2020-2021 Coup Watch Thread

[brycejones]

I find it hard to believe the SCOTUS is gonna roll over for Trump. He has no power over those people, not a one of them. He CANNOT fire them. He's on his way out. Can't happen soon enough for me.

So much this. Some folks need to calm down for a week or two and let the process work itself out. Yes Trump is being an ass and putting national security at risk by fucking up the transition.

So far their cases have zero traction and even Republican elected officials in charge of elections are calling bullshit on the claims. Just let the Big Orange Baby have his temper tantrum. He will still be out of office when his term ends at noon in 1/20/21.

 

[hal2kilo]

Fortunately, for us all Trump incompetency prevents a coup. And reality.

Trump's coup attempt is very real — luckily there are several gaping holes in the plan - Salon.com

There are several key problems in the plan that it appears Trump is trying to scramble together

www.salon.com

 

[VRAMdemon]

The purge continues: The Defense Department is currently being run by a guy who called Obama a terrorist, and was denied Senate approval for the job he currently holds because of those comments.

This Tata is a real piece of work..

https://twitter.com/x/status/1326224729842176001

Neil Chatterjee, head of the agency that regulates the nation’s utility markets, was demoted by the White House, after he publicly supported the use of renewable power.”

Also: Michael Kuperberg, executive director of the U.S. Global Change Research Program, which produces the climate assessment, was told Friday that he would no longer lead that organization. He is expected to be replaced by David Legates, a deputy assistant secretary at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who previously worked closely with climate change denial groups.

In addition to tearing up the White House lawn, Trump is increasing fortifications around the property..

Trump would attempt a coup if he thought he could get away with it. He certainly doesn’t give a shit about process or legitimacy, only power. It’s plausible that he thinks his current actions are the ones to take him in that direction. I expect he is wrong about that. For Trump to pull off a coup he needs the support of most of the military. There's zero chance the generals would go for that.

 

[hal2kilo]

What is this, previews of coming attractions if Trump runs in 2024? He ain't staying.

 

[VRAMdemon]

Totally normal...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1326258800777682945

And...

https://twitter.com/attackerman/status/1326282360015495169

To recap:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1326284851268489217

 

[JEDI]

Looking like this is heating up. Top Civilian leadership at the Pentagon has been thrown out and replaced with Trump sycophants. Top Republicans refuse to call Biden President-Elect. Biden's team is not being given access to traditional transition protocols. White House staffers are being warned if they are caught looking for another job they will be fired. White House is still vetting appointees as if business is usual and putting together the next budget. Georgia's GOP congressional delegation is writing letters to Georgia's Secretary of State to basically invalidate the election. And more. Anybody want to take bets?

If they do go through with a coup what will the actual military leadership do?

.
there's already a Coup thread:

Trump attempting a coup thread

https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/2020-presidential-election/2020/11/7/21554114/trump-election-2020-voter-fraud-challenge-recount-biden Donald Trump, is attempting a coup in plain sight. “I WON THIS ELECTION, BY A LOT!” he tweeted on Saturday morning. The only way I can think of him...

forums.anandtech.com

 

[SteveGrabowski]

Make no mistake, Trump is plotting treason against the Constitution in order to install himself as President for life. He is certain to fail, but it's going to get ugly.

What makes you so certain he fails?

 

[theeedude]

Trump needs to understand something and understand it real quick. Successful dictators didn't get bone spurs.

 

[BUTCH1]

Was sent this drivel at 4 am, from one of my friends who is Trump supporter. Possible?

"From Pam Bondi ( Former Fla State Attorney 2013-2019 )
Ok in a nutshell. This is going to the Supreme Court. Where they will rule that the election is invalid due to fraud or mistakes on a country wide scale. It will go one of two ways, either they will rule that all the unconstitutional mail in ballots will be removed and the states ordered to recount without them or they will simply rule the election is invalid due to mass voter fraud and at that point it will be sent to the congress and senate for a vote. This is where it gets good. The house/congress votes on who the President will be. It has nothing to do with what party that has power. Every State gets one vote and 30 States are held by Republicans and 19 by Democrats. They have to vote down party lines, they have no choice due to the 12th Amendment of the Constitution and the Senate votes for the Vice President where a similar even will take place. This is The law. This is why the Democrats are so mad at Nancy Pelosi. This will all happen in January. The only way President Trump won’t be President is if he concedes the election and that will never happen So stop watching the fake news and don’t let your heart be troubled and live your life knowing this will all work out. President Trump will remain President I have researched all of this and it is Fact! Another fun fact, they call Gore the President Elect for 30 days in 2000 until the courts ruled against him and declared Bush the winner. And two people that were part of that decision was none other that new Supreme Court Justices, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. Why do you think the Democrats tried so hard to keep them from being confirmed? We got this! Have the faith and continue praying for our President! "

That's drivel, there is zero evidence of "mistakes" on a country wide scale and you can't say some mail in ballots are "constitutional" and others are not. Even if it's agreed the PA supreme court overstepped it's boundaries extending the
deliveries by 3 days those who cast ballots did nothing wrong, no SCOTUS would dump them out. Oh, it seems that only about 6K ballots were actually received after 11/3, the vast majority in PA used ballot drop-boxes since the warning had been put out the USPS might have issues getting it there. So far team dump has filed several lawsuits and only won 1/2 of one, to get the poll watchers moved closer.

 

[eelw]

Once he fires either Wray or Haspel, Pelosi needs to step in and impeach his fat orange ass again.

 

[DisarmedDespot]

I'm amazed that, even after losing his election by a margin larger than his 2016 win, the Repugs are still sticking by the orange idiot and weasel-wording their support for his bullshit. They'll do everything in their power to not cross him, it's pathetic.

