I think Trump is going to attempt a coup.

[apcalc]

Firing Esper, head of FBI, CIA.... installing people who will do his will.

Who else fires people when they are leaving office?

Consolidating power?

Some of my friends do too. Are we nuts?

[Dem2]

1. Let's hope not

These doom and gloom coup posts aren't useful to me right now.

[apcalc]

2. No they are probably not useful, but I sort of think we are watching this unfold.

[Eliot Rosewater]

8. He is trying, but they just need to know from us, the patriots, that if he does

everything is burned to the ground

e v e r y t h i n g

[First Speaker]

5. If there is in fact doom and gloom in the atmosphere...

...it is irresponsible *not* to point it out. As I say below--the most dangerous days of this administration may well lie ahead of us. He can do untold damage to our democracy before he's ushered out...

[Dem2]

9. Let's hope not

There isn't much we can do except hope it won't happen. Discussing it won't change that.

[Crunchy Frog]

20. I don't agree. If it happens, we are the resistance.

We'd better have some ideas about what we're going to do.

[Dem2]

22. Pretty sure a response won't be an issue

Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

3. Or he's trying to leave Joe Biden a mess when he takes over

He'd be more successful at that than a coup.

[Claustrum]

17. I think you are right.

Republicans are already saying they will block any cabinet level nomination from Biden. Draining the government from having any semblance of functioning workforce is going to tough for Biden to deal with. And any time taken to deal with nomination is time and political capital taken away from any actual agenda we want to implement.

[First Speaker]

4. He is absolutely capable of this. I do not believe he will succeed.

...there is nothing, no norm, no precedent, no barrier of decency, that he is incapable of attempting. That he would openly engage in a war on the Constitution...? Of course. Why on earth would anyone think he wouldn't? But the grunts, even the officers, wouldn't obey him. The institutions of our democracy would stop him. They may bend, but they won't break. But it still must be remembered--the most dangerous days of this regime may still be ahead of us...

[C_U_L8R]

6. He can rearrange the deck chairs

But there's really no way a few corrupt personnel changes would coerce entire wings of the government like the military to overthrow the country. But they sure can make a mess of things. And that may simply be the goal. Total chaos.

[ProfessorGAC]

7. A Little Nuts, Maybe

There's a much simpler explanation.
He's a petulant, venal jerk, and people like Esper spoke their own mind and didn't pay constant fealty.
PINO only has 70 days to get his revenge, so he is rocking it while he has authority.
In 70 days, nothing he thinks matters, and he can't get his revenge then.
You're overthinking, I believe, and ignoring what a child he is.

[Karadeniz]

10. In his psychopathic mind, perhaps he is. But, he's learned well how all his lies from birtherism to

Election fraud can gain traction with half of America. He could just as conceivably be cementing an audience for his own media company. That'll pad his attention need, power need, and provide money.

He needs to be charged immediately with every crime he's committed and break him.

[nebby70]

11. do you think this is the work of Stephen Miller????

... I had hope that after he got married he'd mellow since he'd be getting mud for his turtle....
... can't think of anyone else who could be this vile ....

[Grokenstein]

12. And how long does he think he'll last?

He won't see the end of January.

[texasfiddler]

13. Well it is obvious he wants to. I think we all knew this before the election. So what.

The one thing against Trump is he is stubborn yet stupid. If they are going to try a "coup", now is the time to do it. Make people choose trump over the law. We have 70 days.

[wiggs]

14. Lots and lots of clues that this will not be easy. Mary Trump, Michael Cohen, Barry McCaffrey, and

many more suggest his sociopathy will not allow an easy ending. Now most of the GOP seem to think he's not done. Now he's firing key people. McConnell doubles down on partisanship. Esper says a yes man will be disastrous. Campaign manager says to be ready to protest. Trump tells white supremacists to stand by.

FFS Omarosa said two years ago that 'this is not going to be OK' wrt Trump.

How much more warning is needed? We are better off than a week ago, but this is still a close call IMHO that we get out of the most corrupt, autocratic, desperate administration in history. We needed heroes on the gop side (in addition to ours) and I haven't seen it yet.

[AngryOldDem]

21. Cohen warned Congress Trump wasn't going to go quietly.

That was months back.

