The Trump Presidency

[Obviousman]

I'd like to think that no officer in that chain of command would obey an illegal order to nuke somebody.  But I'd sleep more comfortably if Donald Trump simply didn't have the authority to test my theory.

It is the duty of every serving member not to obey an illegal order, however determining what is legal and what is not can be challenging. For example, can the President order a first strike without approval of any other governmental body? I don't know, myself.

[Jeff Raven]

I mean, he could try entering eight zeros.  "It's an older code, sir, but it checks out." 

😂

[JayUtah]

It is the duty of every serving member not to obey an illegal order, however determining what is legal and what is not can be challenging. For example, can the President order a first strike without approval of any other governmental body? I don't know, myself.

The President can order any first strike scenario that's in the nuclear playbook.  However, since the order will be carried out by the appropriate office of the Pentagon, the Dept. of Defense will be involved in determining the lawfulness of any such order.

[JayUtah]

Agreed.  The IT people do not get enough credit for what they do, nor are their warnings given enough attention.

I need to know where to send the case of craft beer and the single-malt scotch to the valiant night shift in the Twitter NOC playing Whack-A-Mole with Donald J. Trump's pathetic attempts to evade his ban.

[raven]

Apparently he tried to hijack the @POTUS account, which he never had full (or any) control of.

Ha! Oh, that is precious indeed. Source?

My spouse, from across the couch.  But I found this:
https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-tweets-from-potus-account-after-suspension-they-got-deleted-2021-1

Thank you; that is just hilarious! 

[Britmax]

I'd like to think that no officer in that chain of command would obey an illegal order to nuke somebody.  But I'd sleep more comfortably if Donald Trump simply didn't have the authority to test my theory.

It is the duty of every serving member not to obey an illegal order, however determining what is legal and what is not can be challenging. For example, can the President order a first strike without approval of any other governmental body? I don't know, myself.

You could remind them of the Nuremberg Trials, and how effective "I was only obeying orders" was as a defence.  And that the only option (other than refusing the order) takes them with it.

[Zakalwe]

Apparently he tried to hijack the @POTUS account, which he never had full (or any) control of.

Ha! Oh, that is precious indeed. Source?

My spouse, from across the couch.  But I found this:
https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-tweets-from-potus-account-after-suspension-they-got-deleted-2021-1

Thank you; that is just hilarious! 

Twitter are playing whack-a-mole with Trump at the moment. Gary Corby, Trump's digital director tried to gift Trump his personal account. That got nailed too. https://mobile.twitter.com/JDiamond1/status/1347741119434649603
At this stage Trump must be on the verge of a rage-stroke.

Regarding the plastic ziptie handcuffs one of the seditionists has been identified as a retired Airforce Lieutenant Colonel:

He is now wriggling about claiming that he found them on the floor, put them in his coat in order to give them to a cop and then just forgot all about them. I mean, that's a totally normal thing that could happen to anyone when you are out for a stroll in your combat gear, bullet-proof vest and helmet. You take a wrong turn and suddenly you find yourself in the middle of the Capitol in a riot. Totally believable and we've all done it at one point or another. 

There's an interesting sub-Reddit going on at the moment: https://www.reddit.com/r/byebyejob/ Lots of very well paid people suddenly finding themselves out of very good jobs. So far I've spotted a lawyer, a CEO, our absent-minded friend above and a woman outed by her daughter. Schadenfreude and karma appears to be a real thing!

[Zakalwe]

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/an-air-force-combat-veteran-breached-the-senate

[Zakalwe]

https://twitter.com/i/status/1347617828887818241

Claims that the police opened the door and let the rioters inside. The ziptie handcuff guy can be seen at about 18 seconds. You can also hear a cop saying "We don't agree with you but we respect you"

[gillianren]

The simple fact is, if you still believe there was voter fraud, you want to.  It doesn't pass the most basic logic test--I keep asking why, if there was enough voter fraud to control the Presidency, it took until a runoff election to control the Senate.  The easiest way to refute the idea that the election was fixed is to point out that Mitch McConnell will remain in the Senate.  If you can believe in voter fraud after that's been pointed out to you, what would convince you?

[Zakalwe]

The simple fact is, if you still believe there was voter fraud, you want to.  It doesn't pass the most basic logic test--I keep asking why, if there was enough voter fraud to control the Presidency, it took until a runoff election to control the Senate.  The easiest way to refute the idea that the election was fixed is to point out that Mitch McConnell will remain in the Senate.  If you can believe in voter fraud after that's been pointed out to you, what would convince you?

It's no difference to any conspiracy theory (or religion for that matter). People believe them because they want to believe. All the evidence to the contrary will not make a jot of difference.

[Glom]

How does America come back from this? This is a cult the likes of which Hubbard could only dream of. They actually believe Trump cares about them beyond wanting their money and their worship. But it's tens of millions of people. How do you deprogram on such a scale?

[Halcyon Dayz, FCD]

Regarding the plastic ziptie handcuffs one of the seditionists has been identified as a retired Airforce Lieutenant Colonel

Reportedly there were people calling for Pence, and openly discussing "executing" him.

The more I read and hear about this the more I get a lynch mob vibe, the most American of gatherings.

[AtomicDog]

Their job was to protect the lawmakers. To allow an angry mob access to them is not de-escalation.

[VQ]

I mean, he could try entering eight zeros.  "It's an older code, sir, but it checks out." 

Ugh, don't remind me...