# The American Coup: 11.9.2020 - **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 9, 2020, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182 "2020-11-09T23:29:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 116
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2304 "2021-01-08T18:21:12Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > a bill to ensure no federal property would have Fuckhead’s name attached to it I don’t know about that – what’s the most remote, hardest-to-get-to outhouse in the National Park system? ---
**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 8, 2021, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2305 "2021-01-08T18:21:47Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > \*not you, I assume, anyway. Yeaaaaaa, that’s a pretty safe assumption. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2306 "2021-01-08T18:22:46Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > He does not need to be prosecuted. He just needs to be reduced to penury. He won’t be. His businesses may fall apart, but he’s had a lot of very expensive lawyers and accountants working for him for decades. I’m sure he has significant assets well-sheltered from the reach of creditors and even the IRS. He’ll be fine. He will still be, at least by any rational standard, a rich man. I’m not happy about that, but I’m betting he’ll be just fine. ---
**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:** [January 8, 2021, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2307 "2021-01-08T18:23:54Z")
**John Scalzi** , author of _Old Man’s War_, _Redshirts_, etc. has a great blog post up about recent events: > **[But What If We Didn’t](https://whatever.scalzi.com/2021/01/07/but-what-if-we-didnt/)** > > I have a theory about the Republican Party, and it is that around the time Newt Gingrich became the head of its brain trust, the GOP added a fourth functioning principle to its previous tripod of &… And below it, great comments by readers as well. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2308 "2021-01-08T18:24:34Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > I don’t know about that – what’s the most remote, hardest-to-get-to outhouse in the National Park system? He wanted to lead in opening up ANWR … ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2309 "2021-01-08T18:25:16Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > but he’s had a lot of very expensive lawyers and accountants working for him for decades. Heh. “Mr. Trump, we have good news and better news. The good news is, we successfully defended the lawsuits, and we were able to retain what is left of the fortune that was left to you that you had not already squandered. The even better news is that we ran up a huge bill in doing so, and all that money now belongs to us, your expensive lawyers and accountants, but _you_ are penniless.” ---
**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 8, 2021, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2310 "2021-01-08T18:30:34Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > And I don’t think the Democrats are all that serious either, IMHO. Yeah, it gets them face time and helps charge up their electorate and keep the pressure on the Republicans, **but doing this right now would make them look vindictive** and moreover, set a precedent for future leaders (and Congresses). > > So I do expect that while they will rant, any actions (and some have been started), will be quietly shelved for the next 10 days. That said, if Trump does Trump again… > > IMHO as always. YMMV. The bolded bit is why the Democrats are considered weak and ineffectual and why they will lose this country. Maybe not today, maybe not to Trump, but they will lose with that kind of feckless, spineless attitude. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2311 "2021-01-08T18:32:06Z")
An aside: I’ve noticed many on the board referring to Trump not having much money. I believe that prior to January 20, 2017, that was probably true; but in the last four years he has likely squirreled away a sizable fortune. All of that money bilked out of his brain-dead followers has probably been funneled through various shell companies (like [American Made Media Consultants](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/18/us/politics/lara-trump-served-on-the-board-of-a-company-through-which-the-trump-political-operation-spent-more-than-700-million.html)) to enrich himself and his family. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2312 "2021-01-08T18:34:22Z")
And all of that money is in the care of people who have low enough moral aptitude to work for him, but are smart enough to actually know where it all is. It may be squirreled away, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see it all embezzled away from _him_. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2313 "2021-01-08T18:34:41Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > “Mr. Trump, we have good news and better news. The good news is, we successfully defended the lawsuits, and we were able to retain what is left of the fortune that was left to you that you had not already squandered. The even better news is that we ran up a huge bill in doing so, and all that money now belongs to us, your expensive lawyers and accountants, but _you_ are penniless.” _Jaundice v. Jaundice_! 🙂 ---
**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 8, 2021, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2314 "2021-01-08T18:38:23Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Josh Hawley is done, btw, possibly resigning by the weekend. > [@JohnT](#): > > Again, I urge all of you to take 10 minutes to call your own Reps and Senators to urge them for impeachment. > [@DrDeth](#): > > Well, my rep is Garcia who supported the insurrection. Is there any procedural reason why the six senators and 134-odd representatives who voted against the electoral college certifications can be refused to be seated by their respective bodies? After all, if the vote was tainted surely their own victories were equally spurious. That would get rid of all four Republican representatives here in Arizona. Granted, the odds of passing are slim – especially the house – but it would be a good poke in the eye. ---
**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:** [January 8, 2021, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2315 "2021-01-08T18:39:20Z")
That Trump video looked exactly like one of the hostage videos the hostage is forced to make. ---
**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 8, 2021, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2316 "2021-01-08T18:40:58Z")
I called both of my state Senators and all 4 of my Reps this morning demanding that they remove Trump from office immediately and censure and/or remove those Congresspeople who enabled him. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2317 "2021-01-08T18:41:30Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > If you\* donated by credit card, you would have the option to dispute the charges. Don’t know if it would stick, but I would like to see all those who donated to him try to get their money back. > > \*not you, I assume, anyway. **The Revolution Will Not Be Paypal’ed** ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2318 "2021-01-08T18:41:46Z")
They’ve all already been seated for this Congress – that’s why they were able to vote. At this point they would have to be expelled, which requires a 2/3 vote. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2319 "2021-01-08T18:43:19Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > But the Senate is meeting in brief “pro-forma” sessions every three days just to gavel in and gavel out. On the 12th and 15th – then there will be a regular session on the 19th where the only expected business so far is swearing in the new Senators from Georgia. I suppose a Pro Forma could be modified simply to have it received, under the understanding that the point is made by having the impeachment passed even if trial cannot happen(\*); but the House is itself in Pro Forma next week and many members are scattered across their districts, so having to reconvene I doubt they could really have it passed and ready to submit before Friday’s session, if that. (\* I fully expect that whatever the situation if it runs into the end of term you will _not_ have the required votes for a post-term conviction.) > [@flurb](#): > > They’ve all already been seated for this Congress – that’s why they were able to vote. At this point they would have to be expelled, which requires a 2/3 vote. Right. On the 3rd (swearing-in day), Chip Roy moved as a way to make the point to not seat the members from the “objected” states since, logically, the invalid elections woudl have to be invalid for everyone on the ballots. ---
**Author:** ![half-elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@half-elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/half-elf)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2320 "2021-01-08T18:44:48Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > (BTW, what is that around his neck? Cell phone, walkie-talkie?) It’s a combination microphone / (tiny) megaphone which is connected to a walkie-talkie. Like a hands-free device. Police use them. ---
**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 8, 2021, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2321 "2021-01-08T18:47:40Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > 25th would not do that (snip) If the 25th amendment is evoked, Pence would become acting President and congress would have 21 days to consider whether to uphold it, sufficient time to lock his nibs out of the Oval Office and take the football away from him until January 20th. Better then nothing. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2322 "2021-01-08T18:50:20Z")
> ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2323 "2021-01-08T18:50:32Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > I fully expect that whatever the situation if it runs into the end of term you will _not_ have the required votes for a post-term conviction. The value in convicting post term is to keep him from mucking about in the next election. > [@DesertDog](#): > > If the 25th amendment is evoked, Pence would become acting President and congress would have 21 days to consider whether to uphold it, sufficient time to lock his nibs out of the Oval Office and take the football away from him until January 20th. I think that the point is that it would not make Pence the 46th, therefore Biden the 47th. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182.md?page=115) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182.md?page=117)