# US Presidential Election: what is the weirdest scenario you can imagine **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 24, 2020, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-presidential-election-what-is-the-weirdest-scenario-you-can-imagine/852521 "2020-04-24T20:45:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-presidential-election-what-is-the-weirdest-scenario-you-can-imagine/852521/81 "2020-04-30T14:46:34Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > I can top that: Trump is re-elected fairly. Trump can be re-elected or he can be elected fairly. But he can’t be both. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-presidential-election-what-is-the-weirdest-scenario-you-can-imagine/852521/82 "2020-04-30T17:10:22Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Trump dies of a massive stroke, on live TV. How about both Trump and Biden keeling over and croaking during an especially acrimonious debate? What a lovely free-for-all would result. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-presidential-election-what-is-the-weirdest-scenario-you-can-imagine/852521/83 "2020-04-30T18:38:03Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > 1.4% Clinton? > > Which Clinton? Bill or Hillary? And can anyone come up with a scenario where either of them becomes President this year? A scenario that’s more likely than Pence or Sanders becoming President? Sure. Under pressure from the DNC, Biden picks Hillary as his running mate. If they win, sometime in January Joe announces that his health has deteriorated, and resigns. Hillary becomes President. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-presidential-election-what-is-the-weirdest-scenario-you-can-imagine/852521/84 "2020-05-01T04:44:30Z")
Unprecedented influencer campaigns sweep Drs Birx and Fauci to victory over Drs Phil and Oz. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2020, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-presidential-election-what-is-the-weirdest-scenario-you-can-imagine/852521/85 "2020-05-02T22:47:35Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > The other issue with the election being postponed is that some 468 Congressional seats are up for re-election: the Democrats in the House cannot protest the legitimacy of the President without also conceding that the House itself is unelected. Only some 67 or so Senators would have a valid claim to their seats, and the Senate is only empowered to select the VP – from the candidates that got the most EVs, so there is really nothing to go on without an election. > > There _could_ be a military coup, which is not entirely unthinkable, because there is no shortage of enmity toward Individual-ONE from the Pentagon. Those 67 senators would elect a D Veep who would them become president when there is no house to choose a president. If this produces a president Harris, I, for one, will cheer. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2020, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-presidential-election-what-is-the-weirdest-scenario-you-can-imagine/852521/86 "2020-05-02T23:36:03Z")
Trump gets sick, really sick, people think he may die. A [del]radicalized Democrat[/del] former Fox News employee terrified of the specter of explicit Christian dominionism assassinates Pence. Trump then recovers & names one of his spawn as his running mate. But Biden actually dies. Insiders cover it up & replace him with an animatronic. This is exposed in the last half of September; the nation freaks out. A majority of Democrats, disillusioned, turn to the Green Party. But! The Green Party has split into Howie Hawkins & Jesse Ventura factions. By election day, the two Green factions are outpolling everybody, but no one knows who will win. Exit polls have them neck and neck. The results come in. Libertarian candidate Justin Amash has won. Because [Diebold determines who wins, not you.](https://medium.com/@jennycohn1/americas-electronic-voting-system-is-corrupted-to-the-core-1f55f34f346e) ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2020, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-presidential-election-what-is-the-weirdest-scenario-you-can-imagine/852521/87 "2020-05-02T23:46:12Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > That doesn’t make sense, that would mean all atheists would be left behind, I don’t see them voting Trump Look, son, if Jesus says you’re his people, he’s taking you home whether you believe in him or not. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-presidential-election-what-is-the-weirdest-scenario-you-can-imagine/852521/88 "2020-05-03T00:02:21Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > The Electoral College goes rogue and gives the presidency to Vermin Supreme. Well, that beat mine. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > This is the equivalent of what Carter went through with the Iran hostage crisis and Johnson went through with the Vietnam war and the anti-war protests. It’s a drawn-out ongoing crisis and we get to see, day after day after day, that the President doesn’t have any answers. What party & what movement benefited from the people losing faith in Carter and Johnson? Do you think the GOP isn’t inoculated against this? Their entire modern identity is based on the assumption that the government cannot manage the country, but instead only the private businessmen who fund the party can. Trump’s flailing is a gift to them, a demonstration of their core claim. The Democrats pretend to believe that competence exists, but they’re trying very, very hard to nominate a sleepy old man rather than to demonstrate that they can find competence. Whether Trump wins or loses, the GOP & its funders are winning the argument, every day. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-presidential-election-what-is-the-weirdest-scenario-you-can-imagine/852521/89 "2020-05-03T02:01:33Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > [The GOP’s] entire modern identity is based on the assumption that the government cannot manage the country, but instead only the private businessmen who fund the party can. “Republicans insist that government doesn’t work. Then they get elected and prove it.” -PJ O’Rourke, conservative humorist ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-presidential-election-what-is-the-weirdest-scenario-you-can-imagine/852521/90 "2020-05-03T04:07:25Z")
