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Mark Mansour's avatar

My worry is that he assembles armed gangs that will shoot. That is realistic.

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Mark Mansour's avatar

I believe it is, as well. I should probably amend that.

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Brian Tanguay's avatar

Well stated. After watching brief clips of the Felon-in-Chief's propaganda night in Congress, I do wonder if Republicans would turn against Trump if he ordered law enforcement or the military to fire on demonstrators. After their stunning display of fealty the other night, I'm not certain they wouldn't cheer as the bodies pile up. It's not a party any longer, it's just a cult.

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James Young's avatar

The military could ignore an order to fire on protesters. Since firing on unarmed peaceful protesters would constitute an illegal order. The military is not bound to follow illegal orders.

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Randy S. Eisenberg's avatar

So, Kent State? I can’t remember if they had orders or not.

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Brian Tanguay's avatar

You’re right. What concerns me is that very concept, what is, and isn’t, a legal order. This may be a reason Trump dismissed a number of military TJAGS, the lawyers who provide guidance to the troops. He’s removing as many impediments as possible.

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Jacquelyn Suter's avatar

Brian, you say: 'what concerns me is that very concept, what is, and isn't, a legal order.' But ... have we so quickly forgotten about the SCOTUS adjudication that awarded a sitting president immunity for all official acts? Surely, trump could justify firing on protestors as 'insurrectionists' as an 'official act' done to keep order in the country?

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Brian Tanguay's avatar

Absolutely, I haven’t forgotten. That decision opened the door to any number of outrages, including turning the US military on civilians. We need massive demonstrations in the streets to put sand in the gears of this coup, but if we manage this I fear people will be killed. Trump won’t hesitate. It’s why he elevated mindless lackeys to critical positions.

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Jacquelyn Suter's avatar

Brian, yes I agree people would most definitely be killed. But a) trump wouldn't care, and b) how many of his supporters (MAGA) would care? Call me Pollyanna, but if that happens I can't help but believe that's (finally) the straw that breaks the proverbial camel's back: amendent 25 at the least, impeachment at worse.

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Mark Mansour's avatar

It was never clear whether they had orders. But young national guardsmen with loaded rifles facing outraged demonstrators is a recipe for a catastrophe.

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Mark Mansour's avatar

I fear that too. While I’d like to think the military would not cooperate, his goons will. And then we will be close to civil war.

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Mark Mansour's avatar

I agree with you. I don’t think they would do it.

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Mark Mansour's avatar

Yes he is. But he is overreaching.

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Mark Mansour's avatar

That’s so true.

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Mark Mansour's avatar

I think that would be the end. I just don’t think their constituents will tolerate it and they will lose if they don’t act.

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Carlene Brown's avatar

“One is left to wonder whether Musk is there to do Putin’s bidding while the helpless puppet Trump stands aside.” Many people are no longer wondering this. Seems to be a fact.

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Bob Churchill's avatar

Usually I can take some small degree of satisfaction in an "I told you so" situation, but while I've been saying all of this about the TRAITURD and Putin for many years (I had prominent in-laws in NYC in the 80's and this was common knowledge among them) what I feel now is instead sadness and disappointment that it has taken SO damned long for the people of the USA (not even a majority yet) to get a clue. To me, the entire MAGA phenomenon is one long ideological kegger nihilistically celebrating ignorance and bigotry, which would be a blight on the nation in the BEST of times - which these manifestly are NOT. Sigh...

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Brian Tanguay's avatar

New Yorkers saw Trump for what he was decades ago. Blowhard. Phony. Con man. Criminal. And possibly a Russian asset since 1987.

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Delia Wozniak's avatar

Oh! Mark, we know ALL this to be true!

Thank you so much for saying it!

It’s so very important!

Heartbreaking though it may be!

Putin owns the White House!

Musk is Putin’s hit man!! He is charged with destroying the government piece by piece! Putin allows him to take whatever he can, as he desires! Musk learned this from Putin!Putin took over the wealth which remained after the fall of the USSR! (PUTIN is the world’s richest man!)

Trump is only Putin’s con man! Putin helped Trump win entry into the White House! But Trump doesn’t rule there! Trump wears the crown but Putin carried the sword!

Perhaps if the MAGA THUGS knew their cult leader was only a Russian Puppet, they might think differently!

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Dannys's avatar

Minnesota saying;

You can wish in one hand and you can shit in the other and see which one fills up faster

Take the blinders off….fight, speak up

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MICHAEL'S CURIOUS WORLD's avatar

Trump has made the USA an unreliable ally. Other countries are turning away from American defence contractors and buying weapons made in Europe and South Korea.

Europe has more people and is wealthier than the USA. It c an certainly mobilise and defeat Russia, which has fewer people an d a smaller economy.

The rest of the world will just bypass the USA and trade with each other. America's 'Trump Slump' will become a full-blown economic recessions. Americans will lose their jobs and sink into poverty.

This is what the 32% who voted for Trump will cause. Actions have consequences.

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Paula R Strawser's avatar

I wish. Republicans will stand up????

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James Young's avatar

I do not believe that Trunputin would be dense enough to fire on protesters. That would certainly spell the end of the Republicon party, as well as the MAGAt movement.

Protesting is a fundamental right of the people and it won't be stopped by gunfire. A worse case scenario is fine to imagine, but it must be realistic.

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Mark Mansour's avatar

I am inclined to agree, but I worry about rogue mobs. Just like January 6th.

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