# Election Day \[Week\]\[Month\[s\]\] \[Year\] 2020 follow-along thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 3, 2020, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618 "2020-11-03T05:36:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 266
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5310 "2020-11-10T14:03:38Z")
Yes, and probably. At least in the sense that Barr is continuing to whittle away at Democracy. > **[DOJ official quits after Barr move on election fraud allegations](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/525248-doj-official-quits-after-barr-move-on-election-fraud-allegations/)** > > A Justice Department official stepped down from his role overseeing probes into voting crimes hours after Attorney General William Barr announced on Monday that he had authorized the agency to… ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5311 "2020-11-10T14:07:35Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Is it true the DOJ said they would investigate Trump’s claims of fraud? Should we be worried? Sort of. Barr released a memo that allowed investigations of “substantial” claims of fraud. Typically DOJ would be barred by policy from investigating local election matters at this time. The specific quote from Barr was that investigations “may be conducted if there are clear and apparently-credible allegations of irregularities that, if true, could potentially impact the outcome of a federal election in an individual State.” Worried? Perhaps. But every claim I’ve seen so far is either broad and unverified (i.e. large enough to swing the election but entirely without proof) or specific and anemic (i.e. possibly true but only effecting tiny numbers of voters). ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5312 "2020-11-10T14:09:33Z")
New Tweet from POTUS this morning: WE ARE MAKING BIG PROGRESS. RESULTS START TO COME IN NEXT WEEK. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Next week, next week. I guess that’s better than “two weeks”. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5313 "2020-11-10T14:13:24Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I wish the Electoral College would vote Dec. 1, followed by the inauguration. Totally time for this change to happen. I mean, even with the vote date as is, no reason to wait until January 20 anymore. I have the impression that the timing of the American electoral system is still geared to a bygone era when travel and communication was slow and difficult, perhaps even before railroads. Time to move into the 21st century. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5314 "2020-11-10T14:30:24Z")
I feel most of the toxic to inconvenient differences between the US and Europe stem from the former’s tenacious clinging into centuries-old systems, legislation and values. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5315 "2020-11-10T14:32:22Z")
Maybe this is another thread’s worth of discussion, but… suppose Trump got Trumpist judges to give up the states of PA and GA, giving himself the election. What would happen? What would you do? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5316 "2020-11-10T14:34:33Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > It’s weird too. You can point this out to a Trumpian, **they will blink once or twice** as their brain does not compute, and then they will continue telling you how the election was stolen. My bold. That blinking is when the hive mind clicks in and takes over. This is followed by vacant stares and robotic, repetitive statements. Haven’t we floated the idea before that Republicans are The Borg? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5317 "2020-11-10T14:38:22Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Maybe this is another thread’s worth of discussion, but… suppose Trump got Trumpist judges to give up the states of PA and GA, giving himself the election. > > What would happen? What would you do? One reason even Trumpist judges would be reluctant to do this is the country would go nuts, and with good reason. They saw the outpouring of joy last Saturday, just like the rest of us. It really can’t be undone without serious harm. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5318 "2020-11-10T15:28:03Z")
> [@Toxylon](#): > > I feel most of the toxic to inconvenient differences between the US and Europe stem from the former’s tenacious clinging into centuries-old systems, legislation and values Very true. In many ways, the US is a victim of its own success. By being the first modern democracy, it’s stuck with a bunch of experimental half-measures that later-founded democracies avoided. But it doesn’t HAVE to remain stuck with them. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5319 "2020-11-10T15:31:19Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > I have the impression that the timing of the American electoral system is still geared to a bygone era when travel and communication was slow and difficult, perhaps even before railroads. It’s actually been adjusted once already. Presidential inauguration used to be in March. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5320 "2020-11-10T15:33:40Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Very true. In many ways, the US is a victim of its own success. By being the first modern democracy, it’s stuck with a bunch of experimental half-measures that later-founded democracies avoided. Yes. And it’s made even worse by the fact that many of those half-measures were designed _specifically_ to limit democracy and to provide equal (and some cases more than equal) political voice to states whose primary goal _at the time_ was to continue the institution of slavery. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5321 "2020-11-10T15:46:44Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I’m afraid other republicans are going to see this as an opportunity to a) weaken the incoming president-elect, I’m not seeing this at all. I think their stupid shenanigans are increasing Biden’s political capital. Biden or surrogates are going to be able to point to the dumbfuckery to whip Congressional votes. And it helps Democratic voters stay engaged. What’s weakening Biden is the (probably Russia deployed) story of centrists vs leftists in the Democratic Party. That shitfire has to be put out pronto. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5322 "2020-11-10T15:53:58Z")
I’d think about Rudy’s press conference in the garage of the landscape company located between the crematorium and the dildo store with viewing booths (I wonder if, since COVID, those booths are sanitized after every use)…and laugh my ass off. That one never gets old. Seriously, the Rudy clown show has delegitimized what could have been a mild to moderately effective campaign to gin up evidence of “voter fraud”. God, that assclown was pulling this same shit all over Ukraine for year, as a personal representative of the President of the United States. Never forget that. I’m sure if any totally bought off judge made such a ruling, it would be reversed so fast your head would spin. And if by some remote chance they manage to tie things up past January 20th, the Trump and Pence terms expire and Acting President Pelosi would take office. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5323 "2020-11-10T16:05:25Z")
[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-10/barr-allows-probes-into-voting-outcome-despite-lack-of-evidence](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-10/barr-allows-probes-into-voting-outcome-despite-lack-of-evidence) Which claims would those be, exactly? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5324 "2020-11-10T16:13:57Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > One reason even Trumpist judges would be reluctant to do this is the country would go nuts, and with good reason. And this gives them the excuse to call in the military, to control the “rebels”. It’s all in the authoritarian takeover playbook. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5325 "2020-11-10T16:14:51Z")
I don’t think the military would cooperate, especially at the level of command. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5326 "2020-11-10T16:16:33Z")
Whatever goon squads they can get together then. Right wing militias. Federal agents from obscure agencies with firepower. (like they used in DC). ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5327 "2020-11-10T16:24:28Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > And this gives them the excuse to call in the military, to control the “rebels”. It’s all in the authoritarian takeover playbook. Perhaps. Maybe I’m naive, but I don’t think most conservative republicans would support an authoritarian takeover. Sure, they would prefer to keep Trump (or ideally a different Republican) in the White House, but that’s a far cry from what you’re suggesting. And IMO, that’s what it would take to keep Biden at bay: military intervention to keep down an uprising more massive than this country has never seen. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5328 "2020-11-10T16:27:56Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Perhaps. Maybe I’m naive, but I don’t think most conservative republicans would support an authoritarian takeover. I agree. Even Republicans are smart enough to realize that if power in the country comes from the barrel of the gun, then who needs Congress? Name one authoritarian government where the legislature has any real power. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5329 "2020-11-10T16:30:59Z")
I don’t think we need to pay too much heed to the Barr memo – it seems like a blatant attempt to mollify his boss without actually doing anything. He just issued a statement that says “you are hereby authorized to do your job” and put official stamps and seals on it. Of course, even that much trashed the normal DOJ chain of command and resulted in the resignation of the head of Election Crimes. But it’s much ado about nothing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618.md?page=265) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618.md?page=267)