# It wasn’t a coup **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 13, 2021, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wasn-t-a-coup/930407 "2021-01-13T05:29:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2021, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wasn-t-a-coup/930407/161 "2021-01-14T00:13:45Z")
> [@digs](#): > > (Since I’m helpless in the face of such a well-thought-out argument, I’m going to sit by the fire with a good book instead.) Be a dear and throw another Congressperson on the fire? It’s getting a touch cou… I mean cold in here. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2021, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wasn-t-a-coup/930407/162 "2021-01-14T00:15:07Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > ETA: apropos of nothing, I really wish the phone call with the GA Sec of State hadn’t fallen off the news cycle so fast. As you know – this is, of course, entirely deliberate on the part of the administration, and has been going on for 5 years. Every day they must do something outrageous to distract from the previous day’s events. It’s dazzle camouflage as always, but we’re now in the endgame. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2021, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wasn-t-a-coup/930407/163 "2021-01-14T00:15:20Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > It’s getting a touch cou… I mean cold in here. It’s becoming Chile. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2021, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wasn-t-a-coup/930407/164 "2021-01-14T00:20:18Z")
In what way were those idjits attempting to seize power? Were they aiming to install the QAnon Shaman in Nancy Pelosi’s chair and proclaim the Republik of Stupid? ---
**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 14, 2021, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wasn-t-a-coup/930407/165 "2021-01-14T00:20:45Z")
Have you always been this fucking stupid or are you just fucking evil? ---
**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:** [January 14, 2021, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wasn-t-a-coup/930407/166 "2021-01-14T00:22:39Z")
I’d like to point out that if the Democrats hadn’t taken the house in 2018, they might have been able to pull it off, getting both the House and Senate to reject the votes from swing states and having the House vote by state because they failed to reach 269. ---
**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 14, 2021, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wasn-t-a-coup/930407/167 "2021-01-14T00:24:24Z")
Not “might”; they would have done it. And then they would be claiming “we followed the law bwahahaha” and daring Dems or anyone else to do anything about it. ---
**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 14, 2021, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wasn-t-a-coup/930407/168 "2021-01-14T00:26:05Z")
It wasn’t just people trying to attack and make a statement, cause some damage. They specifically inteded to interfere with, and attempt to quell a singular bedrock procedure of American presidential certificatio. Of which they actually succeeded, temporarily, long enough to get some lawmakers infected with covid 19. ---
**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 14, 2021, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wasn-t-a-coup/930407/169 "2021-01-14T00:28:22Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Definition of coup: “a sudden, violent and illegal seizure of power from a government”. > > This was not an attempted coup. Sure it was. Absolutely it was. Except for that they, in true Trump fashion, failed. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2021, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wasn-t-a-coup/930407/170 "2021-01-14T00:28:55Z")
I know you’re not this much of an idiot, from long experience with you on this board. Which means you’re defending this for some reason. They were trying to stop the electoral vote Congressional certification, and thereby throw the electoral college vote to the House by state delegation, which manner of voting has a Republican advantage. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2021, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wasn-t-a-coup/930407/171 "2021-01-14T00:30:22Z")
For real? They were in there specifically to prevent the certification of the election of Joe Biden, and ensure that Donald Trump remained president, by physically harming sitting members of congress. That’s how they were intending to seize power. I mean… how did you miss that part? It’s been kind of a big deal in the news lately. Might even have been mentioned a time or two in this thread? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2021, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wasn-t-a-coup/930407/172 "2021-01-14T00:37:34Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Definition of coup: “a sudden, violent and illegal seizure of power from a government”. This is exactly what happened, though it was unsuccessful. Sudden: in that a peaceful demonstration turned into a insurrection in maybe a hour. Yes it was sudden. violent: Murder by blunt force trauma of a US citizen for the cause, making a noose to hang who they decided were not supporting their cause, flax cuffs to take hostages, chanting to kill the congressmen while invading the Capitol and destroying and looting on their way . We have a check for voilent. illegal seizure of power from a government". They were able to disrupt the function of the US government, stopping the process illegally, thus seizing power, and yes it was from a goverment, the US government. So we have that too. and ‘and’ All three were done, so yes this is the very definition of the coop attempt. ---
