# 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:** 414
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/8279 "2021-01-01T07:03:23Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I guess if they cant agree in a speedy fashion, the yes the President pro tem of the Senate would step in. There’s really not enough time to nominate and confirm a new Vice President, and since the House has to approve they won’t confirm anyone they think might not certify. There’s no circumstance in which Pelosi would move into the Vice President’s role. She can become President, but she can’t become Vice President. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/8280 "2021-01-01T18:03:05Z")
> [@Biffster](#): > > Well, that’s pretty self-evident. I’m more concerned with what is he legally able to do. I know Trump appointed Pence to be his running mate, but he was also voted in independently by the Electoral College in states that Trump/Pence won. I’m not sure Trump can actually snap his fingers and make Pence go away. No he can’t. He didn’t actually appoint Pence. He “chose” him as his preferred running mate and then he was duly nominated by the Republican nominating convention. Then Pence was chosen as VP by a majority of the electoral college, counted by a joint session of congress presided over by Joe Biden. He can be removed only by death, resignation, or conviction upon impeachment. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/8281 "2021-01-02T00:07:46Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > There’s no circumstance in which Pelosi would move into the Vice President’s role. She can become President, but she can’t become Vice President. Still, this idea could be a fun way to troll the conspiracy theory-hungry Trump rubes. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/8282 "2021-01-02T02:46:22Z")
[Judge dismisses the lawsuit involving Mike Pence.](https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/01/politics/read-gohmert-pence-lawsuit-dismissal-electoral-college/index.html) “The problem for the Plaintiffs here is that they lack standing.” ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/8283 "2021-01-02T04:10:33Z")
Yes, I said that in my 2nd post. The one you are replying to. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/8284 "2021-01-02T11:49:38Z")
OK, Republicans who want to express the thought that the Republican party is not the party of unhinged psychos, say it with me now, _deep breath_: Trump lost the election. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/8285 "2021-01-02T14:17:53Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > every congressperson or Senator who objects, plus every congressperson who signed on to that idiotic Texas lawsuit, needs to be beat over the head with that from now until Election Day 2022. “My opponent has revealed himself to be anti-democratic, pro-authoritarian, and a slave to former president Trump”. The trick is, how to say that without the implied “And you suckers voted for him last time.” I see this sentiment a lot. What its proponents fail to understand is that the people who voted those folks into Congress think that what they are doing is right. Particularly for the gerrymandered Representatives, there is very little electoral downside to this. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/8286 "2021-01-02T14:54:54Z")
They think that it is right because they are told by Trump and congressional Republicans and red faced right wing media blowhards that it is right. It’s a big dumb circle jerk. ---
**Author:** ![Meltdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Meltdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meltdown)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/8287 "2021-01-02T15:19:56Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > I see this sentiment a lot. What its proponents fail to understand is that the people who voted those folks into Congress think that what they are doing is right. Particularly for the gerrymandered Representatives, there is very little electoral downside to this. I think this is right. I’ll also go a step further and say that because this strategy has no chance of changing the outcome, they’re more likely to pursue it. This way they can say to their base that they tried their best, and comfort themselves privately with the fact that the end result is that they didn’t actually end up subverting democracy. Somewhat paradoxically, I think that if there was more of a chance that what they were doing would actually work, I think we’d see less members of congress jumping on board. If they actually thought their actions would have a practical effect, they’d dial it back. This may be naïve (and thank God we’ll never know for sure), but as support I offer the behavior of the Republicans (even the rabid Pro-Trump Republicans) in power in states where there could have been real shenanigans. I’m referring to Kemp and the secretary of state in Georgia, and the Republican legislature in Pennsylvania, one of whom when asked if they would try to vote in their own slate of electors said something like “of course we won’t be doing that.” Even those two election board members in Michigan were ultimately shamed into certifying their results in Detroit (although they did complain afterwards that they were misled – which, again, could just be something they say to their base after it is too late for it to make a difference). I like to think that if there were actually a chance that an objection to the results could change things, we’d have a lot fewer than 140 representatives objecting. Of course I’d like to see them all voted out anyway, but it helps me sleep at night. ---
**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:** [January 2, 2021, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/8288 "2021-01-02T15:22:04Z")
> [@Meltdown](#): > > I’ll also go a step further and say that because this strategy has no chance of changing the outcome, they’re more likely to pursue it. This way they can say to their base that they tried their best, and comfort themselves privately with the fact that the end result is that they didn’t actually end up subverting democracy.- IOW pure theater. ---
