In any case, Kellyanne Conway's daughter made an interesting video a few months ago that even features Kellyanne herself. I don't know if anyone here saw it but it's interesting to see how Kellyanne talks to her daughter.

Will Trump do the unthinkable and launch a violent coup before January 20th? Will this be the final month of the Republic of the United States? Like the old Roman republic, will the US republic end with a popular despot? We have 16 more days, folks. The clock is ticking.

(January 4, 2021 at 5:52 pm)Spongebob Wrote: Will Trump do the unthinkable and launch a violent coup before January 20th?  Will this be the final month of the Republic of the United States?  Like the old Roman republic, will the US republic end with a popular despot?  We have 16 more days, folks.  The clock is ticking.

No and no.

Boru

(January 4, 2021 at 5:52 pm)Spongebob Wrote: Will Trump do the unthinkable and launch a violent coup before January 20th?  Will this be the final month of the Republic of the United States?  Like the old Roman republic, will the US republic end with a popular despot?  We have 16 more days, folks.  The clock is ticking.

It would be amusing to see him try....

Trump: "I am ordering marshal law - and and nullifying the outcome of the Presidential election - furthermore"....

[Thwack.... Tranc dart impact courtesy of Secret Service agent]

Trump [folds up like card table] "mumble mumble yer fired you prick.... Mumble..." Snort... Fart....
.

Audience: (loud applause. Cheering.. Whistles...)

Fade out..

If his enablers told Trump that martial law would work and keep him in power, I am 100% convinced he would do it. However, it won't work, and at least some of his advisors will tell him that.

I do expect some violence on Jan. 6, though, as well as certification taking more than a full day.

BSB and OLB, I don't think the two of you are thinking widely enough about the possibilities. We are lucky that Trump is essentially and idiot; otherwise he would have already easily secured a second term. But even for Trump, there are options that are within his capabilities. Perhaps they won't succeed but they can certainly create chaos for a period of time.

(January 4, 2021 at 7:21 pm)Spongebob Wrote: BSB and OLB, I don't think the two of you are thinking widely enough about the possibilities.  We are lucky that Trump is essentially and idiot; otherwise he would have already easily secured a second term.  But even for Trump, there are options that are within his capabilities.  Perhaps they won't succeed but they can certainly create chaos for a period of time.

For my part, I think I have thought widely enough about it. In order for Trump to stage a coup, he would need the military. In order for him to use the military to enforce domestic law, he would have to declare martial law. Under Posse Comitatus, he cannot declare martial law without congressional approval.

Boru

(January 5, 2021 at 5:53 am)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote:

(January 4, 2021 at 7:21 pm)Spongebob Wrote: BSB and OLB, I don't think the two of you are thinking widely enough about the possibilities.  We are lucky that Trump is essentially and idiot; otherwise he would have already easily secured a second term.  But even for Trump, there are options that are within his capabilities.  Perhaps they won't succeed but they can certainly create chaos for a period of time.

For my part, I think I have thought widely enough about it. In order for Trump to stage a coup, he would need the military. In order for him to use the military to enforce domestic law, he would have to declare martial law. Under Posse Comitatus, he cannot declare martial law without congressional approval.

Boru

He keeps talking about watching things in the coming weeks in appearances he's making.  His devoted followers are planning protests as the votes are counted by congress.  My concern is that violence could easily erupt between some of these paramilitary groups and counter protesters.  Could that possibly become violent enough to prompt some sort of military action?  He's clearly planning something, although it could get as hair-brained as a Wiley coyote trap to catch the road runner.  It is comforting to hear that military leaders have been planning and preparing for such violence and doing so out of range of people who support Trump.

This is such a sad time for America.  On a positive note, I understand that both Georgia and New York states plan to bring charges against him as soon as Biden takes office.

As I sit here typing this, Trump supporters are swarming the capitol demanding whatever they are demanding.  They are free to protest, but they are not protesting.  Congress has had to stop it's job of counting and affirming the electoral vote.  It's a powder keg that could easily erupt in violence and death.  This is a clear sign of the end of our republic and Trump is enjoying every moment of it.  To his credit, Mitch McConnell gave a speech condemning Trumps insanity but the damage is already done.

McConnell has played a dangerous game, and I hope he realizes the monster he has coddled.

CNN is having a field day calling everyone at the site a rioter and insurrectionist. Mostly, people were standing around just taking in the experience. Yes, some were rioters and insurrectionists, but I seem a real hypocrisy versus the BLM protests, when everyone wasn't supposed to be tarred with the same brush.

This is a disgusting event, and one that will be embedded in the psyche of the country for decades. Trump and his enablers are to blame (and the ones who broke in of course)

But I also have to lay blame at the feet of whoever was in charge of Capitol security! I heard the head of the DC national guard didn't want to put many troops on active duty. He only allowed 170 at a time to be active in the city. A storming of the building was almost a certainty! Didn't they wargame the scenario, and figure out what they needed to do to prevent it?

I realize that making things look like an armed camp also isn't a good look for PR, but could they have at least had an exclusion zone, with hundreds of police to arrest anyone that went inside it? And then had riot police and a way of securing the building itself? There is more security at a football game! Someone needs to resign or be fired.