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I Was A Member of the "Deep State"
Apr. 19th, 2018 10:49 amVarious conservative sites, Fox News, and President Trump (not that there's much daylight between these entities) are concerned that the "deep state" is trying to overthrow Trump. Well, I was a member of that "deep state" so I have thoughts.
Many years and many pounds ago, I was a commissioned officer in the US Navy. On commissioning, I took the following oath:
I, Chris Gerrib, do solemnly swear 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; 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 on which I am about to enter. So help me God.
You will note that nothing in that oath says a damn thing about the President of the United States. It charges me to protect the Constitution against all enemies "foreign and domestic." That's the same general oath taken by all government officials, including the President.
The deep state is what prevents us from sliding into dictatorship. The dirty little truth about any dictatorship is it's not just one man. All sorts of people are needed to implement even a small dictatorship. So here in the USA, we swear not to a person but to an ideal. And if a person isn't living up to that ideal, we are obligated to act.
Many years and many pounds ago, I was a commissioned officer in the US Navy. On commissioning, I took the following oath:
I, Chris Gerrib, do solemnly swear 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; 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 on which I am about to enter. So help me God.
You will note that nothing in that oath says a damn thing about the President of the United States. It charges me to protect the Constitution against all enemies "foreign and domestic." That's the same general oath taken by all government officials, including the President.
The deep state is what prevents us from sliding into dictatorship. The dirty little truth about any dictatorship is it's not just one man. All sorts of people are needed to implement even a small dictatorship. So here in the USA, we swear not to a person but to an ideal. And if a person isn't living up to that ideal, we are obligated to act.
