(November 11, 2020 at 2:19 pm)polymath257 Wrote: With the recent firing/removal of defence department and intelligence officials, it is starting to look like Trump is manoeuvring to stage a military coup.
He is making sure the military has loyalists so that he has their support if he declares the election to be invalid. This is how many dictators through history have taken over from democracies.
Sometimes, the forms are preserved (the Senate under the Roman emperors, for example). Sometimes, elections are held. But no 'disloyal' candidates are allowed and some votes are declared 'illegal' simply because they are against the exalted leader.
This is looking worse by the day.
I agree. My only hope is that Trump is too incompetent to pull it off. But, he is clearly spending all his attention to remaining in power by whatever means necessary. If the courts don't work, he will try to co-opt the Republican state governors.
If that doesn't work, he will call armed supporters to the streets (actually, that might be done in parallel). The final play will be the military.