Top U.S. General Promises Military Will Stay Out Of The Election Process

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blackangst1

Lifer
Feb 23, 2005
22,914
2,359
126
Should Biden win, worst case scenario Trump refuses to leave the WH, is irrelevant. Biden will be sworn in, and although Trump may physically try to barricade himself in the WH, he'll have zero power. Biden will. Biden could easily directly tell the secret service to remove Trump.

Trump says really stupid things sometimes. But this whole scenario is unrealistic, IMHO.
 
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fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
83,716
47,399
136
Should Biden win, worst case scenario Trump refuses to leave the WH, is irrelevant. Biden will be sworn in, and although Trump may physically try to barricade himself in the WH, he'll have zero power. Biden will. Biden could easily directly tell the secret service to remove Trump.

Trump says really stupid things sometimes. But this whole scenario is unrealistic, IMHO.
That won’t be the scenario though - the scenario will be that the outcome of the election is disputed and Trump will be saying he actually won and this is a coup.

If it’s accepted as an unambiguous Biden win I agree he will leave. If the outcome is close though I think anyone who isn’t preparing for a situation where he won’t leave is being naive. In any close election he will at a minimum test the waters for how much support he can get on the issue. If Republicans stand behind him he will probably try it. Considering Republicans already stood behind his previous attempts to rig the election it seems far from impossible they wouldn’t do so again.
 

soundforbjt

Lifer
Feb 15, 2002
17,785
6,032
136
Here's one scenario I could find plausible:
On election night Trump is ahead because of Repubs showing up at voting booths in greater numbers than Dems.
Trump (wrongly) claims victory.

Days or maybe week/s later, Biden is declared the winner and Trump goes ballistic, claiming the election was rigged.
 

fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
83,716
47,399
136
Here's one scenario I could find plausible:
On election night Trump is ahead because of Repubs showing up at voting booths in greater numbers than Dems.
Trump (wrongly) claims victory.

Days or maybe week/s later, Biden is declared the winner and Trump goes ballistic, claiming the election was rigged.
This is an extremely plausible scenario.
 

HomerJS

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
35,959
27,638
136
Should Biden win, worst case scenario Trump refuses to leave the WH, is irrelevant. Biden will be sworn in, and although Trump may physically try to barricade himself in the WH, he'll have zero power. Biden will. Biden could easily directly tell the secret service to remove Trump.

Trump says really stupid things sometimes. But this whole scenario is unrealistic, IMHO.
You are forgetting the possible standoff between Biden's SS and Trump having Kemp's and DeSantis's National Guard surround him.

You are going to laugh but that is what happened when military types gassed and shot peaceful protestors in Lafayette Park. He called one of his stooge Governors and they sent help. Or worse he'll ask his supporters to surround the White House and a bloody standoff would ensue
 

JEDIYoda

Lifer
Jul 13, 2005
33,981
3,318
126
Well they didn't Need to say it. He was prompted to comment on it by the House Armed Services Committee.

From the link:

In written comments sent to Congress, Milley said “I believe deeply in the principle of an apolitical U.S. military,” and promised to respect the peaceful transition of presidential authority under the Constitution.

Milley was answering questions raised by two Democratic members of the House Armed Services Committee, Reps. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, who were worried by Trump’s recent politicization of the military and efforts to use it to quash nationwide anti-police protests.

Trump admitted that he may not accept the election results, and floated the idea of postponing the election because of the coronavirus pandemic, leading to speculation that he could try to stay in office past his term.

Joe Biden said in June that if Trump refused to accept the election results, he was “absolutely convinced soldiers [would] escort him from the White House with great dispatch.”

In mid-August two retired Army officers who served as lieutenant colonels in Iraq wrote an open letter to Milley, saying “if Donald Trump refuses to leave office at the expiration of his constitutional term, the United States military must remove him by force, and you must give that order”; the letter was criticized in the defense community as provocative and impractical.
SO.....
 

Jhhnn

IN MEMORIAM
Nov 11, 1999
62,365
14,681
136
Imagine being so silly as to think the guy who says he may not accept the election results may not accept the election results.

Astounding deduction! I think Milley figured it out when he found himself standing on the steps of St John's Church while Trump waved a bible around. So did Esper. They know they're dealing with a Dictator wannabee-

 

woolfe9998

Lifer
Apr 8, 2013
16,188
14,090
136
Mark my words - if the election result shows that Trump lost, he WILL, with 100% certainty, claim it was rigged. The only difference between a close and not close result is if the result is not close, he may ultimately back down. Either way, unless he wins, he is going to say it was rigged.

You morons who are saying otherwise deserve to be humiliated when you are proven wrong. It will be a small consolation but I'll take it.
 

Jhhnn

IN MEMORIAM
Nov 11, 1999
62,365
14,681
136
Mark my words - if the election result shows that Trump lost, he WILL, with 100% certainty, claim it was rigged. The only difference between a close and not close result is if the result is not close, he may ultimately back down. Either way, unless he wins, he is going to say it was rigged.

You morons who are saying otherwise deserve to be humiliated when you are proven wrong. It will be a small consolation but I'll take it.

The one thing I'm sure of is that Trump will no longer be President at 12:01 PM, Jan 20, 2021 if he doesn't get 270+ EC votes. He literally has no control over that. Or maybe he has something else in mind, like his new "Transition to Greatness" might indicate.
 

woolfe9998

Lifer
Apr 8, 2013
16,188
14,090
136
The one thing I'm sure of is that Trump will no longer be President at 12:01 PM, Jan 20, 2021 if he doesn't get 270+ EC votes. He literally has no control over that. Or maybe he has something else in mind, like his new "Transition to Greatness" might indicate.

