# 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:** 52
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2020, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1022 "2020-12-12T05:06:13Z")
::cue _Sabre Dance_ tune:: Ah! TIL! Never knew it was a Russian slang for young white trash. I always associated Gopnik with the sometimes-abstruse _New Yorker_ writer. ---
**Author:** ![sweepkick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@sweepkick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweepkick)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2020, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1023 "2020-12-12T05:24:28Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > > [@Skypist](#): > > > > We need Dem candidates that will appeal to some of the “lean Republican” voters then. I don’t know how to do that. And also need to appeal “lean Dem” voters who still didn’t vote, enough to motivate them to get out there. > > This is Biden to a T. And Obama, for that matter. ---
**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:** [December 12, 2020, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1024 "2020-12-12T05:27:54Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > ::cue _Sabre Dance_ tune:: > > Ah! TIL! Never knew it was a Russian slang for young white trash. > I always associated Gopnik with the sometimes-abstruse _New Yorker_ writer. And I know it because of my love for hardbass; _Sabre Dance_ this is not! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/QIjKijhv1OU/maxresdefault.jpg "SLAV KING - Boris vs. DJ Blyatman") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIjKijhv1OU) ---
**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:** [December 12, 2020, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1025 "2020-12-12T05:32:09Z")
🤦‍♂️ I almost forgot to mention this tidbit from Texas: [https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/529926-texas-gop-chair-appears-to-suggest-secession-after-scotus-rejects](https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/529926-texas-gop-chair-appears-to-suggest-secession-after-scotus-rejects) Here’s the money quote: > [@Texas GOP Chairman Allan West](#): > > The Supreme Court, in tossing the Texas lawsuit that was joined by seventeen states and 106 U.S. congressman, has decreed that a state can take unconstitutional actions and violate its own election law resulting in damaging effects on other states that abide by the law, while the guilty state suffers no consequences. This decision establishes a precedent that says states can violate the U.S. constitution and not be held accountable. > > This decision will have far-reaching ramifications for the future of our constitutional republic. Perhaps law-abiding states should bond together and form a Union of states that will abide by the constitution. The really, _really_ incredible part is what follows that statement: > [@Texas GOP Chairman Allan West](#): > > The Texas GOP will always stand for the Constitution and for the rule of law even while others don’t. 🤨 See it for yourself here: > **[Chairman Allen West's Response to SCOTUS Decision - Republican Party of Texas](https://texasgop.org/chairman-allen-wests-response-to-scotus-decision/)** > > RPT Chairman Allen West's statement regarding the SCOTUS decision to dismiss Texas's constitutionally legitimate and critical lawsuit. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2020, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1026 "2020-12-12T06:06:47Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I almost forgot to mention this tidbit from Texas: > > > Texas GOP chair floats secession for ‘law-abiding states’ after Supreme Court… Oh please oh please oh please… ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2020, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1027 "2020-12-12T06:53:07Z")
Meh. Somebody in Texas is always talking about secession. ---
**Author:** ![Monocracy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monocracy/32/4493_2.png) [@Monocracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monocracy)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2020, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1028 "2020-12-12T14:26:20Z")
So now that the Supreme Court threw out the Texas case, what’s next up on the Coup agenda? It’s still a long way to Jan. 6. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2020, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1029 "2020-12-12T14:38:39Z")
I expect that there will be protests and some kind of symbolic actions on Monday as electors gather in their state capitols to officially cast their votes. Maybe Trump electors try to enter the convening on the argument that they’re the “true” electors? Maybe Republican legislators try to bar the Biden electors’ entrance? I just hope and pray that there’s no violence. ---
**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:** [December 12, 2020, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1030 "2020-12-12T14:38:48Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Meh. Somebody in Texas is always talking about secession. You ever get the feeling they think it means _caesarean delivery_ ? Hm. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2020, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1031 "2020-12-12T14:46:35Z")
> [@Monocracy](#): > > So now that the Supreme Court threw out the Texas case, what’s next up on the Coup agenda? It’s still a long way to Jan. 6. I think you mean January 20th. But this is what I’m wondering now. How crazy will Trump get? Will he limit himself to Twitter rants and filing increasingly unhinged lawsuits, or will he try even crazier things? ---
