# 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:** 98
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2021, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1944 "2021-01-05T02:15:39Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives. Ditto! ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2021, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1945 "2021-01-05T04:03:20Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > > [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > > > Something tells me it’s not that funny: > > No, it’s funny. I don’t see him as a guy who’s planning to use high capacity magazines to go on a shooting spree. He’s a guy who owns them because he’s a tough guy who fetishizes having guns. He said he would surrender to authorities, but they caught him unawares and now he has more charges to face. > > What I don’t know is if the magazine charge is a felony. I understand why you may not see this jackass possessing the magazines as a danger since most of these types are chicken shit cowards who get off on waving guns around. HOWEVER, the Proud Boys have shown themselves to be willing to engage in violence frequently. I recall seeing something in one of the threads, maybe in this one, saying Proud Boys intend to show up in DC on Wednesday dressed up as Antifa so they can rampage and get the blame put on the left. Not sure if this is why he had those magazines but Tarrio and his ilk are not the typical limp dicked militia types. They are dangerous domestic terrorists. ---
**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 5, 2021, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1946 "2021-01-05T04:10:08Z")
Yeah, but if some PB’s are dressing like Antifa (we now have uniforms?), and other PB’s are shooting people dressed like Antifa, won’t they be shooting each other? ---
**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 5, 2021, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1947 "2021-01-05T04:19:16Z")
… nobody told me there would be shoe requirements or _anything_ like that. Do I get reimbursed? How? ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2021, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1948 "2021-01-05T04:22:06Z")
I wondered about that as well. I took it to mean they will do the all-black clothes and masks some of the Antifa folks seem to favor. Pretty sure if they did this there wouldn’t be any PB’s shooting at the ones in Antifa drag since most likely they would all be in Antifa drag. Or they’re just a bunch of violent morons. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2021, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1949 "2021-01-05T04:29:43Z")
This may actually be where I saw this claim - [Proud Boys plan to protest incognito dressed as Antifa](https://www.businessinsider.com/proud-boys-attend-january-6-dc-rally-incognito-all-black-2021-1) > The Proud Boys’ chairman, Enrique Tarrio, [revealed on Parler](https://parler.com/profile/NobleLead/posts) that "the Proud Boys will turn out in record numbers on Jan 6th but, this time, with a twist. "The twist, Tarrio said, is that they will forgo their traditional uniform for something inconspicuous. He wrote: “We will not be wearing our traditional Black and Yellow.” > The group’s standard uniform is black and yellow Fred Perry polo shirts, military armor, and MAGA hats. Instead, the chairman explained: “We might dress in all BLACK for the occasion.” …The Proud Boys intend to take further steps to blend in with other protesters. Tarrio wrote: “We will be incognito and we will spread across downtown DC in smaller teams.” ---
**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 5, 2021, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1950 "2021-01-05T04:31:18Z")
I think a fair amount of these ‘warnings’ are a mere compilation and amplification of rando FB and Twitter posts and, really, don’t mean shit. Even Tarrio’s post above doesn’t make sense - how will they know who not to fight? Will they have one of these things? [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Vkn7nue96rXx_7OIppnHq8uCcSHR3e8N1z0bqEG6ikvS-gJZoj-ZK9II5J1lRO400Clnah7D03GPWRbghJo5pmbG3gHP37CnsM-kPNxaiXbbV3g4oi8ZYqi_ZFEvSrk8jBHS7jACbg=w480-h315-p-k "New item by John Thornton") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/o5ee7YafDLfnwBzV8) ‘Antifa, ten meters!’ ‘Where, goddammit, where?’ ‘Eight Meters!’ ‘Shit!’ ‘Ripleeeeeeeeey!’ ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2021, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1951 "2021-01-05T04:32:01Z")
Ohpleaseohpleaseohpleaseohplease… ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2021, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1952 "2021-01-05T04:35:41Z")
Check the article I just linked. It has direct quotes from Tarrio and other PB leaders saying this is their plan. Tarrio was arrested shortly after arrival in DC today so that likely takes him out of action but supports the idea there will likely be other showing up. How many remains to be seen but I don’t dismiss these guys like I would some of the other loudmouths. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2021, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1953 "2021-01-05T04:38:33Z")
Maybe they have a secret handshake or decoder rings as well. Who knows. I just find these guys to be one of the few willing to commit violent acts while most others just run their mouths. Hopefully I end up being incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2021, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1954 "2021-01-05T04:50:53Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Check the article I just linked. It has direct quotes from Tarrio and other PB leaders saying this is their plan. Isn’t it kind of a requirement for a false flag operation that you don’t announce it to the press? ---
**Author:** ![mistymage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mistymage/32/459_2.png) [@mistymage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mistymage)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2021, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1955 "2021-01-05T04:57:11Z")
Special masks that have a sigil… uh, color… uh… no, not gas masks, uh, not the Frog… I don’t think they thought or shared the answer. Maybe MAGA hats used as masks? ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2021, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1956 "2021-01-05T05:15:02Z")