In a variation of Chump refusing to leave office, he holds Pence hostage in the White House as the FBI digs in for a lengthy siege. ---
**Author:** ![Turki-lurki](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turki-lurki/32/7168_2.png) [@Turki-lurki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turki-lurki)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-presidential-election-what-is-the-weirdest-scenario-you-can-imagine/852521/91 "2020-05-03T05:01:01Z")
Here’s one: The Pope, Oprah, and Larry King all confirm that Biden is a harasser. He drops out and Sanders steps up. Chooses AOC as Veep. Republicans giggle. tRump catches Covid and dies. But with his last breathe coughs on Pence, who dies 2 weeks later. Pelosi is president. Republicans rage and nominate Palin and Newt. Democrats rage and win election. REPUBLICANS heads explode in unison. Bernie and AOC rearrange the social safety net and publish the required tax incrases. Everybody’s head explodes. Cockroaches take over, as we all knew they would. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-presidential-election-what-is-the-weirdest-scenario-you-can-imagine/852521/92 "2020-05-03T07:38:36Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > In a variation of Chump refusing to leave office, he holds Pence hostage in the White House as the FBI digs in for a lengthy siege. Didn’t we see something like that in BLAZING SADDLES ?? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2020, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-presidential-election-what-is-the-weirdest-scenario-you-can-imagine/852521/93 "2020-05-04T00:40:09Z")
> [@RioRico](#): > > Didn’t we see something like that in BLAZING SADDLES ?? Except Chump doesn’t have that much to whip out. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2020, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-presidential-election-what-is-the-weirdest-scenario-you-can-imagine/852521/94 "2020-05-04T01:57:33Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > In a variation of Chump refusing to leave office, he holds Pence hostage in the White House as the FBI digs in for a lengthy siege. How would _Pence_ work? If you take a hostage, it has to be a person someone cares about. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2020, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-presidential-election-what-is-the-weirdest-scenario-you-can-imagine/852521/95 "2020-05-04T19:41:01Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > How would _Pence_ work? If you take a hostage, it has to be a person someone cares about. That’s a problem. Who in Trimp the Chimp’s circle would most Americans [del]give a rat’s ass[/del] worry about? If he held HIMSELF hostage, the “right” would melt down. Fun. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2020, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-presidential-election-what-is-the-weirdest-scenario-you-can-imagine/852521/96 "2020-05-05T16:00:15Z")
(Trump pointing gun at own head) “Stay back or the grifter gets it!” ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-presidential-election-what-is-the-weirdest-scenario-you-can-imagine/852521/97 "2020-05-06T06:51:31Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > (Trump pointing gun at own head) “Stay back or the grifter gets it!” My GOP sister in Tucson: “Oh, that poor man!” ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-presidential-election-what-is-the-weirdest-scenario-you-can-imagine/852521/98 "2020-05-06T13:23:55Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Those 67 senators would elect a D Veep who would them become president when there is no house to choose a president. If this produces a president Harris, I, for one, will cheer. But. if there is no election, those 67 Senators have no one to vote for. The Twelfth Amendment states the Vice President must be elected by the electors, and it’s from the list of those people the electors votes for that the Senate chooses a Vice President if none get a majority. > [@Constitution of the United States](#): > > … if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President." No election, no choices for the Senate to vote for. The Constitution of the USA simply doesn’t have any contingency for there not being an election. It ceases to function if there isn’t one. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-presidential-election-what-is-the-weirdest-scenario-you-can-imagine/852521/99 "2020-05-06T16:19:22Z")
> [@RioRico](#): > > That’s a problem. Who in Trimp the Chimp’s circle would most Americans [del]give a rat’s ass[/del] worry about? If he held HIMSELF hostage, the “right” would melt down. Fun. Now I’m picturing Trump up on the White House roof, threatening to kill himself if people don’t give him a second term. And Pence is right behind him, saying “No, Mr President, those people are all yelling ‘JuhTrump!’” ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-presidential-election-what-is-the-weirdest-scenario-you-can-imagine/852521/100 "2020-05-06T16:39:09Z")
Trump won’t cancel or postpone the elections. Because he’ll remain sure he’ll win. Trump has shown he doesn’t understand anything unless he can see it right in front of him. So if polls, even the ones he commissions, show that he’s not projecting to win, he’ll deny the results and fire the pollsters. Eventually he’ll find some pollsters who will tell him what he wants to hear. Meanwhile, Trump will continue to go to rallies, where they’ll scrape up a crowd of a few thousand die-hard Trump supporters who will shout his name. Trump will take this as proof that he has widespread support throughout the country. Trump will dismiss any media reports of Biden’s lead as “fake news”. He’ll say he knows more than any of the so-called experts. So the election will run as scheduled and Trump will be astonished on November 4 when he’s told he lost. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-presidential-election-what-is-the-weirdest-scenario-you-can-imagine/852521.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-presidential-election-what-is-the-weirdest-scenario-you-can-imagine/852521.md?page=6)