# The American Coup: 11.9.2020 -

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182>\
**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:** 138

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**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 11, 2021, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2744 "2021-01-11T09:56:48Z")

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> **[Pelosi says House will proceed with efforts to remove Trump 'with urgency'](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/11/pelosi-says-house-will-proceed-with-efforts-to-remove-trump-with-urgency-25th-amendment)**
>
> House will first try to force Mike Pence to oust president by invoking 25th amendment and then move forward with impeachment

So Pelosi’s plan is shaping up as:

(1) Mon/Tue - Non-binding resolution for Pence to invoke 25th  
…when he doesn’t…  
(2) House votes to impeach midweek  
(3) Senate trial in 100 days

The additional part that I had not seen until the latest news stories is -  
(4) A separate Senate vote to bar Trump from holding public office again. Apparently this would only take a simple majority (51-50), I’m not sure why.

Assuming continued Republican intransigency, this seems like the best that the Democrats can do. Unless he does anything even more egregious, Pence won’t invoke the 25th and impeachment will presumably fail in the Senate. But extensive evidence of all of Trump’s crimes can be gathered over 3 months and laid out at the Senate trial for the record; and the Republican enablers will be forced to vote and go on the historical record in the face of that evidence.

Then (4) takes Trump out of the picture in 2024, and he will still be facing state criminal charges.

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**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 11, 2021, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2745 "2021-01-11T12:35:46Z")

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> [@Riemann](#):
>
> Assuming continued Republican intransigency, this seems like the best that the Democrats can do. Unless he does anything even more egregious, Pence won’t invoke the 25th and impeachment will presumably fail in the Senate.

You do realize that by the time the Senate votes on any articles of impeachment the GOP will not control the Senate, right?

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**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2021, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2746 "2021-01-11T12:39:40Z")

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Conviction in the Senate requires a two-thirds vote. The GOP won’t control the chamber but they control enough seats to make the result pretty dicey.

Edit to add: What they will control, though, as the majority party, is the _process_ of the impeachment trial. McConnell won’t be able to stuff the outcome with a rushed show trial. Schumer (or whoever) can ensure that the actual charges and evidence are heard in detail. This _may_ sway some GOP votes, depending on how effectively this presentation is made, and how closely the public is paying attention, making continued GOP intransigence untenable. But that’s about it.

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**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 11, 2021, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2747 "2021-01-11T12:46:14Z")

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Oh right 🤦‍♂️ mea culpa

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**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 11, 2021, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2748 "2021-01-11T13:25:25Z")

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Melania: “yes, the violence was bad but the real problem is people being mean to me!”

> **[First lady 'disappointed' by Trump supporters' Capitol riot](https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-politics-elections-98a770218270a2743fdd596ca8e3de67)**
>
> WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Melania Trump said Monday that she is “disappointed and disheartened” by the deadly riot at the Capitol last week by supporters of her husband...

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**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2021, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2749 "2021-01-11T13:57:57Z")

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> [@Riemann](#):
>
> (4) A separate Senate vote to bar Trump from holding public office again. Apparently this would only take a simple majority (51-50), I’m not sure why.

This could only follow a 2/3rds conviction.

The Constitution says that the penalties for impeachment can be no more than removal from office AND banishment from office; it’s basically an add-on option.

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**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 11, 2021, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2750 "2021-01-11T14:11:39Z")

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So, Mark Levin, Ben Shapiro, and Don Boingo received a corporate communication this morning from Westwood One, their employer/contractor:

[https://twitter.com/kennwhite/status/1348616501243338752?s=19](https://twitter.com/kennwhite/status/1348616501243338752?s=19)

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**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2021, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2751 "2021-01-11T14:19:21Z")

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But the criminal organization is not within the Republican party - it IS the **Republican Party**.

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**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 11, 2021, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2752 "2021-01-11T14:29:08Z")

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> [@RickJay](#):
>
> This could only follow a 2/3rds conviction.
> 
> The Constitution says that the penalties for impeachment can be no more than removal from office AND banishment from office; it’s basically an add-on option.

Right. Conviction requires the 2/3. Majority votes as to what penalty is imposed besides dismissal have to come _after_ the conviction.

Any attempt as simply declaring someone disqualified absent the 2/3 conviction would be deemed unconstitutional IMO.

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**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2021, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2753 "2021-01-11T14:38:47Z")

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> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#):
>
> Melania: “yes, the violence was bad but the real problem is people being mean to me!”

Wait, what’s she doing in Wilmington, Delaware? Visiting with Biden? Does Donnie know?

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**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2021, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2754 "2021-01-11T14:47:18Z")

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> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#):
>
> …but Individual 1 has yet to call the first dead cop’s family. Biden has.

Trump might even realize… oh wait… someone told him that the family would just go tell him to go to hell.

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**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 11, 2021, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2755 "2021-01-11T15:06:33Z")

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> [@Johnny\_L.A](#):
>
> Is there anything more authoritative than Twitter, saying the domestic terrorists are on the no-fly list?

