Lubbock Co. Judge warns of potential danger if Obama is re-elected

[Art Vandelay]

While I agree that a civil war would be short, there are a few things to consider. First, I am not sure the military could act, as federal law bans the military from acting (outside certain restrictions) inside the US.

Actually, it doesn't.  The Posse Comitatus Act allows the military to be used for law enforcement pursuant to the Constitution or Act of Congress.

There are plenty of ways for the executive branch to put down a rebellion or insurrection.

Legally maybe, but if the military fucks off and does its own shit, there are few ways to actually stop them considering they are the ones with the guns and training.

The simple fact that the Federal Government provides all of their funding means that any military personnel who try to mutiny will be taking a 100% pay cut, receiving no further supplies and should they fail will almost certainly get the death penalty for treason. Needless to say, it's rather unlikely that the US military will ever not answer to the Federal Government.

[largeham]

Assuming there is a large scale rebellion/revolt/civil war, any person willing to turn against the government probably knows that they will lose their pay if they work for it and the death penalty if they lose. As for supplies, again it depends on which parts of the military do revolt, and if any rebel movement can set up manufacturing in controlled areas, then that will be one less problem.

Of course most of this conversation is based on conjecture and debate. And there are examples of militaries turning against their own governments.

[Art Vandelay]

They'd be some pretty impressive rebels if they had the industry to supply the US military. We're talking about a military that in its current state takes almost as much funding as the rest of the world's military budgets combined.

[Canadian Mojo]

The real question is how long would it take, because anything less than a week to seize control of the country and put it under martial law shouldn't be too much of an issue. Anything longer than that and it has gone from a coup to a civil war which would bring a whole host of economic problems to both sides of the conflict.