 

[Zorba]

Once he fires either Wray or Haspel, Pelosi needs to step in and impeach his fat orange ass again.

Won't happen. He is just showing us what his second term would've looked like. Corruption and incompetence unlike anything anyone could ever imagine.

 

[Muse]

He may not, but perhaps the Federalist Society and their financial backers do. Who moved Justice Kennedy out of the way?? Who paid Kavanaugh’s debts? Who was coaching ACB on confirmation before a seat was even open???

/tinfoil hat

ACB ran circles around Kavanaugh in terms of composure and self assurance during the confirmations. I didn't watch anything other than a few snippets but it was pretty clear to me that she's not the nitwit that Kavanaugh is. But Kavanaugh's falling in line, his statement about ABA standing shows he's falling back on his training. Who paid K's debts? I don't know, but his rolling over for the GOP won't pay any going forward, he's tenured, has probably a reasonable income. Are you telling me he's getting money under the table for tainted decisions? Please link me with evidence.

 

[Uhtrinity]

Looking like it might be some 'elaborate grift' on America and his supporters. Cohen brought up the fundraising so Trump will have replacement revenue stream and slushfund, which has been reported over the weekend. Donny Deutsch claims Trump is in pre production for 'Trump TV". Lay the grounds for the election to have been stolen then milk your supporters monthly fees to see Trump fight it for the next few years.

Predication of this happening 3 weeks ago:

Donny Deutsch: Trump is not running for president, he’s ‘setting himself up for his next act’

Donny Deutsch says he believes the president is aware that he will likely lose the election and is preparing for his next move

www.msnbc.com

 

[Starbuck1975]

A coup assumes Trump has the military at his side. These undersecretary and staff positions are disruptive, but I don’t see any scenario where a commanding general mobilizes his entire division to secure the White House and instill martial law in support of Trump. Even if one tried, I can’t see many soldiers following.

 

[akenbennu]

I'm inclined to agree. Trump is trying to generate a steaming pile of crap to distract and put himself at the center of attention, but its all a giant smokescreen that'll get wiped out once the states certify the votes.

 

[SmCaudata]

I'm inclined to agree. Trump is trying to generate a steaming pile of crap to distract and put himself at the center of attention, but its all a giant smokescreen that'll get wiped out once the states certify the votes.

Very possible. I think more likely that he is trying to create an environment that is unfriendly to a DFL president and white house. Biden needs to go in and instantly clear out all the Trump apologists. Mitch had already said he won't work with Biden by getting in line behind the president. Time for executive orders!

 

[gothuevos]

A coup assumes Trump has the military at his side. These undersecretary and staff positions are disruptive, but I don’t see any scenario where a commanding general mobilizes his entire division to secure the White House and instill marshal law in support of Trump. Even if one tried, I can’t see many soldiers following.

After re-examining the events of the last 48 hours, it does seem more like a continued grift. Possibility of a cover-up of previous misdeeds as well?

 

[Paratus]

A coup assumes Trump has the military at his side. These undersecretary and staff positions are disruptive, but I don’t see any scenario where a commanding general mobilizes his entire division to secure the White House and instill marshal law in support of Trump. Even if one tried, I can’t see many soldiers following.

How about Martial Law?

 

[Starbuck1975]

How about Martial Law?

Fixed, thank you!

 

[KMFJD]

This is being refered to as the coup clutz clan / koup klutz klan

 

[VRAMdemon]

Trump is to stupid to mastermind a real coup (at least on his own) BUT! .... if you were to have another populist in a few years who knows a little something about how power works on the back end, then we might have a real problem. This is the real legacy of the Trump administration -- as a test run for a real, effective populist authoritarian ruler in the future. With no shame, morals or integrity. Trump pushed a lot of boundaries, and bent and/or broke some, but didn’t really know what to do after that.

Trump is like a dumbass but brazen bank robber who decides to blow up the side of a bank. Then he has access to piles of money but didn’t plan transportation to haul it away, so he ends up just stuffing a few $100 bills in his pockets and runs away. The next bank robber will bring explosives AND a cargo truck.

E.g. Another Trump, but more self-disciplined; Another Trump, but more on-message; Another Trump, but more knowledgeable about politics; etc. But I also wonder about which elements of Trump you can strip away and still be as effective as he has been. His supporters see his impetuousness, his over-the-top showmanship, his lack of loyalty to anyone but himself as a selling point. It’s likely that the “next Trump,” like Trump himself, will come from outside politics entirely and likely from the entertainment industry. Tucker Carlson? Maybe. Probably someone we’re not even thinking about right now.

 

[VRAMdemon]

Also - to add... I don't think that there will be an actual coup attempt, BUT this reaction by a candidate is still concerning. It's about the long-term effects and the norms of transition of power when parties change. The susceptibility to coups or ignoring electoral results in the future. There’s always been people who complain or think the vote was stolen, BUT HERE - we have high-ranking elected officials going along with it, validating the refusal to concede, etc. I hope it’s a one-off, but it doesn’t bode well for the future.

 

[Homerboy]

Trump resigns to be pardoned after EC votes. Fairly sure of this. He'll quit claiming it was rigged.

He totally is the kid that would take his ball and go home in a pout.

 

[Vic]

A coup assumes Trump has the military at his side. These undersecretary and staff positions are disruptive, but I don’t see any scenario where a commanding general mobilizes his entire division to secure the White House and instill martial law in support of Trump. Even if one tried, I can’t see many soldiers following.

We all know that when Trump attempts to overturn the election and the Constitution, and seize power by force, that you'll be here blaming liberals for it.