The Trump Presidency

[raven]

And here's what actual voter fraud looks like, what an asshat!

Florida attorney under investigation for registering to vote in Georgia, encouraging others to do the same
https://www.wsbtv.com/news/politics/florida-attorney-under-investigation-registering-vote-georgia-encouraging-others-do-same/L6LTC2AHBFDMXPOTZKVMO5ESJQ/

The irony is so bloody thick you could make Cloud's Buster Sword out of it.

[BazBear]

And here's what actual voter fraud looks like, what an asshat!

Florida attorney under investigation for registering to vote in Georgia, encouraging others to do the same
https://www.wsbtv.com/news/politics/florida-attorney-under-investigation-registering-vote-georgia-encouraging-others-do-same/L6LTC2AHBFDMXPOTZKVMO5ESJQ/

The irony is so bloody thick you could make Cloud's Buster Sword out of it.

I had to look that up. Thick enough? I suppose - but it would be as sharp as a bowling ball I'm afraid!

[raven]

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/maga-marchers-proud-boys-descend-164500443.html
Some "very fine people." I would not be surprised if tomorrow was even more of a shit-show.

[LionKing]

Finally it is confirmed to him that he bit the dust..

[grmcdorman]

Except that he, of course, doesn't accept it. I don't believe he will ever admit that he lost legitimately... The attempt now is to create "alternate" elector panels that will vote for him in the swing states, and presumably on Jan. 6th his toadies will try to get that accepted by the House and Senate. No chance of that happening, the only reason to keep going is for his narcissism and to keep his base riled up.

[raven]

Gods, the first American Civil War started over  whether states had the rights to allow people to own other people.
Will second start over whether a morally, ethically and quite often financially bankrupt former reality TV star gets to be president twice?

[Von_Smith]

Gods, the first American Civil War started over  whether states had the rights to allow people to own other people.
Will second start over whether a morally, ethically and quite often financially bankrupt former reality TV star gets to be president twice?

One of the things that disgusts me most is that, had it not been for COVID-19 and his god-awful handling of it, Trump probably *would* have gotten to be President twice.

[gillianren]

I think, regardless of the will of the states refusing to accept reality, a civil war like the last one is simply not possible.  The standing army is too large now, and the generals hate their current CiC, who is completely dismissive of them and their accomplishments.  This isn't even a "that damn hippie" situation.  This is beyond that.

[LunarOrbit]

I think, regardless of the will of the states refusing to accept reality, a civil war like the last one is simply not possible.  The standing army is too large now, and the generals hate their current CiC, who is completely dismissive of them and their accomplishments.  This isn't even a "that damn hippie" situation.  This is beyond that.

I've got to admit, I worry about there being a secret faction within the military that would be willing to fight for Trump. It could be made up of white supremacists, or people brainwashed to believe Biden is some kind of evil socialist who drinks the blood of children, and it wouldn't even need to be supported by the top leaders. I'm thinking of the attempted 2016 coup in Turkey as an example of how there was a faction within their military that supported it.

I'm not saying it is likely to happen or that it would succeed, but I do worry about it. I know people like to believe the members of the military are all honorable and incapable of supporting a coup, but the last 4 years have shown that we can't really depend on some people (eg. Republican Congressmen) to be honorable and follow their duty.

[JayUtah]

...presumably on Jan. 6th his toadies will try to get that accepted by the House and Senate. No chance of that happening, the only reason to keep going is for his narcissism and to keep his base riled up.

Indeed, a ploy to decertify a State's electoral vote in the Congress according to 3 U.S.C. § 15 runs afoul of many things.  When the President of the Senate announces a State's vote, a Senator and a Representative may challenge its validity.  The Houses then meet separately to hear evidence and vote on the validity of the electoral vote from that State.  The standard of evidence for that is the body of State law.  So presumably the Republicans in each House would argue that -- say, Pennsylvania -- didn't follow its own laws in choosing its electors.  Naturally such a proposition has no prayer of surviving a vote in the House of Representatives.  And given that no one from the Senate has yet signed onto this ploy, it probably wouldn't even rise to a challenge.  Given that predicament, the law is clear:

But if the two Houses shall disagree in respect of the counting of such votes, then, and in that case, the votes of the electors whose appointment shall have been certified by the executive of the State, under the seal thereof, shall be counted.

If the Pennsylvania Secretary of State has certified the slate of electors, then any disagreement in Congress over it is resolved in favor of the sealed certificate, regardless of how many Republican wannabes will run up and down the aisles waving affidavits and faux certificates.

[jfb]

Seeing a lot of "clap louder, dammit" takes on Twitter today, and I've allowed myself to get sucked into a particularly unproductive argument (but it's either that or, you know, work). 

No matter how many ways you point out that the ship left the dock a week ago, they will confidently assert that Aquaman will escort them to their stateroom, and they believe it. 

"But the Trump electors!" - are not certified by their states and their votes mean dick-all.
"But Pence can toss the fraudulent votes!" - no, he can't.  He can ask if there are any challenges, but he can't unilaterally invalidate electoral votes.
"But Congress can toss the fraudulent votes!" - only if both houses agree that the electoral votes need to be tossed.  Given the the Democrats control the House and McConnell has already congratulated Biden/Harris on their victory, that's ... not likely. 

It won't end on Jan 6, it won't end on Jan 20, Trump will keep throwing rallies because people just can't help but throw their money at him, and the next few years are going to be hell. 

[raven]

Why can't the people with this kind of charisma ever be trying to improve society?

[raven]

https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-touted-imposing-martial-law-to-overturn-election-reports-2020-12
He doesn't just flirt with major abuses of power, he asks them out on dates.

[JayUtah]

https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-touted-imposing-martial-law-to-overturn-election-reports-2020-12
He doesn't just flirt with major abuses of power, he asks them out on dates.

Or just grabs them by the...

[Peter B]

Not really relevant to anything, but I just noticed how similar Roger Stone and Mike Pence look...