Nukes (1 Viewer)

[Psychopav]

I keep hearing Hillary talk about how we don't want someone as unstable as Trump with his hand on the button.

But really, do we want anyone to have the absolute and unilateral power to destroy civilization as we know it on a whim?  Isn't that to much power for one person to hold alone? 

Isn't that the power of every president, and isn't that a little unsettling? I mean, you could have the most ethical, stable guy (or gal) in the world in there, but literally one unlucky knock on the melon could cause them to come unhinged and start making crazy decisions.

Most of the stuff people are afraid of Trump doing, he could not get away with because it would take others in his administration or congress to go along with it.  But the president has the launch codes and alone wields the power to decide to use them.

Do we need to have at least one other person involved in order to prevent a rogue president from irrationally  doing the unthinkable? 

What if we made one single limitation to the president's power, and required the joint decision of the President and the Speaker of the House to order a nuclear strike?  Would you be in favor of that? 

 

[The General]

How about we just don't elect the dimwitted maniac.

 

[Sconch]

You do realize that there really isn't "a button", right?

 

[Psychopav]

How about we just don't elect the dimwitted maniac.

Not the point.

 

[Psychopav]

You do realize that there really isn't "a button", right?

That doesn't change the fact that a single person can order the launch completely on their own, right? 

 

[Sconch]

That doesn't change the fact that a single person can order the launch completely on their own, right? 

Not right https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_football

 

[Gucci Fur]

Nobody is nuking anybody.

Any conversation past that is fear mongering.

 

[Bucky86]

Nobody is nuking anybody.

Any conversation past that is fear mongering.

No, but merely saying youre willing to nuke someone without provocation changes the rules.

 

[badmojo1006]

I keep hearing Hillary talk about how we don't want someone as unstable as Trump with his hand on the button.

But really, do we want anyone to have the absolute and unilateral power to destroy civilization as we know it on a whim?  Isn't that to much power for one person to hold alone? 

Isn't that the power of every president, and isn't that a little unsettling? I mean, you could have the most ethical, stable guy (or gal) in the world in there, but literally one unlucky knock on the melon could cause them to come unhinged and start making crazy decisions.

Most of the stuff people are afraid of Trump doing, he could not get away with because it would take others in his administration or congress to go along with it.  But the president has the launch codes and alone wields the power to decide to use them.

Do we need to have at least one other person involved in order to prevent a rogue president from irrationally  doing the unthinkable? 

What if we made one single limitation to the president's power, and required the joint decision of the President and the Speaker of the House to order a nuclear strike?  Would you be in favor of that? 

No it just needs to be the President. There should be no way that our President would pre-emptive Nuclear strike. It should only be a defensive response. And in that case, there is only a short amount of time to make that decision, it is less than 10 minutes. I want a smart, capable, decisive President who can make that decision. Hillary can be that leader. I am truly fearful if Trump gets into office about whether he is capable of making that decision.

 

[timschochet]

I agree with Trump. What's the point of having nukes if we don't blow a few countries up every now and then? 

We give them money

But are they grateful? 

No theyre spiteful

And they're hateful! 

They don't respect us

So let's surprise them

We'll drop the Big One and pulverize them! 

 

[AAABatteries]

You do realize that there really isn't "a button", right?

Exactly - everybody knows it's two keys that have to be turned at the same time.

 

[Riversco]

No it just needs to be the President. There should be no way that our President would pre-emptive Nuclear strike. It should only be a defensive response. And in that case, there is only a short amount of time to make that decision, it is less than 10 minutes. I want a smart, capable, decisive President who can make that decision. Hillary can be that leader. I am truly fearful if Trump gets into office about whether he is capable of making that decision.

How is it a defensive maneuver to launch nukes.  It sees pretty offensive to me.

 

[dschuler]

A button?  That's a metaphor.   It's much more complicated and goes through way more people than the president.   Ultimately, the president has the final say. 

 

[dschuler]

No it just needs to be the President. There should be no way that our President would pre-emptive Nuclear strike. It should only be a defensive response. And in that case, there is only a short amount of time to make that decision, it is less than 10 minutes. I want a smart, capable, decisive President who can make that decision. Hillary can be that leader. I am truly fearful if Trump gets into office about whether he is capable of making that decision.

Because she has a great track record of making intelligent military decisions.

 

[Otis]

How about we just don't elect the dimwitted maniac.

Which one?

 

[Psychopav]

Not right https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_football

Thanks, I did not know that the Secretary of Defense has to validate the order.

Still not sure it wouldn't be preferable to have an elected, rather than appointed, official as the validator, but at least it's not just one guy/gal acting unilaterally.

 

[Psychopav]

A button?  That's a metaphor.   It's much more complicated and goes through way more people than the president.   Ultimately, the president has the final say. 

Not according to the article that Sconch linked.

 

[badmojo1006]

No it just needs to be the President. There should be no way that our President would pre-emptive Nuclear strike. It should only be a defensive response. And in that case, there is only a short amount of time to make that decision, it is less than 10 minutes. I want a smart, capable, decisive President who can make that decision. Hillary can be that leader. I am truly fearful if Trump gets into office about whether he is capable of making that decision.

How is it a defensive maneuver to launch nukes.  It sees pretty offensive to me.

Really? Don't fire unless fired upon...

 

[badmojo1006]

No it just needs to be the President. There should be no way that our President would pre-emptive Nuclear strike. It should only be a defensive response. And in that case, there is only a short amount of time to make that decision, it is less than 10 minutes. I want a smart, capable, decisive President who can make that decision. Hillary can be that leader. I am truly fearful if Trump gets into office about whether he is capable of making that decision.

How is it a defensive maneuver to launch nukes.  It sees pretty offensive to me.

She has made mistakes, she is human...Even then she is still capable and decisive to become President. And she wants the job. She wants to lead the country

Can you say any of that about Trump?

 

[joffer]

From what I remember, the two-man rule has always been in effect. I don't think it has to be SecDef, could be the VP, or someone approved by the Senate.

During the Cold War, I think the president could order a launch in the event of an all-out Soviet attack without the two-man rule, but that possibility is gone obviously.

 

[RokNRole]

I can think of a few countries we should nuke

 

[Jayrok]

How about we just don't elect the dimwitted maniac.

Well, she is leading in the polls.  How can we stop her?

 

[The General]

Which one?

I'll say the orange one with the dead muskrat on his head.

 

[shader]

Nobody is nuking anybody.

Any conversation past that is fear mongering.

That's a ridiculous opinion.

 

[Vanilla Guerrilla]

Might nuke Rosie Odonnell or someone who says something about him on twitter?