US Politics XXX: The type of film Donald wants to watch Ivanka in

[LuckyNumber7]

If Trump came from a military background and commanded the respect of the military officers, I would be really worried right now, because historically (to my knowledge) these types of democracy-death situations have come from people who had the military resources to enforce their will. But if it really comes down to January 20 or whatever with Trump refusing to leave office, what is Mitch McConnell going to stand in the door and block the secret secret service from escorting him out?

I can only stress enough that the president has done an intentional job of making people extremely polarized.

You can trust that amongst the ranks of secret servicemen, they are in fact divided and compromised.

Strangely, most of my confidence exists in... congress. Donald Trump would never make it through the senate.

 

[MrsSpringsteen]

Oh Mitch would stand in the doorway

 

[anitram]

I still don’t see any legal standing for this election to be overturned. Is be more worried if the margin of victory was a lot smaller.

I think a lot of this is a distraction.

They are not really basing the fight on recounts as they know they won’t win. The faithless electors/competing sets of electors seems to be the main (and most brazenly corrupt) way.

 

[LuckyNumber7]

Oh Mitch would stand in the doorway

There are *at least* 10 senators who are not Trump-compromised and would defend the very pillars of our democracy, which isn’t much to ask. Some of them play the Trump game because it’s good for them but would absolutely draw the line at “attempting to seize the office of the president of the United States of America.”

 

[DaveC]

I think everyone should be acting under the assumption that it's just noise and blister, but not take their eyes off the possibility that it's more than just noise.

this is where i sit (albeit as a foreigner).

my prediction is that the ted cruzes and lindsay grahams reluctantly fall into line behind the actual results one by one over the next few weeks as it becomes clear that it's just not happening. the trump team will eventually tire themselves out sometime in december and give up, like a toddler having a tantrum that it's time to leave the mcdonald's playpen.

 

[LuckyNumber7]

Graham is lost as fuck.

Ted Cruz is not and never was a Trumper. He’s a shrewd politician who will Trump until it’s tapped out.

 

[DaveC]

this is incredibly fucked up in so many ways. it'll basically be open season on protestors near any business.

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article247094007.html

 

[Hollow Island]

There are *at least* 10 senators who are not Trump-compromised and would defend the very pillars of our democracy, which isn’t much to ask. Some of them play the Trump game because it’s good for them but would absolutely draw the line at “attempting to seize the office of the president of the United States of America.”

Are you talking about Republicans? Those cunts will take everything they can get, and if it means seizing the office of the president they'll do it. They'd already have done it if they'd had license to. They don't care about the office of the president or democracy or even honesty. If they did, they wouldn't be sitting by silently. I think it's fair to say that every single Republican is a fascist, and not in the hyperbolic sense.

 

[LuckyNumber7]

Are you talking about Republicans? Those cunts will take everything they can get, and if it means seizing the office of the president they'll do it. They'd already have done it if they'd had license to. They don't care about the office of the president or democracy or even honesty. If they did, they wouldn't be sitting by silently. I think it's fair to say that every single Republican is a fascist, and not in the hyperbolic sense.

I think you’re overreacting.

They’re all generally awful people sure, but this notion that they’re simply willing to throw out US democracy is nonsense. They’re willing to use whatever institutions that have already been established to control our democracy (such as the electoral college) but they’re not just suddenly about to end America as we know it.

 

[gump]

If Trump came from a military background and commanded the respect of military officers, I would be really worried right now, because historically (to my knowledge) these types of democracy-death situations have come from people who had the military resources to enforce their will. But if it really comes down to January 20 or whatever with Trump refusing to leave office, what is Mitch McConnell going to stand in the door and block the secret secret service from escorting him out?

I think a military background is not a necessary condition for a successful coup (not that I think that is likely), and the literature on this highlights a number of steps that coup-plotters can usually take to co-opt the military. The Erdogan template applies here, in my view. There are lots of ways in which one can stay in power unconstitutionally without ever sending the military into the streets. But there are a ton of factors that make it unlikely, not least the federal system, the sheer size of the country, and the high costs that a failed attempt would have on all involved.

 

[LemonMelon]

I think you’re overreacting.

They’re all generally awful people sure, but this notion that they’re simply willing to throw out US democracy is nonsense. They’re willing to use whatever institutions that have already been established to control our democracy (such as the electoral college) but they’re not just suddenly about to end America as we know it.

I mean, hell, what do they have to gain by undermining the democratic process at that level? There's a solid chance their efforts fail, and then what? They have to go back to work someday. No matter what anyone tells you, this isn't a banana republic and there are plenty of moderates and independents planning their careers around a long game that does not involve fascist Republican rule.

And if they succeed with their faithless electors plan and flip PA and GA, that ultimately invites a dissolution of the union. There would be no further point in a national election. As I said earlier, Republicans do not come out on top if blue and red states are divided. CA and NY can stand autonomously on the strength of their economy, but states like IN and KY would struggle immensely without the robust federal funding that blue state GDP allows.

They can talk big game all they want, but the results are the same.

 

[gump]

It was more fun when I was stressed about whether there were enough votes left in Wisconsin or Georgia for Biden to get ahead.

[TWEET]1326311656549396480[/TWEET]

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

I think you’re overreacting.

