# Possibility of martial law? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 13, 2020, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-martial-law/849441 "2020-03-13T21:21:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2020, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-martial-law/849441/1 "2020-03-13T21:21:39Z")
I am a fat, slow-moving, retired housewife. I am handling the madness right now as best I can and so far, despite no toilet paper anywhere, I haven’t seen fistfights break out in the aisles of Walmart or anywhere else. But I’m wondering, with this virus going around, no guidance from Our Betters, just wash our hands and pray… Is there a possibility the Republicans want riots breaking out, a breakdown in society, so they can declare martial law and elect Captain ShitStain as a dictator? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2020, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-martial-law/849441/2 "2020-03-13T21:38:11Z")
Trump dreams of being Putin. But being Putin is beyond Trump’s capabilities. Trump is only President right now because Mitch McConnell decided he could stay in office. How long do you think Trump would last if he told McConnell he was disbanding Congress and assuming total power? McConnell would make a couple of phone calls to Pence, Pelosi, and the Pentagon. Forty-eight hours later, Trump is sitting in a cell in Leavenworth watching Pence being sworn in. Or maybe confined to a hospital room in Bethesda after his “collapse” depending on how they wanted to play it. As we saw this week when he showed he doesn’t know what the White House’s coronavirus policy is, Trump’s essentially just a figurehead in the Trump administration. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2020, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-martial-law/849441/3 "2020-03-13T22:37:19Z")
I’m only worried because any knowledgeable, intelligent member of his circle has quit/been arrested/fired. He’s hiring college students to fill slots. He has the supreme court and the senate lapping his big orange hind-quarters. There seems to be an eroding of checks and balances. I’m still worried. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2020, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-martial-law/849441/4 "2020-03-13T22:56:42Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I am a fat, slow-moving, retired housewife. I am handling the madness right now as best I can and so far, despite no toilet paper anywhere, I haven’t seen fistfights break out in the aisles of Walmart or anywhere else. But I’m wondering, with this virus going around, no guidance from Our Betters, just wash our hands and pray… > > Is there a possibility the Republicans want riots breaking out, a breakdown in society, so they can declare martial law and elect Captain ShitStain as a dictator? If Trump suspends elections, it likely wouldn’t be because of riots (the Covid-19’s very nature would discourage people like rioters congregating together en masse) but rather because the virus compels drastic measures - Trump could say, “The process of voting and large numbers of people standing in line poses a virus spreading danger” and suspend elections. Of course, one could use vote-by-mail, but that might face significant legal challenges. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2020, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-martial-law/849441/5 "2020-03-13T23:45:19Z")
(Le sigh) Trump cannot “suspend the elections”. The federal government does not manage the electoral process, the states do. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-martial-law/849441/6 "2020-03-14T01:18:27Z")
It would be mighty ironic if the inertia of his admin under pressure makes the base turn on him, but also prevents having enough democracy to get him the fuck out. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-martial-law/849441/7 "2020-03-14T02:28:50Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > If Trump suspends elections, it likely wouldn’t be because of riots (the Covid-19’s very nature would discourage people like rioters congregating together en masse) but rather because the virus compels drastic measures - Trump could say, “The process of voting and large numbers of people standing in line poses a virus spreading danger” and suspend elections. Of course, one could use vote-by-mail, but that might face significant legal challenges. More likely the elections would be held. But the Republican will use the health crisis as an excuse to enact some “reasonable limitations” on the voting process and make sure these procedures target Democratic voters. In other words, an accelerated version of the usual policy. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-martial-law/849441/8 "2020-03-14T02:56:11Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I am a fat, slow-moving, retired housewife. I am handling the madness right now as best I can and so far, despite no toilet paper anywhere, I haven’t seen fistfights break out in the aisles of Walmart or anywhere else. But I’m wondering, with this virus going around, no guidance from Our Betters, just wash our hands and pray… > > Is there a possibility the Republicans want riots breaking out, a breakdown in society, so they can declare martial law and elect Captain ShitStain as a dictator? No. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-martial-law/849441/9 "2020-03-14T04:43:07Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > (Le sigh) > > Trump cannot “suspend the elections”. The federal government does not manage the electoral process, the states do. So the Executive couldn’t impose a national quarantine, enforced by troops? It’s hard to argue with armed troops. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-martial-law/849441/10 "2020-03-14T04:53:41Z")
> [@RioRico](#): > > So the Executive couldn’t impose a national quarantine, enforced by troops? It’s hard to argue with armed troops. Not without amending the Constitution or violating the Posse Comitatus Act he can’t. And even if he could shut down every polling place in every state in the country, he’d still have to shut down every single state legislature to stop them from appointing electors on their own. And if he did _that_, his term would _still_ end at noon on January 20th - and since the speakership would probably be vacant in such a far-fetched situation, then President Grassley/Leahy would probably want Loser Donald to get the hell out of his office. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-martial-law/849441/11 "2020-03-14T11:31:56Z")
