# 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:** 12
**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 12, 2020, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/221 "2020-11-12T14:23:53Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > But I still don’t believe that they can’t pull it off. I think (hope) you meant “I still don’t believe that they can pull it off.” I agree, I don’t think a military coup will happen. But as McCaffrey says, “the only one who can give orders to the armed forces is the president and the secretary of defense”. And it is damn scary that those two are trump and a just-appointed trump flunky. If, just hypothetically, trump gave orders for the military to do something crazy and the acting SOD passed those orders on, who would defy orders and say no? ---
**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:** [November 12, 2020, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/222 "2020-11-12T14:27:58Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > I keep asking myself, who will say no to this? And the answer has to be – don’t laugh – corporate America. They’re the ones who stand to lose the most if the center doesn’t hold, and they’re the only ones with the leverage to stop it from happening. Time to nationalize them. Divvy them out to Trump cronies and loyalists. Bezos is a traitor, I’m sure that someone can be found that would be more amicable to the Trump dynasty that would take his place. > [@Akaj](#): > > No Republican wants to see the S&P drop 75%. Then just declare it to be what you want it to be. > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > It is illegal to change electors at this point: Since when has something being illegal stopped them? > [@running\_coach](#): > > > [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > > > Really, I don’t know how Barr sleeps at night. - > > He doesn’t think he’s doing anything wrong. “My Pillow Guy” the pillow that gets fascists to sleep at night. > [@asahi](#): > > what do you think would happen in subsequent elections? Subsequent elections? Heh, that’s cute. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/223 "2020-11-12T14:33:58Z")
> [@solost](#): > > If, just hypothetically, trump gave orders for the military to do something crazy and the acting SOD passed those orders on, who would defy orders and say no? Again, I think the point of these appointments is not so much to order the military to do something but to keep the military FROM doing something. Like forcing AirForceOne with Trump on board back to Andrews AFB. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/224 "2020-11-12T14:35:48Z")
The good news is that Republicans are starting to bail out on Trump. The bad news is that they’re bailing out because it looks like this won’t work, not because it’s wrong. ---
**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 12, 2020, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/225 "2020-11-12T14:38:29Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > > [@solost](#): > > > > If, just hypothetically, trump gave orders for the military to do something crazy and the acting SOD passed those orders on, who would defy orders and say no? > > Again, I think the point of these appointments is not so much to order the military to do something but to keep the military FROM doing something. Like forcing AirForceOne with Trump on board back to Andrews AFB. Ok, but stopping the military from doing something they should do, in order to try to pull of a coup, is kind of the same as ordering the military to do something they shouldn’t do. The end result would be the same, and having control of the military would be a key aspect of the plan. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/226 "2020-11-12T14:45:00Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Ok, but stopping the military from doing something they should do, in order to try to pull of a coup, is kind of the same as ordering the military to do something they shouldn’t do. The end result would be the same, and having control of the military would be a key aspect of the plan. I’m probably way wrong in my hypothesis. But still, there is huge difference in an order not to act vs. ordering the military to be complicit with some sort of active coup. ---
**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 12, 2020, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/227 "2020-11-12T14:47:00Z")
I just want to refresh the context of my “I don’t know how Barr sleeps at night” comment as it wasn’t a general statement ( I know he doesn’t think he’s done anything wrong ) but in regards to a specific situation which was 1. Postal worker makes hearsay claim about overhearing coworkers plotting election fraud 2. Two federal law enforcement officers interview postal worker. Using time-tested law enforcement interview techniques they determine he just overhead a few innocuous words and added all sorts of imaginary context. 3. Postal worker revises statement and signs off. Since all allegations were refuted, postal worker is said to have recanted 4. Later the same day, postal worker recants his recant and claims deep state mind control manipulation, also releases stealth tape he made of the interview as well as identities of federal law enforcement officers 5.President Trump issues a tweet praising the guy for sticking to his story 6.The two federal officers receive a barrage of death threats I’ve gotta think that the heads of these law enforcement agencies are going to want to have a long talk with Barr today. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/228 "2020-11-12T14:47:31Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > > [@Akaj](#): > > > > I keep asking myself, who will say no to this? And the answer has to be – don’t laugh – corporate America. They’re the ones who stand to lose the most if the center doesn’t hold, and they’re the only ones with the leverage to stop it from happening. > > Time to nationalize them. Divvy them out to Trump cronies and loyalists. Bezos is a traitor, I’m sure that someone can be found that would be more amicable to the Trump dynasty that would take his place. If Bezos put Amazon on strike, the economy would crater in days. That’s real leverage. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/229 "2020-11-12T14:50:26Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > > [@Akaj](#): > > > > No Republican wants to see the S&P drop 75%. > > Then just declare it to be what you want it to be. Pretty sure you’re kidding here. The S&P wouldn’t plummet because it’s some arbitrary number; it would plummet because stockholders worldwide would be liquidating their positions as fast as possible. Trump could make up all the alternative indices he wanted, but that wouldn’t change the real devastation to people’s portfolios. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2020, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/230 "2020-11-12T14:57:00Z")
