Obama says coup in Honduras is illegal
U.S. President Barack Obama said on Monday the coup that ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was illegal and would set a "terrible precedent" of transition by military force unless it was reversed.
A "Terrible precedent?" Why, because he's afraid it could happen to him?
Zelaya was violating his country’s constitution with his referendum that would have, Chavez-style, repealed term limits on the presidency. The Honduras Supreme Court ruled the referendum illegal, and the military refused to distribute the ballots. Instead of backing down, Zelaya fired the head of the military, which precipitated the ouster.
Clearly, democracies cannot abide armed overthrow of elected governments, but that presumes that the government acts within the rule of law. Zelaya had no intention of doing so, and his flagrant violations and attempt to accrue personal power made that crystal clear. Zelaya had begun seizing dictatorial powers, and the military responded by arresting him. The military then handed power back to the legislature rather than keeping it for themselves, which makes this less of a coup and more of a military impeachment.
The President, Congress, and many judges have been playing fast and loose with the U.S. Constitution for years now and this present administration has taken that to an unprecedented level in this country. As more and more Americans start feeling the bars of socialism closing in on them I find it hard to believe they will not rise up and throw off the chains. Hard to believe, but not impossible. :-(
It was not a coup, it was the people of Honduras upholding their constitution.
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