US 'protected' from coups, unlike us

Khun Songdej said President Kennedy should have been sacked because of the Bay of Pigs incident. But he didn’t say by whom, making me wonder who has authority to sack the US president.

Except for death and resignation, there is no provision in the US Constitution to remove the president before his term is over. Only the Senate can impeach and then remove a US president. So far, only two presidents have been impeached, Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, but both were acquitted. President Nixon came close, but was never impeached. He resigned before the process began and was subsequently pardoned by President Ford. 

Khun Songdej went on to say: “…. the States has been in the economic doldrums since 2008, yet few call for President Obama’s resignation. Why? Because men know when it is intolerable for any leader to linger on.” Fact is, even millions of protesters camp out on George Washington Bridge or raid Dulles International Airport, demanding Obama to resign, his job is secured by the Constitution. (Too bad, coup is impractical in the US, since American military takes an oath to support and defend the Constitution and to obey the president’s orders.)

Finally, Khun Sondej said, “Similarly, so many coups were successful in Thailand because some premiers simply did not know when it was intolerable for them to stay on.” If a person of high calibre like Khun Songdej speaks in favour of coups, I see no future for Thailand.

Somsak Pola

Samut Prakan