**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:** [December 12, 2020, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1032 "2020-12-12T14:48:56Z")
> [@Monocracy](#): > > So now that the Supreme Court threw out the Texas case, what’s next up on the Coup agenda? It’s still a long way to Jan. 6. Well, the MAGAbots are demonstrating _nationwide_ today. Guess there’s nuttin’ on TV and too early to drink beer? [https://a.msn.com/r/2/BB1bRXNM?m=en-us&referrerID=InAppShare](https://a.msn.com/r/2/BB1bRXNM?m=en-us&referrerID=InAppShare) > WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Conservative groups that allege without evidence that President-elect Joe Biden stole the U.S. election from Donald Trump plan protests nationwide on Saturday, including a Washington rally headlined by Trump’s recently pardoned former national security adviser. > > Organizers Stop The Steal, which is linked to pro-Trump operative Roger Stone, and church groups urged supporters to turn out to “Jericho Marches” and prayer rallies. These are planned at Washington’s National Mall and in the capitals of Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada and Arizona, where Trump’s campaign has questioned vote counts. > … Some of the demonstrators will be blowing shofars, which this Jew finds tacky and offensive. The shofar is blown on solemn religious occasions. 😠 > [@flurb](#): > > I expect that there will be protests and some kind of symbolic actions on Monday as electors gather in their state capitols to officially cast their votes. This goes without saying. I hope the Biden electors will have lots of armed police protection. ---
**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:** [December 12, 2020, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1033 "2020-12-12T14:50:13Z")
Heard they are going to stop traffic in Atlanta on Monday. Having grown up in Atlanta, I got news for these guys - the traffic stops just fine by itself, tyvm. ---
**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:** [December 12, 2020, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1034 "2020-12-12T14:52:24Z")
Fortunately, Allen West is despised by many in his own party - and that’s saying something about what an absolutely bizarro douchebag he is. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2020, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1035 "2020-12-12T14:53:12Z")
As mentioned in the other thread, the WI Supreme Court is hearing an appeal today. The are some other cases pending, and I expect suits to continue probably even after Jan 20. Brian ---
**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:** [December 12, 2020, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1036 "2020-12-12T14:54:08Z")
Yeah, Allen West came to Texas after being found as too crazy even for the FL GOP: [https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/fl-ne-allen-west-republican-party-chairman-20200720-v6a5ws2emnao5gejbcgogclsp4-story.html](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/fl-ne-allen-west-republican-party-chairman-20200720-v6a5ws2emnao5gejbcgogclsp4-story.html) ---
**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:** [December 12, 2020, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1037 "2020-12-12T14:56:35Z")
IIRC, the GOP - not the Democrats - deliberately gerrymandered a district **so he would lose** his congressional seat. ---
**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:** [December 12, 2020, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1038 "2020-12-12T14:57:54Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > I think you mean January 20th. But this is what I’m wondering now. How crazy will Trump get? How about this? [https://www.axios.com/trump-biden-inauguration-florida-rally-78b56134-54ae-4113-ad0a-ae29cd5c7be1.html](https://www.axios.com/trump-biden-inauguration-florida-rally-78b56134-54ae-4113-ad0a-ae29cd5c7be1.html) I an absolutely see him doing this. Anything to keep the cameras on him and not on Joe. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2020, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1039 "2020-12-12T15:21:18Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Trump, writing on Twitter, said: “We will be INTERVENING in the Texas (plus many other states) case. This is the big one. Our Country needs a victory!” > [@Jas09](#): > > What sort of intervention could possibly be warranted or helpful here? Is he saying the federal government is going to join the suit against those states (terrifying, but likely pointless)? Or him personally as a candidate (insane, and pointless)? According to the article, what he means is that he is petitioning to join the case as a plaintiff. He’s using the scary word “intervening”, which makes is sound like he plans to try to direct the Court on what to do or something, or make them conclude what he wants. > [@DavidNRockies](#): > > The kind where a family member has gone profoundly off the rails. 😉 > [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > These churches and the families communities that surround them are based on a highly authoritarian power structure. They like that kind of structure. They think the country needs “strong leaders” that impose their will on the majority. They think that things like self-esteem and critical thinking are _ **bad** _. > > snip > > So many liberals don’t freaking get this. They think that Trump’s cruelty and misogyny should cause some sort of cognitive dissonance among the religious. But these people like the cruelty directed towards liberals and minorities. They think “those people” need to be marginalized and put in their place. > > snip > > While liberal thinking people generally think that a person in authority should hold themselves to a higher behavioral standard, conservatives think the opposite. They think the authority figure gets to say and do what he wants and he doesn’t _owe_ anyone an explanation for his actions. > That’s why he gets so nasty when a debate moderator asked him a tough question. They aren’t supposed to be allowed to talk to the President that way. Interesting analysis. It explains why religious folks who _should_ be freaked out by Trump are