**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 14, 2021, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wasn-t-a-coup/930407/173 "2021-01-14T00:45:57Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > No, I would not call that a coup attempt. If they had burned down the Capital building and killed Pence and every member of Congress, I wouldn’t call that a coup attempt either. Oh, OK. I wish I saw this earlier. I wouldn’t have wasted my breath. (You’re usually a dude I agree with. Crazy times, I know. Maybe have a drink, take a moment.) ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2021, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wasn-t-a-coup/930407/174 "2021-01-14T00:50:58Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > In what way were those idjits attempting to seize power? Were they aiming to install the QAnon Shaman in Nancy Pelosi’s chair and proclaim the Republik of Stupid? > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Have you always been this fucking stupid or are you just fucking evil? Re: **@jackmannii** : yes. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2021, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wasn-t-a-coup/930407/175 "2021-01-14T00:51:19Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > In what way were those idjits attempting to seize power? Were they aiming to install the QAnon Shaman in Nancy Pelosi’s chair and proclaim the Republik of Stupid? In short, they were delusional enough to believe that they could stop the certification of the electoral college results and knock off enough of their enemies to incapacitate their political opposition (Democrats). I don’t think that Shaman Guy and Lectern Thief were plotting to take over the government themselves, but they believed that they could keep government in the hands of the ‘good guys.’ There is mounting evidence that there was political funding and organization behind it. ---
**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:** [January 14, 2021, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wasn-t-a-coup/930407/176 "2021-01-14T00:55:55Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Guys, Trump lost like 1% approval rating after he commanded his cultists to launch an insurrection on the capitol. 41% of the American public would be glad to install God-Emporer Trump for life. I disagree. There are certainly WAY TOO MANY idiot Trumplicans out there who fit this exact description, however: Polls take a while to be completed, and poll aggregators like RCP or 538 take a while for the new polls to start pulling the averages down. So it takes days/week for a major event like we saw to be reflected in poll aggregates. That being said, I tend to follow the RCP aggregate. And looking today, Trump approval has fallen off a cliff and headed downward as more recent polls are added, and older polls removed. Jan 5, aggregate approval was at 44% Today, it was at 40% and heading down like a plummeting submarine. Yes, that’s still WAY TOO MANY. But watch it head even further down. Some of the “approval” will be folks that just respond “approval” to any Republican period. In these modern times, it cannot go lower than than 27% It’s the Crazification Factor, or Keye’s Constant, 27%. 27% of the population would approve of a Republican Leader who was revealed to be a lizard man who was ripping the heads off living supplicants in service to the Dark Lord. And probably more than half of Republicans. ---
**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 14, 2021, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wasn-t-a-coup/930407/177 "2021-01-14T00:57:07Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Guys, Trump lost like 1% approval rating after he commanded his cultists to launch an insurrection on the capitol. 41% of the American public would be glad to install God-Emporer Trump for life. Do you not understand this? Really? It’s probably the biggest cult in history. It’s pure insanity. Yeah, but in all honesty, Trump is just a (weak) man, and we can and will handle this. Time is on our side. Be patient, and expect deterioration. Even Hitler’s deal didn’t have actual lasting legs. (Hitler’s deal. Have I just summed up the atocities of the holocaust in the most trite terms ever? Didn’t mean it that way.) Fuck Trump, fuck his racist, deluded supporters. Time is on America’s side. But it ain’t gonna be pretty. ---
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2021, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wasn-t-a-coup/930407/178 "2021-01-14T01:01:11Z")
Ok, next question: is stew a çoup? ---
**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 14, 2021, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wasn-t-a-coup/930407/179 "2021-01-14T01:19:06Z")
CNN is reporting: > Evidence uncovered so far, including weapons and tactics seen on surveillance video, suggests a level of planning that has led investigators to believe the attack on the US Capitol was [not just a protest](http://www.cnn.com/2021/01/13/politics/inauguration-security-us-secret-service-washington/index.html) that spiraled out of control, a federal law enforcement official says. [https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/13/politics/capitol-riot-investigation/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/13/politics/capitol-riot-investigation/index.html) Republican lawmakers in the House voted against impeachment not because they thought Trump wasn’t guilty of incitement and sedition, but because they were terrified that they and their families would be assassinated if they did vote for impeachment. > **[GOP lawmakers 'afraid for their lives' to impeach Trump, House Dem says](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-lawmakers-afraid-for-their-lives-if-they-vote-to-impeach-house-democrat-says)** > > The "majority" of GOP lawmakers are afraid they will be in danger if they vote in favor of impeaching President Trump over his role in the Capitol riots, Democratic Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado said. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2021, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wasn-t-a-coup/930407/180 "2021-01-14T01:40:01Z")
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