re: #99 stpaulbear

OMG Obama tells the troops to resist Trump!!

(Starting at about 38:30, video deleted for space)

I was not in the Navy any time during President Obama’s Administration, but I would have been damn proud to have him as my civilian Commander-in-Chief. President Obama is thoughtful and knowledgeable, and listens and weighs his advisers opinions before daring to commit the Armed Forces to harm’s way.

President Obama is the sort of person whose orders I would have followed to hell and back.

Moreover, Vice-President Biden is equally committed to the rule of law and deep concern for committing military lives in the cause of the nation. I would have been just as confident knowing that the Vice-President was Mr. Obama’s backup in case the worst occurred to the Commander-in-Chief.

There is a reason the framers of the Constitution put a civilian in the highest position of military command, and it is because the military is constantly indoctrinated in the need for civilian control the nation has never suffered a military coup.

Mr. Obama’s speech brings forth the meaning of that enlistment oath:

“I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.” [last line optional] (Title 10, US Code; Act of 5 May 1960 replacing the wording first adopted in 1789, with amendment effective 5 October 1962).

Moreover, the officer’s oath upon accepting a commission is different, because officers are appointed by the civilian government.

The difference is here:

… that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; … .

Without any mental reservation. Enlisted personnel can be drafted; officers are always appointed by the civilian government.

Moreover, my oath of office as a village trustee as set forth in my state constitution. It’s a bit longer:

I, …………………., do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Nebraska, against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely and without mental reservation or for purpose of evasion; and that I will faithfully and impartially perform the duties of the office of ……………………, according to law, and to the best of my ability. And I do further swear that I do not advocate, nor am I a member of any political party or organization that advocates the overthrow of the government of the United States or of this state by force or violence; and that during such time as I am in this position I will not advocate nor become a member of any political party or organization that advocates the overthrow of the government of the United States or of this state by force or violence. So help me God.

None of those oaths require you to affirm or swear to uphold a person. They require you to uphold the Constitution. That is the ideal for which you lay down your life, not a demagogue in a cheap suit (or an expensive suit that looks like a cheap suit.)

And those oaths and their ideals are inculcated practically daily in the military: You serve the Constitution, not a civilian master. Not a military master. My political oath is the same (with the added bit about not advocating the overthrow of the government).

I have spent almost my entire adult life under one of those oaths, and I take them seriously. Even when I wasn’t in the military or Nebraska government, I still took them seriously.

It is the Constitution I serve, not the Commander-in-Chief, not the state governor, and not the Donflict of Interest elect.

Nice shade from the President. Didn’t even mention Cheeto Mussolini’s name. And he was cheered at McDill AFB.