Steve Schmidt is right. The GOP’s silence on this is a crime for the ages.

[CentralMass]

15. I would have said no way a month ago but now I think that anything is possible.

[Crunchy Frog]

16. It's very obvious that's what he's doing.

I firmly believe that we will NOT let him.

[FakeNoose]

18. It's not gonna happen because the U.S. Military would never support him

Neither would the federal law enforcement agencies. They all hate him and can't wait to see the last of him. Chump would just end up making a total fool of himself, and I'm sure the Senate and House will tell him so. It doesn't matter what his idiot "base" Qanon lunatics want, so what?

[apcalc]

23. I hope you are right. I don't trust the turtle.

[AngryOldDem]

19. It's been pretty clear he wants at least a civil war.

I think we may be in for a rocky couple of weeks. He’s blind with rage, so I think we can’t take anything for granted. Here’s hoping he just decamps to Mar-a-Lago to sulk,, and doesn’t try to start up a secessionist state or anything...

[jimlup]

24. I am concerned... I'll breath a sigh of relief after November 14th

If the Electoral College does indeed vote Joe Biden as President then it is over but tRump may attempt a drastic action before then.

He is truly insane. We need to not forget that.

[sarge43]

25. Start to worry when and if Trump starts removing the Joint Chiefs and

the commanders of numbered fleets, major air commands, army corps and puts yes men in their place.

[David__77]

26. I think it's a non-miniscule possibility.

Given that it would strike a terrible blow against the US status as and position internationally, I have some difficulty seeing it occurring. At the same time, I think that if Trump saw a good likelihood of success, he would most certainly do it without hesitation. That's why this transition is not over until he has been divested of state power.

[tman]

27. It won't work

[ananda]

28. This is not a problem. The election is over.

This is what we all knew that Trump would do.

We've been talking about this for months.

It won't change a thing.

[Stinky The Clown]

29. He is absolutely capable of trying it. The Constitution will stop him.

Biden will become President at noon on January 20, 2021. It should take place on the west facade of the Capitol, but it can happen anywhere it needs to, including in Biden's basement. But keep in mind, Trump does NOT control the Capitol.

He can stay in the White House if he likes, but that will be short lived. Joe Biden will be the President. Period. All the mechanisms that Trump has now will instantly switch to Biden. THAT is a fact.

[Azathoth]

30. A handful of sycophants can't pull off a coup

No career military officers or civil servants are going to hitch themselves to Trump's sinking carcass. Now that the risk of lasting retaliation is gone, no one is going to follow illegal orders from Trump or his dead-end apparatchiks.

[budkin]

31. Absolutely he is "trying"

But there aren't enough players to help him. It's desperation.

[octoberlib]

32. It's possible but I really don't think he will.

He had all of these people on a list to be fired if he won re-election. Since he didn't win, he's being a childish asshole and doing it now before he leaves to try to fuck everything up as much as possible.

[Progressive Jones]

34. It was in the news the other day that Esper was going to resign. nt

[Progressive Jones]

33. I wholeheartedly hope he dies trying. nt

[KentuckyWoman]

35. He might try.

To be honest, I hope he does. The best thing for America is for Donnie to flail so badly that the Magas say hmmmmm.

Mitch won't let him too far off the ranch. The writing is on the wall and Mitch will protect Mitch.
Not to mention the secret service. They let him walk around with TP on his shoe. There is no way they back him in a coup.

[BainsBane]

36. The military will not go along with it

They said as much to the media on election day.

[HipChick]

37. Not worried, one thing about anything team Trump...seriously incompetent...

[brooklynite]

38. Yes, you are.

A coup, successful or not, is a strategic endeavor. That’s not Trump’s style. He’s being angry and impulsive.

[Enoki33]

39. His virulent mind is currently filled with rage. The need for

revenge feeds into his incessant need to help Russia. Every time tRump falsely claims the election was corrupt Putin reminds his people they do not need western style democracy - his greatest fear. He undoubtedly will continue to do institutional damage, but l do not think he will succeed in his ultimate goal - total dictatorship. It is the fact that he is trying, and has GOP support, that is worth being discussed.