# 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:** 74
**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:** [December 22, 2020, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1463 "2020-12-22T17:01:43Z")
IDK. If Pence thinks Trump has finally gone off the deep end, he might be able to convince McConnell, especially if they think they can screw things up for Biden more effectively with Pence as acting POTUS. ---
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1464 "2020-12-22T17:26:13Z")
I don’t know if Pence and McConnell would be willing to depose trump even if he were personally gunning down citizens in the street with an AK-47 as a good 30 to 40% of GOP voters would turn on them and any other Republicans who voted to “25” Mr. 45. Maybe Pence would since he doesn’t seem to have much political future after sitting quiet and motionless with a trump- worshipping gaze on his face for 4 years. Not sure if he’s drunk the trump flavor aid or just the evangelical wine. ---
**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 22, 2020, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1465 "2020-12-22T17:31:33Z")
Someone needs to convince Mother before Mikey will do anything. ---
**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:** [December 22, 2020, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1466 "2020-12-22T17:55:32Z")
Mikey is just running away like the coward he is. He won’t do anything. And he won’t join Trump in his final days in the bunker either. (Robin from the Holy Grail) “perhaps it will confuse (the electorate) if I run away more.” ---
**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 22, 2020, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1467 "2020-12-22T18:01:32Z")
~When Trumpy reared his ugly head, Sir Mikey turned his tail and fled~ ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1468 "2020-12-22T18:12:45Z")
> [@Crane](#): > > Perhaps you could elaborate. Are you unaware of the technology that is available from Walmart? I said it is military grade, not that it exceeds the technologies of our military. Our Military passed the stuff available in Walmart back in 1959 when the M14, a select fire rifle, became issued. It could be argued that we had such weapons back in WW2, but they werent widely issued. Or in 1918 when the Browning Automatic Rifle ( _BAR_ ) was issued. The AR15 _looks_ military as it copies the M16, but it aint. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1469 "2020-12-22T18:27:58Z")
> [@Skypist](#): > > The GOP has sold almost half the country (probably not all their voters but a good portion of them) on the idea that all Democrats are crazy “socialist” nutbags who kill newborns for sport. T It is not the GOP so much as conservative talk radio. Which of course is republican. ---
**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:** [December 22, 2020, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1470 "2020-12-22T18:37:03Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The AR15 _looks_ military as it copies the M16, but it aint. I don’t think there is a tremendous amount of difference between the AR-15 and the M16. The main difference is the the fact that the M16 has a 3-round burst feature. (Note that the fully automatic feature went away starting with the M16A2, as all this typically did was to waste ammunition.) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1471 "2020-12-22T18:40:36Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > ~When Trumpy reared his ugly head, Sir Mikey turned his tail and fled~ - Oh, like he hasn’t see _that_ before. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1472 "2020-12-22T18:45:10Z")
Militaries of the world think highly of full auto or burst capability. Every main battle rifle has one or the other or both. However, the M4 carbine is replacing/has replaced the M16 - [M4 carbine - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#:~:text=The%20M4%20is%20extensively%20used,infantry%20weapon%20and%20service%20rifle). The M4 has [semi-automatic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-automatic_firearm) and [three-round burst](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burst_mode_(firearm)) firing modes (like the M16A2 and M16A4), while the M4A1 has semi-automatic and [fully automatic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_firearm) firing modes (like the M16A1 and M16A3). ---
**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 22, 2020, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1473 "2020-12-22T19:46:58Z")
If you’ve read or heard some of the comments from Michael Cohen, they’re interesting as hell. He’s saying that while some people might get pardoned, some will definitely NOT get pardoned because Trump knows that some people will lose their immunity and forced to flip against him - and that there’s no way in hell he would let that happen. He’ll fry Jared Kushner - possibly his own children - before he lets prosecutors have their way with him. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1474 "2020-12-22T21:36:38Z")
**Modhat** : Please end the gun hijack of the thread. If you want to talk guns, start a new thread and probably not in P&E. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1475 "2020-12-22T21:44:51Z")
> [@Mike\_Mabes](#): > > The leaders of the major militia groups are not idiots. I’m requesting a cite for this. (ETA: “He went to college” doesn’t cut it.) ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1476 "2020-12-22T22:22:09Z")