I don’t think it’s the no-fly list as commonly understood. I believe several airlines announced they’d be collaborating with authorities with identifying the perps and their movements… and then were exerting the small print in their tickets to not let on anyone who gave off trouble signals. I mean, I have not seen reports of hundreds or even scores of people getting stranded at DCA or BWI on this account, but I may just not be looking in the right places.

BTW love the crying and whining about how they want to ruin his life. Jeeesus, man get a grip. This was a case of _“it was at this moment, that Kevin knew, he’d fucked up”_. He’ll just have to take the damn bus.

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2021, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2756 "2021-01-11T15:10:44Z")

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> [@JRDelirious](#):
>
> BTW love the crying and whining about how they want to ruin his life. Jeeesus, man get a grip.

The audio on the video was poor, but that’s the one bit I was able to discern.

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**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:** [January 11, 2021, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2757 "2021-01-11T15:24:36Z")

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> [@Cervaise](#):
>
> McConnell won’t be able to stuff the outcome with a rushed show trial. Schumer (or whoever) can ensure that the actual charges and evidence are heard in detail.

I believe the evidence is presented by a House member. It would be helpful if that member was one of the few sane Republicans left in the House.

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**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 11, 2021, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2758 "2021-01-11T15:31:21Z")

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> **[Talk-radio owner orders conservative hosts to temper election fraud rhetoric](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/media/cumulus-radio-conservative-election-fraud/2021/01/11/e12ec46e-537c-11eb-a817-e5e7f8a406d6_story.html)**
>
> In the wake of the Capitol riot, Cumulus Media asks hosts to change their tone: “We need to help induce national calm NOW.”

> …  
> Cumulus Media, which employs some of the most popular right-leaning talk-radio hosts in the United States, has told its on-air personalities to stop suggesting that the election was stolen from President Trump — or else face termination.  
> …
> 
> “We need to help induce national calm NOW,” Brian Philips, executive vice president of content for Cumulus, wrote in an internal memo, which was first reported by [Inside Music Media](https://insidemusicmedia.com/). Cumulus and its program syndication arm, Westwood One, “will not tolerate any suggestion that the election has not ended. The election has been resolved and there are no alternate acceptable ‘paths.’ ”
> 
> The memo adds: “If you transgress this policy, you can expect to separate from the company immediately.”  
> …
> 
> Since the election, Cumulus has remained silent while its most popular hosts — which include Mark Levin, Ben Shapiro and Dan Bongino — have amplified Trump’s lies that the vote was “rigged” or in some way fraudulent.  
> …
> 
> Atlanta-based Cumulus owns 416 radio stations in 84 regions across the country. Many of its stations broadcast a talk format, a medium that has been dominated by a conservative point of view for decades. In addition to its national personalities, it employs local talk-radio hosts in many of its markets.
> 
> Cumulus’s biggest stations include WMAL in Washington, KABC in Los Angeles, WLS in Chicago and KGO in San Francisco, all of which air a news-talk format. (Rush Limbaugh, perhaps the biggest star of conservative talk, is syndicated by another company, Premiere Networks, though his program is heard on many Cumulus-owned stations. Limbaugh isn’t subject to Cumulus’s memo.)  
> …
> 
> Talk-radio hosts, Harrison said, “never expected” their critiques of the election “to get out of hand” in the manner seen Wednesday.  
> …

_Well, yeah, I could smell that the room was full of gasoline fumes, but I just had to have a ciggie, know what I mean? How did I know_ – 💣 🔥

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**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 11, 2021, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2759 "2021-01-11T15:31:31Z")

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So Republicans have started yammering on about “unity” and “moving forward”. It seems to me that the best thing that could happen for unity is that all Republicans come forward and say there was no evidence of fraud during the election. I can’t be the first to think of this; has any Democrat brought this up in congress?

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**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2021, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2760 "2021-01-11T15:44:17Z")

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Nevermind, stuff moves fast.

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**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 11, 2021, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2761 "2021-01-11T15:52:24Z")

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> [@Deeg](#):
>
> So Republicans have started yammering on about “unity” and “moving forward”.

I’ve noticed that Trumpists on Facebook are all of a sudden saying “Can’t we all just get along!” after having been total assholes for the past four years.

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**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 11, 2021, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2762 "2021-01-11T15:59:57Z")

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> [@JohnT](#):
>
> So, Mark Levin, Ben Shapiro, and Don Boingo received a corporate communication this morning from Westwood One, their employer/contractor:

Cue the “but but but free speech!” from the brain dead muppets who really mean “a free platform to spew my bullshit without any consequences”

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**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 11, 2021, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/2763 "2021-01-11T16:00:00Z")

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And they’re pretending this all started when liberals demonstrated against Trump, while they attempt to ignore all the hate directed at HRC. Over emails.

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