NYC delayed their primary mayoral election which was scheduled for 9/11. They moved it to 9/25 ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-martial-law/849441/12 "2020-03-14T17:41:23Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I am a fat, slow-moving, retired housewife. I am handling the madness right now as best I can and so far, despite no toilet paper anywhere, I haven’t seen fistfights break out in the aisles of Walmart or anywhere else. But I’m wondering, with this virus going around, no guidance from Our Betters, just wash our hands and pray… > > Is there a possibility the Republicans want riots breaking out, a breakdown in society, so they can declare martial law and elect Captain ShitStain as a dictator? Riots don’t usually break out during pandemics BEFORE martial law is declared. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-martial-law/849441/13 "2020-03-14T17:53:27Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > NYC delayed their primary mayoral election which was scheduled for 9/11. They moved it to 9/25 Moving a primary is fine, they’re not in the USA constitution. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-martial-law/849441/14 "2020-03-14T18:18:30Z")
Neither is the date for presidential elections. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-martial-law/849441/15 "2020-03-14T18:31:08Z")
If the US or a large region of it is in lockdown ala Italy, then yes martial law is likely. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-martial-law/849441/16 "2020-03-14T18:34:48Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Neither is the date for presidential elections. Election Day is set by federal law and the terms of office are set in the constitution. And while the Senate might let him get away with a lot, there’s a ton of asshole Republican Senators that wake up every morning and see a future president when they look in the mirror. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-martial-law/849441/17 "2020-03-14T18:57:42Z")
I think those on the left misunderstand the deep mistrust of the government that is on the far right. I’m on a bunch of veterans pages and it is rampant. I’m not sure if you can categorize them as republicans but they are Trump voters. There are already conspiracy theories about the hoax virus being used to control the people. The far right boogaloo bois will be vehemently opposed to martial law more than anyone in the middle or left. Maybe violently opposed. ---
**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:** [March 14, 2020, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-martial-law/849441/18 "2020-03-14T19:03:18Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > …How long do you think Trump would last if he told McConnell he was disbanding Congress and assuming total power? McConnell would make a couple of phone calls to Pence, Pelosi, and the Pentagon. Forty-eight hours later, Trump is sitting in a cell in Leavenworth watching Pence being sworn in. Or maybe confined to a hospital room in Bethesda after his “collapse” depending on how they wanted to play it. > … Don’t _ **tease** _ like that! 😉 ETA: Has Moscow Mitch had anything to say about all this? Or is he hunkered down in his 60s bunker amid cases of TP and Campbell’s soup? ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-martial-law/849441/19 "2020-03-14T19:28:53Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Trump dreams of being Putin. But being Putin is beyond Trump’s capabilities. > > Trump is only President right now because Mitch McConnell decided he could stay in office. How long do you think Trump would last if he told McConnell he was disbanding Congress and assuming total power? McConnell would make a couple of phone calls to Pence, Pelosi, and the Pentagon. Forty-eight hours later, Trump is sitting in a cell in Leavenworth watching Pence being sworn in. Or maybe confined to a hospital room in Bethesda after his “collapse” depending on how they wanted to play it. > > As we saw this week when he showed he doesn’t know what the White House’s coronavirus policy is, Trump’s essentially just a figurehead in the Trump administration. You know [who else](https://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/riseofhitler/named.htm) the conservative Establishment thought they could control? :dubious: > [@](#): > > …Franz von Papen was vice-chancellor. Hindenburg had promised him that Hitler would only be received in the office of the president if accompanied by Papen. > > This was another way to keep Hitler in check. In fact, Papen had every intention of using the conservative majority in the cabinet along with his own political skills to run the government himself. > > “Within two months we will have pushed Hitler so far in the corner that he’ll squeak,” Papen boasted to a political colleague. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-martial-law/849441/20 "2020-03-14T20:06:35Z")
Federal martial law has been imposed many times, usually locally, but it can start local too: [Champaign IL: Grant powers to ban sale of firearms, gasoline, liquor, take possession of private property](https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2020/03/champaign-to-hold-emergency-meeting-grant-powers-to-ban-sale-of-firearms-gasoline-liquor-take-possession-of-private-property/) > [@](#): > > The City proposes to grant extraordinary powers to the Mayor… > [ul] > [li] Violating parts of the Open Meetings Act[/li][li] Ban sale of firearms and ammunition[/li][li] Ban sale of any alcohol[/li][li] Closing of all bars, taverns, liquor stores, etc[/li][li] Ban sale or giving away of gasoline or other liquid flammable or combustible products in any container other than a gasoline tank permanently fixed to a motor vehicle[/li][li] Direct the shutoff of power, water, gas, etc[/li][li] Take possession of private property and obtain full title to same[/li][li] Prohibit or restrict ingress and egress to and from the City[/li][/ul] > One thing noticeably absent? The Mayor will not have the power to prohibit the sale of marijuana… All this under a public health emergency declaration per state law. Too bad our POTUS doesn’t run Illinois - he’d have all the tools he needs. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-of-martial-law/849441.md?page=2)