One would think. I never said these guys were geniuses, just violent. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2021, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1957 "2021-01-05T12:34:15Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > > [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > > > My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives. > > Ditto! Don’t forget > **Hedley Lamarr:** My mind is aglow with whirling, transient nodes of thought careening through a cosmic vapor of invention. > **Taggert:** Ditto! Though somehow I had always remembered this quote as > **Hedley Lamarr:** My mind is a swirling vortex of incandescent thought. > **Taggert:** Ditto! Which I think is punchier, but is apparently not real. The fact Limbaugh later grabbed “ditto” & “ditto head” to label the goofs mindlessly re-spouting his crap is delicious. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2021, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1958 "2021-01-05T12:47:18Z")
The real proud boys will wear their mask under the chin! They’ll be easy to spot. A lot of them will not be able to button their shirts. And they all have beards, some of them braided even. I checked the weather for the area tomorrow hoping for rain. No such luck. Hoping it’s not too crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2021, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1959 "2021-01-05T13:06:05Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > According to the WaPo article it certainly could be, but it’s not quite cut and dried enough to be a quick call from a legal standpoint: Edward B. Foley, a law professor at Ohio State University, said that the legal questions are murky and would be subject to prosecutorial discretion. But he also emphasized that the call was “inappropriate and contemptible” and should prompt moral outrage. Once again, Trump is using vague, suggestive language rather than outright statements of intent. He muddied the water _just_ enough by saying “_Find_ me votes,” instead of “_Make up_ some votes,” or “Change the totals.” “What you are doing _could be illegal_ and _could get you in legal trouble,_” not “I will sick the DOJ on you” or “I’ll have the FBI all over your ass,” or even “I can have the IRS look into your taxes.” It’s disgusting and it’s transparent to most sane people, but it is also a veneer of plausible deniability from a legal standpoint. The prosecutor would have to work hard to convince a jury that Trump’s motives are clear though his wording seems legitimate. Well, depending on the jury. Previous examples of him doing that kind of thing would be helpful - which we’ve already seen a few. Like Michael Cohen’s description of his style. It would be really interesting if some skeletons came out of his long business career closet. > [@JohnT](#): > > Guys, I’m thinking he didn’t learn his lesson from Impeachment. Somebody needs Gee, who could have predicted that? > [@asahi](#): > > They’re also going to use power they have at the state level to make it harder for certain people to vote. I think you mean “… going to **continue to** use power…” They’ve already invested heavily in voter disenfranchisement. Efforts will continue. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2021, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1960 "2021-01-05T13:11:05Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > The opposition’s proposition is that democracy is overrated, and they will be doing everything in their power to make that prophesy come true. Excellently succinct summary statement of the whole shebang. ---
**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:** [January 5, 2021, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1961 "2021-01-05T15:46:52Z")
Indeed, **Irishman** - you’re quite correct. One point that I’ve been trying to emphasize in my incessant ranting is that coups, whether by military junta or illiberal democracy, don’t just happen; they’re years in the making. They’re the result of years of political dysfunction. People who say “Well the system ultimately held” are missing the point. **JohnT’s** absolutely correct: we should have ZERO representatives challenging the legitimacy of this election because there is absolutely ZERO evidence of widespread, coordinate fraud anywhere, and even if there was, nothing would have changed the outcome. I think Trump the politician is probably well on his way to becoming a historical footnote, but what he leaves behind is significant, and we need to have an eye on both the present and the future. In 2011, there was an attention whoring failed businessman turned popular entertainer who blurted out falsehood after falsehood on twitter. He soon realized that his schtick was actually getting mainstream attention in the right wing information bubble. He also realized around this same time that Republicans were weak, that he knew more about what their voters wanted than they did, and that they were a bunch of weak-kneed pussies who just wanted to connect by using harsh language to win an election before backing off and playing nice on Sunday morning talk shows. I think it was then that he figured out he could use this to build a campaign. Right now, there is the same thought process. Someone with a lot of ambition and a low regard for political opposition is out there right now taking this all in and getting a massive hard-on at what he sees. Who that is, and how well they can use what they know to achieve political success remains to be seen. I don’t think all hope is lost – the silver lining in all of this is that it has awakened and alarmed those of us who still care about and want ‘good things’ and that could be the basis of a positive kind of soft revolution that takes place over the next generation. But we’re at a crossroads. I think we’ve got anywhere from 2 to 10 years to save our republic. Hopefully we can. ---
**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 5, 2021, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1962 "2021-01-05T16:59:01Z")
@asahi I continue to be impressed by your sagacity and perspicacity on this one. I’m a big believer in analogies. The one that occurs to me in this ‘coup’ scenario is … Years back, my wife and I were on the Interstate. Construction brought 80mph traffic to a sudden and complete halt. All except the young driver behind me who was busy texting. She _creamed_ our car, but we – almost inexplicably – walked away. The car was trashed – virtually unrecognizable. “The Democracy held ?” Yeah. I think that’s subject to interpretation. It’s like the old saying among pilots: any landing you walk away from is a good landing (but somebody else generally needed that aircraft). ---
**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 5, 2021, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182/1963 "2021-01-05T17:50:23Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > It’s like the old saying among pilots: any landing you walk away from is a good landing (but somebody else generally needed that aircraft). Any landing you can walk away from is a good one. If you can still use the plane after it, it’s an outstanding one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182.md?page=97) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-coup-11-9-2020/925182.md?page=99)