If it comes down to one or two swing states with close results, he can tie up those states' certifications in court long enough to throw the vote to the House where he'll win because the repugs have more state delegations and each state gets one vote. That is the scenario which worries me.
 

Fenixgoon

Lifer
Jun 30, 2003
31,491
9,817
136
Mark my words - if the election result shows that Trump lost, he WILL, with 100% certainty, claim it was rigged. The only difference between a close and not close result is if the result is not close, he may ultimately back down. Either way, unless he wins, he is going to say it was rigged.

You morons who are saying otherwise deserve to be humiliated when you are proven wrong. It will be a small consolation but I'll take it.

yeah this is a given. hell he won in 16 and still called it fraudulent
 

fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
83,716
47,399
136
yes I’m not sure why this is so hard for people to understand.
1) he doesn’t care about the country so whatever damage he does to it is irrelevant to him.

2) he is arguably literally fighting for his life here. (Or at least his life outside of prison)

There is literally nothing he won’t do to stay in power. The only constraint will be what others let him get away with.
 
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sactoking

Diamond Member
Sep 24, 2007
7,507
2,703
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Is this one of those "Trump's real, he tells it like it is!" moments or one of those "Trump's just trying to own the libtards, you can't believe him, got ya!" moments?

Honestly, I still can't tell the difference.
 
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pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
21,268
4,402
136
How is it the Democrats are stirring up conspiracies when Trump himself said if he loses the election is rigged? And based on Trump's history what makes you think it's outside the realm of possibility Trump wouldn't try to stay?

I can say based on Obama's history and integrity if he lost in 2012 there was 0% chance he would have tried to stay.


I guess you can believe any conspiracy that you want...
 

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
21,268
4,402
136
I have to agree with the troll on ignore in this case. It’s all political hogwash on both sides. Dems definitely wanted to get the general on the record.

But for pcgeek to discount Trumpity Dumpity statement about possibly not recognizing the election results as a joke is stupid. I don’t expect the orange baby to not leave the WH on January 20. But him attempting to fight this is just going to rile up his base and the division between sides is going to be even worse than it currently is.


I didn't say he wouldn't protest the results ( which he has every legal right to do so ) if there are any signs of abnormal voting going on. Much as they did with the Bush / Gore election with the hanging chads.

I said if he loses he is going to leave. All the rest is just fear mongering and silly.

Oh and screw you I'm not a troll just because I have a different perspective.
 

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
21,268
4,402
136
Imagine being so silly as to think the guy who says he may not accept the election results may not accept the election results.


Right we have never had a recount or court case to decide any type of election results before. :rolleyes:
 

brycejones

Lifer
Oct 18, 2005
25,989
23,785
136
I didn't say he wouldn't protest the results ( which he has every legal right to do so ) if there are any signs of abnormal voting going on. Much as they did with the Bush / Gore election with the hanging chads.

I said if he loses he is going to leave. All the rest is just fear mongering and silly.

Oh and screw you I'm not a troll just because I have a different perspective.
No you’re a troll because you live under a bridge.

Duh
 

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
21,268
4,402
136
Mark my words - if the election result shows that Trump lost, he WILL, with 100% certainty, claim it was rigged. The only difference between a close and not close result is if the result is not close, he may ultimately back down. Either way, unless he wins, he is going to say it was rigged.

You morons who are saying otherwise deserve to be humiliated when you are proven wrong. It will be a small consolation but I'll take it.


He can say whatever he likes, just as you and I can. Just like Gore and the hanging chads. That doesn't mean that he will not leave the Whitehouse.
 

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
82,854
17,365
136
@pcgeek11 needs to read Mya Angelou
that quote should be swapped.

It should be
"When someone shows you who they are the first time, believe them."

And I definitely support that theory. The big problem with modern people is the vast majority of them are conditioned and trained to lie constantly so figuring them out is a real pain in the butt. Some folks get by in life assuming everyone they meet is just constantly lying. That might work, but it sucks ass and our society should not be that way.
 

Jhhnn

IN MEMORIAM
Nov 11, 1999
62,365
14,681
136
If it comes down to one or two swing states with close results, he can tie up those states' certifications in court long enough to throw the vote to the House where he'll win because the repugs have more state delegations and each state gets one vote. That is the scenario which worries me.

That's a tough proposition. The whole thing in Florida in 2000 was highly peculiar as was the 2008 Minnesota Senate race. Contests that close are extremely rare. I doubt that any state will have a margin so slim as to hinge on funky ballots. The SCOTUS intervened in Florida long before a court battle could delay the results, anyway. I doubt they'll put up with Trump trying to discredit the election, either.
 

woolfe9998

Lifer
Apr 8, 2013
16,188
14,090
136
That's a tough proposition. The whole thing in Florida in 2000 was highly peculiar as was the 2008 Minnesota Senate race. Contests that close are extremely rare. I doubt that any state will have a margin so slim as to hinge on funky ballots. The SCOTUS intervened in Florida long before a court battle could delay the results, anyway. I doubt they'll put up with Trump trying to discredit the election, either.

Nothing needs to "hinge on funky ballots." Trump only needs enough states to be close. Look at the margin he won Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania in 2016. That right there is a scenario which can be contested in the manner I describe.