I don’t believe that Trump thinks he won. I believe he is aware enough to know that he has to pretend that. To fleece his supporters, and to (try everything to) avoid leaving office. Where he will lose his “I’m the President” immunity. > **[Trump's private bankers resign from Deutsche Bank | CNN Business](https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/22/business/trump-deutsche-bankers-resign/index.html)** > > The private bankers to President Donald Trump and Jared Kushner have resigned from Deutsche Bank, the bank said. ---
**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:** [December 22, 2020, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1477 "2020-12-22T22:29:02Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I don’t believe that Trump thinks he won. I believe he is aware enough to know that he has to pretend that. To fleece his supporters [Michael Cohen: Here’s What’s Really Behind Trump’s Election Lies (yahoo.com)](https://www.yahoo.com/huffpost/michael-cohen-trump-election-cash-grab-000735374.html) > “He knows he lost the election. He knows it… > > “He knows that his next saga of his story is really going to be predicated around a Trump news network. It’s why he’s fighting with Fox every day,” Cohen said. > > “He’s looking to steal their base… > > “This is a cash grab. When you finish a job, you’re always thinking about how to reinvent yourself. That’s what Donald Trump is doing right now,” he said… > > Cohen noted that many of Trump’s most devout supporters have indicated they would [support him no matter what](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/469058-poll-62-of-trump-supporters-say-nothing-the-president-could-do-would). > > “From them, he just wants $4.99 a month. And for that $4.99 a month, you get to listen to all the bullshit and all the far-right-wing conspiracies that Donald Trump can dream up,” Cohen said. “That’s what he’s going to sell you. That’s $100 million a month, $1.2 billion a year. That’s going to pay for the gas in his 757.” ---
**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:** [December 22, 2020, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1478 "2020-12-22T22:29:39Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I don’t believe that Trump thinks he won. I don’t think we know that for sure. A highly intelligent psychopath can certainly distinguish reality from fantasy just as well as anyone else, and cynically do or say whatever is necessary. But I’m not sure Trump falls into that category. Even most “normal” humans are capable of pretty astonishing levels of rationalization and self-deception. I think his narcissism might rise to a level where the idea of objective reality just doesn’t figure into the way he thinks, he acts with such complete lack of concern for the fact that he’s telling _obvious_ lies, and he has been reward with such widespread gullible acceptance, that maybe by now he believes reality really can be anything he wants it to be if he can get people to accept his narrative. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1479 "2020-12-22T22:30:57Z")
Yeah, but we can’t really know that for sure. ---
**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:** [December 22, 2020, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1480 "2020-12-22T22:51:50Z")
We need a new word. Hearing someone on the news say “a coup” multiple times has them sounding like a plague of pigeons, a flight of doves, or having a really strange sneeze. I believe I heard “a coup” more times in 15 minutes on a news show last night, than I have in my entire life thus far. ---
**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:** [December 22, 2020, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1481 "2020-12-22T22:56:37Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > I believe I heard “a coup” more times in 15 minutes on a news show last night, than I have in my entire life thus far. Well, it’s like the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction. It’s not like a coup happens every year, you have to make the most of it while it lasts. ---
**Author:** ![Ziberian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/919ad9/32.png) [@Ziberian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ziberian)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1482 "2020-12-22T23:29:28Z")
> [@Mike\_Mabes](#): > > It is funny talking about a Civil War, because about a year ago I created a thread wondering if COVID might eventually break up the US. I didn’t think it would happen, and I wasn’t thinking about it happening with the military, but in any case no one is talkinig about starting a Civil War because they are pissed about the government’s handling of it. Now if the vaccine doesn’t work, and a million people die in the next 6 months with no end in site, that is a different story. That could lead to absolute chaos. I think COVID still might be the start of a civil war. About next March, when another few hundred thousand have died, a few million are out on the streets after being unable to pay rent, and more are facing genuine hunger, I think the potential for an uprising is there. This will give Trumpers, who mostly have civil service jobs or good retirement benefits, an excuse to ‘go to war’ against these ‘lazy, welfare bums’. Or maybe Trumpers don’t get involved, and it’s the disenfranchised overthrowing the government that thought $600 was a perfectly reasonable sum to get people through a year of COVID. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182.md?page=73) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182.md?page=75)