They’re all generally awful people sure, but this notion that they’re simply willing to throw out US democracy is nonsense. They’re willing to use whatever institutions that have already been established to control our democracy (such as the electoral college) but they’re not just suddenly about to end America as we know it.

If they successfully use the electoral college to throw out the will of the people through faithless electors? Yea, that's the end of american democracy (or whatever it is that we have here).


Republicans have openly questioned whether or not democracy is even important not very long ago.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Another theory emerges

https://twitter.com/AshaRangappa_/status/1326271467852427264?s=19

 

[MrsSpringsteen]

PA postal employee admits that he fabricated his story about witnessing ballot tampering.

 

[mikal]

Another theory emerges

https://twitter.com/AshaRangappa_/status/1326271467852427264?s=19

Ohhhh that makes sense.

 

[Irvine511]

I mean, hell, what do they have to gain by undermining the democratic process at that level? There's a solid chance their efforts fail, and then what? They have to go back to work someday. No matter what anyone tells you, this isn't a banana republic and there are plenty of moderates and independents planning their careers around a long game that does not involve fascist Republican rule.

And if they succeed with their faithless electors plan and flip PA and GA, that ultimately invites a dissolution of the union. There would be no further point in a national election. As I said earlier, Republicans do not come out on top if blue and red states are divided. CA and NY can stand autonomously on the strength of their economy, but states like IN and KY would struggle immensely without the robust federal funding that blue state GDP allows.

They can talk big game all they want, but the results are the same.

Talking sense right here. Good post.






Of course it’s making me nervous, but I really think it’s about keeping the base trigger happy for January 5.

 

[BEAL]

https://twitter.com/stuartpstevens/status/1326330848489189376?s=21

https://twitter.com/dbarkhuff/status/1326177646808543233?s=21

Could go in the Pandemic thread but we are about to enter a really, really dark period.

Hospitals overflowing. Businesses closing. People scared

And the current head of the covid task force is going on vacation

 

[mikal]

loser.com

 

[anitram]

Ha!

Mike Pence’s presence/absence has no impact on the COVID response so he may as well fuck off to wherever and stay there.

This entire continent is going to have a very very hard winter. There is light at the end of the tunnel but we really have to prepare for the difficult interim period.

 

[Hollow Island]

I mean, hell, what do they have to gain by undermining the democratic process at that level? There's a solid chance their efforts fail, and then what? They have to go back to work someday.

They have absolute control to gain and nothing to lose. Everyone who would be opposed already knows what they're doing. The rest either agree with them or don't care, and a lot of people will forget about it if it fails or shrug their shoulders if they win.

The Republicans are opposed to democracy. Just look at all the different methods of voter suppression to subvert it. The madness going on now is part of a continuum.

 

[BEAL]

Comment on Pence going on vacation more to do with him and GOP giving us all the middle finger in this country’s time of need.

 

[Moonlit_Angel]

Another theory emerges

https://twitter.com/AshaRangappa_/status/1326271467852427264?s=19

Ahhhhh, now that's interesting.

Wasn't Nunes the one who kept running with that weird theory that Democrats had naked photos of Trump or something to that effect?

PA postal employee admits that he fabricated his story about witnessing ballot tampering.

I am shocked at this news, I tell you. Just shocked.

Good lord, please let there be a shitton of charges coming for these people as soon as humanly possible. At least SOME of the people in this administration have to face some kind of charges when this is all over.

 

[phanan]

I really need to avoid Facebook for a while. Some of the misleading posts about voter fraud are getting out of control.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Facebook is an absolute dumpster fire.

 

[Hollow Island]

On Tuesday, Dan Patrick, the Republican lieutenant governor of Texas, said he was offering $1m to incentivize people to come forth with evidence of irregularities.

This won't bring out the liars, quacks and kooks. These guys are always talking about Law & Order but they've never even seen the show!

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news...aud-claims-after-republicans-call-for-inquiry

 

[mikal]

Facebook is an absolute dumpster fire.

This is how I’m starting to handle the crazy conspiracy theorists that actually think the election was rigged.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

So you're saying that the laughing emoji isn't a good response?

 

[mikal]

So you're saying that the laughing emoji isn't a good response?

Haha well it all depends on how they respond to a bit of empathy. [emoji23]

 

[BEAL]

Will post some highlights from a focus group:

https://twitter.com/dannybarefoot/status/1326210347481567232?s=21

https://twitter.com/dannybarefoot/status/1326210567732940802?s=21

https://twitter.com/dannybarefoot/status/1326213484946857984?s=21

https://twitter.com/dannybarefoot/status/1326214935169409025?s=21

https://twitter.com/dannybarefoot/status/1326214936176058368?s=21

And what 90% of us have been saying below

https://twitter.com/dannybarefoot/status/1326215586066681858?s=21

https://twitter.com/dannybarefoot/status/1326216451896844289?s=21

https://twitter.com/dannybarefoot/status/1326216787252436993?s=21

https://twitter.com/dannybarefoot/status/1326217089556865025?s=21

https://twitter.com/dannybarefoot/status/1326217728051437569?s=21

Could explain why polling was off. People see large leads and decide to say fuck it.