Let me be clear, this is not about any Presidential candidate past or present.
Let's suppose a candidate with unbounded ambition and questionable character is elected President of the United States.
Could this President pull off a successful coup and take absolute control?
Here is how I see it happening.
After becoming President, he installs hiw own loyal generals, with their loyalty only to him, in all the key military leadership positions. He also installs absolute loyalists to all the cabinet positions.
He then tells the nation America faces a grave danger of falling to Islamist fundamentalists, and that only strong leadership, free of partisan bickering, will save the nation.
The President then proceeds to have the military arrest the Vice President, all the members of the U.S. Senate, all the members of the U.S. House of Representatives, he suspends the U.S. Supreme Court, and then suspends the constitution.
The President then declares himself President For Life, with absolute power.
Could something like this ever happen?
Please discuss.
No. There are too many centers of power. He'd find himself either immediately in court or find the White House surrounded by a mob.
