You seem to think that the president, any president, it a generalissimo, strutting around and ordering the military to do his bidding come what may. That can’t be further from the truth because in order to accept your view of the presidential powers you must ignore the Constitution, specifically the clause in Article I, Section 8: “Congress shall have the power to make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces?” That is the relevant clause here, not Article II. That is where Colonel Roberts and Colonel McHugh and Lieutenant Colonel Judd got their authority to order Lakin to report to his brigade commander and to report for duty with the 101st. Not from Obama or any other occupant of the Oval Office, legitimate or illegetimate. But from the rules and regulations adopted by the Army under the authority granted them by act of Congress. That’s why people can be ordered to fill sandbags or stand a post or report for duty. That’s why the orders of the three officers were lawful. That is why Lakin will be convicted, cashiered, and probably jailed for his actions regardless of what happens or doesn’t happen to Obama.
Did Congress rule that the Secretary of Defense maintains the military?
And is that SecDef required to be appointed by the President, according to the Constitution?
Remember that manual that One Winged Shark quoted from, where the “filling sandbags” quote even came from - saying that all orders right down to filling sandbags are the execution of the entire chain of command, stemming from the authority of the Constitution?
How do you think that manual came up with that? Do you think it has anything to do with the laws that Congress has passed regarding who authorizes what in the military?