are different territory.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»What does it say when peo...