File under yes, he really said it: Graham:as president I would deploy the military against Congress

[cali]

Republican senator and presidential maybe-hopeful Lindsey Graham stopped by the "politics and pies" forum in Concord, New Hampshire, today, where he announced that if he is elected president in 2016, his first act will be to deploy the military in Washington to force Congress to reverse cuts to the defense and intelligence budgets.

Yes, you heard that right. Here are Graham's exact words:

And here's the first thing I would do if I were president of the United States. I wouldn't let Congress leave town until we fix this. I would literally use the military to keep them in if I had to. We're not leaving town until we restore these defense cuts. We are not leaving town until we restore the intel cuts.

Graham would use the military to force members of Congress to not just vote on the bill — but to pass it. Graham didn't say "until I get an up-or-down vote on restoring defense cuts." He said "until we restore these defense cuts."

In other words, Graham is proposing that his first act as president would be to use the military to force the legislative branch to pass his agenda.

<snip>

http://www.vox.com/2015/3/11/8193751/lindsey-graham-military-coup

[world wide wally]

1. I guess there really is no Sanity Clause

[brush]

2. You see these guys on MTP all the time and think they have some sense . . .

but then you see Graham off on his own without his buddy McCain and without being able to resort to repug talking points and this is what we get?

It's totally laughable. I literally laughed out loud at this foolishness. He doesn't have the sense to know that he sounds like a comedic military strong man straight out of central casting.

Just nuts.

Where do we get these clowns and how do they keep getting elected — and have the nerve to think about running for president with these kind of military coup-style utterances on their record.

[MosheFeingold]

3. What an idiot

I know he is supposedly (supposedly) a moderate Republican, but Graham is the most offensive member of the Republican party to me.

Part of the Uniparty.

[TexasProgresive]

4. He would have to get Congress to give him that power. Posse Comitatus Act

The text of the , which is still in effect (as 18 U.S.C. Section 1385), reads:

Whoever, except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress, willfully uses any part of the Army or the Air Force as a posse comitatus or otherwise to execute the laws shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.

Perhaps Graham as a Contitutional Law "Expert" can find something there to give him the power.

[BubbaFett]

5. This country has been a true banana republic since the coup in 2000

nothing is surprising.