'Nother random thought … “Follow the money.” Ask, “Who profits ?” What if this season’s latest Kabuki installment is a **pure** economic play – [**market segmentation**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Market_segmentation). He’s pissed at Fox. There’s long been talk about a Trump news network. What if he’s just spraying flaming piss on everything in order to define, cleave off, and capture his target audience. Between the “rigged election” intrigue and the DoD rat-fuckery … his people _are_ in a frenzy right now. This dynamic **is** playing out … whether or not it’s the willful end game of CFSG, et al. > **["He plans to wreck Fox": Trump eyes starting his own digital media empire](https://www.axios.com/2020/11/12/trump-fox-news-digital-media-competitor)** > > Some Trump advisers think Fox News made a mistake with an early call of a Biden win in Arizona. > **[Trump voters are flocking to a TV channel that claims Biden is not...](https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/12/media/fox-news-newsmax-reliable-sources/index.html)** > > President Trump's fans who don't think Fox News is right-wing enough have another option on cable and satellite: Newsmax TV. ---
**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 12, 2020, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/231 "2020-11-12T14:59:55Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Since when has something being illegal stopped them? I do not think there is wiggle room here legally. If they did that and the courts didn’t stop them then this country is done. Rule of law is 100% out the window. Any legislature can thwart the voters choices at whim. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2020, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/232 "2020-11-12T15:05:31Z")
Best case scenario at this point? More republicrooks stick their necks out and insist that the president concede or at least acknowledge defeat. Worst case scenario, certifications are somehow blocked and we have an outright full-on contested election that could somehow give Trump and his allies an opening to reclaim power. At the present time, these are also not very likely, though non-zero in terms of chance. What’s most likely is something somewhere in between that ultimately forces Trump and the Republicans to give up the White House but leaves Biden with seriously damaged legitimacy, which opens the door for aggressive, confrontational, and potentially violently extremist opposition. I don’t know how we get the message across to enough of Trump’s voters that this is not a good thing for the country, but somehow that message needs to get across or we will cease to be a democratic republic within the next 5-10 years. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/233 "2020-11-12T15:08:34Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I do not think there is wiggle room here legally. If they did that and the courts didn’t stop them then this country is done. Rule of law is 100% out the window. Any legislature can thwart the voters choices at whim. I think this is the opportune time to remind Americans of their Exceptionalism. That’ll put an end to all this fuckery, sharpish. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2020, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/234 "2020-11-12T15:11:18Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > I think this is the opportune time to remind Americans of their Exceptionalism. ex·cep·tion·al - (of a child) mentally or physically disabled so as to require special schooling. Point well taken. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/235 "2020-11-12T15:15:04Z")
forget sleeping like a baby. “sleeping like a sociopath” is my new favourite saying. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/236 "2020-11-12T15:15:36Z")
Iran is still biding its time with a response to the killing of Soleimani, if some experts are to be believed. Although, any attack on the U.S. right now would probably work in Trump’s favor. ---
**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 12, 2020, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/237 "2020-11-12T15:16:34Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > > [@solost](#): > > > > Ok, but stopping the military from doing something they should do, in order to try to pull of a coup, is kind of the same as ordering the military to do something they shouldn’t do. The end result would be the same, and having control of the military would be a key aspect of the plan. > > I’m probably way wrong in my hypothesis. But still, there is huge difference in an order not to act vs. ordering the military to be complicit with some sort of active coup. Yeah, and I mean, I don’t think a coup or anything really crazy is going to happen, military or otherwise. trump is in flailing last-gasp mode, and cooler heads will ultimately prevail. But the fact that we’re at a point where a highly respected 4-star general is ringing alarm bells is just crazy. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/238 "2020-11-12T15:20:45Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > “Follow the money.” Ask, “Who profits ?” > > What if this season’s latest Kabuki installment is a **pure** economic play – [**market segmentation**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Market_segmentation). > > He’s pissed at Fox. There’s long been talk about a Trump news network. What if he’s just spraying flaming piss on everything in order to define, cleave off, and capture his target audience. > > Between the “rigged election” intrigue and the DoD rat-fuckery … his people _are_ in a frenzy right now. I can’t make the connection between the profit motive and the DoD play. I mean, Trump is driven by greed, narcissism and vindictiveness. But this DoD move only makes sense only if it benefits Trump in some material or personal way. Which can only mean saving his worthless orange hide from prosecution he knows is coming. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/239 "2020-11-12T15:20:59Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > It’s a wonder Iran still has a nuclear program if Israel took advantage of each “opportunity” Israel can’t do that now without painting big targets on the Gulf states they just normalized relations with. If that happens, Trump’s legacy loses one of its few diplomatic success stories. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/240 "2020-11-12T15:22:31Z")
I see some conservatives comparing this mess to the 2000 election, saying things along the lines of _We indulged your challenges and recounts then; why are you so upset about ours now?_ OK. But when SCOTUS shut down the 2000 recounts, Gore famously said “May God bless this administration.” Will Trump say the same when all his appeals have been exhausted? (Asking rhetorically, of course.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182.md?page=13)