# 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:** 267
**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, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5330 "2020-11-10T17:11:27Z")
I agree. I think they need to try and keep their little “Yes, you will win, we are on your side” masque going until …Jan 5th? Whenever the GA Senate runoffs are held. Because they know that if they don’t, Trump can kill the their Senate chances with one tweet. That’s going to be a hard lift, and clowns like Guiliani make it even harder for them. And more fun for us. I’ve been losing sleep, but not because I’m scared. What happens is I’ll be drifting off, and my mind will go to the Four Seasons press conference, and I’ll start laughing so hard I wake myself up. ---
**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, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5331 "2020-11-10T17:23:01Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I don’t think the military would cooperate, especially at the level of command. They absolutely would. Soldiers follow orders. The idea the US military would refuse this sort of order is a fantasy. The history of these things is very, very clear. Armies follow orders, even to do the most horrific things, unless they themselves plan on taking over. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5332 "2020-11-10T17:25:00Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > 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. It’s a little more than that. Voting discrepancies would usually be handled at the local, county, or state level, or by the elections crimes section if it reached the federal level… The typical DOJ prosecutor wouldn’t typically be investigating the kinds of things that are being (non-)alleged. If Barr’s memo were really a non-event, you wouldn’t have a prosecutor resigning in protest. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5333 "2020-11-10T17:35:04Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > They absolutely would. Soldiers follow orders. The idea the US military would refuse this sort of order is a fantasy. Really? See: Collapse of the Soviet Union (1991) Troops refused orders. It does happen. Maybe not a lot but it does. Asking an American soldier to shoot at the Taliban is far, far different from telling that same soldier to shoot an American citizen who is not attacking them. I think American soldiers are supposed to refuse illegal orders. ---
**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, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5334 "2020-11-10T17:47:53Z")
Berlin, 1989 as well. Armies refusing to fire on their own citizens is actually quite common. It’s why countries very, very rarely use their regular militaries to quell civil disobedience. Look at Cairo in 2011: hundreds of thousands of people congregated in Tahrir Square, and the Egyptian army just stood by and did nothing - until it decided to side with the protestors and bring down Mubarak. ---
**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, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5335 "2020-11-10T17:57:10Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > 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. Remind me again. Are these the same Republicans who believe virtually everything should be handled at the state level and the Feds shouldn’t go butting into local shit? Re armies: Is [Erik Prince’s](https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/erik-prince-libya-blackwater-roger-stone-trump-2020-election-1077089/) private army still available? ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5336 "2020-11-10T18:05:01Z")
They have mentioned that Biden has more votes than any other candidate. But, we also have a largest population. I was curious and came up with percentage of the population that voted for a candidate. The population numbers I came up with are estimates, so it’s not exact. As if now Biden is just below first place. With votes still being counted he probably will move to the top. The top 5 according to my calculations are: Reagan 1984 - 23.13 Biden 2020 - 23.11 (and counting) Obama 2008 - 22.92 Johnson 1964 - 22.83 (and voting age was 21) Nixon 1972 - 22.69 ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5337 "2020-11-10T18:26:53Z")
Also the French revolution ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5338 "2020-11-10T18:30:27Z")
Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo this morning: “There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration.” Doesn’t seem like histrionics to suggest that the Republican party plans on ending American democracy. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5339 "2020-11-10T18:40:50Z")
Good idea! Entire population or voting age population or registered voters? I’d like to see the numbers for voting age population if those aren’t it. Seems like that’d be the best ratio. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5340 "2020-11-10T18:44:27Z")
Stated on tv that Pence left for vacation. ---
**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, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5341 "2020-11-10T18:49:54Z")
I wonder if that means “Isolation as he tested positive for Covid”?? ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5342 "2020-11-10T18:50:43Z")
I think he has realized reality and wants to let Trump implode on his own. Or maybe God told him to. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5343 "2020-11-10T18:52:15Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo this morning: “There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration.” > > Doesn’t seem like histrionics to suggest that the Republican party plans on ending American democracy. Here’s a video of that-- Pompeo is smiling and laughing while he says it. Nervous laughter? Not being able to say it with a straight face? It’s a weird moment to watch: > ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5344 "2020-11-10T18:58:26Z")
I hope you are right, but I think it’s wishful thinking. Pence is going to back Trump all the way. While he may realize that Trump’s chances of staying in office are slim, he may think 2024 is a possibility - hopefully (from Pence’s perspective) with Pence still as VP. In either case, he might hope for Trump to die/become incapacitated and the Pence theocracy to begin. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5345 "2020-11-10T19:05:39Z")
I just took estimated US population. It’s better than overall votes, but could be improved on. I took the easy way out. So, the top 26 are those after women could vote. And the bottom two of those were the first two elections where they could vote. I guess it took a few years before the number of women voters grew. Oh, and last place was George Washington. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5346 "2020-11-10T19:21:47Z")
Could be an Onion Headline - Don, Jr. Already Working Hard to Ensure Trump Loses 2024 Election I know he is popular in the party, but he couldn’t run the proverbial lemonade stand > **[Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle make moves to expand RNC influence and...](https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/10/politics/donald-trump-jr-kimberly-guilfoyle-rnc/index.html)** > > Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle are making moves to expand their influence at the Republican National Committee, three GOP sources, including advisers to the President tell CNN. Some sources say they may seek to take over the party structure... ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5347 "2020-11-10T19:25:06Z")
Yeah, the nervous laughter makes me think of that old Twilight Zone episode where there is a little kid who is omnipotent and he holds the town hostage to his childish whims. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5348 "2020-11-10T19:32:20Z")
Maybe, or perhaps it’s similar to when a guest host on SNL breaks character and starts laughing during a skit. Check out how he breaks up when he says the word “Constitution”. You almost expect him to go “…according to the Const…(snicker)…you know what, I can’t say this shit with a straight face anymore” ---
**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, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/5349 "2020-11-10T19:46:19Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Republicans are smart enough to realize that if power in the country comes from the barrel of the gun, then who needs Congress? This. They’d be putting themselves and their families into the hands of Trump as a dictator. And they all know by now that he has no loyalty. They’ll put their faith in gerrymandering the state districts; they’ve got a better chance of actually hanging on to power that way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618.md?page=266) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618.md?page=268)