quote:

Milley also summoned senior officers to review the procedures for launching nuclear weapons, saying the president alone could give the order — but, crucially, that he, Milley, also had to be involved. Looking each in the eye, Milley asked the officers to affirm that they had understood, the authors write, in what he considered an “oath.”

quote:

So intent was Pence on being Trump’s loyal second-in-command — and potential successor — that he asked confidants if there were ways he could accede to Trump’s demands and avoid certifying the results of the election on Jan. 6. In late December, the authors reveal, Pence called Dan Quayle, a former vice president and fellow Indiana Republican, for advice.

Quayle was adamant, according to the authors. “Mike, you have no flexibility on this. None. Zero. Forget it. Put it away,” he said.

But Pence pressed him, the authors write, asking if there were any grounds to pause the certification because of ongoing legal challenges. Quayle was unmoved, and Pence ultimately agreed, according to the book.

When Pence said he planned to certify the results, the president lashed out. In the Oval Office on Jan. 5, the authors write, Pence told Trump he could not thwart the process, that his role was simply to “open the envelopes.”

“ I don’t want to be your friend anymore if you don’t do this ,” Trump replied, according to the book, later telling his vice president, “You’ve betrayed us. I made you. You were nothing.”

quote:

Originally posted by Piano*Dad:
I have said that Milley should be cashiered for quite some time ... since the amazing military performance in DC for Trump's photo op.

Apparently Alex Vindman now agrees. Milley eroded civilian control of the military, and broke military chain of command.

Vindman calls for firing Milley

quote:

Originally posted by Piano*Dad:
Oh, that's quite possible. It's also possibly quite a stretch. In any case, it doesn't really matter. He should resign as a matter of principle, explaining what he did and why he did it, and acknowledging that doing those things is indeed deeply problematic for our Constitutional order. Do we want generals freelancing US policy as they see fit? Going behind the president's back to do it? I certainly hope not. He stepped out of line for reasons he thought cogent, but then didn't have the courage to fall on his sword.

He should have done that before Biden was inaugurated. Instead he has worked to hold onto his precious chair.

P.S. I'm glad he did it. That doesn't translate into support for him staying in the job.

quote:

Originally posted by Piano*Dad:
Oh, that's quite possible. It's also possibly quite a stretch. In any case, it doesn't really matter. He should resign as a matter of principle, explaining what he did and why he did it, and acknowledging that doing those things is indeed deeply problematic for our Constitutional order. Do we want generals freelancing US policy as they see fit? Going behind the president's back to do it? I certainly hope not. He stepped out of line for reasons he thought cogent, but then didn't have the courage to fall on his sword.

He should have done that before Biden was inaugurated. Instead he has worked to hold onto his precious chair.

P.S. I'm glad he did it. That doesn't translate into support for him staying in the job.

quote:

If he told President Biden what he did and why he did it, and President Biden didn't ask for his resignation, I'm OK with it.