# What will happen in the next 10 weeks? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 7, 2020, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-in-the-next-10-weeks/925002 "2020-11-07T19:31:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-in-the-next-10-weeks/925002/61 "2020-11-09T01:06:16Z")
I used to think so but I’ve come to think otherwise. See my post above. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-in-the-next-10-weeks/925002/62 "2020-11-09T01:13:06Z")
It doesn’t work that way. While he is president he gets his way. If he says he is flying to Russia then that is what they do. Period. Anything else amounts to something like…I dunno what. The government ignoring the president is without precedent. The right way to do it is for congress to stop the president but we know the senate won’t let that happen. The nuclear football would never be handed over to anyone and Air Force One and all its occupants would definitely get to fly home (Russia trying to keep all that would easily be considered an act of war…the plane is like an embassy…it can not be violated by other countries). But they cannot stop Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-in-the-next-10-weeks/925002/63 "2020-11-09T02:44:07Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > And I’m kind of hoping he doesn’t make a concession speech. Concessions are supposed to be graceful, best wishes to the winner, etc. and such a speech is not possible for Trump. I’m now hoping he does not make a concession speech, but rather does speak at the inauguration. I’d bet dollars to donuts that he’s going to call Biden either a fake president or a temporary president and put a dat on when he’s going to “retake his rightful place”. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-in-the-next-10-weeks/925002/64 "2020-11-09T03:18:19Z")
I hope he has a competing inauguration at Four Seasons Landscaping, with an after-party at the porn store - everyone has to pay for their own time in the viewing booths. I guess the guy that owns Four Seasons Landscaping in the latest victim. All the poor Trump supporter did was volunteer his property for a short press but treasonous conference and now he’s being laughed at by the Twitter mob. Everything Trump touches dies, dude. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-in-the-next-10-weeks/925002/65 "2020-11-09T03:34:15Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > I hope he has a competing inauguration at Four Seasons Landscaping, I hear he’s planning a counter-inauguration at Rits-Karlton Drywall Installation and Repair. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-in-the-next-10-weeks/925002/66 "2020-11-09T03:59:06Z")
I still continue to be one of the few people who believes that he might commit suicide, and no, I don’t want that to happen, either. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-in-the-next-10-weeks/925002/67 "2020-11-09T04:08:51Z")
Good one! ---
**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:** [November 9, 2020, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-in-the-next-10-weeks/925002/68 "2020-11-09T14:35:51Z")
Trump is far too narcissistic and in love with himself for that to happen. Absent mental illness, the only thing that would prompt this for someone in Trump’s position would be a sense of shame or soul-crushing failure. Trump is incapable of a sense of shame (or any self-reflection for that matter), and he will be in denial of any failure on his part to his dying day. It’s always someone else’s fault. ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-in-the-next-10-weeks/925002/69 "2020-11-09T14:47:45Z")
Trump won’t kill himself. He’s a physical coward. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-in-the-next-10-weeks/925002/70 "2020-11-09T16:15:37Z")
Can he even issue a pre-emptive pardon? Doesn’t someone have to be convicted before they can be pardoned? Or can he pardon for an indictment? As in… Giuliani hasn’t been convicted of anything yet, so what is there for him to be pardoned for at this point? ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-in-the-next-10-weeks/925002/71 "2020-11-09T16:19:36Z")
Seems to me that SAM28000 and SAM29000 (the two USAF 747s that trade off as Air Force One) could have unforeseen maintenance needs that keep them grounded right around January 20th. Like from fuel contamination or black mold or something along those lines. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-in-the-next-10-weeks/925002/72 "2020-11-09T16:53:22Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Can he even issue a pre-emptive pardon? Doesn’t someone have to be convicted before they can be pardoned? Or can he pardon for an indictment? The act must be in the past, but the Supreme Court has held that a President can pardon at any point before, during or after legal proceedings. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-in-the-next-10-weeks/925002/73 "2020-11-09T18:01:48Z")
IANAL but the only one I am aware of is Ex Parte Garland (and I think that is different than an actual case) from 1866 where the Supreme Court said a pardon can happen before legal proceedings but must happen after the act’s commission. If that holds then I think you can make the case that a pardon implies you did the action which might open state prosecution possibilities. Not sure but I think lawyers can have some fun there. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-in-the-next-10-weeks/925002/74 "2020-11-09T18:16:20Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Can he even issue a pre-emptive pardon? Doesn’t someone have to be convicted before they can be pardoned? Or can he pardon for an indictment? > > As in… Giuliani hasn’t been convicted of anything yet, so what is there for him to be pardoned for at this point? Nobody can be sure about this. Ford issued a pardon for Nixon for any crimes he may have committed during his presidency. But Nixon was never charged with anything so the pardon went untested. I don’t like the idea but Trump can issue any pardons he wants, we’ll just have to see if they hold up in court if any crimes are actually charged. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-in-the-next-10-weeks/925002/75 "2020-11-09T19:02:33Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > I guess the guy that owns Four Seasons Landscaping in the latest victim. All the poor Trump supporter did was volunteer his property for a short press but treasonous conference and now he’s being laughed at by the Twitter mob. Everything Trump touches dies, dude. I’m not on twitter, but the posts that I’ve seen have all been poking fun of trump and his people, not of the Landscaper. Four Seasons Landscaping has never had so much press. I bet it’s good for them. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-in-the-next-10-weeks/925002/76 "2020-11-09T19:04:07Z")
The Supreme Court has ruled that an individual can be pardoned prior to being indicted in _Ex parte Garland_ as mentioned by @Whack-a-Mole. As I mentioned, the potential criminal act must be in the past, but the justices ruled that the pardon “may be exercised at any time after [the act’s] commission, either before legal proceedings are taken or during their pendency or after conviction and judgment." This wouldn’t necessarily shut down all legal avenues. For instance, a pardon for an act that was still ongoing at the time of the pardon wouldn’t be valid. That could easily apply to a conspiracy charge. And of course Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes, so potentially Administration officials could be charged with state crimes. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-in-the-next-10-weeks/925002/77 "2020-11-09T21:51:53Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > It doesn’t work that way. > > While he is president he gets his way. If he says he is flying to Russia then that is what they do. Period. I’m not trying to be argumentative. I just don’t see it happening that way. Not saying he isn’t going to try or isn’t already planning it. But I think he’s made so many enemies within the intelligence, defense and national security community that they cannot possibly see him as anything but a national security threat. Even if he says he’d just like to say his personal goodbyes to his buddies, Kim, Erdy and Vlad, I think people will have questions. Kim and Vlad have fairly well sequestered themselves to avoid the lurgy. They are not about to welcome Covid Mary into their midst. So the diplomatic excuse to see them simply doesn’t pass the smell test. I just don’t believe that the national security team is going to be following orders. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-in-the-next-10-weeks/925002/78 "2020-11-09T21:58:01Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Four Seasons Landscaping has never had so much press. I bet it’s good for them. Four Seasons **Total** Landscaping. Four Seasons Landscaping is a different company. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-in-the-next-10-weeks/925002/79 "2020-11-10T01:04:35Z")
oops! ---
**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:** [November 10, 2020, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-in-the-next-10-weeks/925002/80 "2020-11-10T01:56:57Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > I’m betting he’s already signing contracts to host his own show on OAN starting next week My ten-year-old son saw his mother watching BET, and said “I bet Trump will start OAT — Orange Entertainment Television”! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-in-the-next-10-weeks/925002.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-in-the-next-10-weeks/925002.md?page=5)