Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Article on EV.COM Debunks plan to bypass voters. [View all]gristy
(10,667 posts)52. Great Q & A on at that link - thanks for posting!
Here's one that I take some heart in:
Q: At what point do Donald Trump's malevolent plans of a dictatorship cross the line from "politics" into a coup d'état? Even if done as visibly and out in the open as Trump has been doing, isn't the act of planning a coup to take control of the country a crime? Who's left to investigate and stop such a plan if the Attorney General is a part of it?
What I find completely terrifying is how quickly such a question has gone from spy novel nonsense to one of plausibility and deserving of at least some consideration. S.S., West Hollywood, CA
A: Vigilance is clearly called for, because Trump is willing to trample just about any norm, democratic or otherwise, in service of his goals. That said, our study of history suggests that coups only work in two situations. The first is when the people being governed welcome the change and promptly accept the legitimacy of the new leader. That clearly does not apply here. The second is when the people being governed are too frightened to challenge the new leader. And that sort of coup (including the fear involved) requires military backing. Trump quite clearly does not have that; the leaders of the U.S. armed forces reiterated yet again this week that they will not be getting involved in the election.
What I find completely terrifying is how quickly such a question has gone from spy novel nonsense to one of plausibility and deserving of at least some consideration. S.S., West Hollywood, CA
A: Vigilance is clearly called for, because Trump is willing to trample just about any norm, democratic or otherwise, in service of his goals. That said, our study of history suggests that coups only work in two situations. The first is when the people being governed welcome the change and promptly accept the legitimacy of the new leader. That clearly does not apply here. The second is when the people being governed are too frightened to challenge the new leader. And that sort of coup (including the fear involved) requires military backing. Trump quite clearly does not have that; the leaders of the U.S. armed forces reiterated yet again this week that they will not be getting involved in the election.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
69 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
That's My Take as Well, he Would Need to Do it in WI, MI and PA and they all have Dem governors who
Skraxx
Sep 2020
#1
Thank dog for a voice of reason and truth. The endless ways folks try to convince us voting is a
Hoyt
Sep 2020
#3
Just vote, rather than worrying about all the scenarios the COULD occur. We have Democratic poll
Hoyt
Sep 2020
#50
Why would you want to counter panic-stricken hyperbole with facts and common sense?
brooklynite
Sep 2020
#7
I didn't read the article, personally, but Mike Dewine is not a governor who would be onboard with
jorgevlorgan
Sep 2020
#15
Also Florida's stat legislature is in play. If the Dems take it, they are sworn in the next day per
jorgevlorgan
Sep 2020
#31
Unless the numbers change drastically before election day the margin is going to be razor thin
Doremus
Sep 2020
#55
There is nothing physically stopping the Republican legislatures from sending alternate electors.
Hassin Bin Sober
Sep 2020
#16
I read it. I also read the piece written in 2019 in The Loyola Law Journal
Hassin Bin Sober
Sep 2020
#22
We don't need those states if we win the blue wall states which all have Democratic
Demsrule86
Sep 2020
#58
And there's nothing stopping the governor and SOS from sending their own electors
Wanderlust988
Sep 2020
#35
Nope. The president of the senate opens and counts in the presence of congress
Hassin Bin Sober
Sep 2020
#37
So if we don't win a sizable election it they might steal it so it's not a fantasy. I agree.
Hassin Bin Sober
Sep 2020
#54
I don't see Trump stealing anything...I think we may be looking at a realignment election...
Demsrule86
Sep 2020
#57
It is not but could demoralize voters. people play into Trumps hands when they
Demsrule86
Sep 2020
#43
And what is the motivation for those here to post things that claim we are doomed and
Demsrule86
Sep 2020
#48
Bad link - goes to letters from readers about multiple topics. Correct link here:
Fiendish Thingy
Sep 2020
#67