**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:** [January 2, 2021, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/8289 "2021-01-02T17:18:06Z")
> [@Meltdown](#): > > This way they can say to their base that they tried their best, and comfort themselves privately with the fact that the end result is that they didn’t actually end up subverting democracy. > > Somewhat paradoxically, I think that if there was more of a chance that what they were doing would actually work, I think we’d see less members of congress jumping on board. If they actually thought their actions would have a practical effect, they’d dial it back. Problem is, they are actually subverting democracy. They’re not going to overturn this particular election, no. But encouraging large segments of one of the two significant political parties to believe this crap does indeed have a practical effect; and it is indeed subverting democracy. I hope we recover from this mess. We might; we’ve recovered from worse (though not often.) But it’s genuinely dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/8290 "2021-01-02T17:43:19Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Problem is, they are actually subverting democracy. They’re not going to overturn this particular election, no. But encouraging large segments of one of the two significant political parties to believe this crap does indeed have a practical effect; and it is indeed subverting democracy. > > I hope we recover from this mess. We might; we’ve recovered from worse (though not often.) But it’s genuinely dangerous. I agree. By clearing a path now, the next whackadoodle will have an easier time pushing things to the edge, and maybe over that edge. Such actions and talk by some Republicans surely is a direct threat to democracy, right now. Not to mention whipping-up outrage among part of the populace that some sort of fraud occurred where none really did. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/8291 "2021-01-02T17:53:38Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > IOW pure theater. I was thinking [Cap’n Hook’s suicide](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbv1DE0-JBE) myself. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/8292 "2021-01-02T23:44:56Z")
I’m in total agreement with Meltdown on this and he’s said it better than I ever could. There are members of the GOP who don’t mind stirring up antidemocracy sentiment if they think they’ll be able to pick up the banner and get the Trumpists behind them. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/8293 "2021-01-03T00:15:57Z")
> [@Meltdown](#): > > Somewhat paradoxically, I think that if there was more of a chance that what they were doing would actually work, I think we’d see less members of congress jumping on board. If they actually thought their actions would have a practical effect, they’d dial it back. You don’t even need to read between the lines to see this – they’ve basically spelled it out themselves. From a CNN report today: > The 11 Republican lawmakers appeared to acknowledge Saturday that their efforts may be futile, saying that they’re “not naïve” and “fully expect most if not all Democrats, and perhaps more than a few Republicans, to vote otherwise.” None of them, incidentally, see any “fraud” in any of the Trump wins, or in their own re-elections. It’s only the Biden wins that are highly suspect. Strange, that. The only thing really shocking about any of this is how substantial the idiot vote is among the general populace. Apparently pandering to brain-dead morons will get you far in American politics, at least if you’re a Republican. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/8294 "2021-01-03T00:44:20Z")
Well, the tragedy of the commons can play out in many ways eh. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/8295 "2021-01-03T00:45:46Z")
“nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people” ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/8296 "2021-01-03T01:47:15Z")
The Fifth Circuit has dismissed Gohmert’s et al.'s appeal of the original dismissal of their suit without benefit of hearing. I suspect the next move is to appeal to SCOTUS, but lawyer-Twitter is of the opinion that SCOTUS will simply refuse to hear it. Or violence, which appears to be what Gohmert is calling for. How does he keep his seat if he continues with that? ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/8297 "2021-01-03T02:19:43Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > How does he keep his seat if he continues with that? He keeps his seat by continuing to run in a Congressional district located in Bumfuck, East Texas. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/8298 "2021-01-03T02:27:31Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > Or violence, which appears to be what Gohmert is calling for. How does he keep his seat if he continues with that? How, you ask? All it takes is for more idiots than non-idiots to show up in the nicely gerrymandered polling districts. I mean, when you come right down to it, this whole “election fraud” thing boils down to a toddler losing the election and stamping his little feet and crying “That’s not FAIR!!! We had this big celebration planned and everything!”. (The Orange Peril actually said that, because he’s a fucking idiot.) Which resulted in millions of sycophants screaming “The election wasn’t FAIR!!!”. Thus America proves once again that it’s incapable of governing itself. > [@flurb](#): > > He keeps his seat by continuing to run in a Congressional district located in Bumfuck, East Texas. Said more succintly than my rant above. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618.md?page=413) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618.md?page=415)