supporting him. He vocalizes their agenda (e.g. anti-abortion) while pushing to “protect” them. It’s very cultish - the leader can do anything because he is in charge - he’s the anointed of God (or even God himself, e.g. David Koresh). > [@Akaj](#): > > I have no doubt that this thought process is true for the religious fundamentalists who support Trump. But so many of his “fans” (to go back to my sports analogy) aren’t even religious. > > snip > > They were all GOP “fans” going way back, but the echo chambers of Fox and social media hardened that fandom into literal hatred of the other “team.” Yes, that’s the factor that is most significant for driving the right - that right-wing twisted media junk like Rush Limbaugh and Breitbart and Fox. They’ve been feeding the “Libruls are EVIL” message for so long, no wonder conservatives are internalizing it. > [@DigitalC](#): > > I just don’t understand what people are seeing. Everything I was worried about has not come to pass, starting with election day and the vote counts and certification, etc. This “coup” has been stopped overwhelmingly by Republicans. Over and over again Judges, elected officials and representatives have stepped up to the plate, a lot of them open Trump supporters or appointees and shut his shit down. Where are we failing? what has gone wrong? at this point you should be as optimistic about the state of our Democracy as you have been in a long time. The system has worked exactly the way it was meant to everyone’s shock. The failing is that Republican leaders are legitimizing the attempts. Their refusal to acknowledge Biden won is just the first step - that delayed the transition, but otherwise is just petty and partisan. But when Republican State Attorney Generals file lawsuits against other states for how the other states conducted their voting, that’s a direct assault on democracy. When they refuse to call out Trump for his claims of voter fraud, that’s complicity in Trump’s undermining faith in the election and Biden’s legitimacy - something the right was already going to do. Yes, the courts and vote counters and such have stood up for the truth. But the Governors and Representatives and Senators have largely either shut up or vocally declared support for Trump and his attempts to throw out votes or otherwise overturn the election. Where are McConnell and Gramm and co. when Trump cries massive voter fraud? Where are they when Trump calls state election officials to the White House to try to “negotiate” them into decertifying the election results and send Trump electors instead? This is precisely the end result of not impeaching him. They encouraged him in his thoughts that he could do anything. They should be defending the Constitution. Instead, that weasel Cruz is jumping on board to argue the case to the Supreme Court. At least John Cornyn has made some [weak, mealy-mouthed repudiations](https://www.texastribune.org/2020/11/19/john-cornyn-donald-trump/) of Trumps efforts. That’s something. Not nearly enough, IMO, but something. > [@DigitalC](#): > > What people seem to want is for them to commit career suicide for absolutely no gain, this is simply unrealistic. The very fact that speaking out against bogus claims of election fraud and efforts to change the state’s electoral votes by fiat is career suicide is precisely why they _must_ speak out. Every step of “I’ll go along to protect myself, it won’t succeed but I’ll look good,” legitimizes the efforts _and_ it stokes the fires against the actual officials who are standing up. Each step paves the way for the next step, which then faces more intense pressure to cave and go along. It’s an escalating political wave of cowardice and self-service that is feeding the Trumpers in their beliefs about the election. It’s encouraging the folks talking about taking direct action because they believe the election was rigged. > [@Skypist](#): > > It frustrates me that states like TX, where I live, are left to flounder with these asscracks like Abbott, Patrick, and Paxton in charge. Nobody helps us with better candidates. I don’t think citizens can do it alone. In Texas, these _are_ the better candidates. At least on the Repub side, which is the side that wins. ---
**Author:** ![Monocracy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monocracy/32/4493_2.png) [@Monocracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monocracy)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2020, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1040 "2020-12-12T15:29:57Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > I think you mean January 20th. Congress certifies the electoral votes on Jan. 6. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2020, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1041 "2020-12-12T15:30:12Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Unfortunately, many Americans have been sold the bullshit theme that life is a zero-sum game, and that “helping others” = “hurting me” > “respecting other’s beliefs” = “disrespecting my beliefs” > “listening to someone” = “you are ignoring me” Sad but true. > [@Skypist](#): > > They’ve already swallowed the message that Pelosi is the one who held up the Covid assistance. Mitch had nothing to do with it! Also sad but true. The Dems need to be louder and clearer on how they’ve had a plan since July that the Repubs have been avoiding. _They_ were the ones fighting for more money in the first two stimulus plans. _They_ were the ones trying to keep unemployment benefits up and extended. How it was the Republicans who cut funding and reduced benefits and fought against every part of the relief packages. It was the Republicans who said after two packages that we didn’t need a third. Sadly, we’re not even getting that message on mainstream media, let alone the right wing echo chamber. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182.md?page=51) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182.md?page=53)